Kai slowly began to wake up to the rays of the afternoon sun. He felt incredibly well now. The past twenty-four hours had been very eventful.
He had finally returned to the Border Beast City, saw all of his friends, and learnt that they were doing very well. Likewise, he realised that with this foundation under his feet, he would be able to practice Alchemy and Array Mastery in peace. With Diso and the Trade and Research Union at hand, he didn't need money. But that wasn't what his interest was...
By taking crafting assignments, he could practice at the expense of other people's ingredients. But the most important thing was that he needed to understand the difference in the alchemy system that was before the collapse of the previous civilisation, and the modern one.
Likewise, he also needed to catch up on the knowledge in the different array formations. Better find out what types and ranks of arrays there were.
Another of the things Kai wanted to do was to exploit Diso's room. Since, the latter was the head of an influential alliance, he got a place in the Glory Ranking. One of the perks of this status was that Diso got his own room in the Tower of Truth.
While this room wasn't at the deepest depths, it was far better than any of the rooms that could be rented.
Kai wanted to recreate the simplified form of the array that was in the Astral Alchemy Emperor's private office. And practise intensely there, but with his own ingredients. There were plenty of them in his ring.
"Hehehe, I had a very good idea. Even a few..." - Smiling thoughtfully, Kai thought.
"Those pills I'll be making will definitely be unique. For martial artists, they will be very useful... A monopoly on a unique and useful resource, gives me more power. We should give Fatty the idea of organising an auction house. Then we can earn even more funds, as well as get good connections with other powerful people and alliances..." - Kai slowly began to work out a strategy.
When Diso announced that things would get even better with Kai's arrival, he didn't realise how right he was.
"There's another problem... It's the renewability of resources. We need to look at how big Diso's room is in the Tower of Truth. If we can allocate space for a garden, I'll draw an energy harvesting array, and also buy some good soil there. Then we can transplant seeds from fruits and vegetables, as well as start growing different root vegetables." - Kai pondered all the narrow points that needed to be planned in advance. A well prepared plan was half the battle.
Kai lay looking out the window, with rays of sunlight streaming through. Thinking over all his plans, he summarised a brief summary in his head.
"So, I need to go to the Alchemist Organisation and the Array Organisation to register there. After gaining the status of an artisan, I'll be able to read their records in the libraries, as well as take orders. Also, I'll need to organise the Alchemy Reinforcement Array in Fatty's room. While I'm busy with all of this, Diso will have to work things out with the Auction House... The documentation, registration, and implementation of this will take time, but I have no doubt it will be done in the best way possible..." - Kai was so immersed in his thoughts that he didn't even notice what was happening around him.
A dressed Solina was now lying beside him. She had thrown one leg over him, and with her arm around him, was sleeping on his shoulder, sniffling into Kai's neck. It was as if the night that had passed had left some sort of mystery between them, and they themselves knew the line they had reached.
"When the array and the Auction House are ready, we will implement the sale of my pills. To begin with, in doses and at a small price, let everyone taste how good they are... And then we'll sell them in limited form, once a week. We'll auction them by invitation only, with a banquet before the auction. That way, we can gather all the powerful people of the Beast City Borderlands around us. This will become a very powerful leverage in the future. Whoever crosses our path will forever lose the privilege of attending the Trade and Research Union's banquet and auction... And as a result, my pills as well. Hehe." - As Kai pondered this, he began to smile evilly.
- Oh my god, what are you already up to? Your face is so evil right now, but also attractive at the same time. Hee hee. - Solina's sweet voice was heard. I think she finally woke up.
- О? Are you awake already Solina? - Kai said calmly, looking at the beautiful face of the girl who was lying on his arm.
- Are you not going to call me sister anymore? Well! - Solina said naively, making a displeased face.
- I don't think such a thing would be appropriate after this night. Hehehe. - Said Kai, and nonchalantly stroked Solina's lower back. He would have liked to stroke lower, but in this position, his hand couldn't reach it.
- Hehehe, you're right. You're so calm, I thought you'd be more shy in the morning... - she said with a husky, still sleepy voice, smiling.
- Did you think my frank compliments and words about your beauty were jokes all this time? - Smiling, teasingly asked Kai.
- Yeah, right! I might have thought so, had it not been for your eyes, during those impertinent words! - Solina said with a smile.
- Then why are you asking stupid questions? - With a teasing smile asked Kai.
- Well! You can't even be joked with! - Pouting, said Solina and turned her back to him.
- Hehehe, you shouldn't have done that... - Kai smiled evilly.
- Hey! Ah! Wait, I haven't washed my face yet! - Shouted the girl, getting out of the image of her feigned offence a little.
- Ah shouldn't have let down her defences so carelessly. Hehehehehe... - Saying that, Kai's hands jokingly reached for the forbidden places.
"I think I've found something I love as much as alcohol... Spending time with women is really fun and refreshing... I'm even starting to understand Old Man Mo." - Thought Kai, while fooling around with Solina in parallel.
While they were having fun and drinking together, another twenty-four hours had already passed outside. But there was nothing wrong with that, for now all the members of the alliance were absent. After the feast the day before yesterday, many were just starting to come down from their hangovers.....
- Well, Solina, your company is wonderful and I can enjoy it without tiring, but I still have a lot to do. - Said Kai, slowly getting dressed.
His room was very nice. In fact, it was like a whole dwelling divided into different rooms. One of them even had a small hot spring. Before getting dressed, Kai had already given himself a good wash and tidied up.
- I need to find Fatty, and solve some issues. The Trade and Research Union will have a lot of things to do soon. Hehehe. - Said Kai, showing a sly smile on his face.
- Ah...aha... - Barely speaking, Solina said.
- Since, on our first night, you were already waiting for me here. I'll assume you have the key to the door as it is. So, you can go back to your place whenever you want, or whenever you can. Hahaha. - Kai said teasingly.
- I would have done that without your instruction...'' Turning her head and looking at Kai, Solina who was lying on the bed said.
It seemed that neither of them took the change in their relationship too seriously. One could even say that they were behaving like warriors and cultivators, with an inherent cold-bloodedness.
- Anyway, lie back and rest. - Kai said with a smile and started to leave the room.
A few seconds later, the door was already closing behind him.
"Alright, after such a good rest, I need to get some good work done. Hehe." - Kai thought as he walked down the corridor.
- So, where's Fatty's room... - Said Kai, looking around.
The headquarters of the Trade and Research Union was huge. In fact, it was like a huge castle with different sectors.
- We need to find one of the maids. They should definitely know where Diso is... - Kai said to himself.
After spending a long time alone in Astral Grad, he had developed a habit of talking to himself. It may have looked strange, but he didn't care at all.
- Oh, girl! Wait!" Kai shouted and started running towards the girl he saw walking down the corridor.
She was carrying a stack of books in her hands. When she looked back to see who had called her, she was dumbfounded. Counsellor Kai!