It came as a surprise that Bunty’s body let him out of bed the following morning. He expected a whole lot of pain, but besides the tightness in his side, he felt no discomfort. Either having a name gave his spirit special restorative abilities, or the healer’s powers was still at play. Bunty’s joints and muscles weren’t sore, and when he did a once over, there were no bruises on his body. He did find a few scratches on the back of his arms, but that was it.

Due to his fatigue, Bunty hadn’t bothered venturing far from the tower. He’d splurged a modest chunk of his new wealth on a decent inn by Climber’s Market. It stung recalling how much he had shelled out for two nights. At least it was cheaper than the hotels and guest houses in Noble’s Ring. Bunty made it a point to make use of all the amenities and get the most out of the expenditure.

When he called the attendant to fix him a hot bath, she arrived with all his clothes washed and pressed. They’d gone as far as to give the leather a light polish too, much to his annoyance. Bunty planned on rubbing dirt on it as soon as he returned to the second floor. The last thing he wanted was for the polish’s scent to alert beasts he intended to avoid or trap.

Bunty took his time in the bath. The water needed to be changed twice. He had to wash ice spider ichor out of his hair and pits. The sour-smelling, green fluid had gotten everywhere. It was worth it, though. Bunty now had enough money to buy a Core, sponsor a party and perhaps purchase an apartment just beyond Noble’s Ring in the commons. He didn’t have much hope for finding something compatible with his spirit, though. Finding an upgrade at the same power-level as Eirkh’s Core would be near impossible in the market. Most noble families scooped up the good ones before they hit the market.

Bunty soaked in the bath and made plans to scout the second floor first, put together a plan of action and then sponsor a party to help him climb and find a decent Core. It was easier said than done, though. As a nobody, hiring reliable people would be a challenge. He worried that people would either try to take advantage of him or rob him blind. The threat of a powerful household or organisation deterred rambunctious party members that wanted to keep good loot for themselves. Bunty didn’t have such protections, and the city’s laws didn’t extend into the tower.

After the bath, Bunty stepped out and bought a set of formal clothes, changed into them, and met Lydia for her meeting. The Fair Trade Federation worked out of an old stone building in the industrial sector. Unlike other organisations around the city, it appeared to have employees from a variety of cultures. As far as Bunty knew, only the French practised such inclusion. They had gotten rid of their royal family during the last century and accepted everyone no matter their colour or faith.

The Boleyns as an English nobility weren’t on the best terms with the French, so he never got around to socialising with them. To be fair, Lord Graham didn’t stand for segregation among his employees either. Baba had rich, mahogany-coloured skin and Bunty’s was a lot like Darjeeling tea with a splash of milk. The Boleyn patriarch didn’t treat them any different for it, and he got loyalty and respect in return.

Lydia had good news for him. She had taken his suggestion to her superiors, and they had agreed to take him on as an expeditionary agent. They had rejected the salary idea, but Lydia bagged him something better. If he found an uncontested and accessible resource, the FTF would investigate the discovery and judge whether it was worth harvesting or not. If the site passed, Bunty would get two per cent of the profits. Lydia told him not to get too excited as it would take time before the money started coming in, and the amount would vary.

Farming a resource required several teams. First of all, there needed to be a dedicated party of Climbers with spirits ideal for fighting beasts and putting them down swiftly. They’d often be followed by a group that specialised in harvesting monster materials efficiently without wastage or loss. The two groups travelled between several farming sites, keeping busy and making the company money.

Besides them, the FTF would need a team to protect and nurture the site. This meant keeping other Climbers and beasts away from the area. They needed spirits specialised in defence and combating humans. If there were several such sites clumped together within an interval, the FTF would hire a fourth team. They’d oversee studying the farmed beasts, figuring out their ideal diets, and gathering the best foods to feed the creatures. If the site was isolated like the one on the second floor, then the protection team would take care of feeding.

The complicated process and the investment required to get a site running took time. To earn profits, the FTF would first need to make back all the money they invested. Once in the green, whatever profit the company made, Bunty would make a percentage of that. Due to his social status and lack of connections, Bunty knew he wouldn’t ever get anything better. So, he accepted the deal. It was access to the gates and information that he wanted anyway. Besides, there was nothing in the contract enforcing he disclose everything he found. He considered it a huge oversight. If Bunty discovered a resource, he could profit off himself. He could keep it hidden until Alexander recovered. Then it would be their’s to farm and reap.

