The vendor earlier hadn't been wrong—the Alliance's branch office was indeed just a short distance from the tower's entrance. As Maximus drew closer, the sight of long, winding queues came into view, the crowd bustling with activity as people jostled for their place near the entryway.
The entrance didn't take the form of a gate or door in the conventional sense. Instead, a broad, translucent, mirror-like square marked the spot, its surface alive with swirling hues that radiated an otherworldly quality. Entry was granted only after individuals cleared the security checkpoint positioned in front of it.
People vanished the moment they stepped through the shimmering surface, as though swallowed by the tower itself. In contrast, those who exited emerged from the entrance as if rising from the depths of water, surfacing into view with a quiet ripple.
As much as Maximus longed to just stride up to the entrance and step inside, he knew he couldn't—not without the proper permit. Reluctantly, he averted his gaze and made his way toward the Alliance's branch, focused on dealing with the most pressing matter at hand.
The branch office was rather crowded, though not as hectic as the area around the tower's entrance. Still, it was busy enough—clusters of people scattered outside the pavilion, some chatting casually, others waiting in quiet anticipation. Many of them were youngsters like Maximus, likely there for the same reason: hoping to secure a permit, just as he was.
Inside the pavilion, the crowd was even thicker, but Maximus remained unfazed. With steady purpose, he walked up to the reception desk, where a radiant young golden elf stood, her poised smile offering a calm welcome.
"Greetings. How may I assist you today?" asked the golden elf, her voice smooth and melodic.
As a race with its own cultures, traditions, and history, golden elves, one of the natives of Mernia, naturally had their own languages. Yet, this golden elf before Maximus actually spoke the Atlas Common Language flawlessly. Her grammar was impeccable, and her pronunciation was crisp and clear, leaving no hint of foreignness in her speech.
It was quite remarkable.
But then again, considering she worked for the Azure Ranker Alliance at a branch in a human-dominated area, her fluency in a different language wasn't all that strange. It was perfectly normal for someone in her position.
"I wish to register for an entry permit to the Ascension Tower," Maximus stated calmly.
This was his first time interacting with a member of an alien race, and to be honest, it was a bit of a novel experience. But he didn't let the unfamiliarity show. He kept his composure, focusing firmly on his request.
Besides, there was nothing particularly extraordinary about this golden elf. Yes, she had an apparent uniqueness about her and was very pretty, but in the end, she was just another person—a stranger, nonetheless. It was better to keep things between them as normal as possible.
The golden elf nodded, her smile unwavering. "Then you'll need to wait for a while. A lot of people are here for the same purpose today." She informed, reaching for a small piece of paper from the desk and handing it to him. "This is your waiting number. You'll be called when it's your turn."
Maximus accepted the paper with a nod. "Alright, thank you."
"You're welcome," the golden elf replied courteously.
Maximus then moved to a nearby corner, looking down at the small piece of paper in his hand. His waiting number was "128." He couldn't tell when his turn would come—he had no idea how far the line had progressed or how long it would take. With no other choice, he settled in to wait patiently.
It was a little funny, really.
Waiting seemed to be the one thing Maximus had been doing most of the day, ever since he had woken up in the morning. From waiting for the train that took him to Decoris, waiting during the long train journey, to waiting in the taxi that shuttled him to Heaven's Gate, then waiting in line to pass through the portal to reach this island, and now, waiting once again.
Even so, it had been a rather busy day for Maximus, and the night was still far off. Despite the many hours left, it had already been eventful. He had experienced and witnessed a great deal—amazing scenes that would stick with him for a while.
Maximus couldn't help but wonder if there would be even more surprises for him later. But after a moment of thought, he shook his head, dismissing the possibility. It seemed unlikely he would encounter anything more amazing today.
If he truly wanted to witness more remarkable sights, his best bet would be inside the Ascension Tower and the Grand Battleground. Both places were the very sources of wonders, each containing countless mysteries and spectacles waiting to be uncovered. It was only in those special locations that Maximus would have the chance to witness or experience the greatest marvels this universe—and perhaps even the multiverses—had to offer.
