The group entered the ORDER Global Market. Upon stepping inside, they found themselves in an expansive lounge where numerous large screens displayed international market prices for various materials.
Jin, unfamiliar with such things, watched in awe.
"This way," Nell said, guiding them toward the elevators. Several high-speed elevators lined the lobby, but the group entered a private one. A security guard welcomed them after verifying their card, which Nell took from his coat and handed over.
Within moments, the private elevator brought them to the 34th floor. As the doors opened, they were greeted by a sign marking the entrance to the five-story item market.
Each floor was connected by escalators, with dedicated elevators for this specific market as well.
"Incredible, it's even bigger than the forgotten temples of the Forgotten Land," Jin marveled.
"This is the item market."
Nell explained, searching his coat pocket for something.
"It's the best place for newbie Awakened to buy their first equipment — great quality at low prices."
Finally, he found what he was looking for and handed each of them a small card.
"Here are your bank cards. Each has a balance of one hundred thousand rupees. That's also your spending limit, so be careful. I'll help negotiate prices for you,"
Nell said as he handed out the cards. Jin examined his card closely; it didn't seem particularly special, so he wondered what its purpose was.
"So, what is this for?"
"It's a bank card, obviously," Luke replied, giving him a narrow look. "You can use it to buy stuff."
"Really? So is this some kind of new money?"
Having spent most of his eight years in the human realm secluded in a secret domain, Jin wasn't familiar with currency, though he had used cash before — not cards.
"Um… Jin, it works like this,"
Jay explaining how money, banks, and cards worked.
"So, you deposit your money in these suspicious banks that keep it safe and give you this card, which you can use for purchases — all for an annual fee?"
Jin asked, a bit skeptical.
"Yes, caveman. Was it different in your time?"
"Well, back then, people weren't so trusting as to hand over their money, especially when they'd be charged for it. Why not keep it in a pocket dimension if you want it to be safe?"
Luke sighed.
"That's just how the world works now. Not everyone has a pocket dimension. And don't forget, there was that disaster that wiped out many cities back then. Nothing was safe then so the banks became popular."
The group moved up to the second floor, continuing their discussion until they reached the escalator.
"Will you be alright going up?"
Luke asked, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"Are you mocking me?"
"Oh no, not at all. I just thought you might find it difficult since it's your first time."
Jin looked at the escalator, watching the moving steps carry people steadily upward.
"Don't be ridiculous, it's nothing."
He confidently placed his foot on the flat part of the moving surface before the steps formed, which immediately pulled him forward.
"Ohhh…"
Jin stumbled slightly, taken aback by the sensation.
[Trait: Adaptation]
Within moments, Jin adjusted to the movement and regained his balance with ease.
"Like I said, it's nothing."
He said, feigning complete nonchalance.
Jay hurried over to Luke, finally seizing the chance to ask a question he'd been holding onto for a long time.
"By the way, why are we here? Couldn't we just take equipment from Lord Albedo's treasury?"
Jay, a dedicated admirer of all the Kings, knew they possessed enough wealth to buy entire nations.
Jin raised an eyebrow as well.
"Now that I think about it, the Kings have huge families and incredible wealth. But I haven't seen anyone around except Albedo, Mira, and us."
Luke avoided their questioning looks, scratching his head awkwardly. Finally, unable to stay silent, he admitted.
"Well… before you two arrived, it was really just the three of us."
"Wh-What?!"
"And… uh… we're sort of broke. Like, no money except the amount on those cards you have."
"Wh-What?!"
Eager to escape any further questioning, Luke spotted a distraction.
"Oh, look, that's the shop we need!"
Jin sighed deeply, rubbing his temples.
'Not only me, but even my faction is broke.'
Jay gave a small laugh.
'I'm okay with that.'
Deciding not to dwell on it, Jin and Jay followed Luke into the shop he'd pointed out.
The shop was filled with armor, weapons, and artifacts crafted from monster materials and Spirit Stones.
