Chương 78: Safe Haven

Walking into his room, Evel sat in front of his VTR and removed the thin cloth over atop. The first show in Upper-Ichoris had been very fruitful. First, he got a better understanding of the rampant inner military politics within the city. Redigo was unbothered, discussing mundane things and enjoying the show while Prachar struggled to hold their own. Their finances were fragile, and they now owed far more than they could afford to pay as a result of their previous fraud.

All the money that should have gone to paying those debts was already siphoned off, leaving Zephyr without much to work with. Although she didn't explicitly say it, their only shot at holding their ground in the slightest was the information he'd provided. How exactly that would go down, it was impossible to say. He also got an insight into the power dynamics between the major players. The Mayor was by far the most important, followed by the Banners.

The families and merchants hardly made it into any of the conversations. All this information could be considered 'public knowledge,' so it didn't help him in any monetary way, but it helped him contextualize everything that was going on. His second major gain was the information that could actually get him some credits. Shui, a merchant who handled distributing military technology to the public, was involved in illicit relationships with a mistress.

The items he sold weren't anything of note and involved items like radios and simple lights. Not something to work on blackmailing him over. And if he were to just sell it directly, it wouldn't land a high prize. It was something worth keeping for the future. The other information, one that could actually fetch a high price, was the meeting between the Mayor and the head of Acies, Grave. Clearly, they intended for the meeting to be a secret matter.

To be safe, he decided not to sell that information right away and wait at least a week. The information had a risk of becoming irrelevant by then, but that's a risk he decided to take in order to keep his safety. Credits would flow in as long as he kept things running smoothly, and for a long time. Evel focused back on the VTR. Holy shit, I'm rich. Evel's financial situation was looking really good.

The information from the slums alone had netted him over 800 credits—an absurd sum that would leave most Core-stages drooling. With Agent taking 30% of the share, and the cut that anonymous probably took as well, the information was likely valued well over 1200 credits! Everything combined, Evel was sitting on the treasure trove of about 1640 credits, almost back to his initial credits upon arrival in the city. And that was after a series of purchases.

His weekly expenses were about 20 credits for the two Sunken Vials. Everything else, like the rest pod's fuel or stem packs, he'd now buy with Riak. Given the high fees the circus charged and its upward trajectory, Riak would no longer be an issue. The corners of his lips involuntarily curled up as he browsed through the VTR. He was finally ready for the next big purchase, his upgraded weapons! The advertised price was 850+, and he'd get 90 back for trading in his old metal cards.

'850' was a little deceptive, since that assumed the bare minimum effects added, and each major customization would increase the price sharply. It didn't really matter; he was filthy rich and could live like the young heir to a major family if he wanted to. The better his weapons, the safer he'd be! There were various effects he could add: Explosions, deeper cuts, faster airtime, continued bleeding, shining light, sensory-based effects, gusts of wind, a boomerang effect…

Somehow, the list just kept extending further and further. Some effects were a lot less useful than others. For example, he had the option to get throwing cards that fizzled out before hitting the target. Basically, they were useless. Evel took his time, carefully going through the various effects and trying to find a few key ones to really base his weapon around. After a while, he was finally satisfied and input the specifications. Acies was quick to reply and returned a message within the hour.

Upon seeing the demanded number, he flinched. It was an absolutely absurd sum. 1400? Sure, I chose some good effects, but 1400? With it, a special offer was attached. As Acies needed to train younger generations of arms manufacturers, they offered a 30% discount if you accepted your weapon to be made by a beginner. The quality was still guaranteed, but delays were frequent. Some people have had to wait up to a full season before getting their weapon, and they didn't guarantee you'd get it within the year.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Saving over 400 credits for a longer wait didn't sound too bad of a deal, especially considering he had no plans getting into any fights anytime soon. 400 credits represented 40 Sunken Vials. Evel went back to the effect options and continued browsing. After a while, he found a more tame series of effects that he still felt satisfied with. One hour later, a more reasonable 1200 credits was offered.

Did I just think 1200 was reasonable? He shook his head. If he were to take the discount, it would add up to 840 credits, even cheaper than the initially marketed price… But still more expensive than other weapons of the same calibre… In the end, he decided the smartest decision was to not to make it himself, and ask someone more experienced. So the next morning, he consulted Albert directly. He essentially just told Evel to splurge.

"In your situation, using your weapon means you've already failed. You'll want the strongest lifeline possible, especially considering how filthy rich you are. Who or what do you pray to?" If that were the advice he was getting, Evel didn't mind pushing the limits even further and made a third set as an option. 1600 credits, and 1120 with the discount. He didn't make the purchase right away. It was too big to make lightly, and he needed a few days to think it over. So that's what he did.

