Rising up the next day, Ezra works towards getting a trade network setup.

While he could use a map on the communicator to get around, he doesn’t know much about this star cluster.

As such, he links up with Yara, wondering if she knew how he could get around.

Being amongst those chosen for the special training, Ezra had a tinge of worry that she would no longer want to associate with him.

After all, people are always quick to place themselves on a pedestal to look superior, especially youngins.

Thankfully, very little had changed about her demeanour since they last saw.

Though, she seemed a bit more...vibrant? So to speak.

"In that case, you should meet with outer disciples"

"Continue..."

"You know outer disciples have much fewer opportunities compared to us, and because they are also weaker, their ability to gather tokens is also much more limited. So if you head out and out up some contribution tokens down, you can easily hire an outer disciple to act as your guide"

"I see" Ezra nods slightly. "Thank you"

"See you then. I have to go now"

Waving her off, Ezra heads to the market to seek information from shop owners.

Since outer disciples were the main buyers, then they ought to know someone who fit the criteria.

Sure enough, it didn’t take him long to get a number, though it cost him 5 CT.

Worth it.

Contacting this individual, they agree to meet at the entrance.

Upon arriving, Ezra spots the recommended individual easily

A human. An old male human, with bright white hair, dull green eyes and speckles of wrinkles all over his face.

Placing his right hand on the left side of his chest, he momentarily lowers his head in greeting, while his left hand holds onto a teal green staff.

"Mr. Ezra, pleased to make your acquaintance"

"Likewise, Mr. Pinta"

Ezra returns the gesture.

Except for people with trust between them, higher beings shunned handshakes as it could easily be used as an opening for an attack.

Other than that, inner disciples are higher ranked and have much more authority than outer disciples and could even significantly affect an outer disciple’s life.

Age did not matter.

Therefore, outer disciples had to be careful around inner ones, hence the formal tone.

"So, what would Mr. Ezra like to know?"

"We should find a more suitable place to talk"

"Understood" Pinta nods. "Please follow me"

Reaching a secluded place, Ezra reveals his request.

"I am looking to buy multiple rare herbs and other luxury items, might you know a place where I can have such needs attended to?"

"Hmm. What is your top priority, price or convenience?"

"Convenience"

"Hmm..."

Pinta makes a pondering expression as he rubs his chin and intermittently blinks.

"Have you heard of the Solstice?"

"Not at all"

"It is the biggest market that I am aware of and should have whatever items you may be looking for"

"You have connections there?"

"Yes"

"How much do I have to pay you to accompany me?"

"Hmm...25- no, 20,000"

Ezra’s eyebrows rose in disbelief. "20,000?"

Pinta frowns, blinking in confusion at Ezra’s reaction.

Then it hits him.

"Oh! I’m talking about Cryst, not tokens"

"Oh"

Now it was Ezra’s turn to be taken aback.

"I thought the clan only collects tokens?"

"Yes," Pinta nods. "But that only applies to the clan’s official shop, the other stores collect Cryst for different items...have you been paying with tokens since you arrived?"

"No...only the shop owner who gave me your contact"

"How much did you give him?"

"5"

"Hmm, not too much. But you could have gotten it for 3 tokens. Most unofficial stores don’t get tokens often because most disciples save it to buy rare items from the clan’s store"

"Thank you. Now, where and how far away is this Solstice?"

"Oh yes" Pinta makes an ’Aha’ expression. "I forgot to tell you, but the Solstice market deals in both legal and illegal items, is that okay with you?"

"Do we get in trouble for buying from them?"

"Not if I help you"

"Alright" Ezra nods. "Then, I’ll trust you" 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"This will cost you a slight extra though..."

"How much?

"An extra 15,000..."

"Alright deal. But you are going to act as my assistant to make sure I don’t get cheated? Or I’ll hold you responsible. Deal?"

"Then it’ll be 55,000"

"40. Nothing more, nothing less"

"Deal"

Pinta bites his lips, feeling a tinge of regret.

’This guy is rich! I should have put a higher price at the start!’

As promised, Pinta leads Ezra as they board a spaceship to Solstice.

Contrary to expectations, they reach their destination in just a bit more than half an hour, much sooner than expected.

Here, they board a shuttle, only to stop at a library.

Heading straight to librarian, a fairy, Pinta introduces Ezra as a new friend, before making enquiries of a certain someone.

"By the way, have you seen Elwanda?"

"Oh! She’s on the second floor"

"Thank you!" Pinta whispers, scampering away.

Like that, they head to the second floor.

Here, they are faced with Pinta’s person of interest, Elwanda.

Who is also a Naga or snake people for better context.

With radiant deep pink scales, she had a magnifying glass to assist her in reading.

But thanks to Pinta’s unwelcome visit, her wonderful reading session is interrupted.

"Ohhh. Sssso you decided to visssit me today, yessss?"

