In Trinidad, I took a fresh approach to food shopping. Instead of the usual store-hopping or relying on conventional methods, I chose to buy everything from wholesalers. To make this plan a reality, I found a closed restaurant with a living space above and negotiated a two-week rental. I convinced the owner that we were a group of traveling chefs conducting workshops in various cities.

Mahya decided to use the time to gain a skill she thought was important: motorcycle and ATV mechanics. She made up a story that we were going on a motorcycle and ATV trip in Africa and needed the knowledge to take care of the vehicles if there were any problems along the way. Al was not interested in mechanics, so I announced he would be in charge of receiving deliveries while Mahya and I studied. I was already despairing of him. He said he wanted to fill the missing classes, but I didn't see any interest from him in any field.

I asked him about it, and his answer was that he had not yet found his passion. He said that when he did, he would make the necessary investment.

As I calculated our food needs, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. I was especially mindful of the possibility of our group expanding (I still hoped that Lyura would join us). With this in mind, I placed our food orders, ready to accommodate any additions to our team.

I considered ordering seeds to grow food in the future, but I remembered the crates of seeds I'd bought before leaving Earth the first time. I pulled them out and sorted through the contents. There were ten crates each of tomatoes, coffee, and cocoa, along with several more crates filled with mixed seeds for fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, nuts, and herbs.

Grains and Rice

Pallets of long-grain white rice

Pallets of brown rice

Bulk bags of jasmine rice

Bulk bags of basmati rice

Bulk bags of wild rice

Bulk bags of quinoa

Bulk bags of couscous

Pallets of rolled oats

Bulk bags of steel-cut oats

Bulk bags of barley

Bulk bags of bulgur wheat

Pasta and Noodles

Pallets of spaghetti

Pallets of macaroni

Bulk bags of penne

Bulk bags of fusilli

Bulk bags of fettuccine

Bulk bags of egg noodles

Bulk bags of rice noodles

Pallets of lasagna sheets

Bulk bags of orzo

Baking Supplies

Pallets of all-purpose flour

Pallets of whole wheat flour

Bulk bags of bread flour

Bulk bags of cake flour

Bulk bags of cornmeal

Bulk bags of almond flour

Pallets of sugar (white granulated)

Bulk bags of brown sugar

Bulk bags of powdered sugar

Bulk bags of baking powder

Bulk bags of baking soda

Bulk bags of yeast

Bulk containers of vanilla extract

Bulk containers of cocoa powder

Beans and Legumes

Pallets of dried black beans

Pallets of dried pinto beans

Bulk bags of lentils (green and red)

Bulk bags of chickpeas

Bulk bags of split peas

Bulk bags of navy beans

Bulk bags of kidney beans

Canned and Jarred Goods

Pallets of canned tomatoes (diced, crushed, and whole)

Bulk packs of canned vegetables (corn, peas, carrots, green beans)

Bulk packs of canned fruit (peaches, pears, pineapple)

Bulk jars of pasta sauce

Bulk jars of pickles

Bulk jars of olives

Nuts and Seeds

Bulk bags of almonds

Bulk bags of walnuts

Bulk bags of cashews

Bulk bags of pecans

Bulk bags of sunflower seeds

Bulk bags of pumpkin seeds

Bulk bags of chia seeds

Bulk bags of flax seeds

Spices and Seasonings

Bulk containers of salt (kosher, sea salt)

Bulk containers of black pepper (whole and ground)

Bulk bags of garlic powder

Bulk bags of onion powder

Bulk bags of paprika (sweet and smoked)

