“Misha guarantees this one will be perfect for Ela!” Misha exclaimed with unshakable confidence, hoisting the last of the nearly half-dozen backpacks into my arms. Without missing a beat, Misha launched into an enthusiastic explanation of its features.

  “Heaviest of the bunch, but very, very strong!” Misha said, gesturing emphatically at the bag. “It comes with a durasteel insert in the front—perfect for keeping pesky bullets and knives away from Ela’s back when worn! And, if necessary, it can even double as a portable shield. Very versatile!”

  That last part immediately got my attention.

  I’d been focused on finding a backpack to keep my gear safe, but I hadn’t even considered the idea that the right one might serve as impromptu cover. Sure, the kinetic energy from a bullet or something similar would probably make it impossible to hold the bag steady mid-air, but if I pressed it against my body? It’d effectively act like an additional bulletproof vest.

  ‘The same principle could apply to all the backpacks, technically, but the durasteel insert? That’s a solid bonus, no doubt…’

  I hefted the bag in my arms, feeling its substantial weight.

  It was definitely far heavier than the others, as Misha had mentioned, and it didn’t have as much storage capacity.

  But in terms of durability? It seemed like the clear winner at first glance.

  Luckily, I didn’t have to rely solely on a sales pitch or my initial impressions to make a decision.

  ‘[Appraisal],’ I thought, activating the Ability with, now, practiced ease.

  ‘Misha really is such a treasure,’ I thought, scrolling through the details of the Gryplik Expert Crafting Passive on the backpack. I simply couldn’t help but marvel at how much value Misha’s craftsmanship added to her wares.

  ‘Buying stuff made by Misha specifically? Absolutely worth the extra cost for these insane stat boosts…’

  A flat 15% increase to Protection stats was absolutely wild—completely unreal when you looked at it from a video game perspective. Just that one boost alone could almost push a Tier 1 item into Pseudo-Tier 2 territory.

  And the kicker? The price increase was only around 20%.

  For comparison, jumping from one full Tier to the next usually cost anywhere from 10 to 50 times the price. That made Misha’s Passive—a benefit she applied automatically to everything she crafted, if it worked the same way it had in the game—practically invaluable to anyone who knew about it.

  I couldn’t help but grin as I looked over the backpack again.

  It wasn’t just durable; it was over-performing; and by a lot.

  Misha had essentially cracked the code on how to make top-tier gear at an affordable price point, and I had a feeling very few people fully appreciated what they were getting when they shopped here.

  The only real sticking point for me? The price.

  This backpack was, somehow, as expensive as my entire Operator outfit combined with all the weapons I’d managed to scrounge up since arriving in this world. All that for a backpack? Sure, it was arguably amazing, but still—a tough sell.

  Even though I technically had the Credits on hand, I couldn’t just throw them around willy-nilly. I needed to reserve at least 300{c} for the drone; without that, the backpack wouldn’t even have a true purpose. The drone was non-negotiable—it was the cornerstone of what I was planning to do next.

  Luckily, purchases around here weren’t as simple as looking at the digital price tag in my head and handing over the cash. Nope, this was Neo Avalis, where everything was negotiable.

  Time to let [Negotiation] do its thing.

  “It really does look amazing, Misha!” I chimed in, cutting into her ongoing, enthusiastic sales pitch. “It’s Ela’s favorite of the bunch, for sure. Ela works out a lot, so the extra weight isn’t a problem at all. What does Misha want for it?”

  My tone was light, friendly, and I even added a bit of flexing in the middle to show her that the weight really wasn’t an issue at all, but I was being serious enough to signal that I wasn’t here to blindly hand over a mountain of Credits and wanted to negotiate.

  I could almost feel the [Negotiation] Skill subtly working its magic in the background as Misha paused, tilting her head ever so slightly as she often did.

  The game was on.

  Misha’s ruby-like eyes narrowed as she began pacing in front of me, her energy shifting into what could only be described as "serious merchant mode."

  Then, as I’d halfway expected, she started muttering in Gryplik.

  “{Hmm, Ela definitely deserves a good price, yes…? Definitely. But Misha needs to make money too... Misha is a successful merchant, after all. The greatest Gryplik merchant the world has ever seen! So Misha can’t simply give the item away for cheap, no no.}”

  I watched as her gaze flicked toward me, scanning me like she was calculating how much I’d realistically be willing to spend without walking away.

  Then, her eyes darted to Jade, who was sitting on a nearby pile of plush-looking clothes.

