Copy Skills with Affinity! - Chapter 72

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Natty

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Copy Skills with Affinity! ◈

Chapter 72: Ganesha (2)

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[It is an honor to meet you, even in this manner. Though I admit the method was not ideal.]

At the voice coming from somewhere nearby, Aiden frowned and abruptly bent over Helmut.

With rough movements, he tore out what was hidden inside Helmut's clothes.

After finding a device the size of a finger joint, he sighed and set it on the table.

“...A listening device is pretty old-fashioned too.”

Grand Duke Aslan had been the same, and so was this man. Everyone trying to contact him seemed distinctly shady.

The difference from the Grand Duke, however, was that this man, fitting for a wealthy figure in the underworld, had bizarre methods at his disposal.

[Ah, it is not merely a listening device.]

As those words rang out, a slit opened in the center of the device and projected a translucent blue image into the air.

The figure that appeared was a young man wearing a top hat and monocle.

“It is an integrated visual device made from a carved top-grade magic stone. It is a prototype commissioned by the Magic Kingdom. Quite useful, would you not say?”

“...”

Aiden was too dumbfounded to respond.

No.

A hologram?

This was a world that still maintained roughly modern technology, yet this thing alone felt like it belonged to an entirely different genre...

“So what is this about? I don't particularly enjoy being tested without permission.”

That was that, though. He still needed to address it.

“Forgive me for testing you without permission, Mr. Aiden. I apologize.”

Unexpectedly, the other man apologized without hesitation.

His sincerity was evident as he removed his hat and gave a polite bow.

“I simply wished to confirm things with my own eyes. Everyone knows about Lionheart, but rumors about her husband have only just begun to spread.”

“Am I really that famous?”

When Aiden asked incredulously, Ganesha answered with a smile.

“Most of what I sent that person to tell you was a lie, but one thing was true.”

Ganesha’s eyes gleamed as he continued.

“Right now, you are the hottest topic on the entire continent, Mr. Aiden.”

“...”

“His Majesty the Emperor of the Empire is desperately trying to control information about you because he does not wish to lose you, but if everything could be completely covered up, there would be no reason for information brokers to exist. Those who need to know already know.”

That explained why someone like Grand Duke Aslan had approached him first.

“I have already confirmed your resolve, but I have yet to assess how you conduct yourself. It would be a problem if you were not quick-witted.”

After hearing him out, Aiden stared at Ganesha’s image and replied.

“And your evaluation?”

“Perfect marks. That half-baked fellow there may look the part, but they are a con artist with quite an impressive career. Didn't you soundly beat them at their own game?”

“I don't think being better at scamming is something to be proud of.”

“Well, I cannot speak for others, but I can take that into account if you say it was work to feed your family.”

“...”

“Was that not why you honed your abilities? At the time, there was no other way for you to survive.”

Aiden narrowed his eyes at the cheerful-looking Ganesha.

...This man.

“You speak as though you know quite a bit about me.”

“A feeling. Just a feeling.”

What feeling, my ass.

It was obvious that he had dug up every last detail of Aiden’s past.

In that case, it was only natural for Aiden to return the favor.

Looking Ganesha directly in the eye, Aiden spoke.

“Then I can take your circumstances into account too.”

“Pardon?”

“You don't go around killing people for evil reasons, do you?”

“...”

“It is nothing. I simply have that feeling.”

The corner of Ganesha’s mouth twisted slightly.

As far as Aiden knew, the role this man had assumed, the Merchant of Death, a magnate of the underworld, was ultimately just a disguise.

Of course, his skill at handling money was genuine. But what he did with that money was what he considered his real work.

The head of the clandestine organization Dark Moon.

Something akin to the leader of a shadowy villain organization.

The issue was that they were not just any clandestine organization.

‘...They are incredibly old, incredibly strong, and somehow still care about chivalry.’

When the world went wrong, they chose to kill evildoers as a means of setting it right. Ganesha was the leader of the current generation.

From Aiden’s perspective, it was hard to look favorably on anyone who operated in the shadows and killed people. Still, they were certainly not butchers who slaughtered anyone they pleased.

More importantly, this man’s role...

In the original game, if the protagonist accumulated enough evil deeds, he was deemed an enemy of continental peace, and this NPC would come to kill him as an executioner.

“Mr. Aiden.”

Then, with those words,

“I believe what I am about to say should be discussed between just the two of us.”

The device crackled, and Helmut, who had been blankly listening to their conversation, suddenly collapsed from his seat.

It seemed he had been hit by some invisible electrical discharge.

“...Didn't you call this a visual device?”

“I simply added various functions while I was at it. Every great invention comes from experimentation.”

“...”

This man’s shamelessness was nearly as thick as Aiden’s own.

He felt like a formidable opponent...

“Your information network exceeds my expectations. I didn't expect you to know what we have been doing as well.”

“That is why I am even more curious.”

Aiden sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

“Why would someone from an organization like that take an interest in me, even going so far as to test me?”

Honestly.

He had a rough idea.

If the leader of a shadowy organization approached Aiden with goodwill and interest, even testing his character and capabilities...

‘It's a recruitment offer, right?’

He would ask him to join his organization or work with him.

No matter how favorably he viewed him, Aiden was not going to suddenly receive a convenient offer for nothing. He would naturally be considering his own gains as well.

Unfortunately, he had no intention of accepting.

