As we walk deeper into the city, leaving the mountain slopes behind, the sheer size and scale of this place really hits us. It’s not just some ancient city with pagodas and temples—it’s a full-on, sprawling metropolis. There are pockets of the old mixed with the new, like some kind of futuristic Edo period, with sleek modern buildings sitting next to traditional structures. It's wild how seamlessly the two blend together.

There’s a noticeable presence of security too. Every few blocks, we see police officers standing guard, casually keeping an eye on things. But these aren’t the typical cops you’d see back home. They’re wearing a mix of futuristic armor and traditional garments, their uniforms blending with the city's hybrid vibe. They carry what looks like high-tech weapons holstered at their sides, but they move with an ease that suggests they don’t expect trouble. It feels safe but also a little intimidating, knowing these guys are prepared for anything.

Abel glances at one group of officers as we pass by. “I guess even in a multiverse university town, you’ve got to keep the peace.”

Jiho raises an eyebrow. “Yeah, but did they really have to look that intimidating? I mean, this feels more like a sci-fi dystopia with their gear.”

I can’t help but agree. The place feels like a mix of utopia and something a little more… controlled.

And then we spot something that throws us all off—a mall. Not just any mall, either. This thing is massive, taking up an entire block. The front is all glass and steel, with bright neon signs advertising everything from clothing stores to food courts. There’s a flow of people going in and out—humans, elves, dwarves, demi-humans—all casually shopping like it’s a Saturday back home.

“Of course,” Jiho mutters, staring at the mall. “Even in a place like this, there’s still a Zara.”

Isak laughs, shaking his head. “What? Did you expect them to only sell magic potions and enchanted swords?”

I shrug, trying to wrap my head around it all. “This place is nuts. It’s like Oxfordshire on steroids.”

As we keep walking, the vibe changes. The bustling mall fades behind us, and we find ourselves in a market area, much more traditional in style. The streets narrow, and the buildings get closer together, with wooden stalls set up along the sides selling everything from food to clothes to strange artifacts that look like they’ve been pulled from another world. The air smells like spices and grilled meat, and the hum of conversation surrounds us.

“This is more like it,” I mutter, taking in the market’s vibe. “Less neon, more real.”

We keep moving through the market, and then I spot it—a building that stands out from the rest. It's not a store, exactly, but more like a hub. There’s a big sign out front, written in several languages (English being one of them), that says: Trading Post - Buy, Sell, Trade Goods & Valuables.

I stop dead in my tracks. “Guys, hold up.”

Jiho and Abel stop a few paces ahead, turning back. “What is it?” Jiho asks, frowning.

I gesture toward the trading post. “We’ve got a lot of stuff, right? Valuables from home. If we’re going to survive in this place, we need money. We don’t want to end up broke—or worse, get robbed. This place looks like where people go to trade in valuables for currency.”

Abel crosses his arms, eyeing the building. “You sure? We could be walking into some kind of scam.”

Isak, ever the optimist, grins. “Or we could walk out with a bag full of cash. I mean, we’re not exactly rolling in local currency, are we?”

I shrug, already heading for the entrance. “Look, it’s better to have something than nothing. We’ve got treasure from Akari’s bag, remember? Let’s get some money while we still can.”

With a collective sigh, the others follow, and we make our way inside the trading post, hoping to make enough to keep us going in this strange new city.

We step inside the trading post, and the first thing that hits me is how much bigger it is on the inside. The exterior was deceiving—what looked like a standard market building now opens up into a massive space, part bank, part auction house, but with a traditional aesthetic that keeps it from feeling too modern. Wooden beams stretch across the ceiling, and lanterns hang from the rafters, casting a warm glow over the bustling interior. The floors are polished stone, and there’s an old-world elegance to everything, despite the high-tech nature of the place.

It's busy, too—people milling about everywhere, some chatting in low voices, others eyeing goods they’re ready to trade or sell. What catches me off guard is how young everyone looks. The employees here, behind the counters and assisting customers, all seem to be around our age, maybe a bit older—late teens to mid-twenties, tops. There’s a youthful energy to the place, like this entire city is run by the next generation. It’s as if Sanzu is a city made for the young, a hub of life, ambition, and trade.

“This place is packed,” Jiho mutters, glancing around, his eyes wide as he takes it all in.

“Yeah,” I nod. “And it feels like a cross between a traditional auction house and a bank, but… still kind of modern.”

Abel tilts his head, eyeing the staff. “What’s with everyone being our age? There’s not a single older person here.”

“Maybe it’s a city of students,” Isak jokes, smirking as he watches someone walk by with a bag full of what looks like jewels. “Imagine. A whole city just for young people like us.”

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“That’s... kinda terrifying,” Jiho says under his breath, his nervous energy showing.

We walk deeper inside, heading toward the designated selling area. There’s a queue forming in front of a long counter where people are waiting to offload their goods. Some are holding bags filled with trinkets and valuables, while others have larger, more unusual items—one guy is holding what looks like a magical staff, and another has a chest brimming with what I can only assume are enchanted gemstones.

We take our place in line, and I can’t help but glance around, taking stock of the items people are trying to sell. Everything here looks valuable—magical, even—and I start to wonder just how much Akari’s treasure is worth in this world.

