The floating base of AlphaNova hung like a displaced pebble floating in the endless dark of space—a jagged crown of cold blue metal silhouetted against the colorful background thanks to the planets behind it.

While modest in size compared to planetary stations, its presence was anything but insignificant.

It was a mobile powerhouse: sleek, efficient, and armored like a fortress, held aloft by gravitational stabilizers.

Ezra’s body flickered into view a short distance from the station’s outer perimeter, space rippling in his wake.

He stood in the void, unbothered by the lack of atmosphere.

Reaching here, his memory has finally provided him the detail he missed earlier.

<Mind Cloud>

The ability is one of those rarely used, which is why it slipped Ezra’s mind.

Because after all, rather than immediately coming over here to meet Sidal, he could’ve just spoken directly into his mind and set a meeting time.

But anyways, he had already arrived, perhaps he would do such on the next occasion.

Using <Mind Cloud>, Ezra sends a message travelling instantly, invisible to all but the intended recipient:

> "Sidal. I have arrived and I would like to see you"

No reply was needed.

Within seconds, a breach in the base’s perimeter lit up—a docking corridor extending outward, guided by smart-tethers that latched onto Ezra’s position.

—--------

The interior of AlphaNova smelled faintly of sterilized metal and recycled oxygen—nothing had changed, and yet, everything felt different.

Ezra walked with measured strides, his cloak flowing behind him, flexing his healed arm slightly.

At the far end of the corridor stood a tall humanoid figure: pale white scales, elongated snout, sharp fangs partially veiled by firm lips, and two reptilian yellow eyes glinting with excitement.

Sidal.

The Lizardman wore a sleek black business coat, a chain of golden links looped into his collar, and a polished monocle lay perched over his left eye.

His tail swayed lightly behind him as he extended an arm with flourish.

"Mr. Sylvester!" he beamed, voice brimming with unhidden surprise. "What brings you back so soon?"

Ezra grins lightly, "I have brought something that will certainly interest you"

Sidal’s eyes sparkle. "I’m excited already"

And there it was. The unmistakable glint of a merchant who smelled profit.

Ezra noted some changes.

Sidal looked younger, leaner, with an aura that shimmered faintly—a testament to Sidal’s elevated cultivation.

His confidence and reach in the mercantile web seem to risen alongside it as well

Ezra nods imperceptibly in the passing.

They walk through the inner halls, past automated defense turrets, and floating merchant drones that scanned manifests in coded glyphs.

They soon arrived at Sidal’s private lounge—oval windows looking out into space, tea steeping in auto-brewers beside crimson leather seats.

As they sat, Ezra launched directly into his pitch.

"I want to make AlphaNova the interstellar bridge for goods between disconnected clusters," he said. "Specifically, by using special means to cut down transit time"

Sidal’s monocle glinted as he leaned in. "Please continue"

Ezra drew a small tablet from his dimensional belt and projected a spatial map, linking Crux Nebula with Zeta Galaxy.

A place where AlphaNova’s core distribution routes could never reach through any normal means due to sheer distance.

One had to know, even in the Black Dragon Galaxy cluster, AlphaNova remained one of the many thousands of companies, and had only begun to ascend the ranks in recent years.

"This"—he points at the glowing path—"you can now traverse this much distance in very little time. You don’t need to rely on Stargates or a Top class spacecraft. I will have someone bring the goods while you make sure to sell them to the highest bidder"

"What is the profit sharing ratio for this venture?" Sidal asked, eyes gleaming.

Ezra’s smile was thin but sharp. "Seven to Three — You get thirty percent"

Sidal blinked. Then blinked again, but ultimately kept his tongue, as his mind went into turmoil.

It wasn’t that he isn’t tempted to seek more benefits, but that he is afraid of the possibility of causing an adverse effect and reducing it.

Because, no matter how Sidal saw it, thirty percent is an astronomical amount of profit as he would probably do it for free!

Why? Because of reputation!

Shipping items from one of the most renown star clusters in the entirety of the known universe at basically zero transportation costs!

Such a sales model has to be extremely naive to believe such a thing!

But in this moment where it became a reality, even Sidal didn’t know how to feel!

Right on, items from that part of the universe would sell for exorbitant prices not only for price quality but also difference in buying perception!

To residents of the Zeta galaxy or even Black Dragon Galaxy cluster as a whole, Crux Nebula lay as an unreachable element which they could only yearn for!

Compared to it in their eyes, the Black Dragon Galaxy cluster is simply garbage.

This is the home of an innumerable number of clans of every race! Filled to brim with secret realms and all sorts of treasures and not to mention, powerhouses!

Compared to this backwater galaxy cluster they resided in, how much do you think those nouveau riche would pay for authentic products from one of the most hailed galaxy clusters in the universe? An immeasurable amount!

But life was not so easy, the costs of shipping such items alongside their original prices made it so even the rich had to do things in moderation!

So one can only imagine how much renown AlphaNova would get from showcasing a whole row of such items in their auction!

Forget astral elixirs! No matter what, those could be sourced from nearby galaxy clusters if need be.

After all, was there ever a shortage of Astral Beasts?

So, while Sidal forcefully maintained his facade of calmness, his mind was flipping out thinking of an innumerable number of possibilities all leading to a rosy future.

They spoke for another hour—debating logistics, tax shielding, the timing of gates, and potential leakage from competitors.