Bulk bags of cumin

Bulk bags of dried oregano

Bulk bags of dried basil

Bulk bags of dried thyme

Bulk bags of dried rosemary

Bulk bags of dried parsley

Bulk bags of dried dill

Bulk bags of turmeric

Bulk bags of curry powder

Bulk bags of chili powder

Bulk bags of ground cinnamon

Bulk bags of ground ginger

Bulk bags of ground nutmeg

Bulk bags of ground cloves

Bulk bags of mustard powder

Bulk containers of bay leaves

Bulk bags of red pepper flakes

Bulk bags of fennel seeds

Bulk bags of coriander seeds

Bulk bags of cardamom pods

Bulk bags of star anise

Bulk bags of sumac

Bulk bags of za'atar

Oils and Fats

Pallets of vegetable oil

Pallets of olive oil

Bulk containers of extra virgin olive oil

Bulk containers of coconut oil

Bulk containers of shortening

Bulk containers of sesame oil

Bulk containers of avocado oil

Sweeteners

Pallets of honey

Bulk containers of maple syrup

Bulk containers of agave syrup

Dairy and Alternatives (Shelf-Stable)

Pallets of powdered milk

Pallets of evaporated milk

Bulk packs of almond milk (shelf-stable)

Bulk packs of coconut milk (shelf-stable)

Bulk packs of soy milk (shelf-stable)

Bulk packs of shelf-stable cheese (e.g., Parmesan, cheddar powder)

Snacks and Convenience Foods

Bulk packs of crackers (assorted varieties)

Bulk packs of pretzels

Bulk packs of granola bars

Bulk bags of popcorn kernels

Cold and Frozen: Meat and Poultry

Pallets of frozen chicken breasts

Pallets of frozen chicken thighs

Pallets of frozen whole chickens

Pallets of frozen ground beef

Pallets of frozen beef steaks (ribeye, sirloin, tenderloin)

Pallets of frozen beef roasts

Pallets of frozen pork chops

Pallets of frozen pork tenderloin

Pallets of frozen pork ribs

Pallets of frozen ground pork

Pallets of frozen bacon

Pallets of frozen sausages (various types: breakfast, Italian, bratwurst)

Pallets of frozen turkey (whole and ground)

Cold and Frozen: Fish and Seafood

Pallets of frozen salmon fillets

Pallets of frozen cod fillets

Pallets of frozen haddock fillets

Pallets of frozen shrimp (various sizes)

Pallets of frozen scallops

Pallets of frozen mussels

Pallets of frozen clams

Pallets of frozen lobster tails

Pallets of frozen crab legs

Pallets of frozen tilapia fillets

Pallets of frozen tuna steaks

Cold and Frozen: Dairy Products

Pallets of butter (salted and unsalted)

Pallets of margarine

Pallets of cheese blocks (cheddar, mozzarella, Swiss, Monterey Jack)

Pallets of shredded cheese (various types)

Pallets of cream cheese

Pallets of sour cream

Pallets of yogurt (plain and flavored)

Pallets of heavy cream

Pallets of half-and-half

Pallets of cottage cheese

Pallets of ricotta cheese

Cold and Frozen: Eggs and Egg Products

Pallets of fresh eggs (large, medium, small)

Bulk packs of liquid eggs

Bulk packs of egg whites

Bulk packs of powdered eggs (for baking and cooking)

Cold and Frozen: Vegetables and Fruits (Frozen)

Pallets of frozen peas

Pallets of frozen corn

Pallets of frozen green beans

Pallets of frozen spinach

Pallets of frozen mixed vegetables

Pallets of frozen broccoli florets

Pallets of frozen cauliflower

Pallets of frozen bell peppers

Pallets of frozen strawberries

Pallets of frozen blueberries

Pallets of frozen raspberries

Pallets of frozen mango chunks

Pallets of frozen mixed berries

Cold and Frozen: Other Refrigerated Ingredients

Bulk containers of fresh herbs (basil, parsley, cilantro, dill)

Bulk containers of minced garlic

Bulk packs of pre-cut vegetables (onions, carrots, celery)

Bulk containers of tofu

Bulk containers of tempeh

Bulk containers of refrigerated pasta (ravioli, tortellini)

Bulk packs of refrigerated sauces (pesto, Alfredo, marinara)

Bulk containers of fresh lemon and lime juice

Bulk containers of salsa

Cold and Frozen: Prepared Foods

Bulk packs of frozen pizzas

Bulk packs of frozen lasagna

Bulk packs of frozen burritos

Bulk packs of frozen soups and stews

Bulk packs of frozen appetizers (mozzarella sticks, chicken wings, potato skins)

