That morning as they left to the open market, Leon felt safer than ever before as his black cargo pants hid a kinetic pistol.
Yes, he finally changed from the black joggers that he awakened on and the tarpaulin cloak that he crafted.
Continuing wearing just that would have only turned him into a physical embodint of body odor.
This was no longer like when he was alone in his shelter in the fringe of the Wastes. No matter how dystopian the Wastes was, the people still ford a community here which ant Leon could afford to change clothes.
Talia spent a few pounds to get all of them new clothes after what happened two nights ago. This was also to enhance their disguise.
Leon was dressed in a black T-shirt and black cargo pants. Kain wore a long black coat and black pants, Daren wore a casual green T-shirt and beige-colored combat shorts, exposing his muscular body and tattoos.
Rex was also forced to finally leave his favored overalls. Just like Kain, he wore a black coat that covered his short fra and black pants.
Leon couldn’t blatantly walk through the streets of community G with his Flux Crystal Spear, it was just too high-profile. But with a kinetic pistol, he no longer felt defenseless in this community that was ruled by the Zr gang.
"Our first work today will be creating chairs. We can’t continue sitting on the ground, that’s just barbaric".
"Rex, I want you to take care of this". Leon instructed as they walked towards the open market.
"That’s not even a chanist’s work, why ?" Rex quickly protested.
Leon was unfazed as he looked at the short Geneform with a smile on his face. "Why you? It’s because you’re Fixerman".
"Ugh, ok". Rex grumbled but he eventually agreed.
As soon as they got to the open market, they quickly set up their stall and Rex left to gather the materials to craft 4 sets of chairs. Within 5 minutes of their opening while Rex was gone, a custor knocked on their table.
Leon looked up and saw a familiar square-shaped face, a clean shaven chin, and a receding hairline.
His eyes glead as a few observations instantly registered in his head. ’...he seems disheveled... he reeks of alcohol... he’s drunk!... and he seems to be in an abnormally good mood, did sothing happen?’
"You’re here". Despite his thoughts, Leon said with a calm smile.
"Of course, Mr. Best chanic in Community G," Alexander Cain grinned. "I tend to keep a tab on people that I’m dealing business deals with, so I could not help but notice, you ca late today?"
Leon nodded in an easy-going manner. "It’s because of personal reasons".
"Oh, I respect that". Cain nodded.
Leon then probed. "You seem to be in an especially good mood today".
"Hehe, you have sharp eyes". Cain laughed. "I and my boss completed a big business deal, so I’ve been in a good mood".
’Boss?’ Leon sharply caught that as his eyes constricted in a barely noticeable manner. ’Big deal? Did Parasite complete a slave trade with his clients?’
Leon masked his thoughts perfectly as he engaged in idle talk with the Geneform who was clearly in a more talkative mood today.
In the end, Cain flashed a big smile. "So, what do you say Mr. Best chanic, are you ready to make money with ?"
Leon smiled back at the Geneform. "It’s a pleasure to work with a man of culture like you. Let’s make money together".
Cain laughed loudly. "Now, that’s what I an by insikful business partners!"
"You an insightful". Leon corrected with a smile.
"Yes, insithful!" Cain laughed louder. "I expected you to say yes to my offer, afterall, who doesn’t like making money?" He laughed again. "With this expectation, I already made a few preparations".
His face turned serious as the effects of alcohol seed to briefly evaporate. He whispered. "Our job is a delicate type, we can’t afford to do it here in the open".
Leon maintained his smile.
Cain continued. "This is why I’ve rented a caravan for my favorite chanic". He grinned. "There, you can work on the goods without people seeing what you’re doing. It’s a safe and quiet environnt".
’Safe and quiet, huh? Is this a trap?’ Leon stayed calm.
He was not afraid.
Despite the fact that nothing happened yesterday, they were still cautious. The mont they left to the open market, Ghostwire sent an encrypted signal to Talia through community G’s psionic LAN.
Leon was pretty sure that Talia and Brick were sowhere nearby keeping watch over them. If anything happened, they would quickly intervene.
’And if this is not a trap,’ he smiled. ’Then a caravan is just what we need to maximize productivity’.