  The moment Jade realized Misha was looking at her, she practically jumped up in embarrassment, fumbling to stand. But Misha didn’t seem to care about the improvised seating arrangement; she was too deep in thought to notice.

  Misha’s pacing continued as her eyes returned to the floor, her muttering growing softer but no less intense.

  “{Ela did bring a new customer. And potential future ones, too. Misha cannot forget about this. And Ela is a friend… A friend that understands… Misha thinks. Maybe. Misha wants to believe…}”

  Her eyes darted to mine again, and I had to muster every ounce of my Ego to stay calm, plastering the same friendly smile on my face that I always used.

  Inside, I was screaming, practically waging war with myself not to blow my cover.

  I could hear her every word. I understood it all.

  And the weight of what she was saying—her doubts, her hopes—made me want to reach out and tell her that I got it, that I really did understand, and that I’d be here for her.

  But I couldn’t.

  My Ego strained harder than ever, keeping me in check as her ruby-like eyes—surprisingly expressive for something that didn’t really seem designed to show emotion—flickered with what looked like pleading before falling back to the floor.

  The moment her gaze dropped, I exhaled silently, using the brief pause to collect myself.

  ‘Get it together, Sera!’ I scolded myself internally. ‘Yes, Misha is unbelievably cute in a Gryplik chaos-goblin way, but you can’t risk both of your lives by revealing you understand Gryplik just because you got a little emotional! Who knows if there isn’t some corpo hitsquad out there hunting for a translator or something?! Focus, girl! No blowing your cover until you know it won’t be a problem!’

  With my internal pep talk done, I steadied myself, waiting for Misha to make her move and trying my best to act like I wasn’t just battling an existential crisis in real time.

  Meanwhile, Misha continued pacing, her muttering growing slightly louder as if the intensity of her thought process demanded it.

  “{Misha must think carefully. Ela is a friend, but Misha is a merchant too. The backpack is worth much, but overcharging a friend would be dishonorable. Hmm… 200? No, no… too much. 150? Too little, Misha would be losing profit! Hmm, yes… perhaps…}”

  Her eyes flickered up to me again, and I maintained my smile, trying not to give away the fact that I could hear every word of her internal monologue.

  Misha stopped pacing abruptly, straightened her body up to her full, towering height, and finally declared, “Misha will offer this magnificent backpack for 180 Credits!”

  The price caught me slightly off guard.

  It was already a steal, considering the quality and the added stat boosts from Misha’s crafting Passive. But I wasn’t about to pass up the opportunity to negotiate further.

  “It’s a fantastic offer, Misha,” I began, keeping my tone warm and appreciative. “Ela truly appreciates the effort Misha has put into finding the perfect backpack. But 180 is still a bit steep, considering Ela also needs to pick up a drone and a few auxiliary items. How about 160 instead?”

  Misha’s ruby-like eyes narrowed slightly, and her lips pulled into a small pout. “Misha cannot go that low! 180 is already a fair price! The materials alone make it worth far more, but Misha is generous!”

  I nodded, as if agreeing. “Ela understands that. But Ela must stretch her Credits carefully at the moment. If Misha can bring the price closer to 165, Ela will have enough for both the backpack and the drone, which Ela is still planning to purchase—from Misha, of course.”

  At the mention of the drone, Misha paused, visibly reconsidering.

  The promise of an additional sale clearly tipped the scales in my favor.

  “Hmm… Okay! Misha will agree to 168 Credits. But no less! And Ela has to buy the drone right now!” Misha finally said, crossing her arms with a slight huff, “and only because Misha knows Ela will return for more business in the future as well!”

  I grinned, offering my hand. “Deal. Misha always knows how to make the best arrangements.”

  Misha clasped my hand firmly in both of hers, shaking it with the kind of enthusiasm only she could muster. “Naturally, Misha does! Misha is the greatest merchant in all of Neo Avalis, after all! Misha guarantees it!”

  Without missing a beat, she continued, “Now, let Misha find Ela a drone worthy of the remaining Credits in Ela’s account! Surveillance type, fitting neatly into the backpack, yes?”

  I nodded, letting a small grin slip through as I watched the towering Gryplik spring into action, her energy seemingly limitless.

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  In a flash, she was off, darting into the chaotic maze of her Emporium once more.

  Seconds later, the frenzy began.

  Equipment pieces, clothes, weapons, and secure containers started flying through the air as Misha feverishly rummaged through her stockpile.