Bulk packs of frozen entrees (chicken pot pie, shepherd's pie, meatloaf)

Cold and Frozen: Other

Bulk containers of refrigerated almond milk

Bulk containers of refrigerated soy milk

Bulk containers of refrigerated coconut milk

Fruits and Vegetables: Fruits

Pallets of Granny Smith apples

Pallets of Fuji apples

Pallets of Gala apples

Pallets of Honeycrisp apples

Pallets of oranges (Navel, Valencia)

Pallets of lemons

Pallets of limes

Pallets of grapefruits

Pallets of peaches

Pallets of nectarines

Pallets of plums

Pallets of apricots

Pallets of strawberries

Pallets of blueberries

Pallets of raspberries

Pallets of blackberries

Pallets of bananas

Pallets of pineapples

Pallets of mangoes

Pallets of papayas

Pallets of kiwis

Pallets of watermelons

Pallets of cantaloupes

Pallets of honeydew melons

Pallets of pears (Bartlett, Bosc, Anjou)

Pallets of grapes (red and green)

Pallets of cherries

Pallets of figs

Pallets of pomegranates

Fruits and Vegetables: Vegetables

Pallets of spinach

Pallets of kale

Pallets of romaine lettuce

Pallets of mixed salad greens

Pallets of Swiss chard

Pallets of carrots

Pallets of potatoes (russet, Yukon gold, red)

Pallets of sweet potatoes

Pallets of beets

Pallets of turnips

Pallets of parsnips

Pallets of radishes

Pallets of broccoli

Pallets of cauliflower

Pallets of Brussels sprouts

Pallets of cabbage (green, red, savoy)

Pallets of onions (yellow, red, white)

Pallets of garlic

Pallets of shallots

Pallets of leeks

Pallets of zucchini

Pallets of yellow squash

Pallets of butternut squash

Pallets of acorn squash

Pallets of spaghetti squash

Pallets of pumpkins

Pallets of bell peppers (red, green, yellow, orange)

Pallets of chili peppers (jalapeño, serrano, habanero)

Pallets of sweet mini peppers

Pallets of beefsteak tomatoes

Pallets of Roma tomatoes

Pallets of cherry tomatoes

Pallets of heirloom tomatoes

Pallets of cucumbers

Pallets of celery

Pallets of green beans

Pallets of peas (snap, snow)

Pallets of eggplants

Pallets of mushrooms (button, cremini, portobello)

Pallets of corn on the cob

Pallets of asparagus

Pallets of artichokes

Miscellaneous: Candy and Snacks

Bulk packs of chocolate bars (milk, dark, white)

Bulk packs of assorted candy (gummies, hard candy, licorice)

Bulk packs of chocolate-covered nuts and fruits

Bulk packs of chips (potato, tortilla, vegetable)

Bulk packs of popcorn (microwaveable and ready-to-eat)

Bulk packs of protein bars

Bulk packs of cookies (chocolate chip, oatmeal, sugar)

Bulk packs of snack cakes (cupcakes, brownies, pastries)

Miscellaneous: Deli Products

Bulk packs of deli meats (ham, turkey, roast beef, salami)

Bulk packs of sliced cheese (cheddar, Swiss, provolone, American)

Bulk packs of pre-made sandwiches and wraps

Bulk packs of pepperoni and other cured meats

Bulk packs of pâté and spreads

Bulk packs of hummus and other dips

Bulk packs of pickles (dill, sweet, bread and butter)

Bulk packs of olives (green, black, kalamata)

Miscellaneous: Beverages

Bulk packs of bottled water

Bulk packs of sparkling water

Bulk packs of soft drinks (cola, lemon-lime, root beer)

Bulk packs of juice (orange, apple, grape, cranberry)

Bulk packs of sports drinks

Bulk packs of iced tea

Bulk packs of energy drinks

Bulk containers of drink mixes (lemonade, iced tea, sports drink powders)

