Jax had barely stepped outside the repository when a notification slid into view.
SKILL UPGRADE ACQUIREDMERCHANT – NEGOTIATIONLEVEL 1 → LEVEL 3
Effect:Increased likelihood of favorable bargaining outcomes.
"That's neat," Jax muttered.
Nyxian glanced over. "What is?"
"Apparently I'm better at haggling now."
She snorted. "You were already insufferably good at it."
She led him back toward the center of town, where the only inn in Solmere stood—three stories tall, weathered but sturdy, lanterns already being lit as dusk crept in.
"There's a festival in a few days," Nyxian explained. "More travelers than usual."
"So rooms are scarce," Jax said.
"Very."
Inside, the inn buzzed with noise—voices, laughter, boots on wood. The scent of cooked meat and ale filled the air.
An older cat-folk woman stood behind the counter, tail flicking lazily as she sorted keys.
Jax stepped forward. "I'd like your finest room, please."
The receptionist looked up, unimpressed—then checked her ledger.
"Well," she said, "you're in luck. That's the last one."
"How much for the night?"
"One gold."
Jax opened his system and let a gold coin materialize into his palm.
He paused, watching it gleam in the lantern light.
Still strange, he thought.
He handed it over.
The innkeeper didn't blink.
As she passed him a key, they chatted briefly—about the town, the festival, and money. Jax learned quickly:
* 100 copper made 1 bronze
* 100 bronze made 1 silver
* 100 silver made 1 gold
The girls had paid 50 bronze for their room.
Cheap.
As Jax turned, he noticed Bunny, Zee, and Llandra, had just come down the stairs into the lobby.
Perfect timing.
He walked up to Llandra. His system chimed softly as a heavy sack appeared in his hand.
"Here's your cut," he said, holding it out. "Twenty percent. Four hundred thousand gold."
The sack hit her hands with a thud.
Silence.
Bunny's ears went straight up.
Zee's eyes widened.
Nyxian stopped smiling entirely.
Llandra stared at the sack as if it might bite her.
"…You're serious," she said quietly.
"I gave my word," Jax replied.
No flourish. No pride.
Just business.
Nyxian slowly turned to the others.
"Please tell me," she said carefully, "that at least our room has two beds."
Zee shook her head.
Nyxian whirled back to the counter. "You don't happen to have another room we could upgrade to?"
The innkeeper shook her head. "Afraid not. Your friend took the last one."
She smiled. "The suite. Takes up the entire top floor."
Nyxian pinched the bridge of her nose.
"…Wonderful."
Jax cleared his throat. "I was actually hoping to look around town a bit. Get supplies. Clothes."
Bunny's hand shot up immediately. "I'll go!"
Then she paused, looked at the others—and grinned wider.
"Actually… we all should."
Nyxian smirked. "I want to see what kind of chaos you cause in a marketplace."
Llandra hesitated, then nodded. "It would be… wise."
Zee smiled softly. "I'd like that."
Jax looked at them—four very different women, all choosing to stay.
A small smile tugged at his lips.
"Lead the way," he said.
Outside, lanterns flickered to life as Solmere settled into night.
Jax stepped forward with them, coin secured, questions unanswered, and a strange certainty settling in his chest.
He had arrived with nothing.
And already, the world was opening up.