Raj took a nap till 5:30 in the evening and went to Flisk's place.
'Everyone should be arriving in 15 minutes. Let's talk to Flisk till then.'
He found Flisk in a corner of the shop, working on fixing a Magi-Phone.
"Hello, Flisk."
"Look at who it is. How's it going, Raju? Last I heard, you were lying dead on a hospital bed?"
"Well, I am fit and fine now."
"Luck… I wish I had. Why are you here? It's not like you have money to burn."
Some harsh words, but Raj knew that he meant no ill as he used to visit Flisk frequently before the event.
"I don't have money, but I do have rich friends, Hahaha."
"Won't they make you a slave after you spend their money?"
"Why don't we make a bet?"
"Bet? On friends? Sure. The bet?"
"My friends will buy whatever you ask them to buy for me. But only 5 things. If I win, I want … I want a Magi-Comp with a full-fledged server."
"Woah, that's a bit pricey, but I like your daring. What if you lose?"
"I'll give you something more valuable than what I am getting. Obviously, I won't tell what it is. Gotta trust me."
"A secret? Now, I am more into it. If you can't make me satisfied, you gotta work your ass off for 3 months here. Agreed?"
"Contract? But you can't make them buy outrageously pricey stuff. Like buying 5 Mega Servers and stuff."
"Let's sign it. I needed a helper recently. Haha."
After signing the betting contract, he roamed around the shop to find something useful.
As he was looking around, the doorstop opened his friends walked in. Raj saw them and gave a smile.
"You guys are here."
As soon as the greetings were over, the front door opened again and a girl walked in.
"Wait, why is Demi here?" Reyes asked.
"I called her."
"You called her? When did she enter our group?" Calum asked.
"Today."
"Today? Hey, why didn't you asked us?" Reyes tried to act angry.
"Stop being a crybaby, Reyes. It won't hurt having one more member in the gang. Moreover, she is alone." Strum said.
As the group was talking, Demi approached them.
"So yall here? Raju, can we proceed?" Flisk said.
"Let's do it."
"So friends of Raju. I have a question. Are you really friends of Raju?"
"What kind of question is that Flisk? Isn't it obvious?" Reyes said.
Aryan figured out something and answered, "Yes, we are."
"Good. Buy a Magi-Laptop for him."
Everyone's face contorted. 'What kind of request was that?'
"I'll buy it," Calum said.
"Pay up."
Calum paid up 50000 HC (Human Currency).
"Now buy him a light orb."
"I… I'll buy it." Surprisingly, Demi said it and paid 500 HC for it.
"Does anyone have the guts to buy him an All-Knowing-Specs?"
Strum said, "Here is the 200,000 HC."
"An M-watch?"
"I'll buy it. Any discount?" Reyes said.
"No discount. 4000 HC."
Reyes gave the money and grumbled.
"Hmm… What about a Magi-Phone EP Version?"
"Take this." Aryan gave a black card.
"Interesting. You seem filthy rich, kid."
"Is the room that was booked ready?"
"Seems like you are the boss who booked the room. Usually, not many rich kids book a room at my cyber station. It's on the second floor, last room. Just scan your eyes to open the door."
"Eye-scanning? You are quite deep."
"You guys go on, I have something to talk to him," Raj said.
"Okay, come fast," Aryan said.
After everyone left, Aryan just looked at Flisk.
"Heh Raju, you got some good friends. Keep the relationship healthy." Flisk said with a hint of regret.
"I'll send your stuff to your home."
"Magi-Comp with a 'Secure' Server."
"You kid, quite greedy huh. Whatever, it's a one-off thing. Enjoy."
-~-~-~-~-
Raj entered the room. The room had 10 Magi-Comps which was connected to the Human Country Network (HCN), on the big roundtable.
"So why did you call us here?" Strum asked.
"First, Aryan did you bring the Magi-Phones?"
"Here."
Aryan took out 5 Magi-Phones EP Version out of his school bag.
"Oh, Fukk! These things are expensive as fuck. 1 Million HC each. Why do we need them? Can't we use simple Magi-Phones?" Calum freaked out. Even Strum became a little unnerved.
"No. They can be hacked easily. This information can't reach the ears of another person other than people present here. If you want to talk or need help, use these phones to do so."
"Why the need to be so secretive?" Strum asked.
Raj didn't reply but took out a book out of nowhere.
"Where the hell did you produce that book from?" Almost everyone freaked out. It was an out of the world experience for everyone.
"Haha guys, keep your calm. Surprises will come more often now. This book is a cultivation technique. Use it to strengthen yourselves."
"Wait, now what is cultivation? You aren't talking about farming cultivation and such right?" Calum asked with uncertainty.
"Cultivation. To cultivate yourself to become a higher level being. I am not telling you to choose. I am telling you all to cultivate without questioning. Because your future now is connected with mine."
Everyone felt the atmosphere getting heavy. Much heavier than many adults could understand. Everyone was dazed. It was hard for kids around 14 years to take in the reality. But they don't dwell on that. It's either yes or no. Raj was taking a risk with exposing his secrets. He knew it could bring danger but he trusted his friends. He was also taking a risk with Demi. Fortunately for Raj, his trust paid off.
"This is heavy. But I am with it. It's hard to maintain power without personal strength," Aryan said like a wise old man.
"I feel ya. I am in too," said Strum.
"We both are middle-class people. And we do want to get out of this quicksand," Reyes said.
"Yes. And it is quite fascinating for a geek like me," agreed Calum.
Everyone wanted to increase their personal strength for sure.
"What about you Demi?" asked Raj.
"M… Me?"