Miscellaneous: Condiments and Sauces

Bulk containers of BBQ sauce

Bulk containers of salad dressings (ranch, Italian, Caesar)

Bulk containers of relish

Bulk containers of salsa

Bulk containers of marinades and cooking sauces

Bulk containers of mayonnaise

Bulk containers of ketchup

Bulk containers of mustard

Miscellaneous: Baking Mixes and Ready-Made Dough

Bulk packs of pancake and waffle mix

Bulk packs of muffin mix

Bulk packs of cake mix

Bulk packs of brownie mix

Bulk packs of cookie mix

Bulk packs of bread mix

Bulk packs of refrigerated dough (pizza dough, croissant dough, biscuit dough)

Bulk packs of ready-to-bake pastries and cookies

Miscellaneous: Breakfast Items

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Bulk packs of cereal (various types)

Bulk packs of oatmeal (instant and regular)

Bulk packs of granola

Bulk packs of breakfast bars

Bulk packs of syrup (maple, pancake)

Miscellaneous: Items

Bulk containers of peanut butter

Bulk containers of chocolate chips

Bulk containers of almond butter

Bulk containers of hummus

Pallets of bulk containers of jelly/jam (various flavors)

10 pallets of coffee in all its forms

Bulk bags of dried pasta sauce mixes

Bulk containers of soy sauce

Bulk containers of Worcestershire sauce

Bulk containers of hot sauce (various types)

Bulk containers of vinegar (white, apple cider, balsamic)

Bulk packs of dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, apricots, dates)

Bulk packs of nuts (almonds, walnuts, cashews, peanuts)

Bulk containers of tea bags (black, green, herbal)

Bulk containers of agave syrup

Bulk containers of molasses

Bulk packs of instant noodles and ramen

Long-Lasting and Specialty Foods: Dehydrated and Freeze-Dried Foods

Bulk packs of freeze-dried vegetables (peas, carrots, corn)

Bulk packs of freeze-dried meals (stews, pasta dishes, rice dishes)

Bulk packs of dehydrated potatoes (mashed, hash browns)

Bulk packs of dehydrated soups and stews

Bulk packs of dehydrated meat (beef, chicken)

Long-Lasting and Specialty Foods: Canned Goods

Bulk packs of canned meats (tuna, chicken, beef)

Bulk packs of canned soups and stews

Bulk packs of canned pasta (ravioli, spaghetti)

Bulk packs of canned chili

Bulk packs of canned milk (evaporated, condensed)

Bulk packs of canned coconut milk

Bulk packs of canned beans (black, kidney, chickpeas)

Long-Lasting and Specialty Foods: Jars and Bottled Goods

Bulk jars of nut butters (almond, cashew)

Bulk jars of pasta sauces (marinara, Alfredo, pesto)

Bulk jars of curry pastes and sauces

Bulk bottles of flavored syrups (vanilla, caramel, hazelnut)

Bulk jars of ghee (clarified butter)

Long-Lasting and Specialty Foods: Dry Mixes and Instant Foods

Bulk packs of instant potatoes (mashed, scalloped)

Bulk packs of instant rice (white, brown)

Bulk packs of instant pasta (mac and cheese, Alfredo)

Bulk packs of instant couscous

Bulk packs of instant polenta

Bulk packs of instant quinoa

Bulk packs of instant soup mixes (chicken noodle, minestrone)

Long-Lasting and Specialty Foods: Fermented and Pickled Foods

Bulk jars of sauerkraut

Bulk jars of kimchi

Bulk jars of pickled vegetables (beets, carrots, cucumbers)

Bulk jars of fermented soy products (miso, tempeh, natto)

Bulk jars of pickled eggs

Long-Lasting and Specialty Foods: Baking Ingredients and Enhancers

Bulk packs of baking enhancers (gluten flour, dough conditioner)

Bulk packs of flavor extracts (almond, lemon, mint)

Bulk packs of baking chips (chocolate, butterscotch, peanut butter)

