The shock in the hangar reached a new level, if that was even possible.
Six neural helmets meant a direct investment of one hundred eighty thousand credits, a sum no one in that sector would ever see in a lifetime of slave labor.
"You’re going to give us... six helmets?" Zach asked, his voice coming out hoarse and disbelieving.
"It’s not a free handout, Zach. Astralis values effort," Isabella explained, keeping her composure. "This will be a hardware loan arrangement. The guild provides the tools, and you’ll pay back the cost gradually through a small extra percentage of the loot you earn in Elysium. That way, all Silver Lotus members will be able to log in and participate in the guild at the same time, accelerating your leveling exponentially and allowing you to operate as a real tactical unit under Halon’s command, rather than just a single position that would rotate among members since only one could be present at any given time."
Every member’s eyes sparkled as if there were stars in them.
The possibility of everyone playing together, of no longer having to wait for connection slots, and of being able to grow as a true family within the game was a dream they hadn’t even dared to voice because it seemed so far removed from their reality.
The problem that had been holding back their progress had just been solved with a single sentence from that girl they’d underestimated.
"Six neural helmets..." Devon murmured, his hands trembling with excitement. "Skye, imagine what we could do if we were all in the game at the same time! With Astralis’s support and all of us able to team up and slay monsters together, what once seemed hopeless, with levels requiring twice as much experience each time, could now be easily solved!!"
Skye looked at Isabella with respect, realizing now how this redheaded girl had earned the loyalty of Halon, that practically mythical player in the game. With such generosity, and at least up to that point without showing any disdain for their identity or background, even she felt moved.
She turned to Lohan and extended her right hand, a gesture that held even greater significance and value for people from the Lower Zone.
"Hayes... or Halon. I don’t know if you’re an angel or the devil in disguise standing before us, but the Silver Lotus is on board. Starting today, we are Astralis Requiem. If you give us the tools and respect that the corporations have denied us, we’ll give you the loyalty that money can’t buy."
Lohan shook Skye’s hand, feeling her strength and determination.
The moment their hands met, he felt a rhythmic throb in his chest, moved to see the guild growing before his very eyes.
The orchestra of the stars had just gained a powerful and fierce rhythm section, straight from the heart of the Lower Zone.
"Welcome to the stars," Lohan said in a firm voice, looking at each of them. "Get ready. In two hours, the helmets will arrive. I hope to meet each of you in person at Elysium today, just don’t be too surprised by my in-game race, haha."
As he said this, Lohan projected the holographic screen from his eye and added each of the Silver Lotus members directly to his Syn.
Devon was shocked that Lohan had a device like that, but when he looked at the girl next to him, he fell silent.
Isabella nodded, already projecting a discreet holographic interface to confirm the equipment’s transport order.
She was pleased that Lohan had won their hearts through strength and ideology, and she had earned their gratitude through logistics. Together, they were a perfect leadership unit.
The atmosphere in the hangar changed instantly.
The heavy, oppressive calm was replaced by an electric energy of anticipation. Zach began clearing a section of the workbench to make room for the new helmets; Jenny and Kai started discussing the group tactics they could now finally practice; and Sara and Jay, the last member of the gang whom Lohan hadn’t met yet, were also excitedly discussing what they could do now with these new possibilities.
As Lohan and Isabella headed toward the hangar door to return to the Porsche, Lohan looked at the girl beside him and sent a private message through the mental link. "Good move with the helmets, Bella. You really know how to close a deal, huh."
"Well, my mom always loved that side of me; she used to say that when it came to this, no one had a better eye than I did," Isabella replied mentally, with a hint of pride in her voice. "If we’re really going to take over Elysium, we need our soldiers to have wings. And to be honest... I can’t wait to see the faces of the fools who dismissed them when they find out that the gang they ignored is now an armed wing of the guild they fear most."
Lohan smiled, opening the door of the luxury car for Isabella to get in; he was met with a bright, playful look from the girl. Then he walked around to the other side of the car, and before getting into the driver’s seat, he waved to the Silver Lotus crew, receiving several enthusiastic waves and smiles in return, a stark contrast to what he’d experienced when they first arrived.
The meeting had been an absolute success.
"I think to celebrate this success, we even deserve a big feast, what do you say?" Isabella finally suggested, feigning indifference as she spoke, but discreetly glancing at Lohan and waiting to see his reaction.
Lohan, despite his heightened perceptual and sensory abilities, didn’t notice anything unusual in the girl’s behavior, but fortunately he also gladly accepted her suggestion.
Even though he’d moved to the Upper Zone a few days ago, he still hadn’t left the house to eat out even once, content to simply cook his own meals at home.
Reflecting on how pleasant their get-together had been, he also thought that going out to eat would be a great way to end the day.
Even though they were still dressed like people from the Lower Zone, neither of them minded; after all, what trouble could possibly befall the heiress of the Vance Group in the Upper Zone of Eden-3?