Finishing the experiment was tricky. Difficult... maddening. It took all of my smarts and wits to figure out the depraved machinations behind the programming. That was only half the battle, even. The other half of the fight was re-tooling the secret to fit my own ends. -92.5 Seconds Post-Integration.

  He and the team followed Hermes through the store block to a secure location.

  Containment Guards and Leaguers of all Ranks filled the area. Their purpose was to eliminate the remaining monsters, of course. Though Clark considered them more in their defensive capacity as providing protecting to the Blessers, priest-like specialists, as they went around and doused every inch of the floor in holy oils to eradicate the plague.

  It seemed that the battle to retake the floor had ended. And he had played a decisive role in that battle.

  Walking behind Hermes, though, about to haggle for a device he desperately needed, he felt his role in the battle wane. All he could think about was if he could talk Hermes down from his sales price. If not, then all of that dragon hunt would've been a waste.

  Hermes led them to a vendor front in the connecting zone. The sign read 'Awesome Express Delivery Service.' To Clark, it looked like the space hadn't been used in years, though maybe that was only because of the plague outbreak.

  They entered the tiny space. Hermes locked the door behind them. Were they to negotiate for the multi-tool, here, in some rundown delivery service which looked like it had never even so much as thrown a newspaper?

  Hermes kept them on their feet. He led them to a spot near the back of the room and scanned a badge.

  A hidden door popped open with a hiss of steam. Hermes pulled the heavy door open with a grunt and motioned for them to enter.

  Inside the hidden room, opulence replaced the dingy and rundown. Secured inside the room, lights flickered on, illuminating and revealing a lush, carpeted hallway which led to another room, this one adorned with framed art hanging on the walls, gilded lamps, and solid oak desks and seats.

  It was a lot like the hidden office Adam had showed him. Only far more decorated and richer.

  "Please, take a seat, friends," Hermes said, motioning toward one of the recliners.

  Clark sat in a large, brown leather recliner. It was so comfy that right away, he never wanted to leave. He allowed himself to sink further into the seat. As he did so, his body sinking allowed the chair's footrest to activate. His body fully suspended from the luggage of hauling itself around, Clark felt so relaxed, it nearly brought a tear to his eye.

  And then, the air conditioner activated, quickly filling the room with cool, fresh air which effortlessly lulled him further into a relaxing state.

  "Here we go!" Hermes announced, returning from the bar. "No intoxicants since you'll are either too young or too religious," Hermes said with a polite side-eye to Hera. "Only botanical soda mixed with sugary and acidic addings. Drink up!"

  He accepted his drink, colored red, white, blue, and even yellow, and took a sip.

  The flavor was hard to describe. He settled on a citrus mix cut with a berry undercurrent. All mixed with that slightly bitter foreword taste of botanicals.

  One sip later, he felt relaxed in a way he hadn't since family night before coming to Augustford Central. How long ago that seemed...

  "Mmmmm! That's good!" Hermes exclaimed. "A rare treat for me but one I adore." Hermes took his seat before them and allowed them to finish their drinks in silence as they enjoyed the peace.

  And peaceful it was: the quiet hum of the air conditioner, the clank of the ice in the fancy drinking glasses, even the smack of lips with every sip. the lights dimmed as they drank, and Clark was thankful for it. All of it with the security of where they were, in some luxurious hidey-hole in the wall, untouched by the plebian disorder outside, put him into a perfect sensory state.

  Once everyone had finished their beverages and the glasses were collected, Hermes continued: "Now, the matter of the sale. I quoted your friend here on ten-thousand credits. Is that price acceptable? If so, then I will send the contract to your System ID, you can authorize the payment, and we can be on our way in but moments."

  It was now or never. It was time to haggle.

  "Actually," he said. "I would like to negotiate a lower price."

  Would Hermes go for it? Or would he dismiss him outright?

  Hermes smiled. "A businessman -- I like that in a youth!" He grew solemn. "What price did you have in mind?"

  That was a good question. What price did he have in mind? He hadn't gotten the exact figures from his friends on what they could help with... it was a risk, but in light of not having those numbers, he needed to lowball Hermes. The last thing he wanted to do was to give a price he couldn't pay.

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  "It is a significant reduction, but a price I can afford is five thousand credits."

  He studied Hermes's face. They hadn't burst out in derisive laughter, so that was good. Otherwise, their face was flat.

  "Five thousand?" Hermes considered his offer. Could it be that easy? Could he haggle such a price for hardly any effort?

  No. Of course he couldn't.

  Hermes countered: "I don't feel comfortable going any lower than nine thousand. I am sorry."

  Clark didn't give up: "How about seven thousand? I and my friends risked our lives to help you hunt that dragon. Sure, the dragon escaped, but our services were important nonetheless."

  "Using services rendered to secure a lower price. Not a bad strategy... but from my point of view, young man, the services you rendered to me were a pre-condition of the sale itself..."

  Theo butted in: "Maybe so, sir, BUT Clark saved your life during the battle! If he hadn't yelled that warning for us when the dragon unleashed its fire breath, we would've been cooked!"

  Hermes made a show of consideration but not for long, which made him think it was for theatre. "That's true but my armor would've taken most of that creature's flame. Plus, I did use my Manipulation skills to drag Clark out of harm's way during that nasty bit of the fight. The way I see it, we're about even..."