"Haha" Pinta awkwardly chuckles. "You know I don’t like to disturb you when you’re busy"

"Is that sssso? Fine, ssso what isss it? Why are you here?"

With a quick explanation, Elwanda is brought to speed.

"I ssee" she nods slowly. "Follow me"

They follow her out of the library to a secluded house.

Here, she takes out a device for Ezra to connect his communicator.

Alarmed, Ezra steps back and pulls out Skyfall from the Sovereign universe using <Gatemark>, ready to attack at any moment.

Elwanda gives Pinta a questioning stare as does Ezra.

"Explain"

"The Solstice market itself is far away from our clan, roughly a day away and so I brought you to Elwanda here. She’s part of staff that govern the Solstice market"

"And?"

"With her help, you’ll be able to open an account on the Solstice website where all or at least of the available goods are listed and once bought, would be shipped to your location. I determined this to be the most convenient option, was I wrong?"

"You should have told me such explanations while we were in the shuttle!"

"Haha" he awkwardly laughs, scratching the back of his head. "I forgot"

"You haven’t changed one bit" says Elwanda, shaking her head with a rueful smile.

"Now" she directs her gaze to Ezra. "Come closer"

She pulls off a long wired bronze plated stamp from the larger device.

Inscribed into the stamp is a cryptic symbol, and upon placing it on Ezra’s communicator, it copies the symbol into a digital form before initiating whatever programme was written into the inscribed symbol.

All sorts of files were pulled from different parts of the galactic net and downloaded, before soon enough, an app appeared, with the words ’Solstice’ captioned beneath it.

The app cover itself simply showcased an eclipsed sun on a white background.

A quick review of the app reveals its nature to be exactly as Pinta had stated.

All the items he was searching for lay here in different categories and their price tags clearly stated.

There is even an auction function for goods that had multiple buyers or the seller had chosen to sell it in such a way.

Furthermore, it even had a beginner tutorial function that quickly explained how to navigate through the app.

If Ezra did not know the nature of the all, he would most definitely call it a regular shopping application.

Still, the section of illegal items made that a bit hard.

’Whatever’

Nodding, Ezra accepted the terms, swiping through the app with renewed focus.

It wasn’t often that such convenience came without a hidden pitfall.

But at the moment, he could only judge it at face value.

The interface was clean, refined even.

Sleek gold borders outlined every product page, and there was a smooth animation transition between tabs.

"What a strange world..." he muttered under his breath, scrolling past vials of powdered dragonroot, spirit-infused bark, and core gems from extinct beasts.

Elwanda leaned over his shoulder, her serpentine tail curling casually across the floor.

"You can sssave preferred ssstores or itemsss in your watch-lissst," she hissed helpfully.

"You can alsso arrange for repeat ssshipmentsss. Very ussseful if you have potion-making or ritualsss."

Ezra didn’t respond right away.

His eyes were glued to the listing of an herb he’d spent weeks looking for back at the clan.

Moondew Fern—a rare plant that boosts cellular Qi recovery when processed properly.

Three were in stock. No bidding. Fixed price.

Without hesitation, he purchased two.

As the interface confirmed the order, a sudden shimmer glowed beneath the communicator.

The bronze symbol had lit up faintly, synchronizing the transaction.

"That’s the delivery binding seal," Elwanda clarified. "It allowsss the ssstore ssupplier to trace your location for delivery—but only temporarily and under contract. Don’t worry, they can’t teleport into the clan without permitsss. Delivery drones or drop beacons are usssually used."

Ezra raised an eyebrow. "So this thing is basically an interstellar black market disguised as an online mall"

"You’re not wrong," Pinta chimed in.

"Though it’s more of a grey zone. The market sustains dozens of minor factions and tribes that don’t fall under the big umbrella organizations. Some items sold here are even sourced from government surplus auctions—albeit, not... strictly legally."

"Sounds dangerous."

"Only if you’re stupid," Elwanda said with a smirk, glancing back to her magnifying glass. "Don’t worry, you don’t ssstrrrrike me as ssstupid."

Ezra cracked the faintest smile.

He tapped the screen again and opened the auction tab.

The bidding prices skyrocketed in real-time.

One artifact, a crystalline blade said to have been made from a slain metal spirit elementium, already surpassed 3,600,000 Cryst.

"I don’t even know what half these items do."

"That’s the sssecond option," Elwanda noted. "If you want a personal sssuggessstion, I can sssearch for a curation protocol to match your profession."

Ezra raised a hand. "Later. I need time to get used to this."

Shutting off the interface, he turned toward the other two.

"Thanks. This is a lot more helpful than wandering around like an idiot with a map in hand."

Pinta chuckled. "Glad to hear it. So—back to the clan?"

"Don’t worry about it" Ezra replies him coldly "Our business contract has ended, I hope news about my matters won’t be spreading"

Elwanda flicked her tail. "Ssensssible."

"You can trust these lips are sealed tight" Pinta nods.

Solstice....

’A fitting name’