The week went by, and Evel performed once again at the slums for an audience of 500 people. From that number, the growth would likely stagnate—most of the people who lived in the slums and could afford to pay were already doing so. Almost another week went by before he finally made the decision, just the day before his second performance in Upper-Ichoris. Evel returned home from his practice run through from the circus in Upper Ichoris.

Most of their practices were still done in the slums, since it was closer to where everyone lived, but they needed to do a dry run in realistic circumstances just to make sure the quality of the performance remained top notch. He popped into Stevan's store, grabbed a newspaper and hurriedly made his way back home. The decision was made. Taking a deep breath, he clicked and finally sent in the order to create his future weapon, marking the final major purchase he'd wanted to make.

All that was left was information and consumables to help push him forward! The next item he had his eyes on was Risen Vials, which were basically Sunken Vials without all the negative consequences. The only minor issue was that they cost 40 credits each. Four times that of Sunken Vials! If he wanted to use Sunken Vials two times a week, and Risen Vials five times a week to train at least once a day with extended capabilities… 220 Credits a week.

With a self-deprecating huff, he hid the VTR behind a thin cloth and took out the newspaper. Wealth was a fickle thing. He shook his head and began reading the paper's front page. As his eyes scanned through the paper in his hand, his easy smile slipped, his face smoothening into a blank slate.

MAYOR MAGNUS DECLARES ICHORIS A SAFE HAVEN Firearm Smuggling Ring Dismantled Before Reaching City Borders In a stunning display of quick governance, Mayor Magnus has announced the complete elimination of a firearm smuggling operation that had been steadily creeping toward Ichoris from the surrounding region. The breakthrough came through a tireless investigative work of Prachar's newly appointed city head, Zephyr.

Her report revealed that the same criminal networks responsible for the rampant gang violence ravaging nearby cities sought to expand their operations to Ichoris. Upon receiving Zephyr's report, the Mayor acted quickly and efficiently, personally overseeing the operation that brought the ring to its end before it could ever begin. The confrontation took place in the western slums, where the merchants behind the trade chose to take their own lives over being captured.

All others involved have since been apprehended, with no casualties among the citizens of Ichoris. It is advised to avoid the region altogether in the meantime, as residual abilities in the vicinity pose a serious risk of injury or death. This morning, the Mayor formally passed legislation permanently banning all firearms within city limits, as well as making it illegal to withhold information about firearm smuggling. He pledges to enforce it himself.

"Ichoris will not fall to the senseless violence these weapons bring. I am deeply grateful to the great journalism brought about by Zephyr—Prachar is, without question, in better hands." –MAYOR MAGNUS. In recognition of Prachar's contribution to public safety, the Mayor has formally forgiven an undisclosed portion of the Banner's outstanding tax debt as a reward. Given the scale of the problem and the lack of reliable leadership, nearby towns are unlikely to cooperate to form a united front against violence.

To that end, Redigo will continue to expand its humanitarian efforts, helping relocate any groups potentially susceptible to these changing times.

"The doors of Ichoris are wide open to any citizen of a neighbouring city, town, or county. We are prepared to offer housing, food, and stable employment to anyone willing to take a risk for a better life." – CITY HEAD OF REDIGO, VITO. This operation will no doubt become a guiding light to future administrations on the importance of speed, decisiveness and cohesion among the city leaders to meet a threat before it ever arrives.

Citizens of Ichoris, and any who wish to seek to build a life here: the city will protect you. Evel set the paper down and swallowed back the lump that had formed in his neck. He didn't have a problem with them claiming they'd made the discovery themselves. In fact, it was exactly what he needed in order to remain safe. The merchants behind the trade chose to take their own lives over being captured… With a sigh, he got himself onto the bed and stared blankly at the ceiling above. He rested there for a long time.

Eventually, he pushed himself off the bed and did his nightly training routine. He pushed Eth to its limits, maintaining his ability for as long as he could. For tonight, he decided to forgo running. Through tireless investigative work… He'd read the exact words long ago. Lying sideways on the carpet, he slowly caught his breath in a wheeze. After taking some time to recover, he pushed himself up and walked to the drawer, pulling out some Z-Pills.

He didn't usually take them, but he knew tonight would be a long, sleepless night otherwise. He held the pills in his hands for a few seconds, his eyes unfocused. Then, he returned them back from where he got them. He changed back into his suit—a flexible, higher quality one he'd bought recently with new earnings. Stepping out into the illuminated streets, Evel immediately walked towards the forest near Albert's house. He didn't have a specific destination, but in the wilderness, at least it was a bit less busy.

Tireless investigative work… All the events surrounding when he'd read those words were all too fresh in his mind. That whole event marked the moment when everything in his life started falling apart.