After giving the Rank Seven scroll a meticulous once-over, Fang Senyan spent 5 potential points to learn it. The instant the scroll vanished, Fang Senyan understood precisely why such a high stamina requirement was necessary!

As the scroll dissolved, an indescribable, searing sensation spread throughout his entire body! He could clearly see his health rapidly depleting, and the agony was so intense that concentrating his mind became almost impossible! It must be that learning this skill required one to first wrestle with the scroll's inherent malevolent power. If one's health wasn't high enough, there was a real danger of dying just from learning the ability!

Upon completing the learning process, Fang Senyan finally grasped the distinction between scrolls that could be assigned a rank and those rarity-based scrolls differentiated by color! Because after learning the Orcish Tinkering Notes, the system first prompted Fang Senyan with: Rank Six Ability: Black Magic Crafting. Then, with a loud swoosh, a lengthy, top-to-bottom skill tree popped up right beside the Nightmare Space! The detailed structure of the skill tree was as follows:

Tier One: Tinkering Insight Summary Lv1. (The skills below form three separate branches, all parallel on the Tier Two skill tree.) Tier Two: Orcish Gene Fluid: Flesh Bear Strength Synthesis Lv1. Tier Two: Orcish Gene Fluid: Corpse Feather Hawk Agility Synthesis Tier Two: Orcish Gene Fluid: Melting Tail Fox Intellect Synthesis Beneath these, the skill tree continued for a full four more tiers, with an extensive list, but all were listed as ???, likely because they hadn't been learned or activated yet.

The description for Tinkering Insight Summary stated that elevating this passive ability would increase the duration of all subsequent potions/potion effects.

The description for Orcish Gene Fluid: Flesh Bear Strength Synthesis stated that by extracting the essence of the Great Bear, a potent potion could be synthesized, granting the drinker a temporary increase of 2 points in Strength. The potion’s effective duration was 120 seconds, and the buff’s duration upon consumption was 15 minutes. Consuming the potion via the Nightmare Mark directly boosted its effect without interruption. Note: Synthesizing this potion requires specific materials and media: Giant Bear Flesh Powder, Water, and a Test Tube.

Fang Senyan was instantly dumbfounded. He immediately checked his Nightmare Mark and discovered that Water and Test Tubes could be purchased cheaply within the space. However, the Giant Bear Flesh Powder required a specific method to be created from bear flesh and blood. If purchasing it, the price wasn't exorbitant, but it required docking 1 Merit Point to acquire five portions. Ever since being warned by the officer who bestowed his rank, Fang Senyan dared not use Merit Points carelessly.

The upside was that the crafting formula for Giant Bear Flesh Powder looked decidedly uncomplicated, and it explicitly stated: one could attempt to craft it independently in any world. Thus, Fang Senyan set his sights on the real world. The value of +2 Strength was too considerable to ignore; for Fang Senyan, who often charged headlong into the front lines, an increase in strength not only aided in boosting his offensive power but, more importantly, prevented him from suffering that terrifying crushing damage!

Fang Senyan then took another sweep through the space, but to his great regret, he still found no suitable weapon.

After some thought, he spent another 3000 Utility Points to activate the other two synthesis abilities on the second tier: Corpse Feather Hawk Agility Synthesis/Melting Tail Fox Intellect Synthesis. He discovered the former temporarily boosted Agility by 2 points upon ingestion, and the latter temporarily boosted Intellect by 2 points. The required materials were Raptor Flesh Powder and Fox Flesh Powder.

Next, Fang Senyan continued his training within the space. After exhausting over thirty hours of lingering time, his basic attributes saw an increase: Perception +1, and Basic Melee Combat and Basic Endurance both leveled up to Lv3. This cost nearly 2000 Utility Points, which felt like a worthwhile investment. However, it was clear that further advancement through this grueling training method became progressively harder for the individual; once a critical threshold was reached, progress naturally stagnated.

During this time, Fang Senyan kept checking the market but found nothing suitable. Finally, as his lingering time ran out, he directly left the space and returned to Hong Kong. While simultaneously inquiring about the whereabouts of Fourth Uncle Da and the others, he began searching the markets for raptors, bears, and foxes. Purchasing such rare items, which required intercity transport, naturally demanded specialized channels. Although Fang Senyan had money, he was new to the area, lacking connections; even with wealth, acquiring such things was difficult.

Of course, he hadn't entirely dismissed the idea of raiding the Hong Kong Zoo, but such an act would surely make the papers and headline news. In this age where news outlets were desperate for content, the disappearance of seven or eight people wouldn't even capture much attention. However, the mysterious slaughter or disappearance of zoo animals would undoubtedly draw immense scrutiny. At this point, Fang Senyan was beginning to recognize the threat posed by other Contractors in the real world, and unless absolutely necessary, he would never contemplate targeting the zoo.