Bulk packs of decorating sugars and sprinkles

Bulk packs of cake and cookie decorating supplies

Long-Lasting and Specialty Foods: International and Specialty Ingredients

Bulk packs of sushi rice and nori sheets

Bulk packs of dried seaweed (wakame, kombu, nori)

Bulk packs of dried mushrooms (shiitake, porcini, chanterelle)

Bulk packs of specialty grains (farro, spelt, millet)

Bulk packs of international spices and seasonings (garam masala, harissa, za'atar)

Bulk packs of dried chilies (ancho, guajillo, chipotle)

Bulk packs of miso paste

Bulk packs of fish sauce

Bulk packs of tamarind paste

Long-Lasting and Specialty Foods: Beverages and Drink Mixes

Bulk packs of powdered drink mixes (sports drinks, flavored water, electrolyte drinks)

Bulk packs of herbal teas (chamomile, peppermint, hibiscus)

Bulk packs of specialty coffee (espresso, cold brew)

Bulk packs of cocoa powder and hot chocolate mix

Bulk packs of shelf-stable milk alternatives (oat milk, rice milk)

Bulk packs of kombucha starters and supplies

Long-Lasting and Specialty Foods: Dietary Supplements and Health Foods

Bulk containers of protein powder (whey, soy, pea)

Bulk packs of meal replacement shakes and bars

Bulk packs of vitamin and mineral supplements

Bulk packs of electrolyte tablets

Bulk packs of green superfood powders (spirulina, chlorella)

Bulk packs of chia seeds and hemp seeds

Long-Lasting and Specialty Foods: Miscellaneous Edibles

Bulk packs of dried herbs (basil, oregano, thyme)

Bulk packs of bouillon cubes and powders (chicken, beef, vegetable)

Bulk packs of jerky (beef, turkey, vegan)

Bulk packs of trail mix (various blends)

Bulk packs of hardtack or survival biscuits

Fresh Baked Goods

Bread

Pallets of white bread

Pallets of whole wheat bread

Pallets of sourdough bread

Pallets of rye bread

Pallets of multigrain bread

Pallets of French bread

Pallets of ciabatta

Rolls and Buns

Crates of hamburger buns

Crates of hot dog buns

Crates of dinner rolls

Crates of Kaiser rolls

Crates of brioche buns

Bagels and English Muffins

Crates of plain bagels

Crates of sesame bagels

Crates of everything bagels

Crates of cinnamon raisin bagels

Crates of plain English muffins

Crates of whole wheat English muffins

Pastries and Croissants

Crates of croissants

Crates of chocolate croissants

Crates of almond croissants

Crates of Danish pastries (various flavors)

Crates of cinnamon rolls

Muffins and Scones

Crates of blueberry muffins

Crates of chocolate chip muffins

Crates of bran muffins

Crates of banana nut muffins

Crates of plain scones

Crates of fruit scones (various flavors)

Cakes

2000 chocolate cakes

2000 vanilla cakes

2000 carrot cakes

2000 red velvet cakes

2000 lemon cakes

2000 fruit cakes

2000 cheesecakes

Pies

2000 apple pies

2000 cherry pies

2000 blueberry pies

2000 pumpkin pies

2000 pecan pies

2000 lemon meringue pies

Cookies

2000 batches of chocolate chip cookies

2000 batches of oatmeal raisin cookies

2000 batches of peanut butter cookies

2000 batches of sugar cookies

2000 batches of gingerbread cookies

2000 batches of shortbread cookies

Brownies and Bars

2000 batches of brownies

2000 batches of blondies

2000 batches of lemon bars

2000 batches of raspberry bars

Donuts

2000 glazed donuts

2000 chocolate frosted donuts

2000 jelly-filled donuts

2000 cream-filled donuts

2000 powdered sugar donuts

Looking at the list I made, I sighed and increased my storage capacity twice more. At least this time, I didn't get a headache. My ability points dropped below 200; I now only had 199. They were easy to accumulate on Earth, but they also disappeared quickly.

