“Who the hell are you!? Get out of my damn office!” Thor shouted as he threw a stapler at Freddy, hitting him square in the chest.

Freddy gave him an unamused look.

Thor cracked a cheeky smile. “Hey there Freddy. Love the cut. And the style. And the uh… well, you’re a whole new character now, aren’t you? Damn, you really took this PR shit seriously, huh?”

Freddy chuckled, shaking his head. “Not… really, actually.” He walked forward, taking a seat before Thor. “Most of this just kind of happened. I was just gonna introduce myself to everyone, give out some gift baskets, and fuck off back to work.”

“Typical Freddy. You just can’t stick to normal parameters.”

He smiled. “Guilty as charged.”

“Also, what exactly inspired you to donate such a vast amount of money?”

“Well… let’s just say I slightly overestimated the financial state of the people living here. Speaking of which…” Freddy looked torn for a moment. “Isn’t Valhalla actually super poor?”

Thor gave him a flat look. “Are you just now figuring that out? Jesus, man… You really weren’t paying any attention.” Thor sighed and got off his chair. “Other than safety from the other factions, we don’t have much to offer here. We can’t run any stable business given how often we get sabotaged, and expeditions into the interspace can only get us so far.

“We supply and produce most of the stuff we need ourselves, which saves us from just straight up starving to death, but even then, we’re in no position to brag… There’s a reason I’m willing to risk so much to keep the passage in the basement under wraps. It’s a golden ticket to prosperity.”

“I see…” Freddy slumped in the chair, sighing.

Naturally, if he was willing to disclose his organ farming operation, he could solve Valhalla’s financial troubles in a heartbeat. But he had no intention of doing that. He owed much to Valhalla, but he would pay that debt back and then some through the work he was doing.

A billion dollars might have been way more than enough for a two-star to live a life of leisure and luxury, but for someone who intended to keep growing into the third star and beyond, it wasn’t nearly enough. It was barely enough to cover the cost of a single three-star satellite.

God knew what kind of other bullshit he’d need to pay for if he wanted to remain competitive.

However, just because he wasn’t willing to part with the bulk of his wealth, that didn’t mean he was unwilling to invest in Valhalla. The gifts he’d given away had only taken up a relatively tiny portion of his income, but the reputation boost he’d received in return had made his life far easier.

“Anyway…”—Thor grabbed a stack of papers and propped it on the desk to settle them in an orderly fashion—“I thank you in the name of Valhalla for your generous contribution. Now, are you gonna get back to work?”

Freddy thought about it for a moment and then shook his head. “I’ll take another day. I have a favor to pay off.”

“Oh? To whom?”

“Lucas. And his girlfriend. The two of them had given me valuable advice on how to change my look. I had already taken them out for dinner once, but I’m thinking I might go for something a bit more concrete.”

“Like what?” Thor asked with a serious expression.

Freddy raised an eyebrow. “You seem rather interested.”

“Of course I am. Lucas is a star trainee. He’s extremely talented.”

Freddy paused. “Wait, what?”

“Is this really the first time you’re hearing this? Hell, I even plan on tutoring him myself as soon as I get some time to do so.”

“You’re kidding?”

“No. I’m dead serious. Which of course means I’m quite interested in what you plan on giving the boy”

“Wow. Okay. Uhm… Well what do you suggest I give him then? What do you think he needs?”

“Well, he needs everything from equipment to guidance to experience to elixirs to—”

“I get it. But what would be the best thing to give him now?”

“The best thing? I’d say a… unique prime with a second talent that turns him into a godlike entity.”

Freddy gave him a flat look.

“What? You asked what the best thing would be. Sheesh. Be more specific.”

“Thor you have work and I’d like to get this over with today.”

The man chuckled. “Okay, okay, if you really really really want to show off how great of a friend you are, then… buy him a satellite.”

“Damn. That’s a good idea. But where would I buy one?”

Thor paused. “Wait, you’d actually do it?”

“Of course I would,” he said. “If he’s a star trainee as you say, then it would be a worthwhile investment. But as far as I know, there’s no place that would sell such an item in Repentawa. And also as far as I know, even if I had the money for one, the people who sell them are extremely selective with who they do work with.”

“You aren’t wrong,” Thor said. “They are, indeed, a bitch to get your hands on. But there is a way to get one here.”

“Oh? Really? Where?”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

“Over at the adjudicator’s compound.”

“Hmm… I see. Would he be willing to do business with me?”

“Sure thing. You can buy one from him if you can afford it. It’s just that… well… given where we are and the fact that he’s basically the only source, the price is a wee bit marked up.”

Freddy sucked air through his teeth. “How much?”

“Twenty million.”

Freddy released an involuntary breath of air through pursed lips. “Goddamn. That’s almost a third the cost of a two-star satellite over at the empire proper.”

Thor grinned. “Still feelin’ generous, big guy?”

While that was a lot to pay for just a one-star satellite, it was still within the range of what he was willing to spend. But he had to show at least some reluctance. Otherwise, Thor might get suspicious of where he even got that much money.

“Well… I’m gonna think about it. I’ll go see Lucas first.”

Thor chuckled. “Sure thing. Have a good one. Oh, and if you’re willing, you can also just leave some money to me, and I’ll forward it to fund his training resources.”

“That’s not a bad choice, either. Anyway, I’ll talk to you later.”

“See you later, man.”

Freddy left the office and proceeded to visit Lucas’s apartment. He knocked on the door a few times, and eventually, Janice opened the door.

She beamed at him once she saw him. “Hey, Freddy! Hi! Are you looking for Lucas?”