“Looks like we’re in the right place,” I say, glancing at the counter ahead.

At the front of the line, there’s a young woman, probably around twenty, dressed in a sharp blazer and wearing what seems like a traditional scarf over her shoulders. She’s checking the value of each item brought to her, using some kind of scanner that emits a soft, glowing light. It’s like she’s appraising the goods with a mix of tech and magic, assigning values to each item before handing it over to a different section where it either gets sold or auctioned off.

One by one, people approach her, place their items down, and after a quick scan, she assigns a value and waves them off with a professional but swift efficiency. It’s all very business-like but still feels relaxed in a way that only a youthful city like this could pull off.

“I hope they don’t rip us off,” Abel mutters, crossing his arms as we inch closer to the front of the line.

Isak, always the optimist, grins. “Nah, we’ve got treasure from a multiverse-traveling panda. That’s gotta be worth something, right?”

I shoot him a look but can’t help the small smile tugging at my lips. “Let’s hope so. We don’t want to be broke in a city like this.”

Jiho shifts nervously beside me, his eyes darting from the line to the goods being traded. “You think they’ll even take this stuff? It’s not exactly local…”

I shrug, keeping my voice low. “Doesn’t hurt to try. Akari wouldn’t have given us a bag full of junk. Besides, we don’t have a choice. We need some cash if we’re gonna make it here.”

As we move closer to the front, the atmosphere becomes more intense. We can hear the woman at the counter speaking to the people ahead of us, her tone professional but swift, as if she’s been doing this her whole life. We’re only a few people away now, and I can feel the weight of the bag of treasure slung over my shoulder.

This could be the difference between us surviving in this city or being stuck here with nothing. No pressure or anything.

We finally reach the front of the line, and the young woman at the counter glances up, sizing us up quickly before her gaze shifts to the bags we’re carrying. She’s sharp, professional, but there’s something friendly in her eyes as she speaks.

"Are you selling individually or as a collective?" she asks, her voice smooth but direct.

"As a group," I reply, gesturing to the others as we start setting our bags down on the counter. The weight of everything feels heavier now, knowing that what’s inside could either make or break our future here.

She nods and begins to sort through our things, her hands moving with practiced efficiency. I watch her closely as she starts appraising each item, her scanner glowing softly as it flickers over the valuables. But then something changes. Her eyes widen slightly as she holds up one of the pieces—an intricately designed necklace from Akari’s stash, glowing faintly under the scanner’s light.

She freezes for a second, and it’s like something clicks inside her. Her professional demeanor falters, and she stares at the treasure as if she’s been entranced by its sheer worth. I can see the shock in her expression, the way her breath catches for just a moment. It's not subtle.

“Everything alright?” I ask, my voice trying to sound casual but laced with concern.

She doesn’t answer at first, her eyes glued to the pieces of treasure, before she snaps back to herself, placing the necklace down with a careful hand. She clears her throat and looks up at me, her face now a mask of professionalism again, but there's a hint of something deeper behind her eyes.

“I’m afraid I can’t authenticate these items myself,” she says carefully. “They’re… outside my usual purview. I’ll need to take this to the owner for verification.”

My heart sinks for a moment. Great, more delays. And something about this feels... off. What if she’s trying to pull something? I glance at my brothers, who are standing just as tense as I am. Jiho gives me a subtle, worried look, and Isak, of course, is grinning as if this is all part of some fun game.

"Is that really necessary?" Abel asks, his voice calm but with a slight edge. "We don’t want to cause any trouble. Just looking to trade."

The woman nods, still not taking her eyes off the treasure. “I understand, but these items… they’re special. They need to be authenticated by the owner directly. This is standard procedure for high-value items like this.” She gives a small smile, trying to ease the tension. “I promise, nothing will happen to your goods.”

I bite the inside of my cheek. I don’t know if I trust this. But we don’t have much of a choice. Either we follow her or we leave here with nothing.

She signals one of her colleagues to take over the counter as she motions for us to follow her. “Please, come with me. It’s a bit of a walk, but I assure you, it will be worth it.”

We exchange a glance, but in the end, we all silently agree to follow her. She leads us through a door at the back of the trading post, and suddenly, it’s like we’ve stepped into another world. The public area of the trading post was busy and a little chaotic, but the backrooms? These are something else.

Each room we pass through becomes more elaborate, more luxurious. The walls are adorned with tapestries, the floors covered in thick, plush carpets. It feels like we’re walking deeper into a labyrinth, each turn leading us further into the heart of this establishment. The deeper we go, the more wealth is on display—gold-trimmed furniture, expensive-looking artwork, and the faint scent of incense in the air.

“Wow,” Isak whispers under his breath. “This place is like some kind of treasure vault. You think they’re hiding dragons back here too?”

I shoot him a look, but even I can’t deny how unsettlingly rich everything feels. This isn’t just a trading post. This is something far bigger.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, we reach a large, ornate door at the very end of the corridor. The woman stops in front of it, turning to face us with a polite but firm expression.

“The owner is inside,” she says quietly, lowering her voice. “I’ll knock and let him know you’re here. When you enter, please show him the items you wish to have authenticated.”

She raises her hand and raps gently on the door, the sound echoing in the quiet hallway.

Our nerves kick in, it's make or break now.