For now, Maximus would have to be content with whatever this town had at its disposal. Until he could secure an entry permit, that was the only thing he could do—enjoying the local specialties.
Regarding the entry permit, it wasn't something easily obtained. Maximus had learned that the process could be quite a hassle. The usual wait time after registration was about one or two days. This meant he'd likely have to spend a night or two in this town of tents and makeshift buildings before he could move on. It would no doubt be annoying, but not exactly unbearable.
Maximus was willing to wait as long as it took to get the permit. Patience was one of his virtues, a skill he had long honed through years of experience. Waiting for a day or two would not be a problem at all; he could certainly endure it without issue.
"Number 63! Your turn has come!"
Suddenly, the golden elf receptionist announced in a clear, ringing voice. Almost immediately, a lanky young man around Maximus' age stepped into the pavilion, a large, overstuffed bag slung across his back.
"I'm the one with number 63. Can I go inside now?" the young man asked eagerly.
"Yes, you may," the receptionist replied with a calm, professional tone, gesturing toward the hallway behind her. "The permit registration office is down the left hallway."
The man young quickly headed toward the indicated hallway without saying another word. Watching this, Maximus came to the realization that his turn was still a long way off—the line was only halfway through its progress.
'Might as well look for a bite. I haven't had lunch yet,' he thought, deciding it was pointless to sit around doing nothing. His turn would clearly take a while, and with hunger starting to gnaw at him, finding something to satisfy his stomach while killing time seemed like the most sensible action.
Thus, Maximus stepped out of the pavilion and began roaming the area in search of food. He wasn't after anything elaborate—just something light to ease his hunger. A heavy meal could wait for later. He soon spotted a dumpling vendor and opted for it over the other available selections.
But just as he was about to approach the stall, an important fact suddenly came to mind.
He didn't have any money on him!
What Maximus meant wasn't Atlas Credit, but something else entirely.
The Ascension Tower and the Grand Battleground recognized a different currency, commonly known as Energy Crystals. These small crystals, about the size of a toddler's little finger, were formed through the condensation of Energia over centuries of natural processes deep underground. They could only be mined within the Grand Battleground itself—no other place could produce them.
Because the crystals contained a highly pure form of Energia, they could be used as a powerful cultivation material. Rankers often harnessed the energy from these crystals during their cultivation, bypassing the need to draw energy from the surrounding environment, which had been tainted by various pollutants and was far less pure. In fact, using the energy from energy crystals was considered much more beneficial for cultivation, offering a more concentrated and untainted source of nourishment.
As a result, energy crystals became one of the most coveted resources. Their rarity, combined with their immense value, ensured that they were always in high demand. Over time, these crystals became a widely recognized medium of exchange, traded extensively across all existing Ascension Towers, throughout every corner of the Grand Battleground, and even in this town. Their reputation as a vital resource had spread far and wide, cementing their absolute role in the economy and day-to-day transactions.
Atlas Credit was useless in this makeshift town; only energy crystals held any value here. This posed a minor problem for Maximus.
He did have energy crystals—enough to get by for a couple of months. They were part of the one-time stipend he had received from the Extraordinary Power Bureau shortly after awakening his innate gift. Unfortunately, he had forgotten to bring any with him for this trip.
All of them were still stored in a bank account set up for him by the EPB, just waiting to be accessed. Hence, Maximus had to delay the matter of buying food. He needed to withdraw some energy crystals from his account first. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to pay for anything.
His account had been set up in the so-called Azure Financial Bank, a subsidiary under the reign of the Azure Ranker Alliance. The bank was a non-profit corporation dedicated solely to managing the monetary affairs between the interconnected worlds of Atlas, Shenzhou, and Mernia. It facilitated daily transactions and handled all banking-related matters for individuals across these realms, ensuring smooth exchanges and supporting the broader economy.
