The Glorious Evolution

’An NDA contract has been sent to your inbox... once you sign it, the details will be sent.’

Click.

The recipient hung up the call immediately... with no NDA contract signed, there was nothing to be discussed.

Levi clicked on the contract and checked its details while leaning against a wall in the market... no one could see the dimensional screens and nocturnal contracts unless he wanted to share them.

After a thorough read, Levi signed the contract at once... it was a standard NDA contract that ensured that he wouldn’t expose the black merchant’s identity or his location.

-You have received a D-mail.-

Hearing the notification, Levi checked his mail inbox and found that the details of the shop’s location were all there. He brought out the city’s map and marked the location, which gave him a GPS tracker to guide him.

Levi tapped into the cosmetic shop on his profile interface and picked a random owl mask that hid his upper face, leaving only his mouth and chin exposed.

Then, he pulled his hood low as he strolled through Nocturn’s City, following the tracker. The streets were alive with gamblers, beggars, and mercenaries, all too busy to notice him slip into a shabby little grocery shop tucked between two towering buildings.

The air smelled of dried herbs and rotting fruit. Meanwhile, behind the counter, a frail old man with cloudy eyes and cracked blue skin greeted him.

Levi gave no reply... he simply showed him the signed contract.

”Newblood... welcome.” The old man smiled, pushing aside a crate of wilted cabbage-like plants, revealing a narrow staircase descending into darkness.

Levi descended for a few moments... the steps creaking under his shoes until the faint scent of incense replaced the stink of fruit.

At the bottom, lanterns lit themselves, revealing a massive, dimly lit underground society with tens of masked people spread all over the place.

They were checking the giant library of shelves, which were filled with forbidden relics, bottled curses and blessings, Vile and Solar totems, strange body parts in green containers, and more...

Wherever Levi’s auditory vision landed, a peculiar treasure met him... such a sight had raised his hopes of finding what he needed.

Seeing a new mask joining them, the soft chatter died slowly as everyone focused on Levi, sizing him up and down... But then, a voice brought them to reality.

”As you were.”

A black slime wearing a white bowtie slid across the floor in the direction of Levi, his ancient voice forcing everyone to focus on their purchases.

”Hello, new friend... I am Knowledge Master, the general manager of the Black Slime Archive Syndicate branch in the 2nd Province... but you can call me Mr KM.”

The slime greeted Levi with a toothless smile and a single eye with thousands of black strips as a pupil. He had no heart, core, or a Shadowlife seed... just the eye and a body oozing with black slime.

”Greeting.” Levi nodded slightly and said, ”I am here to find something.”

”Don’t we all?” Mr. KM smiled, ”Follow me.”

Mr. KM took Levi through the underground merchant hall and entered a private office... Levi sat down in front of a wooden desk after being offered, while Mr. KM devoured his chair and took its form.

Then, he smiled and asked, ”How’s Ellina?”

”Dead.”

”Ah... I expected as much after our contract was terminated.” Mr. KM smiled wryly, ”Though I wished it ended differently... that girl’s view on life was so bleak, I hope she experienced some kind of joy before she kicked the bucket.”

’Was she depressed or something?’ Levi asked Ash’Kral, not knowing much about Ellina besides her being the only one to create fifteen Darkness Aspect-based innate abilities... she was the only partner truly accepted by the Void seed.

’Depressed? Nah, she just hated life and everything and everyone in it because of her chosen path...’ Ash’Kral waved his wing dismissively.

’...’ Levi was left speechless.

Isn’t that the definition of depression? He thought.

But, he wasn’t here to discuss an old partner, whom he knew nothing about... Levi swiftly changed the subject back to his desired treasure.

”I am here seeking Radiant Fog... a D-grade natural treasure.”

”Radiant Fog... hmm, let me check if we have him on us... If not, we will sell you the information to obtain it from the easiest to the hardest.” Mr. KM said.

”Fine by me.” Levi nodded.

Hearing this, Mr. KM closed his eye and went silent for a few moments... his eye was still visible behind the transparent yellow gooey substance, making Levi focus on a single strip illuminated with billions of tiny inscriptions.

They were so small, he wouldn’t be able to see them if it weren’t for the Harmonic Spine zooming capabilities.

’The Archive Managers... Knowledge Masters... The Greedy Intellectual Collectors.’ Levi named a few of the names given to Mr. KM’s species as he kept staring at him in silent fascination.