He smiled back. “Yeah. He should be done with his training around this time, right?”

“Mhmm.” She frowned a bit and peeked out the door, checking the hallway. “He’s late, though. But he should be here soon. You want to wait inside?”

“Uhm… Sure.”

He entered the apartment. It was a relatively small and frugally decorated place. Still, it was warm. He could tell that they’d poured their hearts into making it a pleasant living space.

“You want coffee? Tea? Juice?”

“Coffee is fine.”

They sat and chatted a bit while waiting for Lucas.

“Man, he sure is taking his time,” Freddy said as he took a sip of his beverage.

“He sure is.” She sighed.

Time kept passing. Before long, he was almost an entire hour late. Freddy tapped the table impatiently. But the clock kept ticking.

He was almost two hours late. And Freddy was done waiting around. “You know what? I think I’m gonna go looking for him. He probably stopped by his mom’s place.”

“What? No, he definitely isn’t there,” Janice said.

“Hmm? Why not?”

“Because… his mom doesn’t live here anymore?”

Freddy froze. “What!? What do you mean!?”

“She moved out a while back…”

“That fucking idiot! How could he let her do that!?”

“Don’t call Lucas an idiot!” She shouted. “This wasn’t his choice. She didn’t want to live here, so she moved out. How is that his fault?”

“Well, he should have locked her in her room then!”

“You… How could you say that?”

“Do you know how I could say that?” he spat, scowling at her. “Because there are traitors in Valhalla! People know who he is. People know who his mother is! The instant the wrong person spots her, he’ll be blackmailed!”

All color drained from Janice’s face.

Freddy growled. “Fuck!” He sprinted out of the room, rushing and praying that Lucas was just caught up in some chore.

***

Lucas sat in the back of a black, unmarked van. Right beside him was Charlie King, who sat casually digging dirt behind his fingers.

His hands were shaking. His heart was beating out of his chest. What a stupid thing he’d done, letting his mother out of his sight. But it was too late for regrets now.

The van finally stopped. A moment later, the doors opened, and Charlie beckoned him to leave. The man, however, stayed inside.

As soon as he left the van, he froze at the sight before him.

He was in the middle of a luxurious residential block that looked unlike anything he’d seen in Repentawa. But they hadn’t driven to another city. Meaning… these were the headquarters of another faction.

“Hello, Lucas.” A woman wearing business casual clothing greeted him. “Welcome to the Gem & Faller headquarters. Please, if you’ll follow me.” She gestured towards the biggest building in the block.

He was taken—well, frankly, it was more apt to say that he was escorted into the building. The only person there was the woman, and she didn’t look like a combatant.

She guided him through the massive, opulent lobby of the building and walked into one of the many elevators there. She pressed her finger on the button leading to the highest floor, and Lucas gulped.

He felt paralyzed. Something was wrong. This wasn’t just some random group of thugs.

He knew damn well who these people were. The family of the late Jason Gem. The place where his brother ran to. The people under whose watch he died.

And as the elevator inched closer to their destination, he had a horrible premonition.

The doors opened.

He followed the woman into an eerily quiet, massive room. And there, standing right beside a bulky man, was his mother. “Lucas…” she whispered as she rushed to him. She lunged into a hug, grasping him tightly, almost as if trying to stop him from running away.

“What…?” he muttered.

The man who had been standing next to her stepped forward. “Nice to meet you, Lucas Black. Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Keagan Gem, CEO of Gem & Faller. I apologize for the heavy-handed nature of this invitation. We had to ensure that we could safely get you out of there before anyone could notice. I am deeply sorry if we frightened you.”

“What’s going on?” he asked, turning to his mother. “What are you doing?”

“Oh, Lucas! I’m so glad to have you back!”

“What the hell are you talking about!?” He grabbed her arm and forced her off him. “Are you insane?”

“Lucas…”

“Hellen, we expected this might happen,” the CEO said. “It might take a while to undo the brainwashing.”

“What? Brainwashing…?” Lucas muttered absently, looking between his mother and the CEO as it slowly started to set in. “You’re joking, right? You seriously did this to me?” He started breathing rapidly. “What about Janice?”

“What about her?” Hellen asked. “It’s not like you were intending to marry her.”

He burst into sudden laughter. “I can’t believe this. I can’t believe I was stupid enough to be worried about you.”

“Lucas…”

She took a step forward.

“I hate you,” he said bluntly, still unable to tear the shocked smile off his face. “I truly fucking hate you.”

Her expression darkened. “Lucas…”

“You still don’t get it?” He spat in her face. His spit rolled down her cheek.

She looked at him in shock.

Keagan snapped a finger.

Two guards Lucas hadn’t seen snuck up on him from behind and grabbed him by his arms.

“Let me go! Let me go!”

They dragged him toward the elevator and pressed a button. Just as the door started closing, he repeated one more time, “I fucking hate you.”

The CEO placed a burly hand on his mother’s shoulder and softly muttered. “We’ll take care of those terrorists. Don’t worry. Your son will come around eventually.”

The doors slammed closed.

***

Mark Afronte waited in the middle of a forest, clad in heavy metal armor. His arms were crossed as he casually leaned against a tree, his arms fiddling with a locket holding a picture of his family inside.

His phone suddenly started ringing. He snapped the locket shut and put it back into his storage ring.

He pulled the phone out of his pocket. It was Keagan. The time had come. He took his helmet off and put the phone to his ear.

The voice of that man, the weakling softened by decades of business rather than fighting, the impotent fool who had no value other than as a puppet for Basilisk, came through. “We’ve pulled all our people out. Remember, all you have to do is take care of the primary target. We’ll take care of everything else.”