"That's..." Two options surfaced in Fang Senyan's mind. Both individuals likely possessed the capability to help him acquire the urgently needed materials. The first was Boss Huo, whom he had saved at the Singapore auction. However, approaching him now, Boss Huo might not be receptive, and more critically, if any Contractor grew suspicious about the events at that Singapore auction, it could easily lead them to the surviving Boss Huo.

Therefore, Fang Senyan’s best option seemed to be seeking assistance from Jessica, the mixed-race girl who appeared to be a trust-fund kid. Didn't she want his help with racing? That could be traded for her assistance in procuring those animal parts. As for their previous conflict, if she had sought revenge, she would have already called the police, not kept things as quiet as they were now. More importantly, Fang Senyan didn't fear her retaliation; if any trouble arose, he could simply leave—who could stop him?

So, after resting for a day, Fang Senyan headed to the bar owned by the man with the Scottish bagpipes and settled quietly into a corner booth. The owner, Pete, wasn't there; perhaps he was intentionally hiding or simply hadn't come to work that day. But the bartender looked at Fang Senyan with palpable fear, not daring to glance over while serving him his drink.

Less than half an hour after Fang Senyan sat down, he heard the signature screech of brakes outside. Soon after, the mixed-race girl Jessica and Sister Jin, who excelled at Taekwondo, arrived. Jessica’s right hand was wrapped in white gauze, her injury clearly not healed, while Sister Jin limped noticeably. Trailing behind them were four men in suits and sunglasses, seemingly the security detail they had deployed earlier.

Sister Jin glared at Fang Senyan and bit out: “You still dare show your face in front of me?”

Fang Senyan sighed: “Let’s talk once your leg is better, okay?”

Hearing this, Jessica was the first to laugh, revealing a neat row of fine, white teeth, and sat down across from Fang Senyan: “Hey, that medicine you gave me works wonders. My family’s private doctor was astonished.”

Today, her attire was less wild, possessing a demure, well-bred quality. Fang Senyan’s gaze swept across her voluptuous chest, stirring a sense of amorous warmth within him—he felt a strong urge to reach out and casually fondle her, yet he spoke casually: “Last time, you asked for my help with racing?”

Jessica brightened with surprise: “Yes! You’ll agree to help me?”

Fang Senyan tapped the table with his finger: “Help me find a few items, and I’ll help you this one time.”

Jessica snapped her fingers, beaming: “Yay, it’s settled! Tell me! What do you need?”

Fang Senyan paused for a moment, then beckoned her closer with a finger: “You cannot tell anyone what I’m looking for, or our deal is off.” “Deal,” Jessica agreed readily. Fang Senyan then laid out his requirements in detail. The mixed-race girl’s eyes widened in astonishment: “What on earth are you looking for these things for?”

Fang Senyan had already prepared an excuse. He pulled out the oddly shaped flask from his coat—the Endless Vodka—and shook it at her: “That’s a secret.”

Jessica glanced down at her hand and immediately understood: “Oh, so, for the original liquor...”

Fang Senyan smiled: “This stuff is incredibly troublesome to make, and some of it got drunk, so I need these materials to replenish the supply.”

Jessica nodded and agreed promptly: “Alright.”

She immediately pulled out her mobile phone, tilted her head, and began speaking. The person on the other end seemed to be a butler or similar staff member, responding with constant assurances. Then, Jessica sent a text message, and everything was instantly resolved. “I can have them delivered by tomorrow afternoon,” she stated with certainty.

Fang Senyan spread his hands, adopting a graceful posture: “Then, I am at your service anytime.”

Jessica was already smiling happily, her eyes crinkling into crescents. Combined with her high-bridged nose and sapphire-blue eyes inherited from her European lineage, she exuded a captivating allure: “Eddie and his crew are organizing a race tonight at nine. I’ve never managed to beat him.”

Fang Senyan lifted the brandy in front of him and downed it in one gulp, saying calmly: “There’s always an exception to every rule.”

The roaring engines, the furious whines, the streetlights, the vehicles, the pedestrians, the signs, and the world stretching and warping as it rushed toward them—this was Jessica’s direct sensation while sitting next to Fang Senyan in the Maserati. She was screaming maniacally, not just because the two Maserati sports cars Fang Senyan was driving had maintained a commanding lead in the underground street race, but because the thrill of such high speed gave her an unprecedented experience, coupled with the wild elation after victory!

His hand still wrapped in thick gauze, smelling faintly of repulsive medicinal wine, this chapter was poked out using his index finger. No early update today. I’ll start paying back the debt starting tomorrow.