Spark stood up. Turning his attention to the room. This was the Royal Treasury. The air here felt rich with latent power.
This place was not just a vault for gold. But it was also a warehouse for precious things. Strategic assets. Magical items. Artifacts. Things too valuable or dangerous for common storage.
Spark looked around. The chamber was spacious. Lined with reinforced shelves, display cases of enchanted glass, and pedestals holding items of immense value.
Gold and jewels were here, yes. Stacked in gleaming piles and glittering displays. But they paled in significance compared to the other contents. This was the true wealth of a kingdom.
Spark's eyes scanned the room quickly. His mind recalled a database of rare materials, magical signatures, and artifacts. He could not use his [Appraisal Goggles]. Unless he took out his [Mysterious Mask], which he didn't dare to do.
Thus, he had to rely on just the identification gleaned from the knowledge archive in his head. He had a limited time. He needed to be decisive.
The chaos upstairs wouldn't last forever. And eventually, someone would check on this place.
He didn't bother with the gold or common enchanting gems. They were plentiful elsewhere. He went for the truly unique things. The strategically vital objects. The potentially game-changing items.
His gaze landed on a large, ornate case near the nearby wall. Inside, nestled in soft, glowing moss, were nine familiar objects. Spherical eggs with cracks that emitted glow of various colors. Fairy eggs.
Rare beyond measure. Outside, getting one was difficult enough for most people. Getting nine... It would just be a dream for many.
Spark couldn't believe his luck. He had just acquired some from the Great Auction. Now. there were more. He carefully opened the case.
He took out his Fairy Grimoire, and transferred all nine of them inside the magical tome. First loots.
Next were... the gearcores. The greatest objects required for technomind advancement. He already had one sky-ship-type gearcore in his pouch. But he had found more of them in a treasure chest nearby.
Ten gearcores. Six standard ones. And four rare ones. Great. He scooped them up and placed them within his Spatial Belt.
Then... he noticed vials of Elixirs of Immortality. Sealed with ancient runes. Radiating a calming, revitalizing aura. A whole rack full of them. Spark took ten vials. It should be enough for use and for research.
He knew they didn't bring true immortality. But these Elixirs offered vastly extended lifespans. Enhanced vitality. And accelerated healing. Priceless treasure for longevity and recovery.
Then, the artifacts. These were the items that could shift paradigms. Tools of immense power or unique function. There were many of them in this place.
However, he could not take them all. His Spatial Belt had limited space. He had to make some choices. He needed to choose useful items that didn't need to be used in public.
After some serous consideration done in quick calculation, Spark picked six items. Things he quickly recognized due to their unique shape.
First, the Mystic Gu Crafting Jar.
The item was sitting on a velvet cushion. It was a glass jar. A unique one as the glass was somehow molded in intricate, shifting patterns of various insects.
The item pulsed with the same dark energy he had seen momentarily around Kissara earlier. This was a great artifact for gucraft. The legendary tool for cultivating and managing extremely potent Gu.
He suspected that this was the original target Princess Kissara was looking for. With her now about to be his slave, this artifact was the perfect pairing. He could force her to direct her gucraft research. While preventing anyone else from accessing its power.
Second, the Sealed Alchemy Flame.
A small, blazing flame, locked in a cool transparent sphere. Hovering above a pedestal. It was burning with pure crimson light, yet its heat was shielded by the sealing sphere.
Spark knew this. This wasn't a normal fire. It was likely a highly refined alchemical ignition source. Capable of working with the most volatile and rare ingredients. Bypassing normal heat requirements.
It would be a critical asset for advanced alchemy. Combined with Ivy's expertise, this would give a massive boost to his research capabilities.
Third, the Eldritch Ritual Tome.
This was a heavy book. Bound in what felt like dried, dark skin, with symbols he didn't immediately recognize. It lay open on a pedestal. Revealing pages filled with complex diagrams, unsettling sigils, and mysterious scripts.
He sensed forbidden knowledge radiating from it. This was likely a sacred compendium of eldritch study. Recording dark rituals, summoning circles, and forgotten incantations.
This would be an object that the Holy Sun Cult would definitely want. If he wanted to shift the blame to the cult, he had to take it.
