Sovereign of the Ashes

Chapter 714: Loan

“Ah... haha... I didn’t expect to meet you guys here,” Thunder said somewhat awkwardly in the bustling area of the second-hand space fortress trading market.

This was Sein’s first encounter with him, a figure rumored to possess Rank Five strength.

To protect Sein, Lorianne had enveloped him in a light green energy shield.

This was to safeguard him from the potent energies released by several high-ranking powerhouses that could inadvertently harm Sein, a mere Rank Two being.

This showed that Lorianne truly cared about Sein and was a meticulous person who paid great attention to little details.

Thunder had come to the Capiche Business Alliance to either rent or sell his space fortress, which was relatively new by space fortress standards—having been used for just over ten thousand years.

Unlike the average mid-tier models, the Thunder Fortress was larger and included unique design modifications specifically requested by Thunder, placing it between the mid and high-end categories.

It was evident that Thunder had invested his heart and soul into this fortress, along with a substantial amount of resources.

The reasons behind his decision to rent or sell this prized asset were unclear to Sein, as the motives of beings at such a high level were beyond his grasp.

Lorianne, however, seemed to have some idea about the underlying factors.

“Ahem, Thunder, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you,” Lorianne said, clearing her throat to catch his attention.

Thunder Knight looked at her curiously.

“It’s about business,” Lorianne added.

Thunder glanced at Zaka, who was accompanying Lorianne, and with a nod of understanding, suggested, “Then let’s talk somewhere more private.”

He invited Lorianne into his space fortress for a more discreet conversation.

The Thunder Fortress, larger than the typical models with a diameter spanning tens of thousands of meters, was mostly empty at this moment.

Aside from a few mages from Capiche Business Alliance who were busy testing various equipment and magic artifacts within the fortress, the vast structure seemed deserted from the outside.

Observing the blue and purple Thunder Fortress up close, Sein was reminded of his time during the Thunderfall World War.

Although he had never met this Rank Five knight named Thunder before, he had spent some time living within the Thunder Fortress.

The fortress had struck him as immense, but beyond its size... it had not left much of an impression on him.

“Looks like Lorianne has found the space fortress of her choice here at the Capiche Business Alliance, and I'll have one less work to do,” Master Zaka commented to Master Cipher, flashing her a knowing smile.

Master Cipher, whose features appeared somewhat blurred to Sein, simply smiled faintly in response, choosing not to express any opinion.

Sein and the others did not have to wait outside the fortress for long before Lorianne re-emerged from the fortress visibly upset and immediately said to Master Zaka, “Let’s go check out the other fortresses!”

It was clear that her discussion with Thunder had not gone well.

Master Zaka shrugged, then led Lorianne and the group westward.

The main issue between Lorianne and Thunder was that the knight had no plans of selling his space fortress outright. He was only looking to lease it temporarily.

Moreover, if he did decide to sell, he wanted an agreement that included the option to buy it back within the next few years.

In other words, Thunder was looking to alleviate his financial troubles without actually parting with his fortress permanently.

This shrewdness was expected from a seasoned knight of the Magus World, who would not put himself at a disadvantage.

Furthermore, the sum Lorianne was prepared to offer ultimately was not sufficient, so the negotiation inevitably broke down.

Displeased by her discussion with Thunder, Lorianne, guided by Zaka, traversed the entire second-hand space fortress market—from west to east, and then from north to south.

Along the way, she encountered several fortresses that nearly met her criteria, but there was always something off—either the quality of the fortress itself was questionable, or the seller’s asking price was too steep, surpassing Lorianne’s budget.

One space fortress stood out as particularly unique—a pure black fortress with a relatively modest diameter of just ten thousand meters.

From Sein’s perspective, this fortress was satisfactory, and its price tag in the second-hand market was not too exorbitant.

Yet, Lorianne decided against purchasing it.

When Sein inquired about her decision, Lorianne’s response was quite unexpected.

“Don’t you think it’s ugly?” Lorianne asked, her nose wrinkling in distaste.

Sein was momentarily taken aback by Lorianne’s response.

As someone who prioritized practicality, he had not really considered the aesthetics of the space fortress.

Reevaluating the fortress from an aesthetic standpoint, Sein had to agree with Lorianne’s assessment—it was indeed unattractive.

He could not help but wonder who had designed this smaller space fortress as it certainly did not conform to the standard expectations.

Over the next two months, Master Zaka guided Lorianne and her companions through various parts of the market, including the areas reserved for high-end and low-end used fortresses.

It became clear that finding a suitable space fortress at a reasonable price was no simple feat, especially when the mages of Magus World were known for their shrewdness and calculative natures.

Even the knights, who had dealt with them long enough, became adept at navigating these negotiations, ensuring they never found themselves at a disadvantage.

In fact, the powerhouses of the Magus World often exploited extraplanar creatures and members of the Magus Alliance.

After exhaustively exploring the last of the available options, and even venturing into underground areas with Zaka, it was evident there were few viable choices left.

Zaka sighed and suggested, “If you’re still intent on buying a second-hand fortress, you should consider checking out Sky City and Steel City. The heavy industry labs in Sky City sometimes sell off defective fortresses at reduced prices. Alternatively, Steel City is known for its repair facilities, frequented by various divine towers and knightly orders over the past tens of thousands of years.”

Pausing after giving his suggestion, Zaka then advised, “Honestly, I’d recommend buying a new one. Not only will it have fewer issues, but the Capiche Business Alliance can also customize it to meet your specifications.”

He added, “Plus, buying new means Capiche Business Alliance will handle all low-cost repairs and maintenance for the next ten thousand years. You won’t get to enjoy such a benefit with used fortresses.”

Lorianne hesitated, placing her finger on her bottom lip. “But a new space fortress is so expensive,” she whined.

Zaka responded promptly, “We at Capiche Business Alliance offer excellent financing options! If you have assets for collateral, I’ll secure the lowest possible loan rate for you.”

He fished out his crystal ball and adeptly manipulated the data on his crystal ball, showing Lorianne the possibilities.

In that moment, Zaka looked no different than a skilled salesman.

Lorianne looked at Zaka, then at Master Cipher beside her, visibly uncertain.

“What do you think I should do?” She transmitted her question to Master Cipher via mental focus.

Master Cipher, who had been silent and composed the entire time, only nodded slightly.