The meeting went on for longer than expected. Lydia didn’t react when Bunty summoned his spirit and used it to sign the contracts. She annotated the document, stamped it, and filed it away. Then they moved on to the farming location. Much to Bunty’s surprise, Lydia didn’t want him to guide a team to the area. Instead, she pulled out a detailed map of the second floor, had him mark the site, and questioned him regarding the beasts.

Once it was all said and done, she took down his information and gave him a black compass on a chain. It had two needles. One pointed to the magnetic North and the other behind him. Lydia explained that it pointed to the closest gate. When on a floor with a door controlled by the FTF, it would help him find it. The compass also served as an identification badge for employees, and she implored him to protect it dearly.

Even though Bunty had more money than he had ever seen, Bunty considered the compass the biggest prize of the day. It would help him ascend much quicker. Lydia explained the devices were unique and only gifted to individuals employed by the FTF. A master craftsman had made them after years of experimenting with Cores and would only work for him. If he parted ways with the organisation, they’d deactivate the compass remotely unless he turned it in.

The meeting lasted a couple of hours and finished with a mate shared breakfast in Lydia’s office. Bunty thanked her for her help before exiting the building. He was about to head to the bank when he found Hina waiting for him.

“What are you doing here?” He asked.

“Waiting for you, of course,” she replied. “Thought you’d be longer.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t have any more work for you, Hina. Not yet, at least.”

“What are you doing right now?” She asked, stepping in close and sniffing at the air around him. “I barely recognised you all cleaned up. You smell and look completely different. The formal attire doesn’t suit you, though. Maybe run a comb through your hair next time.”

Bunty could smell Hina too, and it was a sweary but appealing smell. He couldn’t tell whether Hina was attempting to flirt with him or not. He’d never been with a woman of Japanese descent before—he assumed her heritage from the name and appearance and was curious. At the same time, after Pari and the kiss with Victoria, wanted to avoid getting involved with anyone. Besides, he wasn’t in an incredibly trusting place.

“I’ve got some business at the bank and was thinking of checking out the Core shops afterwards. Why?”

“I’ve found a party that needs an expert climber. They’re heading to the third floor and promised me a spot as a porter if I can find someone to fill the empty roll. They’re Japanese and don’t speak a lot of English but come across as a trustworthy lot. Are you interested?”

Bunty couldn’t help but feel suspicious. It wasn’t Hina that gave him the vibe, but everything else. Suddenly life was going his way. He had intended to take the day to relax and get in touch with Baba. Bunty wanted to know whether Alexander’s status had changed at all. The chances of improvement were low, and Baba would most likely not have much time to spare anyway. The Boleyns were in panic mode. They were probably sending all their active Climbing staff into the tower to make money. Which meant Baba would be focused on polishing the newbies.

“Tell me about the job.”

“The party is on a pilgrimage.” Hina pulled out a little notebook, reading out the key points. Her diligence made Bunty want to trust her more. “They visit shrines set up by their clan’s first Climber when Gaia’s Ark was first discovered. Fortunately for us, the recent mining has caused their old paths to collapse. They’re looking at a tonne of climbing through dangerous territory to get to their destination. Does that sound good to you?”

“You skipped the part about pay.”

Hina sighed. “The pay is passage. They don’t care what our spirits are and won’t expect us to take part in fights. The clan uses these climbs to train their newly come of age and help them ascend Gaia’s Ark. As a result, all Cores they find will be theirs. However, I’m sure they’ll be open to negotiating.”

“I’m in,” Bunty said after some thought. “I still have a few errands to run, though.”

“That’s fine.” Hina grabbed Bunty’s watch out of his pocket and checked the time. The sudden physical contact took Bunty by surprise. “They don’t intend to start until three in the afternoon, so you have just about four hours. This lot are sticklers about punctuality, and I’d rather remain in their employ for a bit. So, it might be for the best if you arrive a little early.”

Bunty bid her goodbye and rushed back to the inn. Fortunately, the innkeeper was understanding of his situation. She wouldn’t refund his payment for the second night but would hold the reservation for a later date. If all the rooms weren’t occupied—considering the price per night, they wouldn’t be—she’d welcome him happily. The innkeeper offered him a storage service as well. For two pence a day, she’d store anything he didn’t want to carry into the tower. Bunty changed out of his formal clothes and left most of his garments with her. After some thought, he added Neer’s journals to the pile as well. Baba had most of them still, and once he had a place of his own, Bunty would retrieve them.

