Jacob's mind accelerated when he felt the 10-G force on his entire body and he was ten-meter-deep in the pond.
'Could it be I need to breathe to break free from this gravity? In the past, I was never able to increase the meditation time, so I still don't know about this particular effect. It was stupid to just practice it like this. I should've known better!' Jacob had a grave expression, as he was now suffocating under this massive weight.
But he wasn't willing to die by his own stupidity, so with extreme difficulty, he started to paddle his limbs. As a result, blood oozed out of his orifices.
However, he had more grave things to worry about than some blood, so after paddling for three minutes, he was only three meters away from the surface.
His eyes were now bloodshot and hazy. It was his will to live that kept pushing him toward the surface.
'Splash…'
'Coughhhhh…'
The moment Jacob appeared outside the water, the pressure on him instantly vanished as he coughed uncontrollably with a pale expression.
'I can't believe I nearly died the moment I let my guard down.' Furious, he swims toward the surface.
"Sigh…" He has a massive sigh of relief the moment he touched the ground and, with depleted energy, he lay on the muddy surface for a long time as he catches his breath.
"I should do this meditation on a lower water level surface in the future." He stammered and finally stood up.
He couldn't help but notice his muscles were slightly compressed after this life-threatening experience.
Several days later,
Jacob appeared back in the Rain Town and directly headed toward Isaac Smithery to pick up his things. He was now silently planning to leave Rain Town for Lionheart City.
He wanted to go there and check this apothecary guild and gunsmith guild out. Furthermore, he wanted to make weapons far more advanced than he had already seen all this time.
Only then he will leave toward the Rare Region when he had complete confidence in protecting himself if he fell into some dangerous situation.
As for staying here until he completed the cursed mark, he now knows better that it was just a pipe dream with only consuming uncommon animals' heart essence. He required rare beasts like Tiger Bull.
Furthermore, as a result of his body growth this time, he guessed it shouldn't be wise to hasten the process too much or he might turn into a slab of muscles after 20% competition.
That was why it was now inevitable for him to use the Water Mediation until he reached his previous toned physique. But he didn't dare to practice it in a deep pond or lake anymore after his previous lesson.
When he reached the smithery, he felt another presence in the shop for the first time.
As he entered the shop, he saw a familiar curvaceous figure standing arrogantly. It was none other than Rosalia, who had a furious expression on her face as she looked at Isaac.
He entered just in time to hear Isaac's gloomy reply.
"Miss, your sword is beyond repair. Please don't be unreasonable, you can buy a new one or I can reforge it for you. But I can't restore it."
Rosalia and Isaac's argument came to an abrupt halt when they noticed Jacob entering the shop.
Rosalia's eyes widen when she saw the burly man with silver hair, and couldn't help but remembered a certain someone who rejected her team-up offer when she registered with Rain Town's mercenary agency.
Isaac was also startled because the change in Jacob's physique was too great to be not noticed.
However, Jacob wasn't fazed by their gazes and said nonchalantly, "Is everything ready?"
Rosalia's face fell when she heard the familiar arrogant voice, and she knew it was indeed the same person.
Isaac, on the other hand, smiled meaningfully. "Yes, sir. I was waiting for you all this time. Everything is ready and in the storage room. Please wait while I handle the customer, then I'll show you the goods."
Jacob coolly nodded. It was indeed not wise to reveal the things he was about to pick up.
"So, what do you decide, Miss?" Isaac looked at Rosalia with an aggrieved expression, because she was being unreasonable and arguing with him over her broken sword.
Rosalia coldly said, "I want my sword to restore, but you didn't have enough skills so, you're finding excuses. Hmph, just trash in the small trash town!"
Fuming, she picked up her black blade sword and stomped out of the shop before giving Jacob a death glare, which he completely took as a wind.
Isaac's expression was also livid, but he knew that the woman was dangerous and if Jacob wasn't present, she might've not left with just humiliating him. He's been there before.
"Please follow me." Isaac beaconed Jacob toward the underground storeroom.
Inside the storage room, there were three crates separate from the other materials, and Isaac opened the lid to show Jacob the goods.
The size of three crates was two cubic meters, and two of them were filled with titian iron bricks, neatly arranged. The last one was filled with gun barrels, bullets, and small pieces, which were also for firearms.
Isaac said with a hint of pride, "I hope you're not disappointed. There are 166 Titian Iron Bricks and, as per our agreement, I took five of them."
Jacob nodded slightly. "Seal them."
Isaac sealed the crates as he was told, and Jacob picked them with little difficulty.
"It was a pleasure dealing with you," Isaac said while Jacob was leaving.
Jacob chuckled and nodded slightly before he left the shop with three crates in his hands.
However, as Jacob was heading toward his house, his eyes squinted ever so slightly before his lips curled into a wintry smile.
Suddenly, Jacob picked up speed, and soon, he was jumping on people's rooftops while holding the crates like they were feathers.
Not far away from him, a shadow suddenly flashed past some buildings as it heeled him, but Jacob's speed was still superior and he remained ahead no matter how much that shadow try to catch up to him.
Soon, Jacob reached his house and landed in the small backyard, and put the crates down without breaking any sweat.
He finally looked at the wall and said coolly, "So, what do you want?"
"You're quite impressive for a C Rank." Just as this crisp, icy voice trailed off, a figure jumped inside Jacob's courtyard and it was none other than Rosalia.
Jacob chuckled, "And you're not just a D Rank." His eyes suddenly turned murderous. "Last chance. Why did you follow me?"
'What is this feeling?' Rosalia's eyes shimmered with a trace of fear. She felt like just been gawked by a rare beast. But she had her own pride and thought it was just her imagination and brushed it off.
She said, "Since you've figured it out, I won't beat around the bush this time. I'm indeed a C Rank, but I can't tell you my background. As for why I follow you, I wanted to see if you're qualified to join this expedition. Which is the real reason I'm in this town."
Jacob's expression remained apathetic. "I'm not interested. Leave before I change my mind."
He had long guessed this woman was nothing but trouble from their first meeting, and now he appeared right as well. She wasn't just any random girl, and she was here for something which might bring nothing but trouble.
Besides, there wasn't anything she can offer that can arouse his interest except if she offered a few rare beast hearts and blood, which he knew was impossible for these people.
Rosalia's expression clouded when she heard his arrogant reply. She couldn't help but gritted her teeth as she said, "Not even a hidden Green Goblin research facility?!"
Jacob's expression twisted when he heard 'Goblin'. If he hated any race in this world the most, then it would be the Goblin race, without any doubt. These little monsters were just too hateful.
"Why the fuck do I want to raid their facility? Do you think I'm a fool? You're just here to take all those benefits for yourself, or I don't believe you won't have the means to hire some other C Rank mercenaries.
"Either this facility is too dangerous or you got this information from someone else and do not want to share it with other powers so you can take whatever in this research facility to yourself!
"Now don't waste my time and get out before I throw you out myself, and trust me, you don't want that to happen."
Despite his hatred for the goblin race, he wasn't foolish enough to mess with them just because someone else said so.
The Goblin Race was spread in the rare region where humans were extremely rare and probably sold like slaves, just like this body's previous owner!