"I agree as well, sir. Besides, we could use this opportunity to ask them about the Cosmic Core," Tauriel suggested after analyzing the situation carefully.
Hearing that, Lein and Aleron exchanged glances. Tauriel's idea made sense.
"Yes, the Tier 4 Kings should have a lot of connections, Sir Lein," Aleron added with enthusiasm. "Even if they don't possess a Cosmic Core, they at least know where to find one."
Lein nodded slowly. Indeed, this was an opportunity too valuable to pass up. Besides, he wasn't lacking in energy stones.
"Alright… let's do it," he decided. Without wasting time, he shot toward Veyron's starship, followed closely by Aleron and Tauriel.
Inside the ship, Veyron immediately sensed their arrival. His eyes narrowed with caution, his body tensing slightly. His gaze landed on Lein, who stood at the front, then shifted to Aleron and Tauriel behind him.
In an instant, two of his companions also appeared behind him, observing the situation with wary expressions.
Lein stepped forward calmly. "Apologies, Lord Veyron, for the sudden visit," he greeted politely
Veyron merely gave a small smile, but his sharp gaze remained unchanged. "It's not a problem. What brings you here, Lord Lein?" he asked, his tone carrying a hint of curiosity and caution.
"It's nothing major," Lein replied casually, observing Veyron's expression. "I just wanted to ask—do you need energy stones?"
Lein deliberately avoided mentioning a transaction outright. If he revealed his intentions too clearly, Veyron might become defensive.
Veyron glanced at Lein, then at Aleron, and finally at Tauriel. Understanding flickered in his eyes as he processed the situation. After a few seconds, he finally spoke. "Yes, we are indeed low on energy. But Lord Lein, there is no need for you to trouble yourself. The amount required for this ship is immense."
His tone was calm, but Lein could detect the hint of wariness beneath it. Clearly, Veyron hadn't expected someone like Lein—or even Tauriel, who was among the strongest present—to possess a large reserve of energy stones.
Lein said nothing further. With a simple motion, he pulled out a black pouch and handed it directly to Veyron.
Veyron stared at the pouch for a moment before taking it. His expression remained neutral, but there was a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. For a brief moment, Lein could see his mind working, trying to deduce what was happening.
Veyron channeled his energy into the pouch, sensing its contents. Immediately, his expression changed. The energy flowing from within was dense and pure. He opened the pouch slightly, peeking inside, and his eyes widened slightly.
"High-grade energy stones… ten thousand of them?" he muttered, disbelief in his voice.
He lifted his gaze, scrutinizing Lein with a probing look. "Apologies, but what is the meaning of this? This amount… is too much." His voice carried a slight tremor, revealing his shock. The man before him was far wealthier than he had anticipated.
Lein merely gave a small, knowing smile, offering no direct answer. He let the uncertainty linger, forcing Veyron to speculate about his motives.
Veyron narrowed his eyes, contemplating for a moment before finally speaking in a more serious tone. "What do you want in return?" His voice had shifted, indicating he was ready to negotiate, as if he was willing to offer anything Lein desired.
Lein took a brief breath, recognizing this as his moment to act. Maintaining his calm demeanor, he replied, "I want information about the Cosmic Core, or if you have one, perhaps we can make a deal?"
Behind him, Aleron and Tauriel exchanged glances. Neither of them had expected Lein to state his request so directly. But their initial surprise quickly turned into admiration. The Cosmic Core was no ordinary item—even high-ranking kings sought it to advance to the next stage.
Veyron remained silent for several seconds, his gaze fixed intently on Lein, as though weighing his options. Then, in a tone so casual it almost seemed insignificant, he said, "I have one here."
Lein held his breath. Those words rang in his ears like a thunderclap.
"But," Veyron continued, "its value is far beyond these energy stones."
Lein's heart pounded, but he kept his expression composed. He had anticipated this risk, and now, it seemed his gamble was paying off.
"What do you want in exchange?" he asked confidently. If Veyron desired something abundant yet obtainable, this transaction would be much easier.
Veyron gave a small nod, then, in the same relaxed tone, replied, "I won't ask for any rare treasures. I only need one million God Essences."
Lein froze for a moment, processing the request. God Essence was difficult to obtain, as it could only be harvested from defeating Boss or Lord-class monsters. However, overall, its value was still far lower than that of a Cosmic Core.
A small smile played at the corner of Veyron's lips. He wasn't in a hurry—he was merely waiting to see how the man before him would respond.
Lein felt an unusual mix of emotions—surprise blended with excitement. This request… was still within reason.
One million God Essences was no small amount, but for Lein, it was not something difficult to obtain. Aleron had once explained to him about spirit artifacts and how God Essence was the primary resource needed to activate them. Without God Essence, a spirit artifact would be nothing more than a lifeless object with no real power. From the information he had gathered, one million God Essences was the amount required to upgrade a spirit artifact to a five-star level—something considered extremely valuable in the cosmic world.
Hearing Veyron's request, Aleron and Tauriel were not too surprised. To them, the demand was reasonable. A Cosmic Core was an extraordinarily rare item, even for high-ranking kings. If Veyron was asking for a large amount of God Essence in exchange, it was a fair trade.
Lein nodded slowly before finally speaking in a calm tone, "Apologies, Lord Veyron. I must be honest. At this moment, I do not have one million God Essences.