Chapter 90

Ali weaved through the crowd, drifting past bustling shoppers and lively traders, each one loudly proclaiming the superiority of their wares. Stalls bristled with items, some appearing useful, others barely holding together. Ali's sharp gaze fell on a row of short swords, their edges dulled and uneven, though they were marked with a gleaming "20 PC" sign. Right beside them stood wooden crossbows, clumsily crafted and tagged at 30 PC. He frowned, feeling the weight of his few hard-earned credits.

'A crossbow's better for someone who isn't skilled with a blade,' he mused, 'but it's slow to reload, and it doesn't have the penetrative force of a bow. Of course, the merchants wouldn't mention that—especially to a player who doesn't know any better.'

Ali stepped away, brushing past curious buyers and moved towards another shop. Through the glass, he spotted a revolver—a model he recognised immediately. Yet when his eyes drifted down to the price, his lips pulled into a tight, dissatisfied line. '90 PC for that? At this rate, I'll be stuck using my money on food in the Slums," he thought with annoyance, shaking his head.

As he walked down the narrow paths of the market district, he passed shops showcasing everything from weapons to books, most of which Ali had no need for. However, one particular shop caught his eye: shelves filled with necklaces in various colours and sizes, rings with glimmering stones, and a variety of other accessories that radiated faint, alluring glows. Curious, he entered, finding the shop empty except for an old woman seated behind the counter. Her eyes, tired and drooping, lifted to meet his.

"How can I help you, young man?" she asked, her voice weathered but kind.

Ali gestured towards the shimmering trinkets on display. "These are magic-related, right?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

A hint of understanding sparked in the woman's eyes. "Ah, I see… You're new here, aren't you?" she said. "Yes, what you see here are enchanted items. They can enhance a player's spirit or magical skills—everything from increased power to shortened recharge times. My wares cater to those who work with the spirit."

Ali regarded her thoughtfully, his dark eyes assessing. "So… do you have anything that could give someone access to spirit?" he asked with calm resolve.

The old woman's expression shifted slightly, an unreadable look passing over her face. She shook her head slowly. "You won't find such an item in a shop like this, not here in the Slums. And if you ever did, it would cost more than any one person could ever afford," she replied, gently crushing his hopes of a straightforward solution.

Ali nodded, accepting her words, and thanked her before stepping out into the noisy marketplace. After a short walk, he found a bench near the looming central tower—a familiar landmark from his first day in Paradise—and settled down. He could feel eyes watching him. A wry smile touched his lips. 'I know where they are, what they look like, how many there are,' he thought to himself, letting the observers think he was oblivious.

Around him, other players bustled toward large shops, eager to buy guides, books, and supplies. Ali watched the newcomers with mild interest. He knew he could afford to stock up on some information about the different worlds, yet the thought left him uninspired. "I could get something, sure," he muttered, "but do I need it? It's more fun figuring it out as I go… keeps things interesting." He stretched out, enjoying the relative peace, observing the flow of people moving around the unchanged tower in search of anything that could give them an edge.

When an hour had passed, Ali rose from the bench and made his way to Catherine's eatery. As he arrived, he saw that the restaurant was already filling up, despite its recent opening. Making his way to the second floor, he chose the same table he'd shared with Jacob last time, and settled in to wait. He didn't have to wait long before he heard the familiar sound of Catherine's heels clicking up the stairs. She smiled as she reached his table, ready to take his order.

"Five steaks and five of whatever dessert you've got," Ali said casually. Catherine's eyes widened a bit, a surprised smile tugging at her lips.

"That'll be ten PC," she replied with a chuckle, clearly amused by his large order. Ali sent her the payment using the interface without hesitation, and she headed downstairs, her mood visibly brightened by the easy transaction.

Ali turned his gaze back to the street outside, watching as players parted to make way for a small group approaching the restaurant. He recognised three of the faces among them and let his eyes linger for a moment, staying relaxed in his seat as he listened to the group's footsteps ascending to the second floor.

Soon, six figures stood around his table, with Claire and Mark positioned behind a tall, broad-shouldered man in his early thirties, who wore a deep red suit adorned with the fire guild's insignia on his right shoulder. Beside him was a woman in her late twenties, wearing a flowing blue dress marked by the water guild's emblem across her midsection. She had dark hair and an average appearance, but her warm smile softened her features as she looked at Ali. Behind her stood Natalya, her face strained and conflicted.

Lastly, there was an old Asian man draped in a deep green robe, marked with the insignia of the nature guild on his chest. His solemn eyes watched Ali carefully, assessing the young man with an air of dominant authority.

Ali finally shifted his gaze from the tower, meeting the eyes of each guild representative. "I'm not interested," he said bluntly, not bothering to wait for them to introduce themselves or make their case.

The man in the red suit's brows knitted in frustration. "You say 'no' before you even hear what we have to say?"

The woman in blue stepped in smoothly, her smile unwavering. "We can offer you access to every spell in our library in the Slum, as well as enchanted armour," she said, her words drawing startled looks from everyone present.

Ali raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite himself. Seeing this glimmer of interest, the woman continued, her voice soft yet compelling. "You'd also be given a new rank—equivalent to my own as the general of the water guild here in the Slum. No one here would have the authority to give you orders."

Her proposal hung in the air, leaving the other generals stunned. Her offer was unheard of in the history of the Slum—giving a single player so much power was nearly unthinkable.

The general of the fire guild cast a sharp, accusing look at his subordinates, as if questioning why he hadn't been informed of Ali's importance earlier.

Ali's gaze shifted to Natalya, whose face was twisted in resentment. He addressed her with a cool, knowing smile. "So, you told them a lot, didn't you?" He paused, then turned back to the woman in blue. "What exactly did she tell you?"

The woman's professional demeanour didn't waver. "Natalya spoke of your abilities, and the water guild has taken a particular interest. We've reviewed your potential at higher levels of the guild and we are prepared to invest in your talent heavily as long as you accept to join us and follow the guidance of our goddess," she replied, her warm smile giving way to a more formal expression.

Ali smirked slightly, considering the implications. 'So, my name's already reached the upper levels, has it?' he thought.

Before he could respond, the fire guild general stepped forward, his voice urgent. "Wait! Don't accept her offer just yet. The fire guild will match anything the water guild promises—and more. If it's power you're after, the fire guild's magic outstrips anything the water guild could offer. Pure destructive force, unmatched by their weaker spells."

He leaned forward, eyes blazing, trying to sway Ali with every ounce of conviction he could muster.

The air around the man started getting hotter suddenly.

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