  The sound of clattering items and Gryplik mutterings filled the space, a symphony of organized chaos as Misha hunted down the perfect drone.

  Jade, standing nearby, dodged a stray piece of armor and gave me a look that screamed, ‘This really is normal here, huh?’

  I simply shrugged, amused. “Welcome to shopping with Misha,” I said with a chuckle, turning my attention back to the flurry of activity ahead.

  If anyone could find the right drone in this mess, it was her…

  About twenty minutes later, Misha and I were shaking hands once again, sealing the deal on my very first drone for a whopping 315 Credits—the most I had ever spent on anything, by far.

  Misha had brought out a small selection—three drones in total—that she believed fit my requirements and budget. True to form, her picks were spot-on.

  Each drone offered something slightly different, and the decision came down to weighing their unique trade-offs.

  The main differences were their weights, speeds, operating times—specifically the duration of their DIS spoofing—and their potential for modularity. The latter was especially tempting, but it came with a significant drawback: Reduced operating time.

  The DIS spoofing on these low-Tier drones just wasn’t robust enough to handle major hardware or software changes without compromising the whole system.

  In the end, I settled on the least modular of the three, as much as I hated the idea of having something that I couldn’t really tinker much with.

  It allowed for only minor tweaks and adjustments, but it had the longest spoofing time and was well within my budget. It wasn’t perfect, but it was the most practical for what I wanted the drone for in the first place: Surveillance.

  Low-Tier equipment always came with sacrifices, and I wasn’t about to risk functionality for bells and whistles I didn’t absolutely need.

  The [Appraisal] screen gave a comprehensive rundown of its capabilities—more than enough to assure me I’d made the right call.

  As for how I’d use it? That part was still a little up in the air.

  One thing was certain, though: Having a drone at my disposal, even a relatively basic one, was going to be a game-changer.

  Whether it was for Mr. Stirling’s final Task or any future jobs that came my way from the Operator gigs, this little piece of tech would undoubtedly pull its weight.

  “Misha has done an amazing job once again!” I said with a grin, setting up the Credit transfer through my cerebral interface. “Ela is very happy with the items and the prices for them.”

  Misha nodded so vigorously it was a wonder her head didn’t fly off, her wide, toothy grin practically lighting up the room. As she leaned down to carefully put the other drones back into their protective casings, she exclaimed, “Misha is the greatest merchant in all of Neo Avalis, after all! It is only natural that Misha would provide the best services!”

  “That, Misha absolutely is,” I replied with a laugh, mentally confirming to send off the Credits.

  Meanwhile, inside, I was shedding a metaphorical tear as my account balance took a nosedive.

  ‘Goodbye, my hard-earned Credits… It was nice knowing you, even if only for a brief, fleeting moment!’

  The transaction completed with a faint chime in my mind:

  Just as I was mentally preparing to bask in the post-purchase glow—and mourning my suddenly impoverished account—Jade caught my attention.

  “Ela, are you done shopping with Misha for now?” she asked, her tone unusually straightforward.

  I blinked at her, caught off-guard.

  Jade wasn’t typically this upfront with me, and her next words explained why. “I was thinking… Maybe it would be good to ask Misha for some samples. Something I can talk to Vega and my sisters about. Y’know, give them a better idea of what Misha has to offer.”

  My eyebrows shot up before I could stop them.

  It was probably the first time Jade had ever been this honest with me, especially about her intentions to share Misha’s existence with the Clawed Beasts.

  Hesitation and confusion bubbled up—hadn’t she been wary of me not too long ago?

  But overriding all of that was an odd sense of happiness; maybe I was finally making headways on getting through to her on a more personal level.

  I smiled and nodded. “I’m done, yeah. There’s nothing else I need from Misha’s Emporium for now. Go ahead and ask Misha; I will stay out of your way.”

  Jade nodded back and turned to Misha, who was now stacking the protective cases she’d just filled onto a nearby counter. “Misha? Jade has a request. Can Misha provide a list of what’s available here? Jade wants to know what kind of items are in stock to let a few of Jade’s colleagues know about them.”

  The request immediately piqued my interest.

  I’d never thought to ask for an actual list before, simply figuring that Misha would tell me if she didn’t have what I wanted, but now, in hindsight, it seemed like a really obvious thing to ask for when first entering as enigmatic a shop as Misha’s was.

  As Jade spoke, I leaned back against a nearby rack and prepared to listen intently.

  Misha’s ruby-like eyes glimmered, her body vibrating with energy as she began rattling off her inventory with the enthusiasm of someone who’d been waiting for this moment.