He was told by Ash’Kral that his race species was named Archivara... They were part of the Slime Massive Race library of species, and considered the most intelligent and ancient.

While most slimes served as nothing but cannon fodder due to their insane regenerative prowess, which made them borderline immortal, the Archivara species were different.

They ran the Black Slime Archive Syndicate... an underground society, where knowledge and information were more than just words.

They were the treasure and the currency.

Unlike standard Black Markets, the Slime Archive Syndicate focused on information and knowledge mostly... the treasures bought and sold here were just a bonus.

They were archived for a reason... any piece of knowledge they obtained got sent straight to the Mother Slime, which was in a hidden location, only a select few knew about.

The Mother Slime was believed to be the original slime, and that every other species of slime across the timeline came out of her... as long as she was alive, no slime would ever die or get possessed by a nightcrawler.

Pieces of her soul were in each one of her children, which gave them holy protection against their attempts.

Most importantly, she archived the information and allowed all of her Archivara slimes to store more or extract anything through establishing a connection with her.

’You see those rings in his eye? Each ring represents a certain access to the Mother Slime’s Archive... one ring illuminating means low access.’ Ash’Kral shared, seeing that Levi was scanning Mr. KM’s eye nonstop.

’How marvelous... they have access to a well of useful and very important knowledge... I can’t believe what kind of lore they have collected across the ages.’ Levi murmured, ’I wonder how they are still going strong.’

In Levi’s eyes, no matter how hard they tried to hide the Mother Slime’s location, she was bound to be located if the Primordial Trees paid them any attention.

’They are already followers of Nocturn... he keeps them safe in his realm and they share their archive with him.’ Ash’Kral answered.

’Figures.’ Levi nodded, not too surprised.

Nocturn was like the godfather of refugees, fugitives, and anyone seeking protection. His realm was a home for everyone and anyone... a cultural melting pot.

”Here it is.” Mr. KM suddenly smiled, ”Apologies for the delay, I had to search in all Provinces’ branches if they still had one left... lucky for you, I found it in the Ninth Province’s branch.”

”Thank you.” Levi sighed in relief, ”You do delivery, right?”

”Of course, it’s instant.” Mr. KM leaned closer and said, ”Now, let’s talk payment... what do you have for me?”

Mr. KM didn’t bother telling Levi how things were operated inside their establishment... if he had a referral from one of his old regular customers, then he was expected to know the details.

Fortunately, Ash’Kral had Levi covered.

”I have insider information about Leviathans’ materials shipments and such,” Levi said calmly.

”Oooh... me likey.” Mr. KM’s smile widened in satisfaction.

”I have fresh and two-week-old.” Levi asked, ”You want them all?”

”Start with the old ones.” Mr. KM said, ”Although two weeks is a bit too late for such critical information, we can still extract value from it.”

”As you wish.”

Levi began to list off every piece of insider intel he was given by the system, whether they were related to Leviathans’ materials getting sold, exported, imported, traded, or whatnot.

He finished it with the latest piece of information, which had the highest value... utilization-wise.

Once he was done, the Slime was left nodding in satisfaction.

”Good, good, good... my branch was always lacking in Leviathan-based information, which made us look bad compared to our other branches... So, I am very appreciative of you coming to share with us.”

’Lacking? I smell an opportunity.’ Levi’s spiritual eyes gleamed.

No hesitation, he shifted his entire perspective from a buyer to seeking a partnership... he understood that the information in his possession was losing its value each time he failed to make a move on it.

With the prices of Leviathans’ materials being traded in hundreds of thousands of credits minimum, reaching up to millions for the rarest, he didn’t have what it took at his current level to be part of it.

But now?

”What if I said I have a continuous stream of such knowledge?” Levi said calmly.

Mr. KM’s smile froze for a moment... and then, his entire demeanor shifted as well. He saw Levi as a normal customer who brought in some information he obtained through chance for a trade... but a continuous stream implied either access to the system or a massive network in relation to the Leviathans.

Both situations had no business being owned by a normal citizen or even a low-ranked Noble.

Since titles’ privileges remained exclusive to the Rifters winning them, there was no way in hell anyone could connect Levi’s information source to be The Leviathan’s Slayer.

”I am listening.” Mr. KM said, crossing his slimy arms.