Knock, knock, knock.
Jax rapped his knuckles lightly against the heavy gate.
A moment later, the viewing slot slid open, and the main door creaked ajar. A middle-aged guard stood there, weapon raised, eyeing Jax with undisguised suspicion.
"Who goes there?"
Jax wasted no time. He produced his Helios Syndicate token and handed it over, stating his business.
The guard’s demeanor flipped instantly. "Jax? So it's you! Please, come in! Sawyer has been expecting you."
Wearing a practiced smile, the guard ushered him inside.
Once past the threshold, Jax finally got a clear view of the compound's layout. A massive, hall-like structure dominated the center of the Helios estate, flanked by two three-story buildings. Looming behind the main gate were two Defense Towers, each standing over three meters tall.
Jax swept his gaze over the defensive structures. Tier 3, at least, he noted instantly.
An attendant led Jax toward the central building. Although Jax was already wearing a raincoat, the attendant respectfully held an umbrella over him as they walked through the drizzle.
"Mr. Jax, please wait here a moment. I will inform Sawyer immediately."
"Mm. Thank you."
The excessive politeness caught Jax off guard. It was a stark departure from the brutal pragmatism of the wasteland, evoking memories of his life before the Apocalypse. The Helios Syndicate certainly knew how to maintain an atmosphere of civility.
Moments later, a hearty laugh echoed from the inner room.
Sawyer, dressed in a crisp white shirt that seemed out of place in this grimy world, strode out briskly. He reached out and shook Jax’s hand with enthusiasm.
"Brother Jax! My apologies! I was tied up with some business. Come, come, sit!"
Jax nodded, shedding his raincoat and hanging it on a nearby rack. He followed Sawyer into a living room paved with polished marble. His eyes widened slightly at the sight of the luxurious leather sofa and the solid rosewood table.
"Make yourself at home! Don't stand on ceremony!"
Jax wasn't hesitating out of shyness; he was genuinely surprised. To see such opulent living conditions in the middle of the Apocalypse was jarring. In his memories of the future, such comforts were the stuff of dreams, yet here they were, tangible and real.
He sank into the soft leather, his hand unconsciously stroking the fine grain of the upholstery. A sigh of complex emotion escaped him.
Even in his previous life, he hadn’t enjoyed such luxury. A sofa like this would have cost tens, maybe hundreds of thousands of Credits. Back then, he was just a corporate drone earning a meager 10,000 a month, crushed under the weight of a mortgage. He had lived and died without ever owning something this fine.
A woman in a silk cheongsam approached silently, placing a steaming cup of coffee on the side table next to him.
"Please, try it. Freshly ground."
Jax nodded, lifting the delicate china cup. He stirred it gently with the silver spoon, the motion practiced and smooth, before taking a sip. "Mm. Not bad. Very aromatic. Your barista has skill."
Sawyer, watching from the adjacent chair, felt a flicker of surprise.
In his estimation, Jax was a survivor of the wastes, a man of grit and blood. He shouldn't have been familiar with this high-society lifestyle. Yet, the way Jax held the cup, the fluid motion of his stirring—it was all incredibly Proficient.
The surprise was fleeting, however. Sawyer had analyzed the reports on Jax’s capabilities. To single-handedly wipe out swarms of Sandworms and Rodent-Maw Creepers, Jax had to be a powerful Awaken. Perhaps his background was more complex than it appeared.
After a few minutes of pleasantries, Sawyer shifted his posture, his expression turning serious.
"Ahem. Brother Jax, you didn't come all this way just for coffee. What can I do for you?"
Jax set his cup down. "Yes. I have a favor to ask of Brother Sawyer."
"Name it," Sawyer said smoothly. "If it is within my power, I will help."
"I need to go to Redrock Bastion."
Sawyer paused, his brows knitting together. "Ah... Brother Jax, I’m aware of your situation. The arrest warrant in Redrock Bastion hasn't been revoked. If you return now, you're walking into a trap. It could be... troublesome."
Jax read between the lines immediately.
Sawyer didn't say no. He said troublesome. In the language of negotiation, "trouble" just meant "expensive."
Jax knew there was no such thing as a free lunch. The Syndicate wouldn't smuggle a fugitive into a fortified city out of the goodness of their hearts.
"I assume," Jax said calmly, "there is something Brother Sawyer needs from me in return?"
Sawyer’s lips curled into a knowing smile. "I won't lie to you. There is indeed something. I’ve heard about your recent performance—impressive work. You are exactly the kind of talent we need. If you are willing to assist us, not only can I get the warrant in Redrock Bastion cleared, but I can also arrange a residence for you there."
Jax considered this. "Speak plainly, Brother Sawyer. If I can do it, I won't hesitate."
"Excellent! As you know, the Insect Swarm is imminent," Sawyer leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with ambition. "This swarm is different from previous ones. The major families are in a panic. But where they see a crisis, I see an opportunity. If the Helios Syndicate handles this right, we could expand significantly. To do that... we need your blueprints. specifically for the Defense Towers and the Howitzer Turrets. Can you provide them?"
Jax froze internally.
He didn't have blueprints. His structures were summoned directly through his System. Even if he wanted to hand them over, he couldn't just conjure a schematic out of thin air.
But before he could formulate an excuse, a mechanical chime rang in his mind.
[Mission Triggered: Kill one Tier 3 Acid-Web Arachnid.] [Reward: Unlock Blueprint System permission.] [Penalty for Failure: None.]
Jax mentally stumbled.
He hadn't expected the System to intervene so conveniently. It was practically handing him the solution on a silver platter. Ask and you shall receive?
Jax looked up, meeting Sawyer’s fervent gaze. He nodded slowly. "Done. I can provide the blueprints. But I have a condition."
Sawyer’s face lit up with delight. "Name it! Anything we can do, consider it done!"
"I need you to take me to kill a Tier 3 Acid-Web Arachnid."
Sawyer blinked, clearly taken aback. "I... beg your pardon? Is that your condition? Do you need a Tier 3 Core that badly?"
It was an absurd request. Usually, people asked for money, weapons, or women. Jax was asking for a fight with a monster.
"No," Jax corrected, improvising. "I need to study the anatomy of a Tier 3 Acid-Web Arachnid for... research purposes."
"Oh! Is that all?" Sawyer laughed, relieved. "That's easy. We actually have a captured Tier 3 Acid-Web Arachnid in our laboratory right now. If you're ready, I can take you there immediately."
"Perfect," Jax stood up. "Let's not waste time."
"Agreed," Sawyer stood as well, but then paused, looking at Jax with genuine curiosity. "Brother Jax, aren't you going to ask why we're negotiating? Why didn't we just seize your Defense Towers by force instead of cooperating?"
It was the question that defined the era. In the Apocalypse, trust was the rarest resource. Jax was offering up his most valuable intellectual property, and the Syndicate was playing nice. It was almost suspicious.
Jax smiled, his expression unreadable. "Because those blueprints are just paper to me. And as for you... I figure the Helios Syndicate understands the difference between one full meal and eating well every day. Killing the goose that lays the golden eggs isn't your style, is it?"
Sawyer stared at him for a moment, then burst into laughter, giving Jax a thumbs-up.
"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant. That right there is why we want to work with you. You're a smart man, Jax. Doing business with you is a genuine pleasure!"