Kai and the others were still curious about the Virtual World, but since they did not have any pods just yet, they all noted its existence in their minds.

Nonetheless, Xian quickly proved his worth as a guide.

He led Kai and the others through Cameron City’s crowded streets, pointing out which shops were trustworthy and which ones were notorious for scamming newcomers.

"See that stall?" he whispered, gesturing toward a vendor with flashy signs.

"They’ll charge you double. Stick to the shops near the east market... those merchants are honest."

His advice would surely save them from wasting more cores. Just like that, the group realized how valuable his knowledge was.

After a while, Xian frowned at their appearance.

"Everyone’s looking at you... You should really change your clothes," he suggested. "Right now, you look like outsiders. To vendors, that’s basically announcing you’re easy targets."

Kai didn’t think it was that bad, but after noticing the way merchants eyed them, he yielded. Soon, they purchased sets of new clothes that matched the city’s fashion sense... practical tunics, dark trousers, and light jackets that blended in with the crowd.

The transformation was immediate... they no longer stood out like lost travelers.

As they continued walking, Kai noticed Xian’s eyes drifting toward food stalls.

Soon, his stomach growled faintly, though he tried to hide it. Concerned, Kai asked him to find an inn where they could rent rooms and eat.

Anyway, they had to find a place as well.

"Of course! Follow me!"

Xian nodded eagerly and guided them to a modest establishment with a sign called Silver Rest Inn.

The inn was simple but clean, with sturdy wooden doors and a faint smell of stew wafting from the kitchen.

Just like that, they rented three rooms, two people per room, enough for the six of them.

The innkeeper served meals as part of the lodging... There were bowls of rice, stewed vegetables, and slices of salted meat.

It wasn’t luxurious, but it was warm and filling. The group ate gratefully, enjoying the comfort of a proper meal after the chaos outside the city walls.

Xian, however, didn’t touch his food. Instead, he carefully wrapped his portion in a small plastic bag, clearly intending to save it. Kai and the others exchanged knowing looks... it was obvious the food was meant for his sister.

Without saying much, Kai ordered another set of meals and placed it in front of him.

"This one’s for you. Eat."

Xian hesitated with his eyes flickering with guilt, but then his expression softened. He nodded gratefully and ate joyfully, savoring every bite as if it were the best meal he’d had in weeks.

Afterward, the group discussed their plans.

Cameron City was vast, and there was much to explore. They decided to split up to cover more ground.

Xian would continue guiding Kai, Mei, and Farrah, while Claire, Alfie, and Ralph chose to explore on their own.

And so, their first day in Cameron City truly began... With new clothes to blend in, a guide they could trust, and the technologies they had never seen before.

***

Kai’s team followed Xian deeper into Cameron City, leaving behind the noisy marketplace and crowded stalls.

Kai was really curious about the weapon shops within the city, but unfortunately, the decent weapons like high-caliber guns, Plasma Rifles, and others were being controlled by the Factions.

Of course, it didn’t mean that they would only sell to faction members, but it meant the location of the vendors would be deeper within the city.

Just like that, the streets gradually grew quieter, as the shouting vendors and clattering carts lessened...

Kai wasn’t sure how it was divided, but it seemed that the shops were directly owned by the 12 Factions of Cameron.

Here, the shops were more specialized... Kai could already see items from high-quality weapons to luxurious decorations...

Xian pointed them out as they walked. "This area’s different. You’ll find expert smiths who repair weapons, tailors who make custom gear, and a few apothecaries who sell medicine without mixing it with junk. The prices are fairer here, but you still need to be careful." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Mei peered into one shop where a craftsman was polishing a blade. "It feels calmer here," she murmured.

Farrah nodded. "Maybe less chaos... more business."

Kai wanted to ask more about the Factions, but for now, he wasn’t in a hurry.

They passed a row of herbal shops, filled with the scent of dried leaves and roots.

’Hmm?’ Kai was curious as he saw Xian looking at this store longingly.

"Do you want to enter and buy something in the shop? We can wait..."

"N‑no, sir!" Xian stammered, quickly waving his hand.

Kai just chuckled and led the team inside anyway. He hadn’t chosen this shop at random... entering here had been one of his aims all along.

As Kai and his team stepped into the herbal shop, they immediately felt overwhelmed with the scent of medicine.

Kai smiled at this, and soon, he looked behind the counter where an old shopkeeper was seated.

She greeted them with a nod, then gestured toward the shelves lined with tonics and vials.

Kai and the others moved closer, scanning the neatly displayed bottles. Each had a handwritten tag with its name and price...

[ Vitality Tonic - 3 C‑Grade Cores ]

[ Ironbody Extract - 4 C‑Grade Cores ]

[ Spirit Recovery Serum - 5 C‑Grade Cores ]

[ Blood Accelerator - 6 C‑Grade Cores ]

The prices gave Kai a clear idea of the market value. These tonics promised effects ranging from stamina recovery to enhanced reflexes, though none seemed extraordinary.

Kai reached into his pouch and pulled out a slim, metallic injector with a faintly blue vial chamber...

Needless to say, it was the Gene Stimulant Injector from his Water Gift Pack. He held it up casually and showed it with confidence.

"Are you buying something like this?"

The old shopkeeper wanted to ignore him at first, but soon her eyes widened as she recognized it!

She leaned forward, her hands trembling slightly. "Yes... yes! I’ll pay five C‑Grade Crystals for this!"

Kai glanced at the displayed tonics again. The price matched what she offered... reasonable, considering the stimulant’s effects were likely stronger than the tonics on her shelves.

He smiled faintly. "Make it seven, and I’ll sell all of my Gene Stimulants only to you."