SSS Talent: From Trash to Tyrant Chapter 555: Red Threads

Augusto turned his head towards Zafira, who had fallen silent while Trafalgar procured his own items, though her keen interest was unmistakable.

"You were looking for a bracelet, ring, or gloves," he stated, lightly tapping the box's edge. "Something to assist with precise mana control and maintain its stability after release. Is that correct?"

Zafira offered a slight nod. "You've recalled it perfectly."

"Naturally, I have," he replied with evident pride.

Extending his palm, a ring materialized above it in a fleeting shimmer of light. It was slender and dark, adorned with a slim crimson crystal embedded in the band. Augusto grasped it between his fingers, presenting it for her closer inspection.

"This is the Red Spindle Ring. It's also Epic Rank." His expression shifted slightly. "Regrettably, I have nothing of a higher caliber. While my business is thriving, it's not quite at a level where I can casually trade in legendary artifacts. A pity, truly. I would have relished it."

He lifted the ring subtly.

"Regardless. Its two effects are straightforward, yet potent."

Effect 1: Reduces mana loss when maintaining fine external constructs after release.

Effect 2: Increases tension stability and response speed when manipulating multiple thread-like mana constructs at once.

Zafira's focus immediately intensified.

Trafalgar observed this shift.

In all the time they had known each other, he couldn't recall ever witnessing her true capabilities—neither from his own life nor from the memories of the original Trafalgar. This mystery alone fueled natural curiosity. She had always exuded strength and composure, but whatever lay beneath that surface remained exclusively hers.

Zafira reached out, accepting the ring from Augusto's hand.

"How much?" she inquired.

Augusto responded without a moment's hesitation.

"For you, Lady Zafira, I'll offer it at one hundred gold."

Trafalgar actually turned at this pronouncement.

The reaction slipped out before he could contain it.

"What?"

Both Augusto and Zafira directed their attention towards him.

Augusto ran a hand over the back of his neck, appearing far less affronted than a merchant in his situation might typically be.

"What? Why that tone?" he asked. "Am I forbidden from making a favorable impression? Lady Zafira is beautiful, noble, and her attire today only enhances her presence. Would you truly have me allow her to depart with a negative view of my establishment?" His ears twitched slightly. "I am a merchant, after all. Building rapport is part of the profession." A smile graced Zafira's lips.

"It's a deal," she declared. "You are indeed a skilled merchant, Mister Augusto."

"There! You see?" Augusto placed a hand over his chest. "Someone immediately recognizes my considerable charms."

Trafalgar gave him a deadpan stare. "You're not sending me to any mines this time, are you?" Augusto let out a short chuckle.

"Times have indeed changed, Trafalgar. Largely thanks to your efforts. Nowadays, I only request what is truly necessary, and rarely more." He gestured expansively with one hand. "You know I am grateful. And the price was fair, wasn't it?"

"No," Trafalgar conceded. "It's a good price, an excellent one, in fact. I appreciate it."

Zafira closed her fingers around the ring, and moments later, it vanished into her inventory.

[Item Acquired: Red Spindle Ring - Epic Rank]

Type: Ring

Effect 1: Reduces mana loss when maintaining fine external constructs after release.

Effect 2: Increases tension stability and response speed when manipulating multiple thread-like mana constructs at once.

Description: A sleek, dark ring featuring a slender crimson crystal centerpiece. It was meticulously crafted for cultivators who prioritize finesse over raw power, enabling delicate mana constructs to remain precise, stable, and responsive for extended durations beyond their natural limits.

Trafalgar adjusted his hood, a motion Zafira mirrored.

"That concludes our business here," he announced. "Thank you, Augusto. We'll be seeing you around."

"And do try not to take another year before your next visit," Augusto responded warmly.

They turned towards the exit.

From behind them, Augusto's voice carried clearly through the shop one last time.

"Thank you for stopping by, Trafalgar. Lady Zafira. I sincerely hope to see you both again whenever you require my services."

Trafalgar raised a hand without looking back.

"We will," Zafira confirmed.

By the time they re-emerged onto the street, the guard stationed earlier was already making his approach. He now stood with a marked increase in rigidity compared to before, a change unsurprising given his awareness of who had just departed the establishment. A modest queue had formed behind him as well, numbering at least five individuals, all patiently awaiting entry.

The guard projected his voice. "Alright. Forming an orderly line. One at a time. Keep your hands to yourselves inside. I expect everything to remain precisely where it belongs."

Trafalgar and Zafira continued their procession forward.

The shop was situated sufficiently distant from the main port that their journey would still require several more

It took only minutes before they were back in the more bustling sector of Mariven. The streets here presented a quieter facade, designed more for the needs of warehouses, workshops, and larger back-lot enterprises than for the passage of crowds. Their footsteps echoed softly against the stones.

After traversing a short distance, Zafira withdrew the ring, returning it to her hand.

Trafalgar took immediate notice.

"Now that I recall," he commented, "I've never actually witnessed your particular class in action. Was the ring truly that essential for you?"

Zafira then slid it onto one of her fingers.

"My class demands an extremely refined manipulation of mana," she explained. "It's... rather unique. So yes, I wanted to seize the opportunity to acquire something perfectly suited for it. It should prove quite beneficial." She ceased her movement.

Trafalgar mirrored her action, coming to a halt.

For a fleeting moment, the environment remained unchanged. Then, a subtle alteration permeated the air around them, so faint that an ordinary observer would likely have overlooked it. Zafira remained stationary, one hand held downwards, the ring gleaming faintly under the daylight. Delicate crimson lines began to manifest around her, so fine they were almost imperceptible. They extended from her fingertips, weaving themselves into the ambient space, spanning the width of the alley, connecting stone corners, tracing the edge of a wall, positioned low near the ground, and high enough to catch the light only when the angle shifted unfavorably.

These were threads.

Crimson in hue, nearly invisible, drawn with such exquisite fineness that they appeared less to be created and more to be discovered.

Trafalgar observed their outward extension.

"Threads?"

A slight curve graced Zafira's lips. "Precisely. Threads."

Additional threads unfurled as she spoke, subtle and exact, anchoring themselves within the surrounding space with an almost impossible degree of delicacy.

"I possess control over threads," she stated. "And my capabilities with them are quite extensive."

It demanded genuine concentration to track the path of their deployment. A less discerning eye would have lost sight of them instantly. They traversed the street, ascended the wall, linked one shadowy corner to another, and layered themselves throughout the vicinity until the area no longer felt devoid of presence.

Trafalgar continued his scrutiny of the intricate web she had established.

"And? Is it significantly better with the ring?"

"Considerably," Zafira confirmed. She flexed her fingers once, and several threads adjusted with a barely perceptible tremor. "Maintaining them in this configuration is far easier than before. I no longer need to maintain constant focus on each individual one, which significantly reduces mental exertion."

That revelation alone conveyed a substantial amount of information.

Zafira allowed the threads to persist for another brief instant, gauging their tension, sensing their resonance, and then resumed her walk. Trafalgar kept pace beside her.

They had taken merely a few steps when her voice reached him, now hushed. "We are being followed."

Trafalgar did not turn his head.

"Are you certain? Where?"

"On the rooftop to our left. He's trailing us at a slight distance."

He maintained his steady pace. "How can you tell?"

Zafira's reply was equally quiet.

"While I was testing the threads, one of them was inadvertently stepped upon multiple times."

Her fingers moved subtly at her side. "The vibrations were distinct. Whoever it is has been moving along the rooftop edge, observing us from above."