Alex scanned the third floor and saw no one conscious. He decided to follow the mercenary’s exit path as the sounds of police drew close. With his enhanced body Alex ran to his destination quickly without tiring and without running into any trouble. He stepped into the shop and headed to Angela’s booth as a tray of pizza arrived.

"All is set and done, we should be clear now," Alex voiced confidently. Angela, amid grabbing her first pizza slice, raised her brows quizzically.

"What's the full story? Your version of 'set and done' is always more complicated than it seems," Angela prodded, pausing to take a bite of her slice.

“I scouted the building took out the guards in the front as you may have seen and then I dealt with the people in the building. I even got a nice new big sword to tell in the Tower,” he said with a smile, “They should have been unconscious when the police arrived. I also have reason to believe that climber reinforcements have also been called to deal with them in whatever way that the police deal with these things now a days.”

"Climber reinforcements?" Angela queried, her eyes narrowing. "I thought only police would respond to the scene."

"Normally, you'd be right. But today's operation was a little different - I made a new acquaintance," Alex explained, a hint of mischief dancing in his eyes. "Besides, this way, the Climbers will find it harder to slip away."

"And this mysterious friend would be...?"

"Ah, the mercenary I saved earlier," Alex said, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. "No name was given, so for now he's either the Archer or just the Mercenary in my mind. He even aided me in dispatching the guards on the third floor. Oh, and did I mention I saved his life?"

"I beg to differ," a voice interjected, its owner materializing out of thin air. It was the Archer, his stealth mode turning off, revealing his form seated beside Angela. Angela jolted in surprise, nearly dropping her food.

Unfazed, Alex continued, "Well, your protestations notwithstanding, I did. You were about to be impaled by that behemoth's sword. Even before I barged in, you two were causing such a ruckus, and yet you couldn't lay a scratch on him."

"I was anticipating your arrival," Archer retorted, a mocking glint in his eyes.

"Yeah, yeah, keep telling yourself that," Alex replied, not missing a beat. "Fact remains, I've saved your skin not once but twice."

"You nearly shocked me into cardiac arrest," the Archer shot back.

"And you had an arrow aimed straight at my head. What was I supposed to do? Follow the law?"

"It was at your heart. Get your facts straight. And yes, you should have."

"That doesn't make it sound any better. And if I did follow your rules then we wouldn't be here enjoying pizza and your company," Alex retorted, rolling his eyes. He then turned back to Angela, "Anyway, Angela, our nameless friend here should be able to help wrap up your issues soon."

"I'm doing what now?" The Archer looked taken aback.

"All you need to do is help us with a minor issue," Alex said casually. "You see, a regrettable incident occurred a month ago, resulting in the death of a man in an alley - a man with ties to the same Climber and narcotics group we just put out of commission. So, in return for rescuing you - twice, mind you - I'd appreciate it if you'd quit trying to off me and instead, report me as dead to your superiors. That way, I can continue the pursuit of my objectives in the Tower."

“And those are?”

“Getting to higher floors, getting stronger, revenge. The usual. We are getting away from the main point. I need to get out of this chase with the Earth’s police and you can help me because I helped you. I can promise you not to kill anyone else on Earth to make you feel better. Killing people has never really been my thing. I have hated the few times I’ve had to do it to survive.”

"And why should I believe you?" The mercenary questioned, his steel-blue eyes boring into Alex.

"Because I'm a man of my word," Alex asserted, matching his gaze. "And, unless I'm mistaken, you owe me."

The mercenary contemplated this for a moment, his gaze shifting from Alex to Angela, who was watching the interaction with wide eyes. A deep sigh escaped from him as he looked around the shop.

"Alright. I'll help you, but I have one condition," the Archer conceded, causing a triumphant grin to spread across Alex's face.

"And what might that be?" Alex inquired, keeping his tone light despite the curiosity brewing inside him.

"I want the sword. You know which one. You took it after," the Archer paused. "You took it after saving me," he stated, holding out a hand expectantly. "It's a fair trade. You give me the sword, and I'll ensure your name is off the Climber's hit list."

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Alex's grin faltered slightly. The sword was a valuable weapon that would fetch a good price.

"I wasn't expecting that," Alex admitted, his fingers tapping against his leg. "But...I suppose I owe you that much. The military is so underfunded that you really need it."

"I just don't want you to have it. And I know that you will hand it over. The resale value will also be a nice bonus too."

Alex scowled. "That is a fair point," said Alex. He summoned it into his hand and placed it on the table with a thud.

The mercenary merely nodded. His gaze was still focused on the sword. He clutched the hilt tightly, a satisfied smirk gracing his lips. He rose to his feet, ready to take his leave.

"Remember your promise, Alex," he stated, his gaze meeting Alex's. "You won't kill anyone else on Earth. That's my condition."

"I'm a man of my word," Alex replied, echoing his earlier sentiment. "You have my promise."

With a final nod, the mercenary departed, leaving Alex and Angela alone in the room. As the door closed behind him, Alex let out a sigh of relief, the tension in his shoulders dissipating. He turned back to Angela, a small smile gracing his lips.

