BUILDING MY OWN EMPIRE - My Journey from Nothing to Overwhelming Power

Chapter 125 - 124 – The Storm Takes Shape

"Look... he’s moving."

The voice came through telepathic communication.

The man in black turned after receiving the message in his mind, looking toward the entrance of one of the hotels.

His eyes still hadn’t caught any movement.

"Where is he? I can’t se— never mind, I see him."

The master narrowed his eyes toward the target.

The target walked calmly, dressed in black clothes and a black mask with only eye openings.

His aura was that of a fourth-rank master. He wasn’t releasing it heavily... but he wasn’t hiding it either.

"Should we meet up?" the voice echoed again in his mind.

The other observer stood atop a building over a hundred meters away.

He wore black robes and a hooded cloak that rested over his dark hair.

"No. Let’s stay apart to cover a wider area. He mustn’t sense anything," the black-haired master replied.

The two masters carefully followed their target.

Meanwhile...

The fourth-rank master moved between the stalls near the hotel.

"Is he eating?" one of the watchers wondered.

"Stay cautious," the other replied.

The man pulled out a chair, sat before a table, and picked up a paper box filled with fried potatoes.

Suddenly, a small opening appeared in his mask, revealing his mouth as he started eating.

After a while, the man moved again.

"There he goes finally," one observer said.

"Damn it... he stopped at another food stall," the other cursed in frustration.

Though their communication was mental, the irritation in his voice echoed loudly inside the other’s mind.

After several minutes, the man moved again.

This time, he didn’t stop at another stall.

He passed through them directly, walking in a straight line as though heading somewhere specific.

The two observers atop the buildings moved as well.

Suddenly, the man stopped.

"What now?" one observer shouted mentally.

"Is the target drunk?" the other replied.

The man remained still briefly, then turned right.

"Where’s he going? The taverns are the opposite way!" the watcher complained again.

Before one of the shops was a sign displaying men’s clothing.

The master entered.

"Is he shopping for clothes now?" one observer muttered. "What kind of fourth-rank master is this?"

After... an hour...

The man exited empty-handed.

Then he continued onward and entered another clothing shop.

This time he didn’t stay long.

"Hah, finally... a proper place," one observer said when the man entered a weapon shop.

After some time, he came out.

Then continued farther... stopping at another weapon store, then another.

For two hours... he entered every weapon store in sight.

Then healing shops...

Then specialty-item shops...

After a while...

He returned again.

Once he reached the food stalls...

He sat there for an entire hour trying different dishes.

Then...

He returned to the hotel once more.

"Five hours," one observer scoffed. "He was shopping and eating... damn it."

"What were you expecting? It’s his first day here. Of course he wants to see what the streets offer and try things out," the other replied.

"Damn it... third-rank masters making us spy... damn."

"We’re only in our first week as third-ranks, my friend. We still have a long way to go before becoming important figures."

One of the men stretched his legs across the rooftop and closed his eyes.

The other remained watching.

"Hahaha... he played them completely," scoffed a man in black standing atop a tall building more than a hundred meters from the hotel.

Beside him, a winged girl stretched her legs and sighed.

"They sent him a message. Did you hear?" she asked.

"Of course they did. That attack... he nearly took down the dignified captain of the guard in a single strike... insane."

The girl flapped her wings and rose several meters into the air, swaying left and right before descending upside down beside him.

Her head hung downward while her feet pointed skyward as she stared directly into his eyes.

"Do you think he belongs to no sect?" she whispered.

The man moved his face closer to hers until their noses nearly touched, swaying slightly before laughing loudly.

"If he doesn’t... then the gathering will be very interesting. Besides... our friend will be there too."

The girl pulled back, corrected herself, and sat beside him.

"That blond idiot who loves fighting... he won’t miss this chance. Though I doubt he’s stupid enough to provoke the city leaders."

A loud laugh escaped the man’s lips as he leaned beside her.

"He is that stupid. Hahaha."

"So..." the girl said, smiling as she leaned toward him.

"What?" he replied with a grin.

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

"Can you defeat him?"

The man closed his eyes.

He didn’t answer.

A faint smile formed on his lips.

He reached out toward the girl and pulled her closer.

.

Seven in the morning...

I overslept again.

I yawned.

Then stood up sluggishly.

I barely made it to the bathroom.

I washed my face and... ordered breakfast.

I always eat before preparing to leave.

Imagine getting ready on an empty stomach. What kind of idiot does that?

After breakfast...

I got dressed.

Then headed toward the arranged meeting.

The moment I left the hotel... a carriage drawn by four horses was waiting for me.