At this juncture, fitting his occupation, Sidal still tries to negotiate for a forty percent share, but as Ezra teases a reduced profit profit ratio to twenty percent, he immediately seizes all protests.

By the end, a digital contract was signed, sealed with mutual signatures.

Sidal leaned back in his chair and exhaled, content, a rare smile forming on his face as a string of words rang in his mind.

’This is it! With this! I’ll be amongst the ranks of top tier companies in the entire galaxy cluster in just a few years!’

Though he tried to hide it, Ezra could see that Sidal was practically beaming through his scales.

But then, the Lizardman’s expression makes a pause dimming slightly.

"There’s... something else"

Ezra raised an eyebrow.

Sidal steepled his fingers.

"We’ve been bleeding losses for several cycles now. Not from bad trades or incompetence—from sabotage. Rogue mercenary groups, even cybers hackers have a problem with us now. I suspect it’s the work of rival merchant factions"

He tapped a datapad, pulling up a hologram of half-destroyed cargo fleets and hacked logistics chains.

"They’re not letting us be without a fight"

Ezra crossed his arms. "Hmm, it’s certainly not strange. Being overly successful has its own problems"

He pauses. "Although, why wasn’t I informed of this sooner?"

"I was hoping to resolve it myself," Sidal said honestly. "But that has not worked so far"

His yellow eyes searched Ezra’s face. "Of course, I will provide you every necessary resource to aid you"

Ezra didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he looked out the window at the distant stars.

The quiet hum of the station surrounded him.

’Hmm’

And then, realization bloomed within him.

He had thought of Sidal as a subordinate.

But clearly, Sidal still thought of him as a partner.

A useful ally. A source of power and deals. But not his.

Ezra’s gaze turned hard.

In an instant, he realized he had to straighten out their relationship for clarity.

As he had now reached new heights of power, the time for ambiguity had elapsed.

He turned back slowly. "Sidal"

"Yes?"

"Things have changed, haven’t they? This company, you, me"

Sidal nods. "That is true"

"Then it’s time the dynamics reflect reality" Ezra said coolly.

"We are no longer on equal terms. When we first signed our deal, I was a Rank Three Transcendent. Now—" he lets out a wisp of energy.

"—I’ve become a Step Three Nascent. The gap between us has grown far too wide for this relationship to continue as it is"

Sidal stiffened, his tail curling behind him.

"You mean to say?"

Ezra leaned forward.

"I’m saying... it’s time to lay things out clearly, you can no longer be a partner. Instead, become my subordinate"

The words hit like a hammer, with the Lizardman’s monocles slipping slightly out of place.

His posture straightened instinctively, but Ezra’s pressure was enough to make even that act feel like resistance.

"I’m not asking you to give up AlphaNova" Ezra said, his voice quiet but steel-hard. "You’ll retain full authority. Your title stays. The operations continue"

"But you want the reins" Sidal lays it out in a forceful tone. "Absolute loyalty. Not mutual benefit"

"I just thought about it, and I felt it would be good to create a force of my own with this company at its center. I have realized that I can no longer go on while relying on external forces" Ezra corrected.

Sidal’s claws tightened on the armrest.

"And if I refuse?"

Ezra stood slowly.

"It’s simple, then this is where the partnership ends"

The Lizardman flinches.

Ezra’s voice wasn’t high pitched, it was simply resolute.

The kind of voice that left no room for discussion.

He continues, his crimson eyes gazing deep into Sidal’s.

"As a merchant, I believe you can understand these things clearly"

The silence that followed felt suffocating. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Sidal stares sternly at him for what felt like an eternity.

His mind raced—calculating, analyzing, rationalizing.

In all honesty, the answer had already been set the moment Ezra revealed his aim.

Because even barring the astral elixirs and the fact that Sidal knew far too much to be left alone, his current position as CEO was only gotten for him through Ezra’s help.

To do so much, Sidal naturally knew there would be a price to pay, as he wouldn’t be a merchant if he didn’t.

It only made sense!

To bring such a massive deal proposal, even he wouldn’t do such a thing with a third party.

As for Ezra saying he had only thought of it, Sidal naturally pretended not to hear that.

This was obviously the carrot and stick strategy

And while Ezra may have only quoted the end of their cooperation as the consequence for rejecting his offer, only a fool would believe such nonsense!

Together with the fact that he brought a group of Transcendents just a while ago was enough for a sly merchant like him to read the underlying meaning.

Sidal could swear by his mother that he would probably face a horrible situation if he didn’t take this chance in front of him.

So naturally, he had prepared himself mentally.

But, he hadn’t thought the bill would come so soon, and so despite having prepared himself, he can’t help but have a slight hesitation.

He then sees his reflection in Ezra’s eyes: not an equal—but a smart, capable person in the court of something vastly greater.

Perhaps it was with this mind that Ezra had signed the first contract with him? Sidal couldn’t say.

Regardless, having come so far, he can only accept his fate.

Finally, with a shuddering breath, he nods, getting on one knee as he bows his head.

"Then... I greet my lord"

"You have made the right choice" Ezra nods, letting out his energy in full force in his excitement.

Though remaining still, Sidal mindscape trembles at those words.

’As expected, you should never take people at face value! Who knows what he intended to do to me otherwise?!’

Just like that, Ezra became an inexplicable terror in Sidal’s mind.