Chapter 107: One Good Deal, or a Standing Arrangement?

Kael blinked at the line hovering above Lyra’s head, something softening in his expression.

Battle fatigue. Makes sense, after a fight like that.

Lyra caught him studying her and tilted her head, a flicker of confusion crossing her face. "My lord? Why the look?"

"Nothing." He cleared his throat and rested a hand briefly on her shoulder. "Just take it easy the next day or two. Don’t push past what you need to."

Something in her expression warmed at that, a small, genuine smile breaking through. "I appreciate the concern, my lord."

With the last of the chest’s contents accounted for, Kael turned his attention to the remaining haul.

Beyond the four top-tier items already claimed, the chest had also yielded fifteen separate secret realm maps three S-rank, twelve A-rank, each one gating access to a genuinely lucrative instance in its own right.

Leaked onto the open market, any single one of these would have top-tier players scrambling to claim it.

The Astral Spire’s own level-40 gate capped what the chest could actually produce, though every map inside it sat somewhere between level 40 and 45. Solid content, by any normal measure.

For Kael specifically, with a roster already capable of clearing instances well above level 50 without much resistance, running these himself simply wasn’t worth the time anymore.

Better to cash them in than farm them.

With the full inventory settled, he recalled his companions and summoned Elara in their place.Less than half an hour had passed since the Hollow Emissary had dropped her mid-fight.

Warden’s Mandate had brought her back cleanly enough through the Rest Sanctum, but the weakened state that followed a revival still had to run its course thirty minutes locked out of any real combat, color still drained from her face, her steps carrying none of their usual composure.

Kael offered an arm and helped her steady herself on the walk out of the cave.

The guard escort waiting outside had logged several hours of patient duty by now, curiosity clearly wearing through whatever discipline had kept them quiet this long.

More than a few stole glances toward the cave mouth, visibly wondering what exactly had taken so long inside.

Watching Kael emerge supporting a visibly drained Elara did nothing to settle that curiosity. Eyes flicked back and forth between the two of them, speculation written plainly across more than one face.

Kael ignored it entirely, settled Elara onto her horse, watched the column ride off, then cracked a return scroll and teleported back to Frostwatch.

Back in the city, he pulled up his contacts list and opened a chat window with Alexis.

He compiled a quick catalog the Beastsoul Relic, now freed up for sale, along with all fifteen secret realm maps and sent the whole package across.

Kael: Interested?

Her reply landed inside two seconds.

Alexis: YES. Where are you right now? I’m coming.

Kael: Frostwatch, East Gate Square.

Alexis: Give me a minute!

Barely sixty seconds later, the Waygate flared bright, and Alexis stepped through in full armor, rapier at her hip. She spotted him across the square almost instantly and crossed the distance at a near-run, eyes bright.

"Where did all of this even come from?" She didn’t bother easing into it. "Those secret realm maps you sent pulled from that Astral Spire map you mentioned? What is that place, that it hands out rewards like this?"

Kael exhaled, mildly overwhelmed by the sheer density of questions arriving in one breath, and gave her the short version a level-40 gated challenge, one attempt per player, no exceptions.

Longing flickered across her face the moment he finished. "Guess I need to push for level 40 faster than planned. I want a shot at that tower myself."

He didn’t discourage the ambition outright, though he made sure she understood exactly what waited at the top of it just how far past reasonable the Spire’s later floors actually ran.

Rather than dwell on it further, he shifted the conversation. "How’s the territory sale going? Any real interest yet?"

"Slow start, honestly." Alexis crossed her arms. "A lot of guilds balked at the asking price outright figured they’d rather hunt down the coordinates themselves and just take the land by force instead of paying."

"That changed fast once word got around about what happened to Ironclad at noon today. Nobody’s under any illusion anymore about what taking something from you by force actually costs."

"I’ve got several serious buyers lined up already. Give it two more days, and every parcel should be sold, at a solid price too."

Kael nodded, satisfied. "Good. Handle it however you think best just settle up with me once it’s done."

"You’re really that comfortable just handing it over?" She studied him, genuine curiosity cutting through the business tone. "Not worried I quietly skim a little extra off the top for myself?"

"You could try." Kael’s tone stayed even. "But the next time something this good comes along, I’d just find someone else to run it instead."

"Whether you’d rather eat well once, or eat well every single time after I think you already know which one’s worth more."

Alexis laughed, quick and genuine. "Every time, obviously."

She’d already tasted exactly what staying useful to him was worth. Risking that over a small, short-term skim wasn’t a trade she had any real interest in making.

They settled into the actual negotiation after that terms for the Beastsoul Relic, terms for the full stack of secret realm maps, back and forth until they landed on a number both sides could live with.

One and a half million gold, covering the relic and all fifteen maps together.

Alexis didn’t have that sum liquid on hand all at once, and Kael agreed to let her settle the balance over the next three days without pushing the point.

Deal closed, both of them walked away satisfied.Alexis equipped the Beastsoul Relic right there in the square, the pendant settling into place against her collar, catching the light in a slow, steady pulse.

She glanced back at him, a playful edge creeping into her expression. "Well? How’s it look?"