'And what would these recordings comprise of, precisely?' asked Nicolai smoothly.

'I have the vast majority of fights from all Tiers.' Starz tapped a finger to his nose and winked savagely. 'I managed to work out the ones who looked most likely to win in Tournaments One and Two from their performance in the Free For All round. As to Tournament Three, there were fewer competitors and thus no Free For All round, but I managed to get most the fights from the finalists. Trust me, you'll want to see it all! Tournament Three was unbelievable, I've never seen such armament, not to mention the weirdness of those Cultivators! Though no big matchup reveals, like in yours, alas. At only 30k points, it's such a great deal, I'm practically letting myself be robbed! For free, you really are robbing me!' He laughed loudly.

'And have you sold many of these sets?' asked Nicolai.

'Loads! Anyone who's not a Raw wants 'em. Even some of these Cultivators came and asked me about it, but they ain't got no implants so it's a no-go.' He made a face, looking truly unhappy about this—which told Nicolai that Starz was a true-blue businessman, for whom any buyer was a good buyer. 'Unlucky for them, though I'm thinking about setting up a hardware shop on the side, see if there are any takers in the robe-wearers.

The man transmitted the footage and Cyberwarfare, ever wary, checked it over.

'I've got more planned, too,' said the man surreptitiously, leaning in slightly. 'Gonna make a whole business out of this. Lots of plans, lots. It's early days and I don't know if there'll be more Tournaments, but if there are, come find me. I'll be around here or standing by the entrance to the Arena. I'll be selling info on competitors, weapons, Symbiotes, and I can setup bets, too!'

'You can count on me,' said Nicolai. 'If there are more Tournaments, I may just become your biggest customer.'

He gained Starz's digital signature, to find him easily in the future, and left the cyborg looking very pleased. Nicolai was more conflicted. This individual and the role he'd taken was certainly useful, and Nicolai fully intended to buy each recording after each Tournament. Real fight recordings would be extremely useful for him to review and improve his methods. He was less keen on the man creating tier lists, performing deep-dive analysis' of individual competitors, and so on.

It was inevitable, Nicolai knew, that the man was already building a detailed datapacket on him, one he would be happy to sell to any who came calling. At least Cultivators wouldn't be able to take advantage of that, though someone a mercantile as that cyborg seemed like he'd be eager to try and find a way to sell to them, too. Still, this sort of thing was inevitable. There would always be such people, if nothing else it was good he had found and secured the contact early.

He'd now gotten all the easy Symbiote food he could for free—he'd visited every Earthborn who had Resources they wanted to be rid of. That being the case, it was time to start selling.

Alas, the things he wanted to sell were Symbiotes, which those from Earth had little understanding or interest in. There were likely a few like him, but vast majority would rather save their funds for things they knew to be useful, the guns and bombs and tech of Earth. Of the few Earthborn that were interested in Symbiotes, he suspected it would be difficult to find buyers for his specific Symbiotes. Everyone had different needs.

He had to find his buyers amongst the Cultivators. They all wanted Symbiotes. The problem was actually selling them, which was a problem of many parts. Before even attempting to deal with their hatred of his kind, he needed to actually work out how they communicated what they were selling.

He saw many Cultivators talking and bartering with one another, but he didn't see many at all simply crying out what they had for sale. They had some kind of method they were using, just as those from Earth used the Local.

When first coming to this city and witnessing the vague spiritual emanation which had formed over the crowd of Cultivators, as they faced off with the crowd of Earthborn, he'd gained the impression that the Cultivators, too, had something not unlike the Local.

Now he focused on understanding it, standing there with his eyes closed. It took some time, but as he focused his mind began to fit around this alternate, spiritual local. Cyberwarfare joined with him, equally or perhaps even more interested in this alternate version of the world it was used to operating in. Over there… He and the Module tracked an emanation; a sense of a Symbiote capable of forming a powerful whip of fire, for sale. Nicolai opened his eyes and saw this was emanating from a tall, stern looking Cultivator wearing a brown robe. At the same time, the man was emanating a sense of desire… a desire for food for an Earth-type Symbiote.

The Cultivator turned and looked directly at Nicolai, a faint sense of hope now joining his other spiritual emanations, relief on his face. That of someone who had been waiting some time, and thought that his waiting might be over. He frowned when his gaze fell on Nicolai, and his eyes turned left and right. His Soul Sense tendril even roved out and looked around. Trying to work out which Cultivator had touched with apparent interest on the Soul Sense emanations he was sending into the Aura.

Nicolai turned away, refocusing. He wasn't interesting in what that individual was peddling. He had his own things to peddle. Now he and Cyberwarfare generated their own spiritual emanations, Cyberwarfare working like a craftsman, dedicated to perfection, while Nicolai had more of a good-enough attitude—they didn't have too much time left here, after all, and they could practise at home. Once relatively happy, he began injecting his emanations into the spiritual "Local." At the same time, he sent his Soul Sense tendril roving up and around like a radio antenna, looking to better sense anything that felt like what he wanted, and this was a task that Threat Analysis joined in with. The two Modules worked alongside him, splitting the load.

