The man behind the counter, whose nameplate read Malachi, didn't move for a long moment. He adjusted the brass dials on his mechanical monocle, the lenses clicking and whirring as they zoomed in on the crystalline purple heart Elian had placed on the velvet mat.
"A Shadow-Stalker Heart," Malachi whispered, his voice like dry leaves. "Cleanly extracted. No cracks in the mana-veins." He looked up, his magnified eye scanning Elian's 1-Star energy signature. "You are a Level 1. I've seen 3-Star veterans come back from the Obsidian Reach in body bags trying to claim one of these. You have the presence of someone much older, boy, but the stars don't lie. How a Level 1 walked away with this is... baffling."
Elian didn't offer an explanation. "I had help. And I had luck. Just give me the price."
Malachi grunted, tapping a few keys on his silver terminal. "For the Heart, the bone-plates, and the hundred sets of Tier-2 materials... I can give you 9 million Credits. It's a fair price. I'll make a profit on the refined essence, and you'll walk out of here the richest Level 1 in the city."
"Deal," Elian said.
Minutes later, a digital notification chimed on his phone. The balance was staggering. But Elian didn't leave. He turned back to the labyrinth of shelves. He knew that in the Realm, credits were useless; only resources mattered.
"I need to spend it. All of it. Right now," Elian stated.
He moved through the store like a man possessed. He grabbed four sets of Heavy Vanguard Plate—3-Star rank—to replace the shattered armor of his warriors. He found a crate of Aetheric Power Cells and two spools of Mana-Conductive Wire for the Scholar.
Remembering the Cook's needs, he purchased a satchel of Star-Drop Seeds and a bag of Growth-Type Soil enriched with titan-marrow. He also spotted a rack of scrolls and grabbed five Basic Summoning Scrolls at twenty thousand credits each; they were common, but he needed bodies to man the walls.
Finally, he found two blueprints: a Tier-1 Defensive Sentry and a Basic Hydroponics Bay.
By the time he reached the counter again, his 9 million credits had dwindled to nearly zero. His Void Storage was groaning under the weight of the new gear, filled to the absolute limit with the lifeblood of a growing empire.
"You're an interesting one," Malachi remarked, watching Elian stow the massive haul into his soul. "Most kids your age would have bought a luxury hover-car or a penthouse. You bought industrial-grade wire and seeds."
"Cars don't keep you alive in the Reach," Elian replied, adjusting his jacket. "Thank you, Malachi. Keep the change for the next time I come through."
"I'll be here," Malachi said, a crooked grin appearing on his face. "If you survive."
Elian stepped back out into the cool evening air. He didn't head home. He found a shadowed alleyway, checked to ensure no one was watching, and closed his eyes. He focused on the silver Sigil on his arm, the heat of the Realm calling out to him.
I'm coming back with the tools, he thought. Now, let's see how fast this territory can grow.
With a sharp intake of breath, he triggered the gateway. The streetlights of the city flickered and vanished, replaced once more by the violet, swirling mists of the Realm of Enlightenment.