The white void of the developer's realm shimmered faintly, still and tranquil as Velkharion leaned back in his chair. Across from him, Kiruna sat with her sharp, analytical gaze fixed firmly on him. Her silver hair gleamed softly in the light, and her poised demeanor suggested patience—albeit not infinite patience. When Velkharion mentioned he had "more requests," her neatly raised brow hinted at a blend of intrigue and quiet skepticism.
"I'll tell you this now," Kiruna began, her tone carrying the authority of a game dev addressing a player. "You only have one request in this meeting. This isn't an open invitation to overhaul Yggdrasil with your ideas."
Velkharion didn't respond right away, letting her words hang in the air as he reached into his inventory. With a swift flick of his wrist, he summoned the glowing pile of data crystals he had amassed over his adventures. The crystals shimmered in varying shades, each one glowing faintly.
Kiruna's brow furrowed immediately, her calm expression giving way to suspicion. "And… what exactly are you planning to do with those?"
Velkharion smirked as he removed an item from his inventory—a book-sized tome, its polished leather cover gleaming faintly in the void. With deliberate precision, he set the hefty volume down on the table between them. Kiruna eyed the book cautiously, the faintest hint of a scowl forming as her piercing blue eyes darted between the tome and the pile of data crystals.
"What… is that?" Kiruna asked, her voice lowering as she narrowed her gaze.
Velkharion smiled, his tone light but unmistakably mischievous. "A little something I've been working on. It's a list—a comprehensive, book-sized list—of items, designs, and concepts I'd like implemented in Yggdrasil. And before you say anything..." He gestured to the data crystals. "I've already prepared the resources to support every single request in here."
Kiruna's expression darkened, her scowl deepening as she leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. "You have got to be kidding me."
Velkharion shrugged casually, his smirk remaining. "I thought you said the company appreciates the activity I've been bringing to the server. Consider this... my contribution to keeping things interesting."
With visible reluctance, Kiruna opened the book and began flipping through the pages. Her expression shifted from exasperation to a mix of disbelief and outright frustration as she scanned the detailed entries. Each page contained meticulously designed items, ranging from gear and weapons to entire systems of player-customizable features. Velkharion had included sketches, descriptions, and even technical notes on how these ideas might integrate into the game world.
"This is…" Kiruna muttered, flipping faster now. "This is a lot. Who even has time to put together something like this?"
Velkharion leaned forward slightly, resting his chin on his hand with an amused smile. "You're looking at him."
Kiruna sighed deeply, rubbing her temples as she reached the halfway point in the book. "I swear, Velkharion… I think you're single-handedly trying to drive me into early retirement."
Kiruna continued flipping through the book, occasionally glancing at the glowing data crystals stacked beside it. The sheer amount of preparation and resources Velkharion had amassed was staggering, and she knew it would be difficult to outright refuse him.
"This isn't just ambitious," Kiruna muttered, her voice laced with irritation. "It's borderline unreasonable. You've thought through every detail—every possible counterpoint—and you came fully equipped to back it up with these crystals. You really don't take 'no' for an answer, do you?"
Velkharion shrugged again, his grin widening. "I wouldn't call it unreasonable. Just... thorough."
Kiruna rolled her eyes, snapping the book shut with a sharp motion. She grabbed a few of the glowing data crystals, examining them briefly before muttering something that sounded suspiciously close to a swear word. Finally, she stood, clutching the book and crystals as she glared at him.
"You've just made my day a lot harder," Kiruna said bluntly, her tone dripping with frustration. "Fine. I'll take this to the higher-ups, but don't expect miracles. With the World Champion Tournament coming up, even this will take time—months, at least."
Velkharion raised a hand in mock surrender, his expression playful. "Take all the time you need. I'm patient."
Kiruna let out another deep sigh, muttering something under her breath as she turned and strode away, disappearing into the shimmering doorway of light.
Left alone in the void once more, Velkharion leaned back in his chair, his thoughts swirling with satisfaction and anticipation. He couldn't help but chuckle softly to himself, imagining Kiruna's reaction to the sheer audacity of his request.
"Months, huh?" he mused, his fiery eyes glowing faintly. "That gives me time to prepare for the tournament. And maybe..." He paused, a mischievous grin tugging at his lips. "Maybe I'll think of a few more requests while I'm at it."
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