He moved through the crowd with his eyes half-closed, allowing Soul Sense to direct him. Someone else had caught onto his emanation; that he was selling Symbiotes used for attaining Tier 2. They were coming toward him, and he moved toward them, too.

After stepping around a pair of arguing Tier 1's, both robed and long-bearded, then past a group of grim-faced, heavily armed Cyborgs who watched him suspiciously, he found himself face-to-face with a Cultivator. She had the long dark hair, pale skin, and dark eyes that was fairly ubiquitous amongst women of the other race. Observation would have probably said they had skin like white jade. It had always liked to get into the spirit of things.

From her demeanour he immediately dismissed her as no particularly special except that she'd been drawn by his emanations. A faint frown pinched the skin between her eyes as she gazed back at him. Her eyes scanned up and down. Her Soul Sense briefly darted out, felt at him, and registered that indeed, he was the one who was giving out the emanations.

Her face smoothed and her Soul Sense settled back into a passive sphere. She was Tier 1, like him.

'You have the goods?' she asked in a pleasant, unremarkable voice. He felt nothing from her Soul, not a single hint of her emotions or thoughts.

And that was when Nicolai and Threat Analysis decided to take a second look. They agreed: She was too unremarkable. To most people she would just be someone they briefly met. A face in the crowd, forgotten as soon as she was gone.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

He'd known people like that before. In different circumstances, he would be doing his best to act the same. Thus he knew that those who seem a little too perfectly unremarkable… should be watched.

She wore a short, open robe that ended midway down her thighs, loosely belted by a sash. Beneath the robe she wore a shirt and pants, both of which were neither too loose, nor too tight. One could move easily and quickly in clothes like that. All of these clothes were dark-grey, similar as his skinsuit. Not black. In a dim room or the jungle at night, pure black stood out. He reviewed the moment she'd approached him, replayed it, and now he saw how her steps did not expose her as trained and skilled, but even so her weight was always perfectly balanced, her body ready to act and react at a moments notice.

There was a sheathed dagger attached to her sash. Dark brown sheath, dark brown handle. Unremarkable looking, and he felt nothing from it. But from the length and shape, he could guess at the type of blade. It would be a stiletto, quite long, thicker at the base but tapering to a needle-sharp point. The kind of thing that was useless for eating or carving or anything else like that, but perfect for piercing through any number of layers to stab someone straight through the heart.

His scan, and the conclusions he drew, took only seconds. The pause before he answered was thus of no suspicion—outwardly, he just gave her the typical glance up and down that anyone would upon seeing a prospective trading partner.

'I do,' he answered. 'I have full sets of Workers, Gatherers, Defenders, Scouts, Refiners, and Collectors. Each of them serves a role in attaining Tier 2. I want 100,000 points-tags per set.' This was only a price increase of around 20%, which by his standards was quite fair.

'Too pricey,' she muttered, shaking her head dismissively. 'And I already have two Scouts, I don't need yours.'

Nicolai shrugged. 'Then you can sell those two after this. I'm selling them as the set because I want to get this done and not bother with selling them bit by bit.'

'I don't want to bother with that either.'

Nicolai spread his arms in a more elaborate shrug. 'I know what I have here.' He did. He'd done his research—it was one of the areas the Memory Discs had touched on, and during each of his walks to different places in the city he'd spent time digging into it all in preparation for this. 'Cultivators usually have to hunt around for these Symbiotes piecemeal. You need a full set if you wish to reach Tier 2. By selling a full set, I'm giving a great deal of convenience.'

She flicked her fingers dismissively. 'I'm not even going for Tier 2 yet, I want to ensure my foundation is solid. I've got some time before I'm ready. I want the sets for my brother.' She made a show of sighing. 'He's always bothering me, never able to handle these matters on his own, and now he's eager to rush into Tier 2.' She rolled her eyes with vast irritation. 'But though he's in a rush, I'm not.' She gave her own shrug. 'I won't even be seeing him for a month, and I'll have to pay to feed them in that time. So, ultimately, waiting longer is better for me. But, just for the convenience of not having to look later on, I'll take them off your hands for 50,000 per set, no Scouts, 100,000 total.'

Nicolai waited a polite moment to ensure she was finished. 'That's a nice story. The price remains 100,000 per set. 200,0000 total. Everyone wants these and you happen to be lucky no one else has yet noticed my emanations.'

'Not yet noticed? You're shoving them out with everything you've got, like a child leaping in the air and screaming his head off. This whole crowd is aware.' She smiled sharply. 'You're just overestimating what you've got. They're more common than you'd think. 100,000 per set is hugely overpriced.'