While Jin found the overall quality acceptable, it wasn't quite enough to impress him, though he noted some decent pieces.
With Nell's help, Luke and Jay began choosing their equipment. Jin, however, declined Nell's offer, preferring to search on his own. After all, his Unique Skill was ideal for this task.
[Unique Skill: Seer of the Unseen]
Activating his unique skill, Jin examined each item in the shop. He found some interesting tier 1 spellbooks, but, seeing that each cost over two hundred thousand rupees, he quickly lost interest.
He soon stopped in front of a majestic katana displayed in a glass case.
'Interesting, a cursed blade. It has a curse that corrupts the wielder's mind, turning them into a killer. I'd love to have it, though I'd need to nullify the curse with my 'Null All' skill. But the problem is the price...'
Jin sighed, glancing at the half-million rupee price tag.
'Never mind.'
After scouring the entire shop, he ultimately decided to stick with the katana Albedo had given him.
For armor, he chose a simple, dark-gray robe with a hood, which had decent resistance to physical and slashing attacks. Nell managed to bargain the price down to forty thousand rupees. Jin also picked up ten throwing knives, each costing five thousand rupees.
With his remaining ten thousand rupees, he bought potions.
Jay opted for a pure white robe with a hood and some added magical effects, costing sixty thousand rupees. He also selected a small staff topped with a blue spirit stone, which used up the rest of his money.
As for Luke, he decided to save his money, saying he wanted to buy something else later. Besides, he already had all the necessary equipment.
Jin handed his card to Luke for payment, not knowing how to use it himself. While the others finished up, he waited outside.
Leaning against the railing, he watched a nearby screen showing the news. The upcoming NAAT exam was being covered heavily, as it had been the main headline for days.
The date for the exam was announced: two months from now, in the southern city of Gitara. This year's registration had reached over two hundred thousand, nearly double last year's numbers.
Jin sighed, glancing down at the old red thread on his wrist.
"Can someone talentless like me ever hope to rescue you?" he murmured.
"Are you not confident in your abilities?"
Nell asked, suddenly beside him.
"I don't have any talent to be confident in. All my life, I could only fight because I had Mathematician. But now that it's gone, I'm… useless."
"Is that truly what you believe?"
Jin glanced back at Jay and Luke in the shop.
"Sometimes I envy them, you know? Jay has this monstrous talent, and Luke… he's got that thing inside him."
"Well… from my perspective, you're pretty incredible too."
Nell said with a small smile.
"What are you talking about? My spiritual energy reserve is only 48. I can barely even use Spirit Arts at this rate."
"Hey, are you two coming?"
Luke called out as he and Jay exited the shop.
Jin took a deep breath, clenching his fist.
"Even so… I can't just give up. I promised my mother I'd save my sister. I can't break my promise again."
With newfound resolve, Jin lightly slapped his cheeks, as if to shake off his doubts.
"Alright, let's go. We've got a lot of training ahead of us, right, Albedo—um, I mean, Nell?"
As he walked toward Luke and Jay, Nell murmured to himself.
"But I think your potential may be even greater than mine."
*********
Time flowed like the steady fall of an apple from a tree, and soon, two months had passed.
Jin had taught Jay a secret technique for controlling spiritual energy, which helped Jay master his spiritual energy control. Mira had instructed Jay in Divination, while Albedo guided him in Mystical Arts, curses, and formations. Alongside this training, Jay studied monster behavior on his own.
Jin spent countless sleepless nights battling sword golems and learning Illusion Arts. During the day, he studied the changed world and deciphered symbols of runes. In his spare time, he taught Jay how to use his abilities to set traps and deceive enemies—techniques Jin had learned from Albedo.
Jay's intense training paid off, as he reached level 2 within those two months. Luke, who prided himself as a genius for reaching level 8 in seven years, was stunned.
As for Luke himself, he continued his secret training but remained at level 8.
Finally, the day of the NAAT exam arrived, and they prepared to head to the southern city of Gitara.
"But the worst part is that today's my birthday. I'm finally 29 now."