After a short bout of silence, he spoke, "Isn't that the closed arcade shop on the other side where we ate that steak?"
"Right, that's where you've always stayed after class. You don't remember this, but you had me on your back as I never told your parents when you were always there. They did catch on, but they turned a blind eye." She spoke with her voice laced with nostalgia. "I'm sorry I never told you though, it didn't feel like I needed to."
Illana was really close to Marko, and Trex could feel this now. Especially now that it seemed like Illana was one of the people who doted on Marko.
"Huh, did I really?" Trex replied with interest. The more he learns about Marko, the more he likes the guy.
"Yep, actually, we were pretty convinced that the reason why you wanted to go to Solen Central University because that arcade shop was pretty close."
"Wait, if I go there frequently, why did it suddenly close?"
"I don't know either. I did hear that the owner was bankrupt and left for the capital. Seems like you not going for an entire month really took a toll on his balance sheet." Illana quipped.
Trex was surprised. Illana's quip was filled with finance jargon. For someone who only works as a maid, she knows a lot. Suddenly, he felt interested in learning who Illana really is as he didn't really find anything about her in the study either.
"Is there a point in visiting it now?" Trex straight up asked. He didn't have the ability to quip with another person just yet, and a story about bankruptcy doesn't sound funny either.
"For you, it should be the most important thing to do now," Illana answered.
Trex looked at the back of Illana with a confused gaze as Illana started to drive at the road's speed limit.
After reaching a traffic light, Illana spoke again.
"Have you checked the contents of the ring?"
"Contents of the what?"
"That ring. On your hand. It's a storage ring, have you checked it yet?"
"N… no… not yet… What's a storage ring?" Trex asked. If he had Trex OS smart mind right now, he would've found out thousands of pieces of literature explaining what a storage ring is.
"Oh right, no wonder you asked. Remember that headgear thing you wore back on Doctor Sherman's clinic…
"Yeah?"
"Just inject your mana just like the doctor did."
"Oh, is this like a mojo?"
"Close, but not exactly."
"Then is this an archine?"
"Yep. I'm not sure how it works exactly but mojos are one item containing multiple magic. Archines are an item or items that contains a set of magic that produces extremely specific effects. That ring expands the little space inside the ring so you can store things. It's just a low-quality amber so the space should be very limited, around the size of a game console box."
"I see, thanks" Trex shot Illana a gratified look before focusing on the ring in his hands.
At that moment, he suddenly felt nervous. He never attempted to move his own mana before. Not consciously, at least.
'It should be…'
From within Trex's mana heart, the glowing blue liquid began to pump out towards his mana vessels until it reached his finger.
Like a mage, his hands began to glow as he failed to inject the mana into the ring.
Illana did see Trex's progress from the rearview mirror, but she remained silent. Her heart was astonished. It has only been two days, but it seems like Marko really is natural in the ways of the arcane.
It was then that Trex's hand suddenly disappeared. He felt shocked for a while but realized that his hands could feel things.
"Use your mana to sense the space inside like how your voice echoes in a room." Illana immediately added. This was something thought rather than experimented on.
"How do I do that?" Trex asked immediately. But before Illana could answer, Trex managed to pull out a folder from the ring.
The moment he asked the question, torn pieces of memory floated all over his head. It was Berlotte Vega's memory that resurfaced the clearest. As the logistics member of the party, she had her hands filled with space rings as the other used spell imbued rings.
The proper way on how to use the rings is perfectly reflected in Trex's mind as he subconsciously copied the act.
Inside the ring, he found another pouch that seems to be filled with money, a pyramid-shaped gem, and a stack of documents.
Everything was displayed in his head in a similar way to the graphical interface of his smart mind. Each time he moved his hands, it was like a crane machine ready to claw.
Trex's hand reappeared with the folder as he stared at the words written on it.
'Marko Rhemi's compensation.'
Illana still had her mouth open, but no sound came out. When Trex looked at her questioningly, implying if he had pulled out the correct item, she nodded.
Opening the folder, the paper surprised Trex. It said, 'land deed for The Traveller's Building.'
Finding the familiar name of the traveler, he quickly looked up at Illana.
Before he could say anything, Illana stated, "yup. That's the title deed for the entire building where the Traveller's Arcade is. Your mum plans to turn it into your residence and since the last owner left most the arcade cabinets in the store, she also told me that if you're willing, I'll be working for you at that store."
Trex suddenly felt excited.
Besides owning the arcade realm, he's also going to own an arcade shop.
'She also mentioned something about arcade cabinets! Arcade games actually exists!' Trex was deeply thrilled. His face shined as his smile grew from ear to ear.
Seeing his young master's look, Illana felt happy too.
This wasn't something that Trex considered, though, the fact that there are more games to be played. He suddenly felt like Illana's driving was mind-numbingly slow.
Helpless, he turned his head to the window.
Just like what Doctor Sherman had said, fashion was very incredible in this world. There's no such thing as trends or movements. While fashion had signs of progress and casual clothing exist, most people he saw had more clothing like cloaks and bracers. Some look like tanks, while some look like mages from a fantasy game.
Trex couldn't help but think, am I actually in a real-world and not in the world that Jonathan made.
The fact that fantasy is being presented to his eyes as the actual reality, he couldn't help but feel disconcerted. Especially since instead of preparing a party for a raid, these people are living their daily lives.
Just now, he passed on a group of eight students wearing mage robes with the same pin looking like a uniform. The next, he saw a woman completely mad at the world as she stared at the traffic lights menacingly.
For a magic world, nobody is actively using their magic. Isn't it typical for these people who can control reality to just fly? Or teleport? Or even clone themselves so they can do more work.
'It seems like even when magic is a reality, it's not as reality bending as it is in literature and screens.'
Then finally, he saw the Sherman Clinic. Trex turned his head to tell Illana that they had just passed, but the fact that Illana had a smile on her face stopped him.
Just ahead of the road is the same sunny woman who guides the clinic's patient smiling towards him. No, not him, towards Illana. It was Shenna.
He could even feel that the car slowed.
After the car moved past Shenna, the vehicle moved at the fastest legal speed.
Illana looked at the rearview mirror where she just happened to lock eye with Trex.
With a blush, she shifted her vision to the front while Trex looked to the window once again.
'Well, at least I know why she was willing to work under me for the arcade,' he mumbled. 'Still, having this. My plans would also move forward.'