  “Misha’s Emporium offers the greatest variety of items in Neo Avalis!” she declared proudly. “Misha has knives, blades, bludgeons—yes, even vibro-weaponry for close-range combat, if that’s what the customer requires! Firearms, of course—pistols, rifles, shotguns; Misha has them all. Drones, high-tech gadgets, decks and crowns for Cyberspace navigation… And let’s not forget backpacks like the one Ela just purchased, along with a range of armor and clothing options, both lightweight and heavy-duty!”

  Jade’s eyes widened slightly as the list went on, and I could feel my own curiosity growing with every word. Misha continued without pause, her enthusiasm only building as she described item after item, from the practical to the downright high-tech.

  “Misha also stocks specialty items! Unique gadgets and one-of-a-kind equipment not found anywhere else—some Misha has modified personally, others Misha has made by hand! All guaranteed to be the best quality and the best price! And lastly, Misha even has some really nice cybernetics stored away for the high-end clientele. Every high-quality store needs to have a secret menu, after all!”

  I stood there, floored once again by the sheer breadth of her inventory.

  ‘Where the hell does Misha even get all of this stuff…?’ I wondered for what felt like the hundredth time. And more importantly, ‘How does Misha manage to do this all by herself?’

  Jade seemed equally impressed, nodding as Misha finished the list with a flourish. “That’s… a lot. Jade didn’t realize Misha’s Emporium had so much to offer.”

  “Misha is the greatest merchant in all of Neo Avalis!” Misha said proudly, puffing out her chest. “Of course Misha has everything! If Jade needs more information or specifics, Misha can provide details for any item. Just ask!”

  I stayed quiet, merely observing the exchange.

  Jade nodded thoughtfully, clearly impressed. “Alright, then. What about the firearms? Does Misha stock ones that come with pre-existing licenses? Or would those need to be acquired separately?”

  Misha tilted her head, considering the question. “Most firearms in Misha’s Emporium require separate licensing. Misha can provide assistance with certain arrangements, of course, but official licenses depend on the buyer’s standing. As for pre-war era guns…”

  Jade perked up at the mention. “Pre-war?! Anything usable? Or just collectibles?”

  Misha’s ruby-like eyes sparkled, and she leaned in slightly, as if sharing a grand secret. “Pre-war guns are rare treasures! Misha has a few in stock. All functional, durable, and often unique in design, too! They carry history and craftsmanship unmatched by modern weapons. Some even include specialized ammo types, Misha will have Jade know.”

  The smug smile on Misha’s face told me everything I needed to know about how much she enjoyed being able to show off her vast repertoire of goods like this.

  Jade’s curiosity seemed to deepen. “Specialized ammo? On Pre-war guns…? Like what?”

  “Explosive tips, subsonic rounds, even tracer rounds for visibility in combat! Usually not available with pre-war era guns, but Misha managed to acquire a few of the rare ones that can!” Misha said, her enthusiasm building with every word.

  She moved toward the nearest pile of items, her long fingers deftly rummaging through its chaotic contents. “Misha guarantees the highest quality for every piece in Misha’s collection. If Jade wishes to see some examples—”

  Misha’s words cut off abruptly as Jade’s posture abruptly stiffened, her expression shifting from curiosity to stark alarm in the blink of an eye. The change was so drastic it startled even Misha, who stopped digging through the pile to tilt her head in confusion.

  Jade’s head snapped toward the Emporium’s entrance like a deer catching wind of a predator.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked, standing up straighter, feeling adrenaline start ramping through me. Something was very clearly wrong.

  Jade turned to me, her voice low but urgent. “Ela, we need to leave. Now.”

  The sharpness in her tone, the barely contained panic, sent a jolt through me.

  I had never heard her this serious—or this concerned—before.

  Misha, still holding a secure lockbox she’d just pulled from beneath a mountain of merchandise, paused. Her crystal-like eyes glinted as she regarded us both, her confusion clear. “Is there an issue? Misha does not sense anything unusual…?”

  No longer paying any attention to Misha, Jade moved quickly to my side, her voice low but insistent. “It’s the Golden Phoenix’s people. They’re coming. We need to leave this place, right fucking now. I don’t know if we can get out of dodge before they spot us, but I really don’t want another repeat of last time. Let’s go!”

  My mind raced, thoughts tangling in a chaotic whirlwind, but the urgency in Jade’s tone left no room for debate. Slinging the backpack—which now held my newly acquired drone—over my shoulder, I turned toward Misha, forcing my voice to remain steady.

