There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world!!
Even though Arvin had just treated them to this meal, Phinks knew very well that he hadn't eaten it for free.
If Arvin ever ran into trouble in the future, Phinks would definitely step in and help!!
But if it meant being able to eat food this delicious, he was more than willing!!
However, once it involved this clearly miraculous and mysterious kind of power, it was obviously not something ordinary people could control.
To obtain such power, even Phinks knew there would definitely be a considerable price to pay.
But if the cost was within what he could bear, he would agree without the slightest hesitation!!
"That's right. There is indeed a corresponding price to pay~~~"
Arvin nodded lightly toward Phinks. "And this so-called price is…"
Phinks straightened his back. Even Feitan leaned forward slightly, listening intently.
"You have to ask me."
Arvin casually gave this requirement.
Feitan: "??"
Phinks: "???"
Both of them blinked involuntarily when they heard that.
Phinks even rubbed his ears.
He suspected he might have misheard.
But then—
"Figures. Another condition like this."
Uvogin muttered softly from the side, drawing some of Phinks's attention.
He noticed that Uvogin didn't seem surprised at all. Even Machi had a calm expression.
Phinks slowly revealed a look of surprise.
"Just… ask you? That's enough?"
Feitan also really wanted to ask the same question.
Power like this—shouldn't the price involve something like their body or soul?
The storybooks he had found in the garbage heaps and ruins all said so.
It was called making a contract with a demon in exchange for great power.
In fact, Feitan had already thought it through in his mind. If he really had to sell his soul, then so be it—that was the decision he had just prepared himself to make.
But what they got from Arvin as the price and condition was actually just… asking?!!
"You're not joking, right?!"
Phinks couldn't help blurting out.
"Just asking you is enough? There aren't any other costs or conditions?!!"
Phinks felt this might be a little too simple!!
So simple that it actually made him uneasy.
Both he and Feitan were truly rough survivors scraping by in Meteor City. They had experienced the cruelty of reality even more directly.
They weren't like Uvogin, who could barely occupy a small territory and manage to stand his ground with Machi.
Phinks and Feitan lived far more precariously, often not knowing where their next meal would come from.
On one hand, they had to snatch other people's gains to survive. On the other, they had to guard against the old veterans and dangerous figures of Meteor City who might target the two of them.
One could say the two of them survived by huddling together for warmth, and their lives were even more difficult.
Because of this, compared to Uvogin, Phinks and Feitan were more like barefoot men unafraid of those wearing shoes—they simply didn't care about many things.
If there was truly a chance to change their current lives and become stronger—
As long as the price wasn't too outrageous, the two of them would never hesitate.
And that was exactly why Phinks felt cautious about the seemingly "simple and generous" condition Arvin had proposed.
A condition like this was practically the same as giving it away for free!!
It was basically no different from when they had asked Arvin for food before!!
Arvin's response: No, it's different.
Strictly speaking, commissions and requests were not the same~!!
When Arvin developed the ability Standing on the Shoulders of Giants, he also gained a general understanding of his overall ability, Inventor Master.
Although he could use invention by accepting other people's commissions or requests, there was still something important to consider—
The degree of sincerity behind that commission or request!!
In other words, if it was merely a commission or favor where the desire wasn't particularly strong, the amount of aura and Nen Arvin had to expend to support the invention would be greater.
But if it was a request made with strong sincerity and intense desire, the aura and Nen required for Arvin's invention would be greatly reduced.
Simply put, it depended on how strong the requester's will was.
The stronger the request, the less aura and Nen would be consumed—and vice versa.
If the other party's desire to request was extremely strong, and it was combined with Arvin's ability Standing on the Shoulders of Giants—
With the two abilities stacking together—
Arvin might even be able to forcefully invent some extremely overpowered items that would normally require massive amounts of aura and Nen!!
That was why what he told Phinks was "ask", not merely "do me a favor".
The intent behind a request was clearly much stronger than a simple favor~~~
"So it really only requires a request, right?!!"
After confirming that there were indeed no additional conditions or costs, Phinks's eyes almost burst out shining with golden light.
If power like this could be obtained through such a trivial method—
"This is a huge profit!!!"
Phinks shouted wildly in his heart. Unable to hold himself back any longer, he immediately opened his mouth, ready to make a request to Arvin.
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