"Don't make me regret this," the merchant said as he finally handed over the storage device.
Arthur took it carefully and clipped it to his gear. "I won't."
They exchanged brief nods, mutual acknowledgment between two people who understood exactly what kind of deal had just been made.
Arthur stepped out of the shop and let out a slow breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.
That had been close.
Risky, too.
But necessary.
The badge was a gamble, no doubt about it. Losing it would complicate things badly. Still, Arthur felt no regret. Space meant opportunity, and opportunity was everything. With twenty percent of reclaimed loot going to him and more storage than the others, he had room to maneuver.
Room to outpace them.
As he headed back toward the missions hall, his mind was already working, fitting pieces together and refining the plan. Others would play it safe, grabbing what they could carry and leaving early. Arthur wouldn't.
He smiled to himself.
