Entering the main hall, Essim was immediately captivated by its grandeur. The room was adorned with luxurious ornaments, each piece carefully placed to enhance the atmosphere. At the center of the room stood an elegant long table, designed to welcome guests with a sense of grace and importance. Along the sides, long tables were arranged, ready for significant meetings and strategic discussions.
As Essim moved deeper into the hall, his attention was drawn to the sweeping staircases on both sides of the reception desk. They beckoned him to explore the upper floors.
The main hall boasted five impressive floors. The second through fourth floors were filled with well-organized blocks of rooms, each designated for different purposes and gatherings. However, the top floor was the true gem—exquisitely designed with the luxury that rivaled the offices of top executives back on Earth.
Aisha, walking beside Essim, was awestruck. Her eyes darted around, soaking in the intricate details of the architecture and decor. The admiration on her face was evident. Every corner seemed to tell a story of elegance and power, captivating anyone who stepped inside.
By now, Essim had reached the fifth floor, where a large table with a plush black chair awaited him. He sank into the seat and immediately noticed its softness. "Ahh... this is comfortable," he muttered, feeling at ease in his new surroundings.
As they wandered through the main hall, taking in all its splendor, Essim and Aisha discussed the idea of forming their own organization. They decided to create the World Market Alliance—a faction that could unify the scattered powers and help it grow into something formidable.
The process to establish the alliance was simple: gather a few trusted individuals, set the headquarters, and announce it publicly in the regional chat.
However, despite his excitement, Essim faced a dilemma. "Where am I going to find reliable people?" he thought aloud, frowning. He knew he couldn't just accept anyone. The greed, jealousy, and selfishness that some humans exhibited made him cautious. He needed trustworthy allies, not liabilities.
"Arghh..." Frustration began to gnaw at him. His mind raced, but no solution seemed to appear. Since arriving in the Divine Sky Realm, he hadn't met any humans—how was he supposed to gather a team?
Suddenly, a knock broke his train of thought.
"Come in," Essim called, knowing it was Aisha.
Aisha entered the room, sitting on the chair beside him. "Brother, how's it going? Did you figure it out?" she asked casually.
Essim explained his frustration with finding reliable allies.
A mischievous grin spread across Aisha's face. "Heheh... You've forgotten about your amazing sister!" she teased, rising from her seat and twirling in the center of the room like a dancer at a grand ball.
Essim chuckled, rubbing his forehead. "This girl..." he thought, amused by her antics.
After finishing her little performance, Aisha bowed playfully and said, "Leave it to me, brother. I've already got a group set up."
She explained that the group, originally formed to trade rare items, consisted of trustworthy individuals.
"Almost all the good stuff I've found that isn't in the market, I've gotten from them," she added. "They are trusted, rich water buyers after all ! I have already their respect thanks to our early sales."
She then invited Essim to join her private group.
[You have been invited to the group Princess Aisha by (Cute Cat)]
"Well…" Essim muttered as he tapped to join.
He raised an eyebrow when he saw the group name. "Princess Aisha?" He sighed but didn't bother to comment. Aisha's quirky sense of humor wasn't anything new to him.
The group chat was already buzzing with activity.
Group Chat (24) - Princess Aisha
(Efan): "Hello Brother Essim, welcome to Princess Aisha's community!"
(Hana): "Hi Brother Essim! Which city are you from?"
(Dion): "Sister Aisha, check this out! I found something new! (small teleportation blueprint)"
(Cute Cat): "Everyone, meet my brother Essim."
(Cute Cat): "@Dion, let's trade!"
(Takulani): "Haha... so this is Aisha's brother? Welcome!"
(Essim): "Hi everyone… Dion, where'd you get that teleportation item?"
(Dion): "From a golden chest, Brother Essim. I got lucky!"
"Golden chest..." Essim whispered thoughtfully. It seemed that others were also having fortunate encounters, just like him. He had thought his experience of meeting the crowned man had been unique, but clearly, there were others receiving blessings of their own. It was a reminder not to let his guard down.
(Essim): "Everyone… If you get more rare chests, we can pay a good price for them !"
For the next few minutes, Essim continued chatting with Aisha's group, learning more about the members—their locations, backgrounds, and current situations. He carefully absorbed all the information.
Once satisfied, he closed the chat and refocused on the teleportation blueprint Dion had mentioned earlier.
(Small Teleportation Blueprint)
Opens a teleportation portal between rooms.
Maximum distance: 25 km.
Construction material:
Luminous Stone x1000
Energy crystal x100,000
Blood of a Gluttonous Whale x10
Iron Rod x1000
Note: Construction time is 6 hours.
Essim immediately checked the availability of the materials in the market system. Luckily, everything was there, though it would cost him a total of 250,000 energy crystals. But he had no issue with the expense. He bought enough materials to build ten teleportation devices without hesitation.
He could have bought a single unit of each and duplicate them, but if was way more efficient to sell high value loots from their chests, or some blessing potions at insane prices later.
"Brother, when should we gather with everyone?" Aisha asked, standing beside him.
"In three days," Essim responded. He had already calculated the time. Based on earlier conversations in the regional chat, region #2344 should span about 480,000 square kilometers. With the islands moving at 1 meters per second, and the positions of everyone based on the sun's position, they should be able to meet in less than 72 hours.
Essim estimated that a core group of 24 people would be ideal. All the members of Aisha's group seemed trustworthy, at least for now. And they each brought unique skills to the table.
"Okay, brother," Aisha said, then made the announcement to the group.
Most of the group members responded enthusiastically, though five people declined because they were already part of other alliances. Aisha informed Essim of this, but he merely nodded. He didn't want to force anyone to join against their will.
Just then, the loud sound of a stomach growling echoed in the room.
Aisha smiled. "I'm hungry. How about we make some grilled meat, brother?"
Her suggestion was perfect. Essim nodded in agreement.
Together, they descended to the first floor and set up a campfire outside the main hall. The large square at the center of the island, paved with stone tiles, wasn't exactly suitable for a cozy meal, so they picked a spot farther away. It was already dark—around 8 p.m. by Earth's time.
Aisha expertly butchered a deer, seasoning the meat before placing it over the flames.
As they watched the fire crackle, Aisha's expression grew somber. "Brother... do you think Auntie and Uncle are doing okay? And has Aunt Lena recovered?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry.
Essim, sensing her concern, replied, "Aisha, don't dwell on it. We'll meet them again when the time is right. And remember how they treated you back on Earth? Don't waste your feelings on people who didn't care for you."
Aisha listened carefully, and after her brother's words of reassurance, she seemed to relax.
"Here, take your grilled meat, brother," she said, handing him a skewer.
"Thanks," Essim said, biting into the tender meat. "Delicious..."
And so, the two siblings sat together, enjoying their meal by the fire, while the quiet night enveloped the island in a peaceful embrace.
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