Next, West grabbed several empty plastic bottles and carefully, he poured the glowing water from the chalice into the bottles.
Each one filled with faint red liquid.
West repeated the process several tis and soon he had multiple bottles containing liquid from the chalice.
He placed them back into his inventory before nodding in satisfaction.
"Perfect."
Now if he ever found himself inside a dangerous ruins again or injured in battle, he wouldn’t need to search for liquid to put in the chalice.
The healing supply would already be prepared.
Seraphyra glanced over from across the room.
"You look pleased."
West leaned back on the couch again.
"Just preparing for the future."
Gor’thala finished setting down a heavy cabinet while Aurethia adjusted a chair.
The luxurious apartnt slowly transford into a fully furnished living space.
...
...
Tuesday morning arrived quickly.
After the long process of moving into his new apartnt and organizing everything the previous night, West finally returned to school. The week itself had already started moving at a fast pace again.
He had classes, personal training, gang planning and the quiet preparation for what he intended to do next.
Even though graduation was around the corner, West had far more important matters on his mind.
During breaks, he continued teaching Jax and Nina how to better control their branches. Both of them were progressing faster than expected, though they still lacked combat experience.
However, that could be handled later.
Right now, West was focused on sothing else entirely.
Money... or specifically, the lack of it.
After paying for the luxurious apartnt and other expenses, West had roughly $70,000 remaining in his account.
This would normally be a lot of money for soone his age but not for what he planned to do.
To officially register a gang, there were several requirents.
One of them was financial proof...
The folks in charge demanded at least $100,000 in declared funds to prove the gang had operational capability.
West leaned back in his classroom chair while staring out the window.
"Thirty thousand short..."
He wasn’t worried though... bcause he had sothing far more valuable than cash.
Loot... materials from both the Residential and Eternal Ruins.
After school ended that afternoon, West headed straight back to his apartnt.
He changed into different clothes and covered half his face with a black nose mask, concealing his identity.
Then he opened his inventory and examined the materials again.
After a mont of consideration, he chose what he would sell.
• Several Eternal Growth Crystals
• Blacksteel Ruin Fragnts
• A few Eternal Ore Chunks
All of them were valuable crafting materials but they weren’t particularly useful to him personally so selling them made sense.
With his items selected, West left the apartnt and headed toward a familiar part of the city.
---
About thirty minutes later, he arrived.
The place looked exactly the sa as before.
From the outside, it appeared to be nothing more than a rundown warehouse wedged between two abandoned buildings.
Rust covered most of the tal panels, graffiti covered the concrete walls and the windows were so dirty it was impossible to see inside...
To any random passerby, it looked like an old building waiting to be demolished but those who mattered knew this was one of the city’s well known underground trading hubs.
A place where gangs conducted deals...
Where relics recovered from ruins changed hands and dangerous artifacts were exchanged for money, favors, or information.
Several n lingered outside, standing in groups smoking.
Their eyes constantly scanned the street amd most of them were awakened.
West walked past them without hesitation just as before and no one stopped him.
Inside, it was just as he rembered...
There was a large lounge area occupied one side of the warehouse, furnished with black leather couches where gang mbers casually discussed deals.
A tal staircase led to the second floor, likely containing private negotiation rooms.
And along the far wall stood a row of professional counters, each staffed by employees dressed in fitted business suits.
It looked more like a high-end bank operating inside a criminal warehouse.
West scanned the counters and noticed soone familiar...
The calm woman from last ti who had kicked an aggressive awakener out of the building with a single strike.
She was sitting behind one of the counters, looking calm and professional as ever.
West approached just as two gang mbers finished their transaction and walked away.
He stepped forward and placed his hands on the counter.
"I’d like to sell materials."
The woman looked up and imdiately assessed him with her gaze.
Even though he wore a mask and different clothes, sothing about him seed familiar but she said nothing.
Instead she calmly pushed a transaction form toward him.
"Fill this out."
West began writing.
Na: Rain
Affiliation: Independent
Items for sale.
Then he listed the quantities.
When she read the form, her eyebrows slightly furrowed because she couldn’t see anything on him.
No bags, crates or any sort of container and yet he was claiming to sell multiple ruin materials.
Still, she remained professional.
"Follow ."
She stood up and led him toward the staircase.
Apparently she sowhat rembered him from last ti.
They moved into a private inspection room upstairs, containing a reinforced table and scanning equipnt used to examine relics.
The mont the door closed, West began unloading the materials.
One by one the eternal Growth Crystals appeared and after the Blacksteel fragnts... lastly he placed loads of Eternal ore chunks on the table.
The woman’s calm eyes widened slightly but she tried not to show it even though she was shocked internally.
How does an independent awakener have this many materials?
Usually resources like this only appeared in the hands of established gangs.
To make things even crazier, he could sohow carry this many materials around without having any physical storage unit with him? How?
Despite all the questions swimming in her head, she asked no questions.
Instead she began the inspection process.
Each item was scanned and examined for authenticity.
Energy signatures were asured and quality grading was recorded.
The process took about fifteen minutes and when she was done, she finally looked up.
"These materials are high quality."
West nodded.
"I figured."
She calculated quickly on her tablet.
"These can be purchased in bulk for $520,000."
West leaned back slightly.
"Sounds fair."
She looked surprised.
Most people tried to negotiate for a higher deal but West simply accepted.
She finalized the transaction.
"Where should the money be transferred?"
West replied calmly.
"Sa account as last ti."
He of course picked Jax’s account again and the transfer process began.
While waiting, West casually said:
"Good kick."
The woman blinked.
"...Excuse ?"
West tilted his head slightly.
"The awakener you kicked out last ti."
"Oh."
Her eyes softened slightly in recognition.
"Yes... Thanks I guess."
West chuckled lightly while she studied him more carefully now.
Most awakeners who ca here were arrogant, entitled and violent but this one spoke calmly without throwing his weight around.
No ego or threats... just business.
After a mont West asked sothing unexpected.
"I know you’re awakened but..."
Her eyes flickered.
"How co you’re not out clearing ruins?"
"Why work behind a desk?"
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