Besides, although it was dangerous, the methods described within might give him necessary knowledge. Knowledge was power, even if it was dark knowledge. At least, he could hopefully use it to solve the problem caused by his enemy's use of eldritch things.
Fourth, the Sacred Orb of Purification.
It was nestled in a basin of what looked like pure water. This was a crystal orb glowing with a soft white light. The water around it shimmered and seemed unnaturally clear.
Spark recognized the object immediately. This orb could be used to create sacred water. A necessary items for creating higher level potions. Or used directly to dispel curses, purify tainted objects, heal spiritual wounds, or counteract dark energies.
It was a versatile defensive and supportive tool. Having a reliable method of purification and cleansing was crucial. Not just for immediate recovery. But also for research into countering dark arts. It offered a fundamental safety net.
Fifth, the Sky Ship Cloaking Core.
It was perched on a tall, intricate stand. This fist-sized device was a complex arrangement of humming crystals and spinning gears.
The gears were made of lightweight, unknown alloys. They were radiating a faint spatial distortion. Spark knew what it was. An object he tried to find for so long. The engine of invisibility for a sky ship.
This artifact was designed to render sky ship undetectable or difficult to perceive. An unparalleled tool for stealth. Infiltration. Or strategic surprise.
Spark's ultimate goal was always... exploring the sky islands. The ability to cloak the sky ship would be a decisive tactical advantage. This was a core piece for future operations.
Finally, the Celestial Treasure Radar.
Set on a rotating stand, it was definitely a complex device. It was like a compass at first glance. A compass made of polished brass and common glass. But it had golden arrow, spinning rings, and a central crystal that glowed with faint blue light.
It felt... alert. Like it was listening to the world. It was known to be able to identify and locate rare magical items, hidden treasures, perhaps even powerful life forms.
In the current Age of Exploration, a tool to find hidden resources like this was invaluable. This could point him towards future acquisitions.
Besides, once he learned the runes used in the object, he could probably create his own version. A radar to detect specific things.
He paused. His eyes swept over the chamber again. There was so much more. Chests overflowing with enchanted jewels. Scrolls containing powerful secrets. Thick books in strang languages. More artifacts. Legendary weapons mounted on walls.
His greedy impulse screamed at him to take everything. Rip the shelves down. Shatter the cases Fill his spatial belt until it groaned.
But he was controlling his greed. This wasn't a smash-and-grab fueled by desperation. This was a calculated strike. He had the Princess. He had key strategic assets.
Taking too much. Being too messy. It would draw more unwanted attention. It could even potentially make the higher-ups retaliated randomly. And did unscrupulous things like extorting the surviving nobles, like him.
He had taken the cream of the crop. Items that were powerful but relatively small and easy to hide. Items that aligned with his current needs. He hadn't lingered for long. Five minutes, maybe seven at most, inside this room.
Time to leave.
He turned, moving silently back towards the open door. He cast one last look at the immense wealth he was leaving behind. Regret flickered. But it was a cool, distant thing. Quickly suppressed.
There would be other opportunities. Besides, he had acquired the target of his adventure today. The evil princess of the Realm was quietly stashed away in his Slave Grimoire. A captive genius whose knowledge could unlock far greater treasures than these.
He stepped back through the door. Pulling the Hooded Cape tighter. Adjusting the Mask. He didn't close the door behind him.
Let the eventual discovery of the dead guards and the open vault add to the confusion. Let the kingdom wonder who was slick enough to rob the treasury during a dragon attack.
They would blame the cultists, maybe. Or maybe the princess herself, if they found traces of her Gu attack. But they wouldn't find Spark Nighthawk.
He melted back into the secondary corridors. Leaving the silence of the robbed treasury behind. The sounds of distant chaos began to grow louder again as he ascended.
He moved away from the heart of the palace's secrets. He took out his mask and cape. Back towards the relative safety of the fleeing crowds. Cleaner exits. Easier alibis.
Spark Nighthawk re-joined the ranks of the panicked survivors. His face was back to the mask of confused worry.
Inside though, he was already calculating the next steps. Processing the new knowledge. The new assets. The new slave. The Age of Exploration was full of opportunities. And Spark Nighthawk was very good at taking them.