Maybe it would be a good idea to attend some more workshops.

It took me four days to get all the orders placed and conjure up the documents. Meanwhile, Mahya spent that time on the phone, hunting down someone willing to teach us how to become mechanics. She finally found someone, but it cost us—$5,000! Yeah, it was a rip-off, but we didn't have any other options. We left Al in charge of the deliveries and headed off to learn the trade.

The garage was in the industrial area and reeked of motor oil and rust, a smell that stuck to me no matter how many times I cast Clean. It clung to my clothes, my hair, even my skin. Dave, our teacher, showed Mahya and me the basics of a motorbike engine while we stood listening. His rough voice reverberated all over the garage, which was full of tools, spare parts, and bikes and ATVs in various stages of disassembly.

"First thing you need to know," Dave announced, wiping his greasy hands on a rag, "is the anatomy of an engine. This here is the carburetor. It mixes air and fuel before sending it into the engine."

Mahya leaned in, scribbling in her notebook. Now and then, she'd glance at me to make sure I was keeping up. I tried, but Dave bombarded us with a lot of information. Still, I couldn't help but feel excited. Trying something completely different was hard but, strangely, kinda enjoyable.

The first few days were hard. I was clumsy with the tools, making more mistakes than progress. I was used to the small tools of a doctor, not those monstrosities. At one point, I dropped a wrench deep into the engine, and it took me half an hour to fish it out while Dave laughed at me in the background. Mahya picked it up fast—it was so unfair. By the third day, she was taking apart engines like she'd been doing it all her life, almost keeping pace with Dave.

By the end of the third day, we had the basics down and even got the skill at level one. We could identify parts, knew what they did, and could handle basic repairs. We impressed Dave with our progress. He cracked a smile, which was rare for him. "You two are catching on quicker than most," he said, tossing Mahya a new set of spark plugs. "Let's see if you can handle a full engine overhaul."

The next couple of weeks were a blur of grease, sweat, and lessons. We tackled each challenge Dave threw at us—from changing tires to fixing electrical issues. By the time we left each evening, exhausted and covered in grime, I could feel our skill improving, even if the numbers didn't show it.

After two and a half weeks, as we were packing up, Dave handed us our last test—a beat-up motorcycle with more problems than I cared to count. "Fix this by the end of the week, and I'll consider you both good enough mechanics for your trip."

Mahya and I exchanged a look and smirked. With the skill level at two, we were confident. We threw ourselves into it, and fixed what we could. Faulty wires, busted brakes, and, of course, the carburetor—yeah, I may have cheated with Clean on that to save time, but we kept that between us.

By the last day, the bike was ready. I turned the key, and the engine roared to life, filling the garage with the sound of victory. Dave nodded, impressed. "Well done. You've earned it."

Not only had we learned the ropes, but we had leveled up our mechanic skills to level three, thanks to sheer determination and a lot of hard work. Covered in grease but grinning like idiots, Mahya gave me a high-five, her eyes sparkling with pride.

After we wrapped up our mechanic lessons, Al finally got a break and attended a few workshops. Mahya and I mostly spent the last three days in the city doing the usual rounds of shops, but this time skipping the alcohol and coffee.

On the last night, Al of course, wanted to add adrenalin to our visit to the city—a round of visits to drug dealers. The first two stops were business as usual—or as normal as robbing drug dealers can get—but the third stop was different. We stumbled right into the middle of a big deal.

It was almost three in the morning when we pulled up to an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town. It seemed like nothing had happened in that place for years, which was exactly what we needed. We parked the jeep behind a cluster of trees, exchanged a glance, and activated our Invisibility. Al went ahead, and I trailed behind him to find a good spot to wait. Based on the voices from inside, there were people talking in Spanish and we heard some cursing in a language I thought was Russian, but I wasn't sure.

They sounded too many, and it didn't feel right to let Al go alone. Inside, the scene was tense. Two dozen heavily armed thugs stood around, all of them with big rifles. Nearby, a black jeep stood with its engine still running. Shadows danced across the walls as the thugs moved about, all focused on their transaction, completely unaware we were there.

