“Here, look at this one,” James said between mouthfuls of meat.

Tsukiko glanced over, engrossed in her own eating experience. In front of her lay a board of dried, grilled, cured, and smoked meats. Each one prepared with mathematical precision.

James showed her one of the sellers. “This one is selling a fire core. Yang energy.”

Tsukiko looked to see a video of a glowing red orb on the handheld. A swirl of red and orange moved inside it like a genie trapped in a lantern. James flicked through more pictures, showing the properties of the core. According to the images, this one would ignite the air around an opponent.

“Is that good?” Tsukiko asked.

“I think it fits me,” James said. “I’ve been focusing some of my training recently, learning how to wait for an opening before explosively attacking. Fire’s great at that.”

“Plus, you’re hotheaded,” she teased.

James winked. “Admit it, you love my fiery passion.”

She rolled her eyes. “Is this the only one you’ve found?”

“There’s a wood core, but they won’t say if its yin or yang,” James said. “And a yang metal core.”

“You’re hardheaded enough as it is,” Tsukiko said. “No need for more.”

James laughed. “My thoughts exactly. And I don’t want to choose wood if I don’t know whether its yin or yang type.”

“So how much is this fire core?” Tsukiko asked.

“Half a million credits,” James answered.

Tsukiko almost choked on her meal. “What?”

“Yeah…” James said. “Cores are stupid expensive.”

“That’s more than stupid expensive,” Tsukiko said. “That’s moronically expensive. Why does it cost so much?”

“Well, fire is one of the more popular ones,” James said. “But even the metal and wood are four hundred thousand credits or more. It’s probably because every cultivator needs a core to advance in power. At that point you can set whatever price you want.”

“Sounds like it would be easier to just find one in the wilds,” Tsukiko said.

“Maybe,” James said. “But, I think I could scrounge up enough for it.”

“And how are you going to do that?” Tsukiko asked.

“You remember how people liked to bet on the new games back at the tower?” James asked.

She nodded.

“I’m thinking these cultivator games are going to be the same way. All sorts of people are going to bet, and none of them are going to take ‘tower scrap’ like me seriously. I could probably make a lot of money this way.”

“Not by betting on yourself,” Tsukiko said. “Once you win a few times the odds will change in your favor.”

“If I do it legitimately, sure,” James said.

Her gaze turned sharp. “What are you thinking?”

“I’m sure no one expects me to get far,” James said. “And I can use that. Scrape by on the first few games and keep the odds low, then win against my ‘betters’ until the odds are in my favor. At that point I dump my winnings on the other person and throw the fight.”

Tsukiko shook her head. “There’s no way that would work.”

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned about other cultivators, its that most truly think I’m worthless trash that’s only in the sect because of pity,” James said. “I doubt anyone would actually bet on me.”

“It still seems risky,” Tsukiko said.

“I mean, there’s probably something about the participants being unable to bet on games,” James said. “But I already think I know how to get around that.”

“How?” Tsukiko asked.

“Garret,” James answered.

“Mmhmm,” she replied.

“What?” James asked.

“Just amazed that you’d trust him with this,” Tsukiko said. “Who’s to say he wouldn’t run off with your credits? That much money can change a person.”

James shrugged. “It’s just a thought. I’ll stew on it some more.”

“You do that,” Tsukiko said. “In the meantime, you have got to try this smoked brisket.” She held out a piece of the meat for James to take.

He snapped it up with his mouth. “Anything you feed me is delicious.”

“Idiot,” she huffed.

The two enjoyed the rest of their evening, though James’s mind kept wandering back to the core being offered on the backmarkets. One thing at a time, however. First he needed to see how much he could get for the oxen.

__

“You seem distracted, disciple,” Nadia said.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“Just thinking about how best to use the Electrum Oxen, master,” James said.

The two were again in the training room, James going over what he’d learned in a spar. Nadia still ran circles around him, deflecting any blows and preventing any surprises, but James could see he was improving. His strikes were slightly faster than before, and he could delve deeper into the Metastate for longer periods of time.

“Blue Mountain Sect would easily pay for the entire animal,” Nadia said during their break. She splashed the both of them with cooling water.

“But you don’t think I should do that, do you?” James asked.

“Not the entire animal, no,” Nadia said. “Sell some of the animal to them first. Perhaps the best materials. That will give the impression you are thinking of them first. From there, search through the floors and build connections or favors.”

“I mostly wanted to get credits out of it,” James said.

“Connections and favors will often get you farther,” Nadia said. “A cultivator never truly wants for credits. Once you have your first core I will allow you to hunt. At that point, credits will no longer be a worry.”

“The problem is getting to that stage,” James said with a sigh. “It feels like its taking forever.”

“Did you think it would be easy?” Nadia asked.

James shook his head. “No, I’m just feeling pressured. It feels like if I don’t gain more strength I’m going to lose something.”

“A sentiment many share,” Nadia said. “But do not dwell on such thoughts. If you only pursue strength, you will never be ready to use a core. Remember, a core is itself a world of its own, filled with its own rules. If your mind is not strong enough, the world inside the core will overtake you. You will become a vessel for its will instead of it for yours.”

“Is that why you meditate so often?” James asked.

“Yes,” Nadia answered. She stood. “I believe that is enough of a break. Come, disciple, show me more of what you have learned.”

James stood obligingly. They continued well into the night, Nadia correcting anything she saw remiss.