  “Misha, Jade and Ela deeply apologise, but it seems trouble has found us. Ela promises to return as soon as time permits, but we must leave now. Ela truly hopes this won’t cause any issues for Misha…”

  Misha tilted her head, her glinting ruby-like eyes narrowing slightly in concern. “Misha does not sense immediate danger here, but if Jade and Ela believe it is necessary, Misha understands. Misha hopes the trouble does not follow and that Jade and Ela remain safe.”

  Her words were calm, but there was a subtle undertone of worry that lingered in the air.

  I gave her a quick, grateful nod before spinning on my heel to follow Jade, who was already making a beeline for the Emporium’s exit, her pace quick and purposeful.

  “You got any more intel for me here? How do you know they’re coming? What’s going on?” I fired off questions at her back, my mind scrambling to piece together any shred of information that could help me form even a rudimentary plan.

  ‘How the hell did they even find us…?’

  We’d been careful on our exit from the 38th floor.

  After yesterday’s run-in, we’d gone out of our way to switch elevators on the 16th, avoid predictable paths, and ensure that we weren’t being followed.

  And the restricted floors?

  They weren’t just inaccessible; they were off-limits to anyone without proper clearance. The Golden Phoenix shouldn’t have been able to get anywhere close enough to follow me at all.

  ‘So how the hell did they track me here? Did they follow Jade, somehow…?’

  The possibilities churned in my head, but none of them felt right.

  Jade had been even more cautious than me, I had to begrudgingly admit.

  And she had actual professionals to watch over her, like Vega and her sisters. So the chance that she had messed up immediately and gotten herself followed here was very slim.

  “Do you know how many there are? Are they armed?” I pressed, trying to keep my voice steady as we neared the exit.

  Jade glanced back briefly, her expression tight, her words quick and clipped. “Vega had Citrina tail me after the run-in with the enforcers. Just in case. Citrina spotted them heading for the Emporium and sent me a message to get out ASAP. I don’t know how many there are, but you can bet they’re armed—they wouldn’t bother hunting us down without packing heat.”

  It made sense. I couldn’t really blame Vega for having us shadowed after yesterday’s fiasco—if anything, I was relieved knowing we weren’t entirely alone in this mess.

  Still, my mind churned as I followed Jade. Would it really be safer to leave?

  Rockefeller Inc. wouldn’t just let random gangers stir up trouble in one of their stores, especially not on their controlled floors. The corporation valued its pristine reputation far too much to tolerate chaos, even from a gang as seemingly bold as the Golden Phoenix.

  But staying might be just as dangerous, if not more.

  The last thing I wanted was to risk putting Misha in harm’s way.

  Rockefeller Inc. might enforce harsh repercussions, but no punishment could fix injuries—or worse, bring someone back from the dead.

  Lost in my thoughts, I almost slammed into Jade when she came to a sudden stop.

  “What are you doing?! We have to go!” she barked, frustration boiling over as she gestured ahead.

  Peering around her, I saw the source of her frustration. Misha was standing in the store’s entrance, her towering figure blocking the way out entirely.

  Somehow, the Gryplik had overtaken us without a sound, positioning herself between us and the exit like an immovable wall.

  “Misha, what’s wrong?” I asked, my voice laced with both confusion and concern.

  Misha’s ruby-like eyes gleamed, her posture tall and unyielding. “Misha does not allow friends to leave in danger. If there are enemies, Misha will help deal with them.”

  The weight of her words hit me like a hammer, a wave of conflicting emotions surging through me—gratitude, worry, and frustration all wrestling for dominance. This wasn’t the time for Misha to play the hero, no matter how well-intentioned she was.

  “Misha, we really—”

  “No. Misha will help,” she interrupted firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument.

  Before I could protest further, Misha seemingly conjured a set of four crates from thin air. Whether she’d had them hidden behind her or stashed beneath nearby mountains of merchandise, I couldn’t tell. The speed and precision with which she presented them were almost disorienting.

  She gestured to the crates with a sharp motion. “Take. Use to defend friends, then return them to Misha. Misha makes an exception for friends—but don’t expect Misha to give away free stuff, yes?”

  The mix of urgency in her voice and the unexpected generosity threw me off for a moment. I glanced at Jade, who looked equally stunned, before stepping forward to inspect the crates.

  Whatever Misha had stashed in them, it was clear she wasn’t planning on letting us leave without retrieving whatever was inside…

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