"This surpasses our expectations," Al sent telepathically, his voice a mix of excitement and caution.

"No kidding," I replied, scanning the room. "Are you sure it's a good idea? There are too many of them."

"Let us utilize the paintball guns."

I was so relieved I was invisible, sparing me from the embarrassment of anyone seeing me facepalm. How had I not thought of it sooner? It would have been so useful back in Phoenix!

We slipped on our protective masks and moved into position. The thugs were completely unaware, their rifles hanging lazily off their shoulders as if they had nothing to worry about. I quickly scanned the group—twenty-one in total, all heavily armed, plus the two head honchos, overseeing it all like kings of a pathetic little kingdom.

"On three," I sent. "One… two… three!"

We fired in sync; the paintballs hitting their targets dead-on. The sleeping potion kicked in almost immediately, filling the air with a smell of oregano. One by one, the thugs collapsed, knocked out cold before they knew what hit them.

"That turned out to be an unexpectedly simple task" Al said, stepping over a guy who had a rifle bigger than he was.

We moved quickly, looting the place like pros. Well, by this point, I was kinda a pro. We collected bundles of cash, each thicker than the last, weapons—high-caliber rifles, handguns, you name it. And, of course, the drugs, all packed up and ready to go.

We stored everything, cash, guns, drugs—the whole haul disappeared with a thought. The last thing to go was the jeep, its sleek frame vanishing into my Storage.

"Mahya's gonna flip when she sees this," I said, grinning as I eyed the black jeep.

"Are you certain about this course of action?"

"Why not? They're bad people that sell drugs to children. Mahya is a good person the converts stuff to Magitech. I feel like Robinhood."

"Who is Robinhood?"

"I'll tell you at the hotel. Ready to head out?" I asked.

"Indeed, let us depart," Al replied, and I could hear the excitement in his mental voice.

We slipped back out as quietly as we'd come in, hopping into our own jeep and driving off into the night. On the way, Al commented, "I wish I could witness their faces when they wake up." We both cracked up at the thought.

When we got back, Mahya was outside tinkering with an ATV, grease all over her hands. She looked up as we pulled in. "Everything went okay?"

I motioned for Al to join me. "Yes, and we got a little something for you. Close your eyes."

She laughed but did as I asked, holding out her hands like she was expecting something small. I took out the black jeep and placed it in front of her. Then, I took out the crates of guns and ammo, stacking them neatly beside the Jeep.

"Alright, open your eyes," I said, barely holding back a grin.

Mahya opened her eyes and just stood there, mouth open, staring at the jeep and the crates of weapons. She circled the jeep, running her hand over the glossy surface, her eyes lighting up with excitement.

"This is incredible!" she finally said, her voice full of awe. "Where did you get it?"

Al and I exchanged a look, both of us grinning like idiots.

"We encountered a small yet thrilling escapade," Al said casually. "We believed you would find this useful. John said something about Robinhood."

She laughed and opened one crate, revealing rows of guns. "And this?" she asked, eyes wide.

"Just a little bonus," I shrugged. "Thought it might be useful."

Mahya laughed more, shaking her head in disbelief. "You guys are something else." She gave me a quick hug, then did the same to Al. "Thank you. This is amazing."

I saw her eyes bouncing back and forth between the jeep and the crates, already figuring out how to use and improve everything. The excitement was infectious, and I couldn't help but feel proud. We'd pulled it off, and seeing her this happy made it all worth it.

"Can't wait to see what you do with it," I said, clapping her on the shoulder.

"Oh, you have no idea," she replied, her eyes sparkling with ambition. "This is going to be epic."

I didn't know how many drugs we took—Al stored them for good without specifying an amount. But the financial gain of the night was a little over a million. I just facepalmed and shook my head—resigned. It was like a curse. No matter how much we spent, the money just grew. It felt like a universe was trying to challenge me.

After a few hours, we had to drag Mahya off her new toys and drive to Pueblo to spend the money, or at least try to spend it.

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