It was a very sunny afternoon in the NUSC (New unified southern complex), in the outer settlement where the weather shade didn't reach the heat was even more treacherous.
Around this time of the day, there weren't too many people roaming about because most were either working in construction sites or were in Gates working as a mundane labor force.
Even with more than half the population not roaming, the streets were still crowded.
A teenager emerged from a bungalow carrying a plastic bag over his shoulder, accompanied by three adult men, the tall, lean young man with blue eyes dressed in rough looking jeans and top.
He wiped the sweat on his brow with his free hand and the flowing bangs of his neat white hair
to aside.
Two of the three men were smoking, and roughly dressed, one had a long cut on his sun- toned cheek while the second had a tired look on his face with dark circles under his eyes showing signs of sleep deprivation.
His pale face looked out of place amongst the three. Even among the awakened thugs, his looks were much more refined than the other two.
The third man sighed, throwing his burnt-out cigarette on the floor he adjusted his wrinkled T-shirt and moved ahead of the two towards the young man walking ahead of them.
"How long do you think it'll take before you awaken? Some kids your age are already awakening.
I'm sure you don't enjoy being an errand boy."
Kael looked at the man in his early thirties and shrugged.
"Don't care, with the amount of people becoming corrupted instead each year I'm not exactly thrilled at the thought.
In fact, if I had a choice, I would not want to awaken at all.
But then again, earning money around here would be a bit easier as an awakened."
Andre looked at him and then looked at the sky, the wind was blowing even more heat instead of cool.
"Once you awaken, you realize that awakening is a more of a blessing than just making a bit of extra money, with a half useful ability you could end up getting into a lesser clan or group as a worker, you could also join the government.
With your wits you could work as an government office assistant at least, there are multiple opportunities."
Kael looked at the man in a bit of amusement.
"You're not exactly the person I expected to hear that from."
Andre scoffed.
Indeed, Andre was a hired thug that worked with a loan shark to beat up and threaten people with overdue payments. While he could have picked a better job and could definitely have gotten better pay.
"My situation was rather unique you see; I couldn't attend the academy because of certain issues, and I needed money desperately.
It might not be a real excuse, but Mallik gave me a way out and I took it, since then I can't really complain.
My family isn't doing too bad by outskirt standards; I just want you to do something better because Mallik might be taking care of you right now, but you know that will stop once you awaken.
You'll be able to work and earn your own money even if you don't want to work for the government or any clans; you can hunt creatures and sell cores to sustain yourself.
The system makes living a lot easier for the awakened."
The man among them who had a cut on his face joined the conversation.
"Andre's right, you know. It's a bit hard to explain, but the system makes things so easy that it's hard to imagine how people even lived without it."
"Well, aside from amazing appearance, most awakened possess."
Kael laughed.
'Well, he's right about that'
Awakening refines the physical appearance, making their physique naturally lean and their faces much sharper.
'How ironic'
It's been 40 years since the appearance of the Gates and the system.
The abyss creatures went rampant in the world with no military weapon was able to oppose them, the world fell into utter chaos, the awakened rose around the same time and where able prevent mankind from being completely exterminated.
Since the emergence of the abyss creatures,70% of the land area has been lost to the creatures as well as three-quarter of the entire of the human population, while 30% of the rest of humanity have become awakened with the number rising steadily.
The abyss creatures were later revealed to the public as corrupted creatures from other realms, since then humans have made a lot of progress in venturing through the gates to establish connections to the other realms.
"Anyways, Mallik needs you to go and meet someone."
Kael shrugged.
"Who the hell asks a 16-year-old kid to handle a deal with a debtor?"
"Of course not, he's not a debtor, he's actually a soul stone dealer.
We need to get him to agree to deal with us. Some suppliers are running out of stones so we need a more reliable dealer.
But the issue is that he stays in the median settlement so there are a lot of clients already over there."
"So, you need me to convince him to sell soul stones to us?"
"Yes, you know how important soul stones are even out here."
Indeed, soul stones are the most important for any awakened, by absorbing soul stones, awakened could raise their abilities therein stand higher chances at surviving in the Gates.
"Okay I'll see what I can do"
Passing the physical checkpoint into the median settlement. Kael approached the soul stone market.