There had to be a branch somewhere in this town—Maximus was certain of it. The Azure Financial Bank's reach was extensive, with branches spread across all major urban centers in the three allied realms. It made sense that such a strategic location, with its proximity to the Ascension Tower and the Grand Battleground, would host one of their facilities. All he needed to do now was track it down.
After asking for directions once more, Maximus confirmed there was indeed a branch of the bank nearby. To his relief, it turned out to be conveniently close to the Alliance's office, and It took him less than five minutes of walking to arrive there.
The branch wasn't housed in a tent or pavilion. Instead, it occupied a permanent structure of concrete and brick, designed with an unpretentious yet refined architectural style. It stood out as one of the few buildings in town constructed from durable materials. As Maximus stepped through the glass entrance, he noticed the branch was quiet. The place was operational, but only a few patrons were present, conducting their business with little urgency.
There were no ATMs or automated machines for handling energy crystals. Whether it was a withdrawal, deposit, or transfer, every transaction related to energy crystals had to be handled in person at the bank.
Several tellers were stationed behind the long counter, its metallic bars separating them from the rest of the room. With so few customers around, most of them sat idle, waiting for something to occupy their time. Seeing the opportunity, Maximus approached one of them at random and made his way toward her.
"Welcome, sir. How may I help you?" The teller stood up and greeted with polite professionalism.
"I'd like to withdraw crystals from my account," Maximus stated, his voice steady as he leaned slightly forward, resting his arms on the counter.
Though his face remained composed, a flicker of surprise stirred within him. He could sense a faint but unmistakable surge of potent Energia coming from the teller, a subtle sign that marked her as someone who had awakened her innate gift.
A bank teller, of all people, was actually a ranker.
It was honestly a curious sight—Maximus hadn't expected to encounter someone of that caliber in such a mundane setting. His gaze shifted to the other tellers, observing each one in turn, and he quickly realized they were all the same. Every one of them was a ranker.
As expected of a location so close to the Ascension Tower, even the most ordinary office jobs here were staffed by rankers. Maximus could only sigh inwardly at the fact.
"Then, may I have your debit card?" the teller asked, pulling Maximus's attention back to her.
With a swift motion, Maximus reached for one of his bags, unzipped it, and pulled out the debit card given to him by the EPB. He handed it to the teller, who took it without hesitation and immediately set to work.
After a brief series of steps to verify Maximus's identity and confirm his ownership of the debit card, the teller looked up and asked again, "How many crystals would you like to withdraw?"
"200," Maximus replied shortly. He figured that amount would be enough to buy food and pay for any other expenses that might come up.
The EPB had been kind enough to grant him a total of 1,000 energy crystals, but that was the extent of his usable wealth at the moment. With no income to rely on, he couldn't afford to be extravagant with his spending.
"By the way, does your branch handle currency exchange?" Maximus asked abruptly.
The teller paused her action, looking up with a smile. "We do, sir. Our branch handles all kinds of currency exchanges."
"Does that include converting Atlas credits to energy crystals, and vice versa?"
"Of course," the teller replied with a nod. "As I mentioned, we handle all kinds of currency exchanges—every currency in existence, except for nether coins."
"I see..." Maximus muttered. He proceeded to inquire again, "So, what's the current exchange rate between Atlas credits and energy crystals?"
The teller looked thoughtful for a moment before answering, "The rate has been fairly stable over the past several days. Right now, 3,000 Atlas credits can be exchanged for 1 energy crystal."
Maximus's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't anticipated the exchange rate to be so high.
3,000 AC was roughly the average monthly income of blue-collar workers on the Gaia mainland and the same amount Maximus used to regularly receive from the Etrussia government. However, that support ended just recently when he aged out of eligibility.
Such money wasn't exactly a fortune, but it wasn't insignificant either. For someone like Maximus, an orphan with limited resources, it was more than enough to get by. It covered all his basic needs, paid for a not-so-bad apartment room in a not-so-bad neighborhood, and even left him with a little extra to save.
So yes, 3,000 AC was a significant amount of money for most people to get their hands on. Yet, it could only be exchanged for a single energy crystal.
