Gateway Exchange stood exactly where it always had.
At the edge of the Tower District where civilian infrastructure stopped pretending the world was normal and fully embraced the reality of players, monsters and mana-driven economies.
Six floors tall.
Concrete reinforced with mana-treated steel.
Wide glass panels embedded with rotating holograms armours unfolding and refolding, blades spinning slowly in zero gravity, potions glowing faintly as if alive.
Above the entrance the same engraved name watched over the street.
→ GATEWAY EXCHANGE ←
Kael stood across the road hands in his pockets and observed it longer than he had last time.
Nothing about the building had changed.
But this time he came back stronger.
Last time he'd walked in as a cautious seller with alert, sharp, expecting to be cheated knowing how Gateway Exchange works.
This time he felt no such tension.
I don't think so Gateway Exchange have become safer because of the kind of Monopoly Business they have all over the world.
But this time it's harder to deceive him even more.
"Let's see how you react now," Kael muttered.
He crossed the street.
The moment he stepped through the entrance the familiar chaos swallowed him.
Voices overlapping. Metal scraping against counters. Mana scanners making sounds softly.
A loudspeaker crackled overhead.
"…High-grade mana crystal rates updated. Down one point three percent…."
"No refunds on bound equipment…."
"Appraisal queues now redirected to floor three…."
Kael was stunned 'Was the Appraisal Queues moved to floor 3 because of me? Not, right?'
Kael adjusted his hood and walked in.
Three steps, that was all it took.
A soft sound rang near the entrance not loud enough for customers to notice but sharp enough for trained ears.
Yes it was the Security alert.
Two guards near the door stiffened.
One glanced at his wrist terminal.
His expression changed from fear to hostility and later changed to something closer to caution mixed with confirmation.
"…That's him" the guard murmured.
Another guard shifted position slightly angling himself by not blocking Kael and he does not escort him but also framing him.
Kael noticed everything around him, but he kept walking forward
Players around him didn't realize anything yet. But players were instinctively sensitive to changes in atmosphere. When security adjusted themselves around someone instead of toward someone attention followed.
A few heads turned.
Whispers started.
"Who's that?"
"Did something happen?"
Kael stopped near the centre of the floor.
One of the guards approached Kael and his posture respectful but firm.
"Sir" he said "Welcome to Gateway Exchange. Please continue forward. One moment."
Kael raised an eyebrow slightly.
"One moment for what?"
The guard hesitated for half a second then answered honestly.
"The Branch Manager has been looking for you."
That drew a few looks.
Kael nodded once.
"Alright take me to his cabin"
He didn't move toward the appraisal counters. He didn't need to.
Footsteps echoed from the inner corridor.
The Footsteps didn't look like hurried nor aggressive
But every step he walked was measured.
A man stepped out flanked by two senior security officers.
Branch Manager Riven.
Older than Kael had expected.
Broad-shouldered, hair silvering at the temples, eyes sharp and alert the eyes of someone who had seen too many "rising stars" burn out and still remained standing.
The noise in the hall didn't stop.
But it softened.
Riven's gaze locked onto Kael instantly.
"…Nice to meet you, I'm this city Gateway Exchange Branch Manager Riven".
Kael inclined his head slightly. "Good, I'm Kael"
Riven studied him openly, Riven had years of experience. He did not need to have appraisal tools or mana scan.
Riven has enough experience by reading the Body language of every person and players.
"You have sold your loots and items here before" Riven said. "I was amazed by your clean transaction and your accurate knowledge and flashy theatrics."
Kael shrugged. "I don't like wasting time."
Riven snorted quietly.
"That already puts you above ninety percent of sellers."
He gestured toward the inner corridor.
"Let's talk in my cabin" Riven said. "Before you sell anything."
That sentence rippled outward.
People noticed now.
Players paused mid-argument.
Clerks stopped typing.
A branch manager leaving his office was rare.
Leaving it for a seller was rarer.
Kael didn't resist he followed. The cabin sealed behind them.
