Lohan took charge of the response, his inner voice resonating in everyone’s minds through a rapid link formed by Bella to demonstrate control, something Lohan recognized instantly and didn’t even have to think about using. "Astralis’s structure isn’t based on corporate hierarchy, Skye. Although we do indeed draw on the power and connections of a large corporation, we operate as a true elite guild. We value the quality of our members over quantity. Yes, we charge a 10% maintenance fee on the gross value of collective hunts, but in exchange, the guild provides an infrastructure that you could never have on your own."
"We have contracts in place with the largest merchants in the capital city near our base," Lohan continued, thinking of Intervar and Kora. "While others are charging you for their own profit, Astralis buys your silver coins at a rate significantly higher than the in-game market and even the black market, ensuring that your time in Elysium is fairly converted into real credits. We offer freedom. You are free to hunt wherever and however you wish; the guild requires your presence only at critical moments, such as dungeon raids, territory defenses, or sovereignty events where the stars must unite."
Hearing that voice in their minds, the members of the Silver Lotus were even more stunned.
Not only was the content of what was said extremely shocking, but the way it was conveyed directly into their minds showed that this duo’s control over their Elysium powers was on a much higher level than theirs as well!
Even Skye, with an Epic Foundation, didn’t yet have as much control over her powers as they did, but the natural ease with which they were using them made it clear that they were in a completely different league.
"No wonder they’re so far ahead of everyone else in Elysium..." Sara remarked in a low voice, shocked by their subtle control.
For them, who had lived under the yoke of corporate exploitation their entire lives, which was the very reason Silver Lotus was formed, being subjected to it both in real life and in the newbie villages was an even greater torment... at that point, Lohan’s proposal seemed like paradise to them.
Freedom, real financial benefits, and respect for individual potential were things they’d never imagined receiving from such a powerful group.
"Freedom... and good pay?" Jenny asked, her voice filled with tentative hope. "Are you saying I wouldn’t have to hand over my daily earnings to a spoiled supervisor who decides how much I deserve to eat at the end of the day?"
"Exactly, Jenny," Lohan replied with a sincere smile. "At Astralis, if you hunt ten bears, nine are yours and one goes to the guild to ensure the headquarters stays standing and that we have potions so none of you die in the next battle. Even that 10% fee we charge is 100% reinvested in benefits for the members. And if you need new gear, the guild has priority access to the best forges in the capital city near us."
Skye looked at her companions. She saw the sparkle in Zach’s eyes, the relief on Kai’s face, and Devon’s vibrant excitement.
She realized there was no reason to refuse.
If Astralis Requiem were even half of what Lohan described, everyone’s lives there would change fundamentally forever. They would go from being members of a small gang on the outskirts to being part of a true, otherworldly elite.
"Hayes... if what you say is true, you’ve just given us the only reason we needed..." Skye declared, her authority now aligning with Lohan’s vision. "The Silver Lotus no longer wants to be just a street gang, but I must also make this clear... we don’t intend to simply abandon our gang; there are many people who depend on us being there for them to live a good life."
Lohan nodded without complaint. "I don’t see a problem with that; what you do in your free time is entirely up to you to decide. Just as the payment we provide is based entirely on the effort you contribute to the guild, it will be entirely up to you how much you dedicate yourselves to this and how much you’ll be able to earn."
This made the eyes of the Silver Lotus members shine even brighter.
Isabella, realizing that the deal was sealed, decided to intervene proactively for the first time.
She removed her filter mask for a brief moment, allowing the purity of her features and the intensity of her gaze to make a silent impact on the group.
Even though they didn’t recognize her face immediately, everyone there, except Devon, felt that this redheaded girl’s face looked very familiar.
Only Devon, upon seeing that mask-less face, froze completely in place, unable to utter a single word.
His gaze shifted constantly between Lohan and Isabella, unable to believe that the girl who had accompanied Lohan this far, the girl who had come to the Lower Zone with him and had simply listened quietly to the meeting next door, was actually Isabella Vance!
’Holy shit... how did this kid pull that off?!’ Devon thought, completely shaken.
But Isabella ignored Devon’s reaction and walked slowly through the hangar, looking at the clean motorcycles and the single Elysium helmet resting on a makeshift workbench in the corner.
"I’ve noticed a major problem with your operation," Isabella said, her voice coming across as refined, clearly with an aristocratic Upper Zone accent, but without showing any of the disdain the crew had expected. She pointed to the lone helmet. "Devon mentioned that there are seven of you, but you share just one Elysium access point. That’s an unacceptable bottleneck for members who intend to keep up with Astralis. If only one of you can log in at a time, the group’s leveling will be held back, and your combat synergy will be nonexistent in siege situations."
A hint of bitterness returned to Skye’s face. "We know that... But neural helmets cost thirty thousand credits each. For us, getting even one was already a miracle that required risks you can’t even imagine. Buying six more is completely beyond our means."
Isabella gave a small, sidelong smile and replied confidently, finally finding a good opportunity to demonstrate her authority and command respect. "That won’t be a problem anymore if you actually join Astralis Requiem. As President, I can authorize the immediate delivery of six more state-of-the-art neural helmets to Silver Lotus. They’ll be delivered right here to the hangar in less than two hours by a private carrier under my control."
!!!
Another shocking revelation left the members of Silver Lotus even more speechless!