No wonder rankers were often so well off. Even the weakest ranker could simply head to the Grand Battleground, pick up some odd jobs to earn energy crystals, and then convert those crystals into Atlas credits. With that, they could return home practically rich.
What struck Maximus even more was the sheer generosity of the EPB. Being granted 1,000 energy crystals meant his wealth now amounted to the equivalent of three million AC. When combined with the 20,000 AC he had saved in his original bank account, it dawned on him—he was, by all accounts, a millionaire.
Maximus wasn't sure if 1,000 energy crystals were the standard stipend the EPB provided to newly awakened rankers. He had no idea whether he was the only one to receive such a sum or if others were granted the same. Regardless of the case, he felt a deep sense of gratitude toward the agency and, by extension, the Etrussia government. They weren't bad at all, he had to admit, very attentive.
"Excuse me, sir. Are you perhaps interested in exchanging some currency?" The teller's voice broke through Maximus's thoughts, pulling him out of his stupor.
"I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that. What did you just say?" Maximus asked while looking a bit confused, genuinely having missed the teller's words just now.
The teller herself didn't seem bothered by Maximus's request for clarification. Her smile remained as she repeated, "I'm asking if you're interested in currency exchange. If so, I can assist you with that."
Maximus shook his head. "No, I was just curious, that's all."
"Very well," the teller replied softly before focusing back on her original task, processing Maximus's withdrawal.
It wasn't long before the teller left the counter and then returned swiftly with a small purse in hand. She placed it gently on the counter, alongside Maximus's debit card.
"Here it is, sir. 200 energy crystals have been successfully withdrawn from your account," she said courteously.
"This... isn't this an enchanted wallet?" said Maximus, his voice laced with mild exclamation as he stared at the purse before him.
The teller nodded with a smile. "Indeed. This is an enchanted wallet of the lowest grade. It can store up to 10,000 energy crystals. It's a small gift from our bank to new clients such as yourself, a token of our appreciation."
Maximus picked up the purse with his right hand, feeling its weight settle against his skin. It was small, easily held by a single palm.
This was the first purely magic-enchanted item Maximus had ever encountered. It might not look like much—almost resembling an ancient-style purse meant to hold coins rather than paper money—but it currently contained 200 energy crystals.
If those 200 crystals were all taken out, they would form a small mound the size of a basketball. It would take a medium-sized bag to hold them all. Nevertheless, the little purse in Maximus's hand contained all those crystals effortlessly, seemingly without any issue.
It was weighty, for sure—he could feel its heft in his palm. But the purse's appearance remained unchanged, despite its contents. The fabric didn't stretch or bulge; it was as if the purse held nothing at all. Maximus knew that these magical effects were the result of the enchantments imbued into the purse. He had learned that the enchantments involved space-time compression, enabling the purse to hold far more than its size suggested.
Unfortunately, the enchantment only worked for energy crystals; other items couldn't be stored inside. Hence, its name—enchanted wallet.
It was something commonly used to store energy crystals. However, despite its remarkable function, its security was practically nonexistent. Not only could the purse be stolen easily, but anyone could access its contents, not just the owner. That was why Maximus had to be careful when carrying it. He couldn't afford to be careless, especially in a bustling place like this town.
It had to be said that the Azure Financial Bank was rather generous in its service. While an enchanted wallet wasn't a priceless treasure, it wasn't cheap either. Even the most basic version would cost several dozen energy crystals, and that was no small sum.
Giving such an item as a gift was certainly a bold, not to mention, pricey move. But it was a smart one. It could leave a positive impression on clients. In a way, it was a form of promotion—a small investment for long-term gain.
Maximus was grateful for the gift, accepting it without hesitation. It was a thoughtful gesture, and while he didn't expect such generosity, he wasn't about to turn it down. The enchanted wallet was a useful item, and in his current situation, it could prove very convenient.
He quickly slipped the purse into the front pocket of his pants—the safest place he could think of—and then tucked his debit card back into one of his bags. With no other matters to handle here, Maximus thanked the teller and marched to the bank's entrance, stepping out into the open air again.