"This is… interesting… to say the least…"
Esmond found it hard to realise the power of the Spatial Cores made within the Spatial Ark Star World.
He'd decided to head on over to the Retail Market with Maverick and Isabelle and brought out the Spatial Core while standing on the waiting square before being sent into the world of the Retail Market.
Like the small Pocket Space Henry Talbot left behind for the one that would come across his account, the one made from Esmond Spatial Core was several 100 times of the previous Pocket Space.
The Spatial Core Esmond brought along was registered with his Retail Market account, which gave him quite a few more abilities than he expected.
Maverick had opened up a Gate with the Spatial Ark Star World and called over Drones and Droids to work on the Pocket Space by filling it with plants, minerals and building structures.
Esmond watched it all go down happily, knowing the vast open greenery space would be filled up soon, however he was still curious to know about the significance of the Pocket Space.
Isabelle arrived soon after, ready to explain and answer any questions as well as setting up some equipment to help Maverick in his endeavours within the Retail Market.
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"All of this space… can be seen as your property and land in the Retail Market System." Isabelle set up some furniture for Esmond, Maverick, and herself so they could relax while talking.
There was several different topics and subjects' areas that needed to be discussed, especially what was ever Isabelle remembered about Henry Talbots operations.
"You can use this land however you wish, but my suggestion would be to create this place as a home for our operations within the Retail Market World."
Isabelle explained the small plot of land that was purchased in one of the backward districts of the Retail Market World wouldn't do much for the business.
Currently all Maverick could do was gather the waste sent over on a daily basis and transport it to the Spatial Ark Star World for processing.
What little time he was given to roam around left him with more questions every time.
Isabelle decided to discuss the purpose of the Starting Square where one could go straight into the Retail Market World or separate Pockets Spaces.
It turned out having a store in the Retail Market was just a front for access to the Pocket Spaces that would be managed by the businesses operating within the Retail Market System.
Buying a Spatial Core was no joke, and its cost was more than most people could handle.
"So, Henry Talbot… was incredibly lucky…?" Esmond said sarcastically, after hearing what the man had done.
"Pretty much, but he failed to keep the nosy eyes away for his business operations.
The dozens of Pocket Spaces he had offered a great deal of services and options that reduced the income of the other businesses.
They all teamed up together and decided to seize everything from him."
It all started with Henry finding a mine on one of the planets he'd bought from the Retail Market World that had coughed up Spatial Cores.
At that time, Henry knew the value of Spatial Cores and their rarity so instead of selling them, he used them to create his business organisation within the Retail Market World.
Over a couple years, Henry stole enough business from his competitors that they decided to finally act and take everything from him.
Isabelle had remembered most of what happened back then once she was able to connect with the quantum computers.
She suggested to Maverick that the property in the Retail Market World was connected with the Pocket Space land so he could explore the Retail Market World.
Taking charge for the time being, Isabelle sorted out the Pocket Space Land, creating the infrastructure for a home and a nice garden for now.
Archie, Rose, and Gabriel soon appeared and started helping out with the construction of a city and town that would house the indigenous people of the Retail Market World.
Maverick was instructed to recruit as many locals as possible and have them moved over to the Pocket Space Land.
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"You're really wanting them here?" Esmond couldn't understand Isabelles obsession with getting the indigenous over to work for him.
"Esmond… they are the most worthwhile people we could employ.
They have the ability to further their skills since they have a system of their own.
The problem their kind faced was not being able to survive like the Users that travelled to the Retail Market World in the games or stadiums that gave them the opportunity to improve.
Most that tried would die or get exploited by the Users until they all revolted, and the Mainframe System of the Retail Market World interfered."
"How can I keep them safe then if they are bound to- Ohhhh… I understand now."
Esmond realised more or less of Isabelles plan for the Indigenous people in the Pocket Space Land.
After seeing various beasts entering the land, Esmond knew Isabelle would establish dungeons to train the indigenous people of the Retail Market World.
Because the Spatial Core of the Pocket Space Land was connected with the Spatial Ark Star World, dungeons and other functions wouldn't affect the inhabitants' lives.
Isabelle also let Esmond know that the indigenous people would be identified by the Pocket Space Land and his own Retail Market World System Account which would give them the ability of rebirth, saving them from dying like the rest in the Retail Market.
"If that's the case… why wouldn't the other businesses take the indigenous to work for them?"
"Because… they have the right to free will…" Esmond didn't understand what Isabelle meant but the more she explained the more frightened he became of the Mainframe System that controlled the Retail Market.
"Their progenitors left a mark on their race that save them from the submission of the Retail Market Mainframe System.
In the earlier days the Mainframe System tried to subjugate the species, but it failed continually, after which it left them alone and decided to never bother any of the races that had a mark making them sacred.
If they were captured by the Mainframe System though… their lives would have turned them all into slaves at its beck and call."
Esmond stopped to think about the dangers that could affect him and his people if he became known to the Retail Market System.
Feeling that the Mainframe System of the Retail Market World possess serious danger, Esmond asked Maverick to be careful and not overly active so they wouldn't be caught out by the System.
Maverick had no qualms with Esmonds orders but decided to speak up when he felt the conversation had long passed helping sort out his issue.
"Brother… I still need your help…"
"Ahh that's right, what was your issue…?" Esmond wanted to leave and not bother with the Retail Market at all; however, he knew that was impossible after going over to the Retail Market World for the first time and seeing all that it could offer him.
"… I went to the Auction House and noticed what was on offer one day at some major upcoming event.
What I found was this…" Maverick sent over the information he'd taken from the Auction House which presented the Spiritual Infused materials that were sold off to the Mainframe System of the Retail Market.
While the number of materials on offer wasn't anything like the amount sold to the Mainframe System, it was still a fair amount, especially when the starting price was far above the base price Esmond was paid.
10 kilograms of Ogryx Steel was up on offer with 5 kilograms of Ogryx Phrik metal, and the seats to the auction were all sold out.
Esmond found it to be a little annoying that the Mainframe System had exploited him, but it also made him realise he had no power in comparison.
"Get the indigenous people… once we are stable here in the Pocket Space Land, we will think about further expanding in the Retail Market.
Understood?" Maverick nodded and left to manage the Pocket Space Land with the rest of his siblings while Esmond stayed back and chatted with Isabelle about Stovi since he wasn't overly keen on learning more about the Retail Market for now.
"How are the changes going within the Vaadan Region?" Esmond asked while trying to move his mind past the topic of the Retail Market.
He was rather curious to know how Levas reacted to the news his team would be going through some changes with the soon arrival of the Yautja.
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"… Its far too different than it was before.
The Construction Droids are working with the locals to quickly set up the railway network through the region, which has employed a large number of citizens.
Even the nobles and their vassals are all working closely with our people and helping others adjust to the new lifestyle." Isabelle further went into detail how the citizens were finding it difficult with the new systems in their daily lives.
Seeing grocery shops and others of the sort wasn't too different than the markets but because the shops were larger and offered more variety, most people were worried about what to do.
Eventually each family and household received a droid councillor whose job was to help the citizens adjust to new life.
With time, people were relying less on the councillors and happily going about their day, as the dangers they felt were largely reduced.
The Adventurer Guild were also grateful for the clean up of beasts and rabid creatures in the Vaadan Region, playing large sums of coin to buy up the beast carcases.
"Seems things are going swell…" Esmond thought while taking a sip of his drink as he looked out at the drones and droids working.
Just as he was about to ask another question, Carter's impatient voice entered his mind.
'If you want your companies and brands to make a splash in the publics eye then I suggest you come back to the space now!'