Kyle seriously considered the offer. This could solve all of his current problems.
Yet, when he thought about his friends, he felt a bit guilty. He knew that they would probably support him. They would want him to grow stronger, even if it meant leaving the Array of Stars. They wouldn't want him to risk his future just so that he could stay with them.
Most likely, his true employer, the Cult of Final Fate, would also support the switch. Inner World's secrets were probably even more enticing to them than having a spy in the Array of Stars.
Kyle was also quite interested in Formation Arrays.
All in all, the offer seemed pretty good.
However, Kyle didn't like it for two main reasons.
First, yes, he was interested in Formation Arrays, but they were more of a side project to him. He was a fighter at heart. He wanted to increase his Battle-Strength. He wanted to swing his hammer. As a Disciple of Inner World, his primary focus would be Formation Arrays.
Second, Kyle's goal. He wanted to be truly free. He wanted to have agency. Formation Arrays were very powerful, but they would not grant him true freedom. Formation Arrays were borrowed power. At some point, they would reach their limit.
There had to be a way to become a God. The God of this Cosmos and the God of the Cult of Final Fate had to have come from somewhere. Most likely, they had once been weak as well.
Kyle suspected that Formation Arrays were probably not the way to become a God.
"I'm sorry, but I'm a fighter at heart," Kyle transmitted. "I really appreciate the offer, but I wouldn't be happy if my primary focus shifted towards Formation Arrays."
"Are you certain?" the representative asked.
"Yes, I am. Sorry," Kyle answered.
"It's your decision," the representative transmitted. "However, Inner World will still come into contact with the Array of Stars. While you don't have the power or funds to move Inner World, the Array of Stars does. You wanted support, and the best way to get our support is via the Array of Stars. If they value you enough, they will give us enough incentive to help you."
"Thank you," Kyle transmitted with a sigh.
The representative nodded before stepping back to the other representatives. "We've finished our conversation," he said.
The representative from the Contrast Empire looked at the representative from the Grand Exchange. "You're next."
The representative smiled as he stepped forward.
The representative also tried to recruit Kyle as an Inner Disciple, but Kyle once more refused.
"Is there any way in which I can gain your support or neutrality?" Kyle asked the representative from the Grand Exchange.
The representative looked at Kyle with some interest. Everything has a price. What are you willing to offer to us?"
Kyle went through his wealth. "I have about 20 Grade Six Energy Stones in liquid funds and several other things I could sell."
The representative nodded. "You need to purchase two things if you want to stay in the Secondary Sector. First, Golden Ember is one of our members. As one of our members, we will naturally support him. Buying him out of the Secondary Sector will move the Grand Exchange from an opposing position to a relatively neutral one."
"What does he want?" Kyle asked.
"You have to ask him," the representative said.
"And how am I supposed to do that?" Kyle thought. "Sending a diplomatic notice takes time. I can't just let all these people wait while I'm sending a letter to my pen pal."
Kyle quickly learned to operate the Communicator. Luckily, I always come prepared," he transmitted.
When the other representatives saw that, they furrowed their brows. "The agreement states that none of us are allowed to contact our Organizations during negotiations. The Secondary Sector's autonomy must remain pure. Decisions must be made by members who can enter the Secondary Sector," the representative from the Contrast Empire said.
"I know," the representative from the Grand Exchange said. "This is not a Communicator from Golden Ember. This is a Communicator from Goldfire, and I'm not going to use it."
The representative from the Contrast Empire wasn't happy, but he also couldn't really complain since this didn't break the agreement.
Kyle took the Communicator and looked at the Formation Arrays inside it. He wasn't sure if it was on purpose, but the Communicator only had the basics. No safety checks or identification. One could even call it a burner phone.
After some back and forth, Golden Ember finally named his price. "Ten Grade Six Energy Stones. This will go to me personally, not Goldfire."
"I'm willing to give you five," Kyle answered.
Golden Ember snorted. "That's not nearly enough. Ten Grade Six Energy Stones to buy out the strongest Crusher in the Secondary Sector is already cheap."
Kyle narrowed his eyes. "Your status as the strongest Crusher doesn't hold much weight. Whether you like it or not, you will not be able to advance another level inside the Crusher Realm. It will take a long time for my impact to vanish. Even if I die before your longevity runs out, you will not be the one who gets my wealth. I can offer five Grade Six Energy Stones. That's it."
Golden Ember snorted. "Your life might not be in my hands, but it's in the hands of the Grand Exchange. Otherwise, we wouldn't be talking right now. I know my worth, and I'm asking for ten Grade Six Energy Stones."
The two of them kept negotiating for quite a while before they finally came to an agreement.
Eight Grade Six Energy Stones to buy Golden Ember out.
Kyle felt like he could have lowered the price even more, but he also felt like Golden Ember was about to abandon the negotiations just to be petty.
Meanwhile, Golden Ember just smirked. I would have even gone down to three Grade Six Energy Stones."
Kyle couldn't compete with the Grand Exchange in haggling and negotiations. They were the best merchants in existence.
Kyle gave the Communicator back. "We've struck a deal."
"That's good to hear," the representative transmitted. "Now, the second thing you need to buy is our support. While our current members will leave the Secondary Sector soon, you will keep the Secondary Sector inaccessible to us for 2,000 years. That's not in our interest."
"Alright, what do you want?" Kyle asked.
"What do you have?" the representative asked back.
After a long conversation, the representative came back with a brutal price.
Half of all materials, ten Grade Six Energy Stones, all Time and Gravity Comprehension Fruits, half of all the other miscellaneous treasures Kyle had in his Soul Space.
In exchange for keeping the status quo for 1,500 years, the Grand Exchange would refuse any and all rule changes to the Secondary Sector, but they also wouldn't protect Azure Comet. Things would simply remain as they were.
Kyle sighed and paid up.
The other representative saw a huge number of valuables appearing and disappearing within a moment but didn't look too surprised.
Striking a deal with the Grand Exchange was one of the most normal things in existence.
Kyle felt like he had been scammed.
"Trust me when I say that," the representative transmitted, "I made you a good deal. What you just gave us is not worth our support, but we decided to give you a discount."
Kyle didn't really believe him.
"I swear that I gave you more than what you gave me," the representative suddenly transmitted.
Kyle's eyes widened in surprise as he looked at the representative.
He could see the representative's Karmic Luck, and after he swore his oath, his Karmic Luck didn't drop a single bit.
Kyle's opinion of the Grand Exchange became more favorable.
"Thank you," Kyle answered.
"It's just business," the representative answered. "We just hope that you will come to us again if you have something to trade."
A moment later, the representative went back to the others.
Finally, it was time for the last one.
The representative from the Array of Stars.
However, this negotiation would turn out to be the quickest of all of them.
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tg://resolv?domain=StrongestHammerGod
The author's patreon. If he gets more than 1000€ per month, he will increase the number of words in the chapter.