Isolation field engaged. The cabin was soundproof. The room had a mana-shield.
Kael was amazed by the room, high quality chairs and tables with bodyguards everywhere.
Riven didn't sit immediately.
He leaned against the table arms crossed and looked Kael up and down again.
"First" Riven said "let's clear something up."
Kael waited for Riven for what he was going to say.
"You are not in trouble."
Kael nodded. "Oh, okay that's Good."
"But" Riven continued "I feel you have something in you that feels very different from other players and by then you can't be anonymous around."
That landed.
Kael didn't react outwardly, but his attention sharpened.
Riven finally sat.
"You disappeared for a while after from your first selling out your loot and items" he said. "Then now you have reappeared, But I don't want my employees to get caught or embarrassed in front of all."
Kael leaned back slightly. "Is it?"
Riven smiled thinly.
"You know The Tower" he said. "The extension of the tower is us for the economy of the world of Solaris."
He tapped his console. Graphs appeared. Supply curves. Market anomalies. Item inflow spikes small but precise.
"You didn't break any rules," Riven said. "But the image of our Gateway Exchange went downhill since that incident."
Kael nodded. "I mean that was not my intention, but yeah that's one lot of change, I hope you guys have changed."
Riven looked at him sharply.
"That confidence," he said. "That's what made us pay attention."
Silence stretched.
"Are you here to dump everything at once?" Riven asked.
"No" Kael said immediately. "Only excess."
"What stays?" Riven asked.
Kael answered without hesitation.
"Boss cores. Scaling gear. Authority-related materials. Anything sealed or undefined."
Riven exhaled quietly.
"Good" he said. "Because if you tried to sell those, I'd refuse."
Kael frowned. "You'd refuse profit?"
"Yes, it pains me from not bringing profit, but I see something in you" Riven corrected. "I feel something this time the world and the tower will be changed soon."
He leaned forward.
"And this behaviour of you wants me to make your direct ally with you."
Kael considered that.
"…Hmmm, I thank you for thinking highly of me, I appreciate it"
Riven laughed heavily.
"I like you" he said. "Can we see what items you are selling today?"
Kael nodded.
"Do you want some commission out from this?" Kael cheekily said this.
Riven just smiled. He had Higher standard. Lower than predatory.
Kael calculated quickly.
"…Ok Accepted."
Riven relaxed slightly.
"There's another reason I wanted this conversation" he said.
Kael waited.
"You, no one has the appraisal skills" Riven said. "But you know exact values."
Riven met his gaze.
"That makes clerks nervous."
Kael smiled faintly. "Then they shouldn't try lying."
Riven laughed softly.
"Oh, that situation has already been handled."
Kael noticed the way Riven avoided details.
After Kael removed all the items he wanted to sell. The transaction took time. Kael didn't dump items. He placed them deliberately. High-grade mana crystals. Monster materials sorted by purity and degradation. Low-tier equipment bundles.
Riven personally supervised.
This time Riven didn't use any tricks or any substitutions, like he was made for this "No mistakes."
Every number aligned with Kael's expectations.
The total climbed steadily. When it finally settled at 10,000,000 Cates
Kael stared at it for a full second.
Ten million. Enough to relocate. Enough to insulate himself from early-floor pressure.
Enough to prepare without rushing.
"…That'll do" Kael said.
"Funds have been transferred to your account" Riven confirmed.
Kael felt the balance update.
But this time he didn't feel any thrill. But he was satisfied with just stability in his life right now.
As Kael stood to leave, Riven spoke again.
"You know in the future guilds will notice you" he said. "And very soon."
Kael turned. "I know that and Gateway?"
Riven smiled thinly.
"We sell" he said. "We don't chase."
Kael nodded once.
The sun was setting.
Long shadows stretched across the Tower District.
Kael walked calmly balance heavy in his account thoughts already shifting toward preparation.
"We Rest tonight" he muttered. "Tomorrow back to climbing."
Till then Shall we test my powers here.