Outer Gods invade, stuff them all into your equipment inventory.

If you sell this ring for some dimensional coins, you should be able to find a second-hand "storage pouch" at the Hero Market in the settlement.

Although this most basic storage equipment only has an internal space of one or two cubic meters, it is enough to solve his urgent need for carrying supplies.

Even the best equipment is ultimately just a tool.

The wise move would be to transform it into a more urgently needed resource at the right time.

Besides, given Sean's monster-killing speed...

It's only a matter of time before I get a better ring.

"I just disposed of the equipment I didn't need in advance, what's there to hesitate about?"

Actually, Sean has another way to obtain storage equipment.

That was the vein he discovered when he killed the mutated Iron Slime.

Such a high-quality mineral vein, and so close to the Thirteenth Gathering Site.

As long as Sean reports the relevant information about the mine to the Hero Association, he will definitely receive a huge reward of points.

He can then use these points to exchange for storage equipment from the Hero Association.

However, Sean did not do that.

The mine was very valuable, and he planned to keep it for his own development.

Even if you catch a new Iron Slime and raise it in the mine until it advances to Gold or Diamond Slime before killing it, it's still more cost-effective than handing it over.

So after leaving the cave, he deliberately smashed the cliff to hide the entrance to the cave.

They also spent time cleaning up the dents left by the steel slimes in the surrounding area.

The purpose was to monopolize that mineral vein.

"Actually, if I didn't want to reveal that I had already reached the level of a B-rank hero, I would barely be qualified to sit at the table and eat."

In a place like Settlement No. 13, a B-rank hero is more than enough to occupy a metal mine.

Before taking action, all those forces, big and small, have to carefully consider the consequences of offending a B-level combatant.

"Let's put this matter on hold for now, and move on to it after I return from Settlement Three..."

From here, you'll train your way to the third settlement, gaining experience points by defeating monsters along the way.

"That should be enough to raise my hero level to around 30, right?"

A hero around level 30 exhibits hero combat power equivalent to B-rank or even B+.

While still somewhat shocking, it's not unacceptable.

"Using life-and-death experiences across the wilderness as a reason for a surge in strength makes it easier for others to believe."

After all, there have been many heroes in history who had extraordinary encounters and were exceptionally talented, and whose strength could increase dramatically in a short period of time.

Legendary people do legendary things.

All it takes is to throw out a few adventure stories, and that will be enough to convince the vast majority of people of Sean's lies.

Even if some people suspect that Sean has a secret, it shouldn't attract a big shot that he can't handle at all.

"True survival isn't about completely disguising yourself as invisible."

Instead, it's about creating a "genius persona" that can be understood by others, within the bounds of "reasonability."

People will be amazed by my speed of progress, will explore my "adventures", and may even feel envious or jealous.

But as long as this rate of progress is confined to the category of "genius," then the attention it attracts will at most be curiosity, attempts to win over, or competition.

"To display the right power at the right time, and to hide the real secret under a reasonable 'secret,' is the true way to survive."

........................

After putting the three books back on the shelf, Sean borrowed seven more books, using up all of his free borrowing quota for the day.

These seven books are all about records of skills or spells.

However, Sean did not browse the books in the library, but instead planned to take them home.

He has a hypothesis that he needs to go back and verify.

Sean soon returned home.

He lives in a villa with a considerable area left by his parents.

Because of the scarcity of usable land, the vast majority of people in Settlement Thirteen live in buildings that are ten or more stories high.

It's common in densely populated areas for buildings to house tens of thousands of families.

Only the truly wealthy are qualified to buy land and build villas to live in.

Sean's missing parents were both C-rank heroes, though that was nothing in the eyes of the young masters and ladies of those hero families.

But in Gathering Place Thirteen, he was already a figure worthy of awe.

They used their years of accumulated achievements and savings to acquire this villa with a small yard.

Now only Sean lives here.

Sean pushed open the door and walked into the yard.

Sean's parents were not native to Gathering 13, nor did they mention which gathering they came from.

Sean had no relatives in Settlement Thirteen, and very few people visited him over the years.

In the early years, some real estate agents would often come to persuade Sean to sell the villa to them.

However, after Sean repeatedly refused their offers, the agents gradually stopped coming to his door.

No one dared to force Sean to sell the house.

After all, Sean's parents were C-rank heroes who sacrificed themselves to complete a mission for the Hero Association.

If the orphans they leave behind are forced to sell their properties and become homeless through various means, what will become of the Hero Association's reputation?

By closing the villa door, Sean shut out the outside world's prying eyes and noise.

Then he took the initiative to unequip the remains of the elite Fallen Demon from his inventory.

An elite Fallen corpse appeared in the courtyard, and the air was filled with a strong smell of blood.

Sean casually picked up a book.

This is a thin booklet with a brown cover.

The cover reads: "The Art of a Thousand Faces: Basic Disguise and Aura Concealment"

Strictly speaking, this book is not a skill or spell book.

It describes how to use simple materials to change one's skin color, hairstyle, and body shape.

It also includes methods that use certain herbs to temporarily mask one's unique scent.

"Give me the equipment!"

Sean held a book in one hand while issuing equipment orders.

He wanted to test whether these books could be equipped in the equipment slot.

He wanted to know what would happen after he equipped himself with the books.

He immediately knew the answer.

As soon as the command was given, the booklet in his hand turned into a ray of light and disappeared into his body.

In an instant, a vast amount of knowledge flooded into the depths of his consciousness like a burst dam.

It wasn't through learning, but rather as if this knowledge was already in his mind.

It's all the knowledge about disguise and concealing one's aura recorded in this book.

The techniques of disguise, the formulas, and the details of concealing one's aura all seemed to be engraved in his soul.

How to mix mineral pigments to create realistic scars, how to use common herbs to change body odor, and even how to mimic the walking postures of different people...

Everything in "The Art of a Thousand Faces" instantly became his instinct.