"Fine. You can pick one as a bonus for this purchase, but just this once. There won't be another time," Kael said, deliberately emphasizing the last few words.

  He wanted to make sure they wouldn't start expecting a gift with every visit.

  If it weren't for the fact that he genuinely liked the innocent little Lan Zi'er, he never would have agreed to such a loss-making deal.

  "Really? Thank you, Big Brother! But... we're still short one mana core." Zi'er's excitement lasted only a second before her head drooped again.

  "Zi'er, doesn't Sister Leaf still have some Spirit Crystals? If she knew she could get a Skill Crystal for just a thousand crystals, she’d definitely agree," Lan Qing'er said subtly.

  "Oh, right!" Zi'er clapped her hands and ran toward the shop next door, full of joy.

  Kael watched her retreating back for a moment before extending his hand. "Three Skill Crystals: [Frost Grip], [Piercing Spear], and [Iron Body]."

  They corresponded to three Classes: Ice Element Mage, Assassin, and Heavy Knight.

  However, the restriction on these three stones was merely Brave-rank. In the System's eyes, these skills apparently didn't quite qualify as Rank-class techniques yet.

  The crystals were passed around the group. Due to the unique nature of Skill Crystals, one only had to hold them to instinctively understand the power contained within.

  "Manager, are these really just Brave-rank skills?"

  "There's no way these effects should appear on a Brave-rank crystal!"

  "I don't want to give up any of them..."

  Gasps of astonishment once again echoed through the shop.

  Skill Crystals had a "floor" for their usage but no "ceiling." This meant a Rank-class warrior could use a Brave-rank skill, but a Brave-rank warrior could not use a Rank-class one.

  Judging by the descriptions, these three crystals easily outperformed typical Rank-class offensive skills. The sheer fact that they granted a chance to trigger special status effects was enough to justify their value.

  Freeze. Bleed. Magic Resistance.

  None of these attributes typically belonged to the Brave-rank tier. Once again, it was proven: nothing sold in Kael’s shop was anything less than extraordinary.

  "Out of all of us, only Zi'er still doesn't have a suitable Brave-rank skill, right?" Fei Xue looked at the three crystals, forcing her excitement to cool into rational thought.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

  "Yeah. she hasn't found one that fits her, so she's left her Mark of the Brave empty for now," Lan Qing'er nodded.

  The Trial Mark was merely a proof of advancement and a vessel for skills. One didn't have to slot a skill immediately upon receiving the Mark. True powerhouses began planning their skill builds the moment they reached the Brave-rank, ensuring their abilities would synergize and complement each other in a perfect loop.

  They would rather leave the Mark empty than slot a mediocre skill that might hinder their future growth.

  "Then let's take [Iron Body]. It will give Zi'er a solid foundation," Fei Xue decided, setting one crystal aside and handing the other two back to Kael.

  You Jiu nodded in agreement. Though she coveted the Piercing Spear skill, that specific technique would require a very particular set of future skills to remain viable. A passive skill like Iron Body, however, could synergize with almost anything.

  Passive skills were the gold standard for long-term builds—like a Mage’s Mana Fortification, a Warrior’s Strength Boost, or a Priest’s Healing Potency. At the Brave-rank, these were considered ultimate-tier skills.

  Kael didn't know if the System would reward him with Class-restricted Skill Stones in the future, but for now, these were what he had.

  "This one it is, then."

  Since Kael had decided to give it away, he didn't hesitate. He placed the Skill Crystal right next to the [Black Tortoise Heavy Shield]. The message was clear: this was a bonus specifically for the shield purchase.

  As of now, Lan Zi'er was the only person in the world to enjoy such a "premium bonus" from Kael. And that exclusive status would likely remain for a very long time. After all, Kael was no philanthropist.

  At that moment, Lan Zi'er returned, dragging another girl from the other shop.

  "Sister Leaf seems to be playing some kind of game over there, but once Qinqi heard me, she came right over," Zi'er explained.

  Kael glanced at Nalan Qinqi. Her complexion looked fine, and she didn't seem mentally exhausted. It looked like she had just been napping on the sofa the whole time.

  "Kael, I heard you're giving away Skill Crystals with purchases. Is that true?" Nalan Qinqi asked bluntly as she ran up to him.

  "Just this once," Kael replied solemnly. Once was enough; he didn't want a repeat performance.

  "Really?" Nalan Qinqi stared at him suspiciously.

  "I swear it," Kael answered with absolute sincerity.

  "Well... then let Zi'er have it. Her Mark is still empty." Although she was hesitant, her thoughts aligned perfectly with the rest of the team.

  Kael narrowed his eyes, then smiled. "Alright."

  "Qinqi, do you have a thousand Spirit Crystals? I'm still short for the shield," Zi'er said. She wasn't actually that interested in the skill; she just really wanted that shield.

  "I was saving this for when a new staff appeared, but... fine, you can use it first." Nalan Qinqi pouted and fished out a Rank-class mana core.

  Kael watched the exchange with his hands behind his back. These girls are the real 'whales' of the market, he thought. Surveys always said young women had the highest spending power—it seemed that data held true even in this world.

  "Big Brother, the cores are all here!" Zi'er beamed at Kael.

  "Good. And in the future, don't let people manipulate you so easily," Kael said, offering some earnest advice. He felt a certain responsibility to keep this innocent girl from being led astray—mostly because he didn't want to lose money a second time.

  "What?" Zi'er tilted her head, not understanding his meaning at all.

  "Nothing. Here is your bonus." Kael didn't repeat himself; the message wasn't meant for Zi'er anyway.

  He placed the Skill Stone in Zi'er's hand and headed back to the other shop.

  "I think Manager Kael realized what we were doing," Lan Qing'er said, scratching her head. There was no shame on her face for being caught in her little scheme; instead, she just gave a cheeky grin.