"Well, that went better than expected," he commented, walking back over to join her. "Let's hope he keeps his end of the bargain."

Angela, with a stern expression, started the conversation, "You could have given me a heads up that he was showing up."

Alex looked at her with a sheepish expression, "He just waltzed right through the front door. I'm sorry you didn't pick up on that. Anyway, it's done now. I can return to the Tower, and you can go back to your regular routine," he said, trying to defuse the tense atmosphere.

Angela sighed, crossing her arms, "I believe a part of my job description just evaporated when the police stormed in there. Once the other businesses related to that place get closed, I'll have to hunt for a new workplace."

Alex's brows furrowed in concern, "Right, I didn't consider that. What's your next move?"

Angela shrugged, uncertainty clouding her features, "I'm clueless at the moment. I'm just relieved that this gang is being taken care of and will be off the streets. I guess my primary task now is to secure a new job."

Alex nodded, "That seems like a sensible course of action. Given your experience with climbers and your indirect association with Tower life, some guilds might find your skills handy and would be open to hiring you. However, the fact that your previous enterprise was involved in drug-related crimes might raise some eyebrows. If you're comfortable, I could try and reach out to a friend of mine. He's not inclined towards entering the Tower, just like you, and holds an administrative position in a guild. He's associated with the Blacksmith’s Guild; you might have heard about them."

Angela, mulling over the suggestion, replied, "I think I've come across them once or twice," a brief silence fell upon them.

Deciding to break the silence, Alex added, "While you're weighing your options, I can share my plans with you. I've been predominantly staying on the second floor and have been leveling up gradually. Taking a fellow mage's advice, I've been leveraging the frequent storms on the second floor to fight. The issue of generating lightning remains unresolved. The storms have been a good practice ground, but they're unpredictable and I must adapt to their schedules. In between, I've consulted some crafters about building a generator and battery following your suggestion. The conclusion was that I need to accumulate much more points than I currently have or hoard a lot of single-use items. It's been somewhat exasperating."

Angela, attempting to understand the situation, questioned, "What solutions did they propose? Something magical, I presume."

Alex sighed, "Yes, primarily magical solutions. Blacksmiths are accustomed to working with materials like steel, and iron, and sometimes they specialize in crafting jewelry using silver and gold. But the components needed for batteries are completely foreign to them."

"Have you been seeking help only from the native population for crafting?" Angela inquired.

Alex replied hesitantly, "Yes, for now. I don’t have any close contacts in the crafting groups that I trust enough. I've thought about the Blacksmith's Guild, but I don’t know anyone personally from the climber's side."

Angela, puzzled, asked, "Why do you need to keep it so secret?"

Alex responded, "I suppose it's a matter of personal pride. The native population is less prone to betrayal and bribery. I'd rather not have people knowing more about my abilities than necessary. Whoever crafts these devices would have intimate knowledge of my vulnerabilities. It's something I'd like to avoid if at all possible."

Angela took a moment to digest the information, her face thoughtful. "I can understand that,” she finally said, "keeping your secrets, maintaining your defenses. It makes sense in a dangerous world like the Tower. But," she added. "You do need to find someone to help you. Someone who you can trust and who is capable of replicating Earth technology in the Tower. You can't do it on your own."

A silence stretched between them, the soft buzz of the pizza shop their only soundtrack. Alex looked at Angela, his expression unreadable in the dim light. "You're right," he finally said, a hint of reluctance in his voice. "Maybe it's time I changed my strategy."

He paused as if grappling with an internal decision. Finally, he spoke again, his voice steady. "I have an offer for you, Angela. It's not conventional, but then again, none of this is. Would you consider joining me in the Tower? I know I already asked you once, but the times have changed."

"You want me to become a crafter. I've known this since the end of our first meeting. I'm still not completely sure I should step into the world of the Tower and leave Earth entirely.

Alex chuckled. "That's the beauty of it, Angela. You don't need to be. You could work as a crafter, in the safety of the Tower's base. You have skills that are much needed there. Skills that no one else possesses. You could craft items, help with the generator, and other technology-based needs. You'd be valuable, and safe. You can even still live in London or wherever on Earth."

Angela looked sceptical. "And what about if there are problems in the Tower? Crafters are usually tied to a guild or a business. Not to a singular person.

Alex waved a dismissive hand. "I'll take care of it. It's what you can do now that's important. If in the future, you want to leave my service and join a guild after building the battery and generator then I will understand, and you can leave."

Angela looked at him, uncertainty still etched in her features. But a spark of interest lit up her eyes, a spark that Alex seized upon. "Think about it, Angela," he said, leaning in closer. "It could be the fresh start you need."

Leaning back, Angela sighed and looked up at the afternoon sky, her mind racing with thoughts. Alex could only hope that she would consider his proposal, that she would step into the unknown world of the Tower, and potentially change both their lives forever.

"Well," she finally said," I suppose I've got nothing to lose."