The next day, James performed his morning meditations, his studies, and trained with his master until the evening. At that point he left to the market floor. He had materials he needed to sell.

The first person he went to was Aliah. The woman was back in her workshop, cursing a storm as she attempted to get a piece of equipment working.

“Hey Aliah!” James shouted when she didn’t turn around.

The mechanic jumped in place, her soldering gun flying out of her hands. It sparked momentarily as it landed on the floor. “Junking beasts! Don’t yell like that! What if I had something dangerous in my hands?”

“Sorry,” James said. “I didn’t think it was that dangerous.”

“Oh, it wasn’t,” Aliah said. She wiped her hands on her apron. “But if it was, I’d scrap you to the jungles and back. Anyway, what can I do for you?”

“Do you remember me?” James asked.

Aliah cocked her head. “Should I?”

“I’m Nadia’s disciple,” James answered.

The woman’s eyes brightened. “Oh! The tower boy! Now I remember! Here for some maintenance on your talismans?”

“Not quite,” James said. “Did you hear about us hunting the Electrum Oxen?”

“That was you lot?” Aliah asked. “Wait! Are you saying you have some!”

James nodded. “Yeah, I was—“

Aliah rushed forward, knocking over the piles of discarded chipsets and motherboards in her way. “You have got to sell me some! Do you have the bones? Their bones are the best—the best!—conductors around.”

“I’ve got some, but—“ James started.

“How much?” Aliah asked. She pressed against him in her excitement. James felt her rough apron, stained with grease and who knows what else, press against his robes. He pushed her back, looking down to see a few of the stains had passed to him.

Aliah didn’t notice, she was too engrossed in the idea of new materials. “I can pay one thousand per kilogram, a bit more if they’re in good condition. Purity, I mean. I’ll have to grind the bones anyway so damage isn’t an issue. Oh, and do you have any of their hide? The hide is some of the best insulation out there! They aren’t the best for luxury wear but by god do they keep things together. I’d do seven hundred per kilogram for the hide.”

“Slow down!” James said loudly. “I’ve got an entire ox. Head, feet, guts, the works. But I need to find people willing to buy it.”

“The sect would buy most of it,” Aliah said quickly.

“Master said as much,” James said. “But she also said I should build favors and connections.”

Aliah nodded, finally backing away from James. “She would, she would. So you came to me?”

“Trying to kill two birds with one stone,” James said. “I figured you would want to buy and could recommend others outside the sect who might be interested.”

“I could certainly send you to some people,” Aliah said. He eyes shone with greed. “As long as you sell some of the bones to me for cheaper than market price.”

“How much cheaper?” James asked.

“Only about a hundred credits or so,” Aliah said. “Only because Nadia’s a good friend, of course.”

“Uh-huh,” James answered with crossed arms. “You know, I could probably find others more than willing to buy the bones at market price and give me the info.”

Aliah frowned. “Come on. We’re both friends here, right?”

“Tell you what,” James said. “What if you throw in two more talismans? Good quality.”

“Tell you what,” Aliah countered. “How about I make you some new talismans with some of the bones you sell me?”

James thought about it. More options was always good, and he did need to replace the ones he’d used. “Alright,” he answered.

“Yes!” Aliah exclaimed. She pumped her fist then held it out to James. “You will not regret this! I know tons of crafters who’d be more than willing to buy up everything! You might even be able to get some more goodies out of it!”

James nodded. He pulled out his handheld and the two exchanged information. James opened one of the many apps and had the bones delivered to her workshop. As they waited around, Aliah collected details on the talismans James would want and provided him with names for people to contact.

“Oh, these are excellent,” Aliah said as the delivery arrived. “Not perfect condition, but workable enough for me.”

Aliah used her handheld to send James his payment.

“Thank you again for the names,” James said as he turned to leave. Aliah only waved, too engrossed in her new purchase.

James caught her speaking to the bones as he left. “Oh, you and me are going to have lots of fun.”

After leaving the market, James contacted as many people as he could, doing his best to sell and make connections. Practically everyone who answered was interested in what he was selling, and James had no trouble setting up meetings.

A few days later saw the young man traveling across Cyber Crane Megacity in one of Nadia’s vehicles, delivering goods and exchanging information with the crafters. Most were reclusive, only wanting to purchase the items with credits. James had no trouble agreeing to that. He was starting to see just how much money this ox was worth.

By the end of all his sales, James had amassed four hundred thousand credits, which combined with his current credits, meant he needed only a little more than ninety thousand to purchase the core. Suddenly, the whole betting idea didn’t seem as insane as Tsukiko first made it sound.

He debated about calling her, but realized she likely wouldn’t have changed her mind. She would still say he was making a rash decision. And perhaps he was, but the fact of the matter was that James wanted more security. With a core, even one not installed in a node, James had something to even the playing field against stronger cultivators.

That and the examination was coming up. That was pushing his decision more than anything. Despite his master’s assurances, James couldn’t trust the others around him to act in good faith. Not until he actually saw some of that good faith come his way.

It was likely a thought Nadia never had to have, her inherent status and power preventing anything overt. Sure, there were these small slights like banning them from the market, but nothing that could actually harm his master. James however, knew he had practically nothing but Nadia’s favor as a safety net.

No, he needed something to feel safe, and this core would be a major step in the right direction. So instead of calling Tsukiko, James contacted Garret.

“I have a business proposal,” he said.