He would have liked to smile his own sharp smile, but there wasn't much point with the helmet on his face. He settled for staring at her, and his helmeted head did its best to express bottomless apathy over her words.

'Speaking of,' she added with a sudden frown, putting a thoughtful finger to her chin, 'I ought to have a look at them. I need to make sure they're in good condition. Someone who doesn't know what they're doing could easily damage Symbiotes like these, they're not as hardy as most.'

Nicolai knew she was just looking for a chance to pick more holes and give more reasons to drive the price down, but he didn't mind. He was enjoying himself more and more. He pulled them out one by one.

'Lovely, lush fur on this Worker,' he chattered. 'And here, see, the Defender's shell is bright and without any cracks. A sign of perfect health. And this…'

'Its legs aren't looking good,' she stabbed in the pauses between his words. 'Mmmm. I don't like the colour of this Collector's eyes—that blue tinge is a sign of spirit flu. No, no, no.' She clucked. 'This Scout is in terrible condition, you should see mine, they put yours to shame….'

And on it went. While speaking, she made a faint, unconscious movement. One that brought her slightly to the side, made her a little more obvious. The drunken pair of Cultivators who'd been moments from blundering into her noted the movement and adjusted their course. Nicolai noticed all of this, because he paid as much attention to his surroundings as she did it.

After ten minutes which involved a significant number of verbal tricks and traps, Nicolai and his opponent came to the same conclusion. The other was very good at this, and would not budge easily. However, she had one last trick to play.

'Fine,' she said with a deep sigh, drawing her lips tight and giving him the look one would give to the most deluded moron. She shook her head sadly. 'You're too bullheaded. I'm telling you, no one will pay so much. Two sets are only worth about 75,000, maximum. 150,000, all together. You still insist on it?'

'I do.'

'Then I bid you farewell.' She turned and walked off.

Nicolai watched her go. It was a last ditch attempt and he knew it.

Before ten seconds had passed he saw her pivot. She strode back, stopped and gazed at him. She grinned.

'170,000,' she said.

He was somewhat in awe at her shamelessness. '200,000.'

They settled on 180,000, which was just about 10% over the Symbiotes actual value; considering the convenience fee of being full sets, probably about dead-on.

'Good doing business with you.' He handed her over the two full sets while receiving the points-tags. That brought him up to 320,000.

'Likewise,' she replied. Her face was unreadable.

'Eh, have you just sold them?' came a voice, and Nicolai saw a disappointed Cultivator appear.

The woman didn't reply, turning and vanished into the crowd, and Nicolai took in his newest prospective customer. Bad timing on the arrival, if this guy had gotten here a little earlier he might've managed a bidding war.

'Worry not, I have another set.'

'You truly have the full set?' asked the man, doubtful.

Nicolai displayed the Symbiotes. He'd had five sets after the Inheritance, after selling two he had three left. Two he'd keep, thus this single set was the last he'd sell.

'Well, well.' The Cultivator smiled. 'I'll give you 50,000 for them.'

Nicolai sighed. 'I was just bartering with her for quite some time. She paid 180,000 for two sets, as I'm sure you heard. I know how much these are worth.'

The Cultivator's eyes narrowed and he let out a tch, but tapping his lip he shrugged. 'Fine. It is quite convenient to find them all in one place, I suppose. 90,000 for the set, same as you gave her.'

Nicolai didn't try to push for a higher price. He was just happy to be getting done so quickly, as he wasn't sure he had time to sell everything he wished.

But as he retrieved the Symbiotes, he noted the man was gazing at him with a deepening frown. 'Wait a moment, I recognise you…' His eyes widened. 'You're that cheater!'

Nicolai sighed and shook his head. 'Alas, that is the moniker I have been unfairly dubbed with.'

The man stared at him, then after a moment snorted. 'I don't even trust you to have real Symbiotes. Probably faked somehow. Oh well.' He turned and left before Nicolai could even start to work out a way to try and convince him to stay.

A change of outfit seems desirable, put in Threat Analysis, and Nicolai nodded. When trading with Earthborn earlier, being recognisably that guy had been quite beneficial. Now, very much the opposite. He was lucky the woman hadn't recognised him.

After heading to the Trade Link and making some quick purchases, he found a quiet corner in a nearby street and disappeared into his base. There Nicolai equipped himself in a manner that wouldn't, he hoped, merely disguise him—but also help to suggest that when it came to matters of Cultivation, he knew his business and thus one shouldn't bother trying to scam him.

Alas, even if he bought himself a robe and wore some Cultivation-style mask, he wouldn't be able to convince the Cultivators he was one of them. He didn't know their language well enough to speak it fluently enough to pass yet, Simulations still needed to gather more data, and thus would have to speak in his own. That was a problem because it was reasonably obvious when someone's words were being translated by one's Mark. With that, he couldn't hide his race. But, looking like he was someone who relied more on Cultivation than technology should make them the option of scamming him seem less likely, and would hopefully dissuade most from attempting it.

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