Raen stood in the middle of his warehouse-turned-lab, arms crossed as he scanned the empty space.
Concrete floors.Exposed wiring.Bare walls.A single dusty bulb flickering overhead.
The house attached to the lab was in far better shape—newer walls, decent insulation—but completely unfurnished.
"This isn't a lab. This isn't even a shed with ambition."
He pulled up the system panel, checking the one thing that didn't feel empty.Balance: 570,000 LUX.
A long exhale.
"If I'm building the future here… then I build it right."
First Order of Business:A custom rig—an absolute beast.Liquid-cooled, hybrid cores, real-time AI simulation capable, modular parts for future upgrades, and a three-screen mount.A machine worthy of VoxFrame.
Alongside it:A portable high-spec laptop, perfect for mobility and backup work.Total Cost: 100,000 LUX.
Next:Raen curated a full order for his lab.
Programmable toolsets
Soldering stations
Smart workbenches
Compact 3D printer
Component lockers and drawers
Adjustable lighting
Ventilation and power-grid safety systems
Lightweight robotic arms for prototyping
Fiber-linked internal server hub
He checked everything twice. Then added basics for the living space:A bed. A table. A chair. A smart fridge and stove. Clean, simple.
Cost: 400,000 LUX.Remaining Balance: 70,000 LUX.
He leaned back against the warehouse wall, the echo of confirmation emails bouncing on his phone.
"Now it'll feel like something real."
His stomach growled.
The corner of the city where he lived wasn't rich in options, but it had one staple: Crispy Maze, a fried chicken shack hidden in a cluttered alley.
Grease, heat, spice, and everything he'd denied himself for too long.
Raen ordered like a man with a payday:Two full buckets, overloaded fries, spicy garlic corn cakes, and two bottles of cold elara tea.
He didn't stop until the tray was clean. Burnt tongue. Greasy fingers. No regrets.