  A tense silence filled the gap. Theo stared daggers at Hermes. Hera kept Theo calm by keeping her hand on their shoulder, urging peace.

  "But..." Hermes continued. "I will accede on this point. Not many Leaguers, especially ones with such a lowly ranking, would agree to take on an unidentified beast threat such as a dragon. Even fewer so once they discovered that what they faced was a dragon. You guys have spunk in spades. If nothing else, you took on a mission I desperately needed help with, and you performed admirably under fire. I will bring the price down to eight thousand Standard Credits."

  Eight thousand? That was better than nothing. Still... Could they afford that?

  Not knowing what to say, Clark stalled on an answer for a moment, mumbling about 'being thankful for Hermes's shrewd business sense.'

  "Before we continue negotiations further," he said. " I have in my inventory a 'Managerial Missive.' I was told this missive had a number of uses at Augustford. Might I cash this missive in to lower the price further?"

  A chuckle slipped from Hermes's lips. "Theoretically, yes. But actually, no... Managerial Missives are versatile assets. They can apply to private sales yet are always left to the discretion of the seller. I'll tell you what, though. Because I like you and because your office as the Dungeon Champion is an office I respect, I will accept your missive as a token payment. Before I do, though, I want you to think about if you want to use your missive this way, as an applied discount. I know that missive could get you out of a real pickle if you held onto it. Frankly, I'm surprised you even have one."

  Clark wanted to say, 'on second thought, maybe I will hold on to it.' Because Hermes was right. It would be a useful tool when all was said and done.

  Yet he couldn't say that. He needed a Multi-Tool more. Now that he had found a seller, he couldn't walk away. It was now or never.

  "I will use the missive during this transaction, thank you. I appreciate you looking out for me and I appreciate your respect for my position, but I feel that now is the proper time to use this rare item." He spoke evenly and without hurry or emotion in his voice.

  "Alright. That's fine by me. The standard exchange rate for a Managerial Missive is a straight up percentage discount. I can bring my price down to seven thousand credits." Hermes looked him dead in the eyes as he spoke. "I can go no lower."

  He looked to his friends. Theo and Hera both caught his gaze and nodded, as if to say, 'Go for it! We'll back you up!'

  "That's acceptable. Thank you."

  "No, thank you, young sir! This is quite the transaction we're doing, so I am thankful for such an interlocuter. Now that we have settled on the price, there is the matter of taxes and fees. All of which are, regrettable, out of my control as the System applies them automatically to certain transactions."

  Fees? Fines? A sinking feeling developed in the pit of his gut.

  "For a transaction of this type and size in the private realm, the taxed portion alone amounts to five-hundred credits. Then there are the fees associated with the transfer of so-called 'Executive Type' wares, which amounts to two-hundred-and-fifty. Then we have the fee for 'Crisis Transactions of a Non-Vital Type,' and fees relating to 'Market and Manufacture Interruption.' And the fines! We can't forget about the fines for the 'Obtaining of Goods Beyond One's Normal Ranking.' And others beside. I won't bore you with anymore as you will be able to see a complete breakdown of the fees and fines on your end once the transaction completed. It does look like the total after these taxes, fees, and fines amounts to two-thousand credits."

  Two thousand?! That would bring his total up to nine thousand!

  Worry must've crested his face because Hermes asked him if everything was fine. "I take it money is an issue?"

  "Well... yeah," was all he said. Wasn't money an issue for everyone, regardless of a one-time splurge?

  Hardness. That was Clark expected from the old ex-executive. Instead, a kind warmth came from them: "I should've known! It's not like you've been with the company for very long. I apologize for so arrogantly assuming money wasn't an issue. Let's work things out, then. I assume your friends here plan on lending you some money for the transaction?"

  Hermes looked to Her and Theo, who both nodded and assented they would be helping him.

  "Great! What fantastic friends you have! When I was first starting out in the company, I, too, had some terrific co-workers I called friends. It is glorious, the beginning. How I wish I could go back!" Hermes took a moment apparently daydreaming. Then they snapped out of it, coming to as if someone had snapped their fingers in front of him. "But let's work that out. How much exactly of the nine thousand due can you two assist with?"

  The each of his friends looked to one another, likely figuring who would first speak. Theo spoke first. "I can help with a couple of thousand. It's not much but it's the most of what I can part with without getting myself into trouble."

  "Good! Two thousand from the blond youngster. Alright. Madam?" Hermes turned to Hera.

  "I can do twenty-five hundred, even."

  "Very good, ma'am. That brings the total up to four-thousand-five hundred. And Clark. How much do you have on you right now?"

  "I have," he paused, suddenly feeling embarrassed about how little he had. "Only about two thousand credits."

  "That's a decent summary to have for one so young. Right! Six-thousand five hundred. That's what we're looking at. And this is what you have after the Managerial Missive's applied and after the haggling to lower the price down from my original total. Which mean, a second," Hermes made some calculations. "You still need twenty -five hundred credits to meet the price I'm asking for. Not an insignificant sum, no sir-yee!"

  What did that mean. Would the transaction be cancelled? He thought he had enough. But the taxes, fines, fees... those killed him.

  When all seemed lost, Hermes saved him -- "So, I'll tell you what we can do to finish this transaction. We can set you up for a loan."