"Awakening"
He passed the stores and went straight the supply building.
He kept thinking about what awakening would be like, most kids his age were actually looking forward to it.
If they succeeded in their system challenge, they could go to the awakened academy and hopefully get scouted by a clan of good standing, or join a good guild.
But for people from the outskirts, such were extremely rear because most of the kids living in the inner settlements mostly had private tutors teach them different things they needed to know to survive within the worlds beyond the gates.
Only few people were able to get into good guilds solely because of their talent and useful ability.
Although he didn't tell anyone, he was already experiencing early symptoms of the first challenge.
According to the information made available, anyone who was suffering from sleep deprivation and low appetite should go to the nearest awakened facility to get examined if they just feeling unwell or were experiencing early symptoms of the system challenge.
'Guess I'll have to treat myself to something nice just in case I don't make it'
He entered the building and went around to the back and went into a store.
The room was spacious and clean with the paint of the interior looking sharp like it had just been repainted.
Two young men in their early twenties were sitting behind a desk attending to a few people.
A young tall man with ocean blue eyes entered the room, his alabaster skin complimented his white hair which slightly covered his eyes.
If not for his slightly rough clothing he would have been mistaken for an awakened, but one of the attendants recognized him as a someone from the outer settlement.
"Excuse me, is Mr. Roberts available?"
The other attendant was not paying attention because was distracted by an attractive lady who was walking out of the store.
The first attendant answered politely. "No, he's not, but if you have something important to say, I can pass it to him.
'Here we go'
"No, I would like to talk to him personally, it's something regarding how he conducts his business, so this meeting can greatly affect all of you."
Kael sighed and raised his hand to the back of his head.
"But what can I do, since you don't want me to see him, I'm sure you'll be able to take responsibility for whatever happens right?"
Without saying another word, he headed for the exit.
"Wait, were you sent by a government bureau officer?"
Kael turned around slowly and smiled a bit.
"Well, it seems I have your attention now, he's inside, right?"
'That worked easily'
The attendant had thought he was an errand boy for a bureau agent which wasn't uncommon for a shop selling soul stones without due permits.
"Yes, he is. I inform that you're on your way"
"Thank you"
He went towards the office he was pointed to and gently knocked.
"Please come in."
Kael walked in and greet the man seated behind the desk.
He looked like a mundane man I his late thirties, his brown eyes looked rather tired but soft.
"So, what's the reason for this visit, I find it surprising that they sent you after I've settled this month's dues."
Kael took a minute to observe the room before responding'
"This shop looks rather dry, don't you think? With so many awakened looking for soul stones, I only saw a few people out there.
It must be hard operating illegally, I'm I right?"
The shop owner looked at him with curious eyes and sighed.
"Honestly, I don't see how this concerns you, but quite frankly it's a bit hard.
Getting a license for a soul stones store takes a lot of time and money, both of which i don't really have much of'"
"Yes and because of that you can't open up your store in a better location to avoid too many eyes."
"True, but what exactly does this have to do with why you're here?"
"I never said that I was sent by an agent, your employee simply assumed that."
The man looked at him a bit confused.
"I was sent by Mallik to ask you about the deal he proposed.
You see my boss made a deal with a bureau executive so that he could operate his business in peace..."
He paused for a bit to notice the man's face.
"Mallik sent you to deal with me? I told him already that I don't deal with outer settlement ruffians."
"I understand your worries every well, but my boss isn't like most "ruffians ", because like I mentioned earlier, he has a deal in place to assure that no agents will bother him or his dealers.
"Wait he has a deal with an officer?"
"Yes, and also he always needs a large supply of soul stones so I'm surprised as to why he even approached you, I'm not even sure you can provide us with the amount we need."
The man laughed and went quiet after about a minute.
"Of course, the real question is if this protection you mention is even real."
Kael scoffed and brought out something from his pocket, he showed the badge to the man then returned it.
The man's eyes opened wide in surprise.
"I believe that I've clear your doubts with this, right?"
The man thought for a bit and nodded in agreement.
"So how many would he like to purchase to start with?"
Kael smiled and responded.
"About seventy to start with, but the exact details of the deal won't be handled by me, I'm here to sign the contract"
The man smiled in response.
"It'll be a pleasure doing business with you."