The goblins looked panicked as Klaus approached them, even though he was not holding any weapon, only a big smile on his face.
In their eyes, Klaus had a predatory aura.
"You've had your fill, right? Get lost, before you end up just like your food."
"Kwaaaagh!"
Those little green creatures immediately dispersed and ran away in a frenzy, some fell down because they were so scared. Klaus just shook his head as he watched them. He then examined Karen's shapeless body, checking her hands and fingers.
A smile bloomed on his face. "Good thing those goblins didn't take it."
He had been standing there long enough not to witness the end of her life, but to retrieve her spatial ring, and he also took her smartlink.
Klaus sat next to the sleeping Joanna, then he put the spatial ring on his middle finger.
"Is this thing called arcana the same as regalia? Well, let's find out."
There were some similarities between the items on Earth and the world Klaus lived in previous life, but the terms used were different. Arcana was referred to as regalia in his world, an item created by affixing "runes" to an object.
If arcana and regalia were the same thing, then the way to activate them should be the same.
Ding!
A voice like a notification on a phone rang in his head as a hologram-like light screen appeared in front of him.
<Item List>
[Monster cores - 212 units]
[Metal Longsword - 5 units]
[Steel Heavy Armor - 1 unit]
[Oak Staff - 3 units]
[Shield - 3 units]
[Buckler - 1 unit]
[Goblin Fangs - 50 units]
[Kulian Leaf - 20 units]
[Troll Balls - 2]
[...]
[...]
"She has a lot of booty."
Klaus scanned through each item on the list.
"More than half of the space is used to store monster cores, the rest is trash. Why doesn't she just throw it away?"
As he was busy scrolling through the light screen, something caught his attention, and his eyes flew open.
"Impossible... how could she have it?"
[Eye of Laplace - 1 unit]
Klaus pressed it, shortly after, an eye-shaped pendant necklace appeared in his hand. The pendant was so worn that there was rust and mold around it. The strange mystical aura he felt when he was in the cave emanated from the object.
A grin bloomed on his face.
"So she used this item to lure the awakeners into the cave. Well, she's not bad either. Though this item is much more useful than that."
Klaus chuckled and shook his head. He did not think he would find a precious item among the junk.
However, he must not drown in euphoria, as the precious item found was in a damaged condition.
"I have to find a way to fix this arcana."
Klaus squinted as he thought of something.
"After I fix it, then what?"
He realized that this arcana would not be of much use later, because humans living on Earth were very weak.
In the world where Klaus lived in previous life, humans and other races were very strong, so arcana and power-up items were absolutely necessary. However, it was different when it came to Earth.
To Klaus, Earth was like a playground full of children, and he was the only adult in it. Harming him was impossible, and triumphing over them would be futile.
"It would be a shame to throw this item away."
Klaus was silent for a moment. Selling it was also pointless, he was a son of a conglomerate and his money would not run out even if used for seven generations.
His eyes then rolled to Joanna who was sleeping.
"Giving a valuable item to this brat will only cause trouble."
He flicked her forehead until it was bruised red. She did not wake up thanks to his [Sleep Waves] magic.
"Hehe."
Ding!
Karen's smartlink beeped, a message was incoming.
<Alpha has been defeated>
<Get out of the dungeon immediately!>
<02:59:53 before the closing of the dungeon>
"There is no notification on the smartlink belonging to the uncertified awakener. Good thing I took hers."
After reading the message, Klaus picked Joanna up and immediately left this place. He walked together with the sound of rustling withered trees and gusts of wind.
…
The night sky enveloped Chinatown. Dozens of ambulances and police cars surrounded the rift scene. Several wounded awakeners were seen near the ambulances for aid.
The medics treated them using no special equipment, only touching the injured part, then a green light appeared and healed the wound or bruise.
As journalists were busy taking pictures, the rift suddenly closed slowly. The lines like cracks in the glass disappeared and the holes connecting other dimensions closed, leaving only empty air.
The crowd began to disperse after the rift had completely gone. Some reporters left, some awakeners went home, and some of the police returned to their posts.
Klaus watched it all with a weary gaze.
"What's in your head, Joanna!?"
Anna's voice echoed as she scolded Joanna.
After coming out of the dungeon, Anna and a dozen of the personal bodyguards were waiting for them at the rift scene. At first, Anna thought Joanna had died, but after Klaus said she was fine his mother burst into tears.
However, as Joanna woke up from her stupor, Anna scolded her immediately.
"What were you thinking, Joanna? Do you have any idea how much trouble you could have caused for our family?" Anna snorted, placing her hands on her hips.
"I'm sorry, mom. I didn't mean to cause trouble. I was just curious."
"Curious? Come on, you are not a kid anymore! You should know better than to wander around in a monster's lair. Lucky for you, you had your brother with you, or who knows what might have happened."
Klaus just watched. He did not want to defend Joanna like he usually did, because he had never seen his mother this angry. Besides, he did not want to get scolded either.
"Stop making excuses!" Anna snapped.
That girl instantly fell silent, even the medical personnel treating her were bowing his head.
Anna caught her breath, trying to calm herself down. "You should start thinking about the consequences of your actions. For the next one year, no smartphones. No credit cards. No vacations."
"What? That's not fair!" cried Joanna.
Anna ignored her, and her attention turned on Klaus. "And you, Klaus!"
Naturally, Klaus frowned as Anna mentioned his name. He thought he would be safe from his mother's anger.
"Me?" Klaus pointes himself.
"You are also punished. You can't enter the den."
Klaus squinted. "Why?"
"Because you are her brother!" snapped Anna. "If you don't want your old books to burn, you have got to invite a girl over or make some friends. Otherwise, don't expect to be able to touch them."
Hearing her ultimatum, his soul seemed to leave his body.
After his mother's anger calmed down, they headed back to the black limousine parked at the side of the road, along with the black sedans of bodyguards.
Luis opened the door for Anna and Joanna. When it was Klaus' turn to get into the car, a man broke through the line of bodyguards and approached him.
Of course, the bodyguards reacted to that person, especially Luis. Anna signaled them not to make a scene, and they let him meet with Klaus.
That man was wearing a black suit, black tie, and dark glasses. His blonde hair looked shiny in the reflection of the light.
Smiling kindly, the man in black suit asked to speak privately with Klaus.
"Sorry, I am so tired. It's been a rough day," Klaus excused himself.
"Well, maybe we can talk another time."
Klaus just wanted to go home immediately and lay down on a soft bed. Besides, he did not want to be asked about what was happening in the dungeon.
He immediately got into the car. When the limousine moved a few meters from the rift scene, he suddenly felt a very familiar aura. The same aura when he breathed his last in previous life.
A divine aura from angels.
Naturally, Klaus asked the driver to hit the brakes. Anna and Joanna were surprised as Klaus got out of the car before it had completely stopped.
"Klaus, what's wrong with you?!" Anna exclaimed in surprise.
Joanna only wore a confused expression.
Klaus ignored her call, he only cared about the figure of the man in the black suit. However, that man vanished as if the earth had swallowed him.
Thank you for reading all the way to this chapter. The first few chapters are still focused on world building. I hope you still give this novel a chance. :)