Two villains are sitting across from one another in a cozy office with magical looking lights and constructs floating around. While one villain clearly has more prestige and power than the other, it does not appear to concern the other villain in the least as they both lounge in the office's armchairs.

"While I find it a pleasure to meet you like this, I must ask. What's with all the guards? I'd understand if you had them in the room with you, but they're just standing in the next room." Jason

"It's just a precaution really, they usually leave someone in here with me, but we make sure that important meetings are private." Oliver

"Oh, and I qualify? Those rings must have been more important than I suspected." Jason

"Yes, they are celestial rings. The rings record the date and cause of the member that is wearing it. They are also almost indestructible and tell us when they are destroyed. Bringing us back such a large cache of them is a very serious matter. None of the timestamps on the rings match known deaths of our members, and all the deaths suggest that they were either taken out by surprise or were executed." Oliver

"Well, that's serious and all that, but why am I here? I was never told why you would be meeting with me." Jason

"It's tradition, we always repay favors here. It helps foster business and build connections, and honor is something that sets us apart from the raider gangs out in the wilderness. This should be the point at which you ask for your boon." Oliver

"Woah, that's putting me on the spot. Luckily, I'm in no shortage in of things I want. I need a place to sell my loot from the watch job, a place to buy equipment and supplies for my trek to Vegas, and I want some extra cash as a reward. I also want to be able to come back to the place when I want to sell more shit I get my hands on." Jason

The magistrate looks at me and starts laughing.

"You are really underestimating the value of the rings you've gifted us. Very well, you will have your demands met, but take these, they will help you on your journey through the wastelands." Oliver

Saying so, he tosses me three orbs and starts rummaging through his desk. While I inspect the orbs, he starts writing something down on his notepad. While I don't know what is in the orbs, I know what they are. Every child on the planet knows what a skill orb is and how you can only get them at guilds. These are probably more expensive than my whole haul.

"Here, go to the address on that note and tell them you'll be a regular. Your money should be ready at the counter at the front door, and Mr. Viler, have a nice day." Oliver

After getting a pleasant surprise of $5000 and moving to a private rooftop I take out the skill orbs and mentally will them to reveal their contents to me.

Iron Skin 1: Harden skin by 10% for each rank Mana Perception 1: Increase ability to detect magic with each rank Haste: Use Mana to activate spell on command

Woah, these skills are sought after enough that they each cost more than the 5 grand. Iron skin and mana perception are sought after by beginners as they are useful throughout your entire career. That's still less expensive than skills that let you skip incantations and spell construction. I learn the skills and continue towards the address written on the note. After haggling with the man at the corrupt pawn shop I get him to give me $1500 for all of my sellable loot. Afterwards, I look around the shop for anything that might help me survive the wasteland. I find a fancy combat armor with an array of options that's priced at $6300. A bit pricey, but I'll take it. As I walk out of the store with the full-body armor, I realize that I'll no longer need my mask and sunglasses, but I'll keep them anyways. I read the list of body armor functions as I walk past a mob of gang-members organizing a raid on Watch HQ. Seeing as that is not an isolated occurrence, I take my leave of Wayside and set out to Vegas 1 km at a time.

List of Combat Armour Functions:

1. +200 defense

2. Temperature Control

3. Muffled Movements

4. Combat Hologram

5. Assisted Movement

Loot List:

$373.04

Combat Armour

Binoculars

Knife

Pistol (9 mm)

Police Carbine (9 mm)

Sawed-off shotgun

Energy Shield

Ammo