Ties to such a powerful organization were certainly tempting, but the moment he became bound to them, his freedom of action would be restricted. That was not a condition Aiden could compromise on when he was busy preparing for the main scenario.

Still.

‘I can maintain a good relationship with them.’

He could simply maintain a cooperative relationship and gradually build their Affinity.

That was precisely the degree to which Aiden wanted to make use of them.

“...Mr. Aiden.”

Ganesha spoke again in his cheerful voice.

His tone was cheerful, but unlike before, unmistakable seriousness filled his words.

Of course, regrettably, Aiden intended to refuse whatever proposal he made.

“I would like to sponsor you from now on, Mr. Aiden. Would that be acceptable?”

“...?”

Wait.

What?

“Pardon?”

“I mean sponsorship. If there is anything you want, tell me. I will provide anything within my means. Whether it is people from our organization or items, you may ask for whatever you wish.”

...No.

“Why all of a sudden...?”

“It is not sudden. I tested and assessed you in the first place to determine whether you were worthy of receiving such things.”

“...”

“We behaved discourteously, so I thought we should at least do that much for you.”

“...Is there a reason for that?”

After all.

Everything in the world was give and take. If they were giving him that much, it was natural to assume they wanted something from Aiden in return.

But if they suddenly offered sponsorship, then surely they wanted him to do something for them...

“Well, simply grow stronger.”

“...”

“Grow rapidly in whatever way you choose, and give me confidence that my investment in you was not wasted.”

“...”

“Of course, it would be nice if you helped us with our work later... but that is not something I can force you to do. For now, I would like you to understand it that way.”

“No, I mean, why would you do that...”

“Because I personally like you. I believe someone like you is meant to become great.”

“...”

“Is that not reason enough?”

Perhaps.

Aiden had been looking at the world too cynically.

▣

-System Message

▶ “Dark Moon” joins the factions friendly to you.

▶ You may request personnel support from “Dark Moon.”

▶ You may request desired items from “Ganesha.”

▶ It is a group with enough influence to bring changes to the Scenario.

▶ It will have a positive effect on the progression of Chapter 3, “Imperial Capital Rift”!

He was still dumbfounded, but everything Ganesha had said must have been true from beginning to end.

Otherwise, the system would not have stated it so definitively.

‘...Something.’

It felt as though a reason he did not yet know was hidden beneath it all.

It was true that he felt favorably toward him, but his sudden show of goodwill to this extent was still somewhat unsettling.

‘Perhaps I’ll look into it later.’

There was no way to know for now, and above all, the sincerity he was showing him was undoubtedly genuine.

“Is this star iron?”

The day after Aiden met Ganesha, Noel stroked the material that had arrived by express delivery with trembling hands.

“...I don't think metal will break just because you touch it for a moment.”

“I’m nervous. Th-This is star iron. It is a dream material for every martial artist...”

One could call her reaction excessive, but that only showed how astonishingly rare this material was.

‘An ability superconductor.’

When ordinary weapons were imbued with abilities, their durability gradually wore away. They might fail to fully contain the ability’s properties, or in serious cases, even harm the user.

That was why Aiden’s ordinary revolver had exploded when he had poured an ability beyond its limits into it before.

Star iron, however, was a top-grade material that not only freed weapons from such side effects depending on the maker’s skill, but also allowed highly useful special effects to be added at will.

There was a reason it was called a dream material for martial artists. Rumor had it that fewer than a hundred pieces of equipment made from star iron were produced across the continent each year.

‘...He obtained something like this in a single day.’

Aiden rested his chin on the table, looking astounded.

It could not have been an easy task even for Ganesha, yet after Aiden had merely asked, Ganesha had actually supplied it. It seemed his offer had not been empty.

“...”

Then he should use it.

He was in no position to be picky right now.

Not just material resources, but all the added value he had gained through Affinity as well.

-System Message

▶ You copy “Skill: Appraisal.”

-Skill Info

◆ Appraisal

To become the world’s greatest merchant, one must possess the discerning eye to recognize profitable goods regardless of field. You can identify an item’s condition, potential, and even special abilities that others cannot perceive.

Aiden let out a breath through his nose as he read the window.

It was always the case, but among the skill sets of people whose skills he could copy, there were always several abilities with particularly appealing effects.

For Ganesha, it was this one.

It certainly performed exactly as described.

He had just tested it on his desk and been amazed when all sorts of information appeared, including its material, maker, years of use, and recommended modifications.

His system window already had the ability to view item information, but that only described the target’s name and condition, things that could be known just by looking at it.

As expected of a merchant renowned across the continent, he apparently came equipped with a skill like this as standard.

‘...This is also rather.’

Useful.

Could he really call it merely useful? In truth, it was incredibly practical.

-Item Info

[ Starsteel ] [ Special Material ]

[ An ability superconductor with an ability loss rate of 0%. It is a material of particular value to superhumans who fight by imbuing abilities. Special effects may also be added depending on how it is crafted! ]

[ It produces an amplifying effect if there is an excellent “power source.” ]

[ Displays a list of compatible materials. ]

After checking the long list of materials that followed, Aiden nodded.

‘...Convenient.’

No, it was genuinely convenient. It cut down all the effort of research at once.

With that thought, he read through the materials listed below.

In any case, weapons were a serious matter for someone whose work would involve fighting from now on. He could not choose carelessly.

“...”

And as it happened.

Among the materials listed, one in particular caught his eye.

He had a rough idea where to obtain it as well.

He probably could not acquire it alone, but someone who could help was nearby.