16 The Storm (16)

Free from the constraints of the hospital and its bills Jeff rode back to his home, though upon arrival he had a rather unexpected guest or more appropriately a stranger was waiting for him in front of his shop, a man dressed like a ninja.

They looked suspicious but Jeff wasnt gonna coward and there were lots of police nearby incase something happens due to the department deciding to patrol the route of the drone.

"Excuse me but what are you doing in front of this shop?"

Jeff asked the ninja outfitted person, it was Node.

"Ah! Im waiting for it to open since ive got some business with the owner"

"Business? This shop has not announced that its open though"

"Yeah but its kinda important that i talk to them since its something pertaining a signed clause from the company i work with"

"Which company do you work for?"

"Ninja express, i was the Combattler handler of the package from this shop"

"Can you show proof of your claim?"

"Ah yeah i can, here it is, a company limited ID holocard"

Node tapped on his Holowatch and made his ID appear in front of Jeff, IDs were very trustworthy in this day and age due to the protection brought by the Megahive, companies also ensure that no one can copy their IDs so that they wont lose any possible good customers due to some ploy to ruin their name.

"Okay i trust your words now"

Jeff walked to the door of his store and then pressed his hand against it, the door did a quick DNA scan and an Energy scan before it opened allowing him to enter his home, Node on the otherhand was dumbfounded that he unexpectedly got questioned by the owner of the store.

"Come in and have a seat near the counter, i havent opened yet due to not having any proper products yet but from the clause that youre saying it should be the clause that i need to create a figure for the Handler if they ended up risking their life to protect the package, this clause is usually neglected because small Toymakers dont get attacked and high level Toymakers work near their employers"

"Oh wow arent you knowledgeable on that behalf"

"Ofcourse i am, this is basic Toymaker history you will learn on the first year of Toymaker college"

"Dont mind me intruding then"

Node entered the shop and found a quick seat, the shop was still very empty and the decor was also very minimal, shelves lined up, a display table, and a counter for payments, the space was small as well but it was enough for a starting Toymaker.

On the note of the clause about Toymakers giving the handlers a free figure it is the companies way of getting a stronger Combattler, it is also one of the reasons why some poor Combattlers are willing to risk their lives in a delivery job, they get a free figure if they survive and the public exposure boosts their abilities.

Unfortunately some dont see combat nor even survive combat, being a Combattler for a delivery company is an even more dangerous job than fighting in the arena, in the arena there are different combat choices from large scale simulations that give birth to multiverse branches, to 1v1s that can either involve Combattler physical combat or figure to figure deathbattles.

In live combat when a summoned character takes damage that damage is then translated to the figure.

"Now then, tea or soda?"

"Ill take a soda"

Jeff handed Node a can of Tepsi and then sat down behind the counter with a note pad ready.

"Now then, ill just let you know my budget is already reserved and im a 0 star Toymaker so dont expect anything better than your Blackstar... Maybe"

"Was the end really needed? or are you slightly confident you can match a 3★s craft?"

"I have some slight confidence, now then what figure do want made? Not too expensive please"

"Hmm, i would like something similar to ninjas but cyberpunk, my main gimmick is that i play cyberninjas, as for the lore i dont care if they work for a corporation thats evil or good as long as theyre great at combat with lots of gadgets and possibly a plethora of weapons, ive been wanting to have a figure with plenty of weapons due to how little weapons the Blackstar has, ive already talked to the creator of CYBERFRONTIER and he agrees to add the figure to his lore if the character is interesting"

"That was quick, what are you friends with the creator or something?"

"Actually yes, he is my childhood friend, we built CYBERFRONTIERs paper lore all the way back, but i decided to be a battler because i just dont feel the thrill when im not fighting"

"... Okay so your requirements are that it must have lots of weapons correct? Does it necessarily need to be a ninja?"

"Yes it does"

'Well there goes my plan for an Adam Smasher, ill save it for sombody else, plus am i able to make an Adam Smasher now? Guess im overestimating my skills right now' Jeff thought.

"Okay, does it have to be human?"

"No it doesnt"

"Alright then i got an idea for it but ill only be able to make it next month, for now i need to create mass produced versions of my figures to sell to build up my account, are you fine with that?"

"Yes i can wait"

"Well then, you may leave after leaving your contacts with me so i can send you the ideas"

Node left his contacts and then walked away, Jeff on the other hand was worried about his wallet.