Adyr felt a flicker of satisfaction at Maruun’s reaction and delivered his lie with careful precision.
"I stumbled upon a rchant caravan while traveling near the Outer Region," he said evenly. "Got these from a trader out there."
His tone was casual, truthful enough to avoid suspicion, but vague enough to protect the reality behind the gear’s origin.
Among the many books he had studied, several contained crude maps of the known world and its fractured regions. While most were incomplete or filled with blank, uncharted zones, they had been enough to piece together a general understanding of the continent’s structure.
The area Adyr currently resides in was known as the Eastern Region, a territory comprised mostly of minor kingdoms and practitioner groups who rarely exceeded Rank 4. The term Outer Region referred to the fringes of this eastern territory—wild, loosely governed areas near its borders.
Beyond the Eastern Region lay a broader and far more formidable land known as the Midlands—a region of powerful empires, structured dominions, and practitioners who routinely reached Rank 5 and beyond. Compared to the Eastern Region, where finding a single Rank 5 Adept was a rarity, the Midlands housed dozens.
It was from the Midlands that the Wandering rchant was said to originate, traveling into weaker regions to barter, influence, and observe.
As for what lay beyond the Midlands, information beca sparse, hazy at best. The next known expanse was called the Central Region, a place spoken of only in whispers. A land where Rank 7 Sparks and even Sages road freely, shaping the flow of power on a scale incomprehensible to mortals.
And past that... there was only one na.
The Abyss Line.
A final border where knowledge failed and records ended. No maps, no cities, no kingdoms—just a stretch of silence in every account, as if the world itself refused to speak of what lay beyond.
"I see," Maruun said, a flicker of understanding crossing his face.
The Eastern Region was vast, ho to dozens of scattered kingdoms. Especially near the Midlands border, there were known to be a few domains with more advanced technology, so Adyr’s explanation didn’t co as a surprise.
Maruun leaned over the spread of equipnt, examining them with growing interest. "Can you explain the key features of each piece? And if possible, demonstrate a few. That would help a lot."
Even if he didn’t purchase them himself, Maruun had contacts in other shops who might. But to negotiate good prices, he needed to understand exactly what he was dealing with.
"Of course," Adyr replied calmly. "But so of them are explosive. I’ll need a more secure space."
"Don’t worry about that," Maruun said as he raised his hand.
In an instant, a ring of high-pressure water walls erupted from the ground, encircling them in a shimring, fluid barrier. The jet-like streams hovered mid-air, twisting and roaring softly with controlled force.
Impressive defense skill, Adyr thought. As a Rank 2 practitioner himself, he could tell the skill offered solid protection.
"Let’s keep it quick," Maruun added apologetically. "Keeping Water Squirt active burns energy."
Even as royalty from a major kingdom, energy expenditure was a universal concern for all practitioners.
Adyr nodded and imdiately got to work, wasting no ti.
He began by demonstrating the firearms, starting with handguns, then moving on to semi-automatics and full-auto rifles. He showcased two custom sniper rifles equipped with tactical systems, both capable of chambering the high-caliber 14.5×114mm round.
Maruun watched with focused eyes, visibly impressed by the craftsmanship and firepower. Adyr made note of the reaction before moving on to the next category—explosives.
He moved through the rest of the arsenal with thodical precision, starting from low-yield grenades to fragntation explosives with wide-area impact. He demonstrated compact underwater charges, pressure-triggered mines, flashbangs, and sonic grenades designed for rapid incapacitation.
Though each demonstration required using up a sample, he didn’t hold back. Maruun had already promised to compensate him with energy-value crystals, so Adyr made sure to show the true power of each item.
Once he’d finished with all damage-dealing equipnt, he asked Maruun to drop the Spark skill to preserve energy. When the swirling water walls dissipated, Adyr shifted to the more tactical gear.
He presented STF-issued combat uniforms, night-vision helts, reinforced boots, tactical blades, and even compact dical kits—each one designed for elite mobility and field survival.
He knew that acquiring all of this gear through the Player Headquarters would’ve cost between 4,000 and 5,000 rit points, even with his insider discount. During his last visit to the marketplace, he’d gathered rough estimates: most vendors would offer around 400 to 600 energy-value crystals for all the equipnt.
But this ti, with the bond he’d established and the sympathy he’d earned, he suspected the number might climb to 700.
Maruun pursed his thick lips as he examined a sniper round resting between his fingers. "They’re quite good," he muttered. "So of these can even be used by Rank 2 practitioners."
Especially the 14.5×114mm armor-piercing rounds—they were potent enough to rival so Rank 2 Spark skills in sheer force.
After a mont of silent thought, Maruun scratched his smooth blue scalp and gave a quiet nod. "Alright. I’ll buy everything for 1,000 energy-value crystals."
Adyr surprised.
It was more than he’d expected.
The offer wasn’t just generous—it was unusual. The gear certainly had value, but selling it all at full price would’ve required ti, effort, and multiple buyers. Realistically, reaching that number through separate deals would’ve been difficult.
Maruun clearly wasn’t in it for profit.
What Maruun was truly investing in wasn’t just gear—it was sothing far less tangible: trust and the start of a potential alliance. And with the Legacy Domain event approaching, that was worth more to him than any amount of tal or crystal.
The goodwill he’d earn from Adyr—and possibly from other Velari participants—could prove far more valuable than a handful of energy crystals.
"Are you sure?" Adyr asked, widening his eyes slightly. His tone carried the right amount of concern, not because he truly cared, but because that’s how soone with a selfless Astra Path persona would be expected to act.
Accepting the offer too eagerly might’ve cracked the image he’d been carefully constructing.
"Haha, don’t worry about ," Maruun said confidently. "I’ve been a rchant long enough to know value when I see it. I won’t co out of this at a loss."
"Then, thank you. I’ll repay your kindness one day, without a doubt," he replied, bowing his head just enough to match the humble, grateful tone he’d already set.
"I don’t doubt that," Maruun said with a nod, conjuring a heavy pouch into his hand and offering it.
Without checking the contents—though it was obvious from the aura that it was packed with energy crystals—Adyr stored the pouch directly into his Twilight Land. He offered another brief thanks, exchanged a few parting words, then stepped out of the tent.
Now, with just over 1,100 energy-value crystals in his possession, he was more than ready for the approaching event.
Or so it seed.
Well... I still have quite a few Level 3 talents to register, Adyr thought, glancing at the backlog of system ssages that had begun piling up earlier.
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