Chapter 264: The Trade, The Shop, and The Gamble
Cornelio’s eyes lit up as he saw the two items...
He may not possess an Appraisal Skill that could help him determine the things Kai had taken out, he was already familiar with so many serums, tonics, and pills.
He carefully studied the two items on the table.
"Interesting..." Cornelio muttered as he realized that the stimulant had a similarity with a toned-down version of some Gene Enhancements he had seen before.
Meanwhile, he smelled the rich scent of the Spirit‑Boosting potion flask, and they were similar to Spirit Recovery Pills.
"These aren’t ordinary supplies," Cornelio said slowly.
"If I’m not mistaken, both of these items aren’t something an ordinary physician or alchemist could make. The injector can accelerate gene adaptation or perhaps improve your Gene Skills... and the potion probably restores Spirit Energy faster than most tonics. You know exactly what you’re offering."
Kai nodded calmly. "I do. That’s why I’m asking for that Gene Skill Crystal... If my people in the shelters can obtain it, their Spirit Points will rise. They’ll be able to use their Gene Skills longer and recover faster."
’I have three shelters now... I need more people to have this specific skill set.’ Kai thought.
Cornelio tapped the table, considering. "You’re asking for a lot of crystals, then..."
"Yes," Kai admitted.
"I need enough to distribute. At least ten crystals to start. More if possible."
Cornelio exhaled as he considered...
Although he wasn’t the Faction Leader, he could still make such a decision as a Level 80 Survivor.
"Ten Strong Spirit Skill Crystals... that’s certainly possible. But you should know that each one is worth six months of service or fifty B‑Grade Cores. Even with your items, the elders won’t part with them lightly. How many can you provide?"
Kai smiled, "The injector and potion flask... I can supply more of them. Mhmm... My shelters can produce these steadily. If Aries agrees, I’ll provide three of each for one Skill Crystal... Furthermore, I will add one of these items as well."
As Kai said this, he opened his backpack and took out one of the items... The small device called the Atmospheric Water Generator!
Kai immediately explained how it worked, and as soon as Cornelio learned this, he stood up!
After being outside doing various missions to weaken the forces of the A.I. Army, he had seen numerous shelters lacking food and water.
It was one of the common tactics of Anima, after all. By destroying the survivors’ sources of food and water, they’d be able to weaken humans and hunt them down more efficiently.
However, if the shelters possess this device, they’d no longer worry about water!
"Y-you can create more of these?" Cornelio asked in excitement.
’Nice reaction...’ Kai smiled as he knew that the man was hooked. It was time to negotiate...
***
Just like that, in just an hour, the two sealed their agreement.
Cornelio was also satisfied.
"Then it’s settled. One Atmospheric Water Generator for one Skill Fusion Crystal. And three Gene Stimulant Injectors plus three Spirit‑Boosting Potions for either one Strong Spirit Skill Crystal or one Palm Shock Skill Crystal."
Kai nodded firmly. He was pleased with the arrangement.
Strong Spirit was essential for the Survivors in his Shelters... It also gave them a chance to create the Hardened Spirit Gene Skill.
As for the Palm Shock, it opened the path toward Stonebreaker Impact... a devastating skill that could change the tide in combat. Both were valuable, and now he had a way to secure them.
Still, a concern lingered in his mind.
His Water Gift Packs produced other items. They were useful, but not always needed. He couldn’t reveal this detail to Cornelio, but he needed a solution.
Kai cleared his throat. "Sir Cornelio, I have another request. I’ll need storage space. A warehouse, or something similar. I plan to open a small shop here in Cameron City to manage surplus items and trade them properly."
Cornelio gently nodded as he knew that Kai realized the value of having a property in this city.
"A shop, huh? You think ahead, Kai. That’s good. We encourage enterprise within Aries."
He then considered what he should do about it and recalled the people who could help.
"I’ll speak with Officer Jess, the one in charge of our Commerce and Logistics Office. That department handles all faction businesses... warehousing, trade permits, shop rentals, and the regulation of goods moving in and out of Cameron City. Permission won’t be a problem once I vouch for you. As for the price, that will be negotiated later in his office."
"That sounds perfect..." Kai muttered.
"Of course... If you’re serious about opening a shop, Aries will make space for you... It’ll be better for our reputation." Cornelio admitted.
Kai’s lips curved into a faint smile. "That’s all I ask. A place to store and trade..."
***
It didn’t take that long before Kai, Mei, and Farrah left the Aries compound with quiet satisfaction.
Soon, they returned to the Silver Rest Inn.
Inside, the siblings were already gathered around a table with Claire, Ralph, and Alfie, enjoying a simple meal.
"Hey... You didn’t wait for us." Kai said as he joined in.
After a few laughs, he no longer wasted time as he shared their experience. He explained how the VR World felt almost real, how mining mystic iron ore had given them stat bonuses, and how Cornelio had revealed the deeper secrets of Perfect World.
Most importantly, he told them about the deal he had struck... trading his rare items for Skill Crystals, securing Strong Spirit and Palm Shock, and arranging to rent a warehouse and open a shop in Cameron City.
The others listened in amazement, impressed by the opportunity Kai had carved out for their group.
Claire clasped her hands... "That’s incredible. After going around for some time, we learned that getting a permit or a stall here isn’t going to be easy. Having a connection in this place is really much better."
Then, Ralph and Alfie exchanged glances before sharing what they had discovered around town. "There’s something else you should know," Ralph began.
"Gambling is huge here. Not dice or cards... but blood duels."