"What do you say, Mr. Best chanic? Let’s go there?"
"Ok". Leon nodded, then he looked at Ghostwire. "Wait for Fixerman to co back, then tell him where we went. Tell him that we’ll co back to check on him and maybe take him along".
It may not really matter due to the current circumstances, but Leon still felt the need to be cautious. This was why he refrained from calling Rex’s real na in front of the enemy.
Cain laughed. "It’s not far, the caravan is just at the corner of the open market".
Cain was right as he led Leon and Kain there within just 2 minutes.
It was a tallic gray caravan. It was not too big, but it was just compact enough to serve their purpose of crafting guns and ammunition.
"It’s perfect". Leon smiled.
"I’m glad you like it. You guys can set it up to your standard, my boys will bring the materials needed for the first batch in 30 minutes".
Cain’s face turned serious again. "For this first batch, I’ve providing a lot of materials. Even if you experience a few failures during the process, I still want at least 100 completed pistols and at least 2000 bullets".
Leon’s face twitched indiscernibly. ’100 pistols? Nigga, how rich are you?’
Despite his thoughts, he secretly heaved a sigh of relief as his tensed nerves relaxed. The caravan was not a trap.
About 30 minutes later, 3 imposing-looking thugs entered the caravan lifting giant crates filled with materials.
They ca and left 2 more tis, carrying 3 giant material crates each ti.
’I wonder where they’re carrying the crates from’. Leon thought. ’I doubt they’re careless enough to bring them directly from their hidden base’.
Once all the materials were dropped inside the caravan, once again confirming the riches of the Zr gang, Leon shook hands with his employer. "I won’t disappoint you".
"You better not". Alexander Cain laughed. "I’ll co back in two days. et my target by then".
With that, he was about to leave when Leon stopped him. "What about our remuneration? We’ve not discussed the business part yet".
Cain was stunned. "I almost forgot!" he grinned. "You see," he walked close and wrapped an arm around Leon’s shoulders. "I trust you, but I want tangible results before I send any money".
"I’ve shown enough goodwill by providing so many raw materials".
He tapped Leon by the shoulder. "Work hard Mr. chanic. Tomorrow, I’ll co visit. If you impress , I’ll pay 40 Neo Credits upfront. And the next day when I co to carry them, I’ll pay 60 Neo Credits. What do you say?"
"I say let’s do business".
Cain grinned, tapped his shoulder once more and then he finally left.
Leon stared at the Cyber Gladiator’s back as he left. ’2 days deadline... does this an a potential slave trade deal will be completed in 2 days?’
Having received the key to the caravan, Leon locked it up and returned back to the chanic workshop with Kain.
There, Rex was already working on creating the 4 chairs.
Looking at how adeptly the short Geneform handled the hamr and nails, Leon nodded in satisfaction. ’A true carpenter’.
Seeing them, Rex observed their surroundings and when he saw no one, he whispered. "Has he left?" Apparently, Daren already told him about Cain.
Leon nodded. "Be fast and let’s go to the caravan, we have a lot of work to do".
Rex was taken aback. "What of the chanic workshop?"
"We’ll leave it for now". Leon answered naturally. "We opened it to get chanic jobs, right? Now we have a job that’ll take most of our ti, so why waste ti here waiting for another custor that may or may not co?"
Rex sighed. "You’re right, why didn’t I think of that?" He sighed again in a depressed manner. "I just can’t think like you, Boss Leon".
Leon smiled and consoled him. "Don’t worry, one day you’ll be able to think and solve problems even more than I do".
"What of ?" At that mont, Daren finally interjected.
Leon looked at the Cyber Gladiator, then he shrugged. "Follow us, there’s no need staying here".
"You can be our assistant".
"Ok, so long you buy a bottle of beer, I’ll help you guys with anything!" Daren said with a grin and stood up.
After Rex was done crafting the chairs, they closed down the chanic workshop and carried both the wooden work table and chairs away.
With it, they set up the caravan for work.
They didn’t hesitate to start working imdiately. Despite the three of them being chanists, 100 pistols was not a job that could be done in a short ti.
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