You've Got Some Nerve

"Mm—I know a little."

Ronan looked up and met Anse's gaze. Even breathing felt difficult.

He hadn't felt such palpable mental pressure in years.

The Solar Mages were powerful, but without their Crystal Warships, all they had left was arrogance.

"I'll sell you this Nautiloid Ship." Anse patted the Psionic Helm beside him. "But besides the money, I want your latest star charts. The more detailed, the better."

Ronan suppressed his delight and waited a few seconds before saying, "Deal. But I don't have that much money right now. I have a shipment I haven't sold yet. Once it sells, I'll have the money. I can give you the star charts first as a deposit."

He'd been prepared to pay through the nose. He hadn't expected Anse to pass up the chance to fleece him.

The star charts were valuable, but compared with a Nautiloid Ship, their value was negligible.

"Two million six hundred thousand Shattered Star Coins—is that a lot?" Anse eyed him suspiciously.

A legendary Sorcerer who commanded an Adventure Group in the Astral Plane couldn't come up with a little over two million Shattered Star Coins?

"It's not exactly a small sum..."

Ronan looked embarrassed. Fortunately, his mask hid it and spared him some dignity.

Shattered Star Coins were Cluster Tianyu's local Gold Coins, named for the flecks of starlight that always shimmered on them.

There were many varieties of Shattered Star Coin. The most widely used weren't the Antilan Empire's Solar Coins, but those minted by the Sorik.

They were standardized, durable, and plentiful.

The Sorik lived in the Cold Outer Ring. They had the most advanced technology in the star system and a thriving mining industry. Peaceful by nature, they enjoyed the best reputation of any faction in the system.

Anse didn't know the purchasing