Once done, he visited the city’s bank. Baba had opened an account for Bunty when he first started climbing. He held on to twelve pounds and deposited the rest. The teller was surprised by the volume of money and questioned the source. When Bunty flashed the FTF’s compass, the suspicious expression disappeared from her face, and she fulfilled his request.

Finally, he visited Climber’s market. As expected, none of the Cores for sale compared to Eirkh’s in age and power. In comparison to the sphere he had gotten from her, they were dull and lifeless. It took a while, but he found the merchant Baba preferred.

“Bunty Sen! How are you, Bhai?” The older man asked, switching between English and Bengali. It felt odd to hear a man twice his age refer to him as a brother. “I swear, the last time I saw you, you barely reached my knee.”

“It was two years ago, and I was already six-inches taller than you, Kartik,” Bunty told him, smiling.

“Oh, you turned into a smart mouth, ha?” Kartik asked, narrowing his eyes. “That explains why my old brain would rather remember the little you.” He laughed. “What can I help you with, Bhai? Considering the rumours about the Boleyns, this isn’t a social visit.”

“I’m on the lookout for century-old Cores that might benefit inanimate summoning.” There was no way to guarantee how a Core would interact with a spirit outside of the upgrade stations. As a result, only desperate climbers with money and craftsmen bought them from the public market. “Size-changing or telekinesis spells will suffice as well. They can come from anywhere between floors one to ten, but I’d prefer the first interval.”

“Those are rather specific requirements. You do realise that they won’t come cheap.”

“Keep this as a holding deposit,” Bunty said, handing him ten pounds. Kartik raised an eyebrow and scrutinised all ten notes. “I know the families have their hooks in you and will offer you big money for something rare. I’m just asking you to hold them for me before going to them. I’m working with the FTF now.” He flashed the compass. “They can vouch for my claim. I’ve come upon a chunky bit of coin and can compete with the noble’s pay. On the downside, if you do find something, I’ll need you to enter the tower with me and let me check the possibilities at an upgrade station.”

“You’ve grown,” Kartik commented, watching him with narrowed eyes again. He took the ten pounds but didn’t stuff it in his lockbox. “If I do find something, this will be the holding fee. You’ll pay whatever the appraiser asks. In the eventuality where you upgrade and return to me before I find anything, I’ll return the money.”

“That’s fair.”

Kartik probably expected resistance, but he didn’t give him any. Instead, the man gave Bunty clues regarding hidden areas in the first interval where people rarely ventured. The chances of finding centuries-old creatures there were higher. He suggested Bunty try floor three. A patch of land north of the floor’s main hub housed ravines full of carnivorous plants. They’d disguise themselves as little flowers but would multiply in size when people got close enough to pick them. There were stories of parties losing members a decade ago, but not anymore. Kartik suspected most climbers avoided the area and Bunty would find a sufficiently aged Core there.

“Don’t go telling people I’m doing this, Bunty,” Kartik said just as they were bidding each other goodbye. “I owe Neer my life. Hopefully, improving yours will balance the karmic scales.”

Hina had given Bunty details regarding the route. From what she said, there were chances of getting lost, going around collapsed tunnels or getting trapped. So, he spent his last two pounds on rations and a healing brew for his flask. The latter would last a little over a week before going rancid. A small part of him thought of it as a needless expense, but he could afford to get majorly injured. Bunty didn’t have the time to heal broken bones naturally. Hiring a healer would take a large chunk out of his new wealth too.

It was half-past two when Bunty entered the tower. The primary hub was packed like always. He spotted a couple of Climbers trying to unload Cores by the upgrade stations and had a little peek. None of them looked like they’d give Bunty what he wanted. So, he carried on into the Gate Room and found the Bound Gate behind a crowd past the first four Gates. Unlike the doors, there was a short line, and it was quarter to three when he finally rendezvoused with Hina.

Their employers were already present. Hina introduced Bunty to Ito Yukiho. She appeared to be in her late twenties and would be leading the expedition. Her newly come of age clan members, Ito Mei and Ito Koki, had not long earned their spirits and were still in the process of learning English. They bowed to Bunty, and he returned the gesture.

Hina reminded them that the floor’s miners weren’t far from their next shift change. The hub and primary corridors were minutes from getting packed, so they decided to continue introductions while hiking, and headed into the tunnels. Bunty got a good feeling about the party. He’d only ever had pleasant interactions with Japanese nationals and Baba called them honourable folk.