"That's fine as well," Kaito said after a brief pause to think. "I'll take these forging materials, along with 50 Gold to cover part of the bill. You can settle the remainder in Credits."
"This…" Selvera hesitated, her brows knitting tightly. After a long moment of internal struggle, she finally clenched her teeth and nodded. "Alright. I understand."
In truth, hearing Kaito's terms made her itch to recruit him on the spot. Yet in only a few short minutes, he had stripped away more than half of the Gold Coins she had painstakingly accumulated. The sting of that loss gnawed at her.
But the truth was undeniable—Selvera had nothing that could lure someone like Kaito. As a forger, he was already entirely self-reliant, lacking neither weapons nor equipment. His ability to generate wealth was not only evident, it was downright intimidating. And as for status? For now, he might appear to the major powers as nothing more than a fortunate swordsman. Yet the moment the name Raen as a Forger began to circulate, his reputation would soar. His standing would become unshakable, commanding the respect—and perhaps the fear—of every major force in the game.
The only thing missing from Kaito's seemingly perfect picture was a girlfriend. If he didn't already have one, Selvera knew her elite team had no shortage of candidates—women whose beauty could turn heads and whose figures were sculpted to perfection. More than a few men had tried, and failed, to win their favor. If she could persuade one of these dazzling talents to capture Kaito's interest, the benefits to her would be immense.
Of course, asking him something like that now would be beyond reckless. Such questions could only be broached after their rapport had deepened, and even then, only with the subtlest hints.
If Kaito could hear the schemes running through her mind at this very moment, he would likely flee on the spot. After all, who would suspect that the elegant, cheerful Selvera could be harboring such calculated—and cunning—intentions?
The transaction was concluded swiftly.
From the sale, Kaito not only secured the 43 Gold's worth of materials he had come for, but also walked away with an additional 50 Gold Coins and over two million Credits.
In just three short days of effort, he had turned the little more than ten Gold he'd originally invested into a return more than tenfold. It was, without question, a massive profit.
Selvera, too, was more than satisfied. With this trove of weapons and equipment, she could rapidly elevate her legion's strength, pushing it to become the undisputed number one in Duskwatch. When that happened, her influence within the guild would grow proportionately—and those condescending elders would think twice before daring to speak out against her again.
"Master Raen, shall we schedule our next trade for four days from now? It happens to coincide with the day of the Black Market Auction. What do you think?" Selvera asked, her tone unconsciously warmer—she was already treating Kaito as a trusted friend.
"Alright," Kaito agreed with a nod. The profit he'd made this time was staggering, but it also meant he would need time to forge another batch of weapons and equipment. With Selvera still lacking an additional Black Market token, he needed to finalize as many trades as possible before Glory's next update.
Soon after, the two went their separate ways. Kaito made his way to the marketplace to purchase more Cyro Core Orbs. This time, he bought a full stack of 200 Intermediate Cyro Core Orbs for 18 Gold, along with five stacks of 1,000 Basic Cyro Core Orbs for 13 Gold and 50 Silver. In just a short span, he had spent 31 Gold and 50 Silver—but there was no trace of regret. The fortune he had just secured from Selvera was already being put to work.
The true treasure, however, was still in his grasp—Flintsteel Core, an item in incomparably high demand. To Selvera, Whetstones crafted from Flintsteel Core were neither rare nor noteworthy. Coming from the Ore Country, she was accustomed to seeing them in abundance; with forgers as numerous as the hairs on an ox, such goods barely warranted attention. But in the Solaris Kingdom—especially among the guilds clustered in Astralis City—it was an entirely different story. Once Glory's first major update rolled out, those guilds would scramble to power-level their equipment, and demand for Whetstones would skyrocket.
These guilds would soon be in desperate need of Flintsteel Cores—and obtaining them would be no easy feat. Many leaders might well pull their hair out in frustration trying to secure enough supply.
Even after these guilds made it into Astralis City, Kaito knew their demand for Whetstones wouldn't suddenly vanish. On the contrary, the durability problem would remain a constant thorn in their side—perhaps an even greater one as the battles grew fiercer and equipment wear accelerated.
For Kaito, the only question wasn't whether he could sell his stockpile of Flintsteel Cores, but rather the price at which he would let them go.
…..
After wrapping up his business, Kaito returned to South Glade Town and immediately logged out, as only a few minutes remained before the five-hour countdown expired.
When he came out of the chamber pod and stepped out of the room, he found the entire family gathered in the main room of the RV. Jin, who was behind the wheel, glanced back and said, "We're just about two minutes away from the Ancestral Estate."
Through the windows, Kaito could already make out the towering silhouette of the Ancestral Mountains in the distance. Even from here, their grandeur was undeniable
The convoy rolled smoothly along the winding road until the towering gates of the Ancestral Estate came into view. The gate itself stood at the base of the mountain, an imposing blend of ancient craftsmanship and discreet modernity. Massive stone pillars, weathered yet immaculately maintained, framed the entrance, while a faint shimmer of a transparent security barrier hovered just beyond—a subtle layer of protection only visible when the light hit at the right angle.
At the sight of the impressive procession, the gate guards—dressed in understated yet finely tailored uniforms—stepped forward. They first approached the lead vehicle in the convoy, exchanging quick, formal greetings with the driver before carefully scanning the occupants. Even with family ties, protocol here was strict; the Ancestral Estate was not a place one entered without thorough verification. Only after confirming the identities did they step back and allow the gates to open with a low, resonant hum.
The RV rolled through, and the world beyond the gates unfolded. The road curved upward from the foot of the mountain, offering a panoramic view of the Ren family's domain. The entire mountain—its slopes, ridges, and summit—belonged to the estate, a living testament to centuries of quiet prosperity. Unlike the gaudy mansions of many wealthy families, the Ancestral Estate's style was rooted in restraint.
Traditional timber-framed houses dotted the lower slopes, their dark tiled roofs glistening faintly under the soft sunlight. Stone pathways wound between them, lined with lanterns whose warm glow came not from flame but from small, concealed luminescent panels powered by solar arrays hidden out of sight. Further up the slopes, larger multi-tiered residences overlooked terraced gardens, where ornamental pines and flowering plum trees swayed in the mountain breeze. These upper dwellings subtly incorporated low-key futuristic enhancements—self-regulating climate panels disguised as carved wooden shutters, irrigation systems hidden beneath mossy stone channels, and energy-efficient glass that mimicked the texture of rice paper screens.