Minutes later, I was inside the base again.

At the entrance stood two fourth-rank masters waiting for me.

They remained completely silent.

Even yesterday, neither spoke a word.

Inside, the white-eyed master welcomed me with a smile.

Once seated, he quickly began speaking.

"I hope I didn’t ruin your morning. Meeting this early reassures me that you’ll still have enough time to enjoy the beauty of the city."

I smiled.

"No problem. I’ll enjoy those sights even more with a good deal in my pocket," I replied.

The man reached toward a small box already resting on the table...

Then pushed it toward me.

"Please," he said. "A simple gift... as a sign of goodwill."

I smiled faintly.

I barely restrained myself from bursting into laughter like a clown.

I reached toward the box and grabbed it.

"I suggest opening it in private," the man said.

"Why?"

"Surprises are wonderful, aren’t they?" he replied.

"A surprise... huh. Fine."

"This bastard..." I muttered internally.

I figured...

He hadn’t brought what I wanted.

But...

What exactly was inside the box?

"Can we make the agreement now?" he asked.

I looked at him.

The smile on my face was visible.

What wasn’t visible...

Was the endless stream of curses inside my head.

Still...

One failed plan doesn’t mean the entire strategy failed.

"Of course," I said.

"Go ahead," the man replied before sipping his coffee like a professor waiting for a student’s presentation.

"Five ancient weapons. Each for five hundred thousand accumulation points," I said.

I paused briefly, then added:

"Another five ancient weapons... each exchanged for a specific attribute or item."

{ Diiing... Diiing... Diiing }

What now?

"Is something wrong?" the master asked softly.

I returned from my thoughts.

"Yes," I said.

"Lastly..." I added.

I played with the box again before looking at him confidently.

"If we complete five successful deals of each type..."

I smiled.

"I’ll grant you five third-level healing flowers as an additional transaction."

The man opened his mouth...

Then closed it within a fraction of a second.

He didn’t answer.

Good.

That was the shock I wanted.

After a moment of silence...

"Who are you?" he asked.

"A merchant who won’t reveal his sources. Are you buying... or should I change markets?"

.

Three hours later...

The meeting ended.

I returned to the hotel.

Angry.

Very angry.

That damned system...

Right in the middle of negotiations, it throws a hidden mission at me.

A hidden mission.

It knows. Of course it does.

It knows perfectly well I’ve never rejected one before... let alone a hidden mission.

Still...

I sighed.

Letting my breathing calm.

Allowing my thoughts to flow again with reason and clarity.

I reread the mission in my mind.

{ Include the sale of one third-level healing flower in the deal }

The danger had now doubled.

A master with this many ancient weapons... and third-level healing flowers...

They would never let someone like that leave freely.

Even the idea of sparing me for their own interests was now threatened.

When you find a chicken laying golden eggs at your doorstep every day...

Do you leave it free to continue laying eggs...

Or lock it up so it never disappears?

Damn it...

I wanted to move slowly without attracting attention.

Now I’m standing in the center of the storm.

No...

I’m the one who started the storm.

What am I supposed to do now?

I don’t know.

Every time I make a plan...

I let the current carry me away.

Fine...

Calm down.

What has been achieved so far?

The deal itself was an overwhelming success—if not for the hidden mission.

I asked for five hundred thousand accumulation points per ancient weapon.

The deal settled at three hundred and fifty thousand.

As for the attributes...

The man was stubborn.

Well, I can’t blame him.

Finding specific attributes or tools isn’t easy.

But he requested a list of the attributes and tools I wanted. He would investigate whether they existed...

Or whether their value exceeded or fell below that of an ancient weapon.

Looks like I won’t be leaving today.

I’ll spend it thinking about what I need and analyzing everything.

I won’t find a better opportunity than this to obtain what can make me stronger again.

I sighed.

Then let my body fall onto the bed.

Suddenly—

A thud hit the floor.

I turned.

Haaah!

The box.

How did I forget about it?

I stood quickly...

Picked up the box.

"What did that man give me?" I whispered.

I opened the small box.

Suddenly—

A powerful blue light burst out.

I shut my eyes briefly.

The glow quickly dimmed...

Revealing the object inside.

A blue feather, like a peacock feather.

Small, beautiful, and radiating dazzling light.

Suddenly—

Blue text appeared above it.

{ Second-Grade Mental Fortification Feather }

{ Feather of the Radiant Ghaban Bird... grants mental strength and increases mental resistance }

"HAAAAAA!"

I shouted.

I couldn’t believe it.

This...

This damned man...

He actually gave me a mental item.