"Kal'tsit? I thought you'd spend more time with Amiya. While you were away, she kept bothering me quite a lot."
The moment Warfarin saw that it was Kal'tsit, she instantly lost interest in Steven, as if all the curiosity and desire in her eyes had never existed.
Some things, after all, couldn't be shared—not even with a colleague.
Quickly changing the subject, Warfarin pulled Amiya into the conversation, making her the center of attention.
After all, whenever Amiya was involved, that old lynx Kal'tsit wouldn't be as sharp as usual. Warfarin knew this quite well.
"Compared to reporting on previous work to Amiya, welcoming our guest is clearly more important right now."
Kal'tsit glanced at Warfarin, clearly noticing the subtle shift in her demeanor.
She hesitated for only a moment before shifting her full attention to Steven.
"Just now, I overheard you outside. Did you say that you have a way to cure Oripathy?"
Unlike Warfarin, who assumed Steven was just joking, Kal'tsit took this matter very seriously.
She was well aware that this young man's origins were likely even more mysterious than those of the Abyssal Hunters. And from what little she had learned about him, she knew that when he started showing interest in something, it usually meant he was planning to do something about it.
More importantly, based on her brief understanding of Steven, he wouldn't have asked such a question unless he already had a solution in mind.
"And what if I said no? Would you believe me?"
Steven chuckled and flashed a mysterious smile at the green-haired woman.
A riddle for a riddle.
Wasn't she the one who loved making him decipher vague statements?
Well, this time, she could have a taste of her own medicine.
"This matter is crucial—not just to Rhodes Island, but to this entire land. Please don't make jokes about something so important."
Seeing Steven's teasing expression, Kal'tsit's gaze grew even more serious.
This wasn't just about Oripathy.
It was about a promise—a dying wish entrusted to her by someone dear.
She couldn't afford to take it lightly.
Her voice carried firm resolve, and she completely abandoned her usual cryptic way of speaking.
She knew all too well that if she continued speaking in riddles, Steven would probably just turn around and leave.
"And what does that have to do with me? I was just asking a question. Is that not allowed?"
Steven maintained his relaxed demeanor.
He hadn't claimed he could cure Oripathy.
But he also hadn't denied it.
To be fair, he genuinely didn't know the answer.
After all, he had never been infected, nor had he seen Oripathy up close.
He couldn't just blindly assume he could cure it.
What if the cure required a Golden Apple?
Would he have to feed it to each patient mouth to mouth, just like before?
It wouldn't be so bad if they were all beauties like Gladiia…
But there were men in this world too!
What if he had to kiss Carmen or something?
Now that would be seriously messed up.
"…"
Steven's response left Kal'tsit speechless.
He had absolutely no obligation to help her.
In fact, the only reason he was even here at Rhodes Island was because she had invited him.
"I believe… Mr. Steve, you mentioned something about making money earlier, correct?"
At this critical moment, it was Amiya—the rabbit-eared girl who had been following Kal'tsit—who remained the most clear-headed.
She spoke up, offering her own perspective.
Ever since entering the room, she had been closely observing Steven.
And the moment she noticed that he might know something, she quickly reached a conclusion.
"Perhaps we could offer you a financial incentive? As compensation for your assistance. What do you think?"
Before negotiating, you have to lay out your chips first
"See? Look at you—you've lived so long, yet you still don't see things as clearly as a little kid. If you'd mentioned money earlier, this would've just been a simple transaction, wouldn't it?"
Steven turned his head and glanced at the small rabbit-eared girl beside him.
So well-behaved and sensible—this was how you approached someone with a request. Lay out the benefits first.
Now this was the sincerity he needed.
Speaking of which, she might actually be more suitable than Gladiia as a daughter to raise.
Not that Gladiia was bad or anything, but in every possible way…
She was just too big.
Her bear-like strength, those thick thighs, and that eyes-inviting backside… yeah.
This tiny, cute type? Now that was more in line with Steven's image of a daughter.
"This is all you want?"
Kal'tsit didn't catch on to Steven's train of thought.
She was still caught up in the shock of him actually accepting Amiya's offer.
Who would've thought that a guy whose logic was a complete mystery would actually work just for money?
Even she hadn't predicted that.
"Of course that's not all. But at least she showed a little sincerity first, didn't she? So I can also give you a little hint—
As long as this Oripathy you're talking about is really just a disease, then I might have some way to deal with it."
Steven held up his thumb and index finger, making a tiny gap between them.
But even that little bit was enough to make Kal'tsit feel a deep sense of astonishment.
He actually has a way?
Back when she first invited Steven to Rhodes Island, she had a feeling he might bring some surprises.
But she hadn't expected the surprise to be this big.
"Wait, hold on—Kal'tsit, don't tell me you actually believe that this guy, who didn't even know what Originium or Oripathy was, somehow has a way to cure it? Are you insane, or am I?"
Warfarin, who had been watching the drama unfold, couldn't stay silent any longer.
No matter how mysterious Steven was, he had definitely asked her with complete sincerity about what Originium was just a while ago.
And now, this same clueless guy?
Kal'tsit actually believed he had a solution?
Warfarin clutched her forehead.
Her worldview was crumbling.
Was she dreaming?
Otherwise, how could she be seeing something this ridiculous?
"Sigh, I was just saying if, right? I never said I didn't have a way. Tell you what—I've got time anyway. How about you bring me one of those Oripathy patients and let me take a look? Then I'll decide if I can actually do something about it."
Steven couldn't sit still anymore.
Doubting his abilities?
What a joke.
Who said he couldn't do it?
A Minecraft player's primitive methods were still methods, after all.
As for whether they worked or not…
Well, you wouldn't know until you tried, would you?
He had just presented the best possible solution, and now he waited for the response from the two old cucumbers in front of him.
Besides, he wanted to test something—
How much of Minecraft's mechanics could actually function in this world?
First, he'd start with milk.
Now that he had the Equivalent Exchange mod, at least he wouldn't have to worry about running out of supplies for the time being.