UNLOCK: I CAN SEE MY STATS

chapter 35 : Dream-Bringer drug

Marcus nodded without hesitation and began pushing the large boat forward with his transformed body, while his mother, Susanneth, lay resting on the edge. As he propelled the vessel, he started recounting everything that had happened over the past three days.

Strangely, he didn’t mention the bracelet at all. He only said he had suddenly discovered an ability to transform into a Sea King and other shapes, even revealing that he could copy other people’s powers, but he kept the secret of the bracelet buried deep in his heart.

Susanneth listened in silence, her eyes distant as if trying to find a logical explanation for all of it... but soon she gave up. What was the point of searching for a reason now? What mattered was how they could use these abilities.

She placed her hand on his tough scales and spoke with firm resolve:

“Once we gather your siblings and settle somewhere new... I’ll begin training you.”

Then her tone became more warning as she added:

“Keep in mind that from now on, you’re likely a wanted criminal by the Global Council and the Marine Army. It’s very possible they already have your image.”

She fell quiet for a moment, then continued:

“When they find out their agents were killed, they’ll immediately suspect you.”

She stared into his golden eyes, her voice turning even more serious

“That’s why... don’t show your face in the coming days. Once we move Il, Sophie, Gran, and Luther to a safe place, we’ll keep our distance for a while, especially you. We have to make absolutely sure the Council or the Marine Army has no other way to track you. We can’t risk your siblings’ lives.”

Then, as if sensing the weight on him, she patted him gently and added more softly:

“There’s no need to be discouraged... it’ll only be for a few days until we’re sure we’re in the clear.”

Then she laughed lightly and said in a teasing voice

“And by the way, since you killed that filthy Chosen... I’m certain the bounty on your head will exceed a hundred million.”

She chuckled mischievously.

“You’ll become wanted whether you like it or not.”

Marcus’s eyes widened and he said in shock:

“A hundred million?!”

Then he muttered slyly as he looked over at her

“What do you say we pretend to turn in my head... then run off with the reward?”

Susanneth laughed and gave his scales a playful smack.

“You greedy little brat, isn’t all this money enough for you?”

Then she gestured toward the stacked chests on the boat and added with genuine astonishment

“If I’m not mistaken... you probably stole the annual tax.”

“annual tax? What’s that?” Marcus asked curiously, staring at the chests.

Susanneth sighed, leaned her back against the edge of the boat, closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them and spoke in a calm tone

“You can think of it as a rent , imposed on all nations under the Global Council. Enormous sums of gold and treasure are sent every year to their grand center.”

Then she seemed to drift off briefly before letting out a bitter laugh.

“And the painful part is that this wealth is simply handed over on a golden platter to the Chosen... so they can live in utter luxury on top of the suffering of the rest of the world.”

Marcus shook his head and said

“What happens if a nation refuses to pay this annual tax?”

She sighed again and spoke in a grim voice

“Ruin, Marcus.”

“If a nation refuses to pay, the Council withdraws its protection immediately. The Marine Army leaves, and the country is left exposed to pirates, rebels, and civil wars.”

She lowered her voice even more and added

“And in some cases... the Council sends its fleets to wipe the country out completely, as a lesson to others.”

Marcus silently gasped, feeling something fragile inside him shatter.

But his attention snapped back when he heard a faint gasp from Susanneth as she opened one of the chests, different from the rest.

“A Dream-Bringer drug!!”

Marcus stared into the luxurious chest and saw three strange vials or capsules. Susanneth picked up the middle one. It was gray, pulsing with a faint light, as if it held twisted souls inside.

“What a delightful surprise...” she laughed with excitement, examining the eerie drug that almost looked alive.

“I’ve never read detailed records on Dream-Bringer drugs... so I can’t pinpoint this type.”

She placed it back in the chest, then picked up another vial, this one a deep purple, its liquid inside shifting slowly as if it had a will of its own.

“And this too...” she muttered with disappointment when she didn’t recognize it.

Then she looked at Marcus and said

“Remember, the drug you took looked like this, but it was red. I suspect this belongs to the transcendent type.”

She went on, gesturing with her hand

“I’ve told you before, Dream-Bringer drugs are divided into three types. The transcendent type, like my own power, grants unique and varied abilities.”

She raised her hand and formed a stone from red energy, then shaped it into a long blade.

She crushed the energy stone in her hand and said

“I can even form massive constructs, but it drains my energy fast.”

Then she clapped her hands with enthusiasm, caressing the vial in her palm and said

“Did you know each Dream-Bringer drug is worth at least a hundred million?”

She glanced at Marcus who seemed lost in thought, then pointed to the chests and said seriously

“But money is the least of our concerns. This Heavenly Tribute alone is worth nearly a billion.”

Then she added with a calm smile

“The other two types are the transformation type and the elemental type.”

“A transformation drug gives its user the ability to turn into beasts and colossal creatures.”

She then looked at Marcus’s enormous body and smirked

“Just like your transformation. But you’re a rare case, I’ve never heard of a user who can swim without losing their power.”

She drew closer and spoke in a low voice

“And the ability to copy powers... I’ve never seen or heard of that at all.”

She shook her head and added

“My knowledge of the transformation type is thin, but it’s divided into three branches: common, ancient, and legendary.”

When Marcus heard “legendary,” his eyes widened and he asked eagerly

“Legendary? That council man said I have a legendary transformation drug.”

She shrugged and said

“He thinks you swallowed one of those. It’s rumored that those who do can transform into mythical creatures, like dragons.”

Then she exhaled and added honestly:

“But frankly... I don’t know why he thought you had one.”

She leaned back again and sighed.

“As for the elemental type... it’s the most dangerous of all the drugs. It grants the user the ability to control one of nature’s elements, and no physical blow can pierce them.”

Marcus’s eyes widened and he whispered in astonishment

“Haah? Completely impervious? That means... they’re nearly invincible!”