"The price of Beyonder characteristics has really gone up lately. Is it because of the authorities' recent operations...?"
Lorne grumbled as he left the Beyonder gathering hosted by Mr. A.
Over the past few days, many underground Beyonder gatherings in Backlund had gone quiet. Take the gathering hosted by the elderly gentleman known as the Eye of Wisdom, which he had attended before-he hadn't seen its cryptic notices in the corners of the newspapers for a long time.
Still, this trip had been fairly fruitful. He had successfully purchased a complete venom sac from a Dark Stalker. With that, he had almost gathered all the potion ingredients Lucky needed for her advancement.
The price, however, had been painful. It had cost him a full 600 pounds, nearly thirty percent above the usual market price.
"Ah, forget it. These are unusual times. I suppose I can't help being a sucker once in a while..." Lorne consoled himself and put the lead box containing the venom sac into his Portable Space.
Before he knew it, he had entered the East Borough. He had originally intended to stop by his firearms factory and check on its recent production.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he rounded a street corner, a familiar figure caught his eye.
"Xio?"
Lorne looked at the petite, blond-haired figure in the distance. She was sitting alone by the window of a cheap street-side café, seemingly taking a break.
Was she here on an arbitration job?
Perfect. I can tell her about the firearms factory.
With that thought, Lorne put on a warm smile, strode over, and greeted her.
"We meet again, Miss Xio."
"M-Mr. Scott?" Xio had been staring into space with her coffee cup in hand, and the sudden voice startled her. When she saw who it was, clear surprise