In a matter of a few Months Martial Citadel was almost unrecognizable from its previous state.

It still maintained its traditional aura, but what was once a dead and declining City, was now a bustling and thriving Metropolis, with new opportunities almost around every corner.

Martial Citadel had it all, a popular and powerful Superstar Mayor, plenty of Ranker residents, powerful Organizations, new emerging Technologies, a mysterious and valuable currency in the Focus Shard, a powerful Economy and Financial System, amazing knew Knowledge Institutions, vast amounts of jobs and business opportunities, and a culture and people that were as friendly and interesting as could be.

Slowly but surely the reputation of Martial Artists and Practitioners throughout the Ranker World started to improve.

Thanks to Guso’s contribution, Experts and Rankers who had no hope of ever rising, were now catapulting through the Ranks.

The new Age had not just arrived in Martial Citadel, it had also arrived in Volunterra, and eventually Potestera as a whole.

***

Soon the day of my departure from Martial Citadel was drawing near.

I started to make serious preparations so that I wouldn’t be completely defenseless when I experienced my first Ranker Event.

Not knowing what was awaiting me, I decided not to hold back any idea or item I thought might be useful.

I seperated and spread out my inventory and arsenal.

I had some Purple Magic Seals I never sold, a stack of about 30 Yellow Inner Force Seals, a wad of Martial Sensitivity Salve,a bottle each of Magic Clerical Potion, and Inner Energy Clerical Solution, all packed in a small medium size belt satchel I had made specifically for ease of access during emergency situations.

The items within it were all my special buffing and healing items.

Those were item types I was completely deficient in, before my arrival to the Citadel.

But now after having used them quite a bit, I realized how valuable and useful they were to have.

Next I organized my weapons yet again.

Other than my Slingshot, Magic Spear, Magic Blade, and Magic Knife, as my main battle weapons, I had now added an Inner Energy Axe, one of Dirgens’ knew Inner Power Shooters, and a Battle Pole, also from Dirgens Inner Power line, that I planned to use as a walking stick.

In another side satchel with compartments, I had decided to place side and support weapons and materials, like the magical field spikes, magical blades and metal shards I intended to use for trap making material, Inner Energy infused blades for the same purpose, King Culebra Venom Clay Pellets both normal and magical version, Inner Energy Resin, Magical Resin, Inner Energy Fat, and a few Focus Shards, as well as a pair of Inner Energy Gloves.

For my Ammo I crafted a belt that allowed me to store and separate all the Magical Ammo, Inner Energy Ammo, Poisonous Ammo, and Normal and Inexpensive Ammo in a convenient fashion.

For Armor I cleaned and set aside my Magic Bathed Beast Part Armor that I would wear over my Martial Robe.

Since the gear I now had at my disposal had increased, I knew I had no choice but to reduce the rest of my inventory only to the things that were the most useful to me, so that my carrying weight didn’t require me to use my sled in its pulling form.

I did so by using up whatever I could use, as quickly as I could, giving some stuff I knew I would have a hard time selling away, and continuing my shop and business activities diligently.

After the commotion I had caused with the Focus Shards, I had become a superstar in Martial Citadel.

People considered my shop a shop of treasures, even despite that, day by day most of the stuff that could be considered useful to an Expert dwindled in my shelves.

And I had no plans to restock them as I was on a mission to rid myself of all my excess junk.

The real valuable stuff like the remainder of my Magical Weapons, most rare Organs and Animal Parts, and Inner Energy Resin and Fat was flying off the shelves like I was giving it away for free.

Eventually I had none of it in stock anymore to many peoples displeasure.

What I had tons of and that also was flying off the shelves were my Yellow Inner Force Papers.

After the commotion of the Focus Shard, most people had forgotten that this was also one of the items I had given away for free, which was of extreme value and usefulness to an Expert.

Before people became distracted with the Focus Shard, people had gone crazy over the Purple Magic Papers and constantly had asked when I would get more in stock.

When people found out the Yellow Papers were basically its Inner Energy equivalent, people couldn’t give me their money faster.

I had decided to sell them a little more expensive than what I had sold the Magic Papers before, as I had already given many away for free, but despite their new prize of 2,500 Gold Coins, or its equivalent, demand was still high. Horrifyingly, even given their popularity, it took a while for me to get rid of them since the stack of papers I had made the yellow papers out of had been so huge.

Even with all my efforts and invented deals and eventual prize reduction to 1000 Gold Coins, it took me a while to get rid of the one third of the original stack of five hundred thousand papers.

Eventually I was almost forced to give them away, at 10 Gold Coins per paper, which people became insane for.

But even with its lower Price the selling of the paper was bringing me a fortune in Gold coins, which I knew I would have to deposit to the bank despite my displeasure.

When people's excitement over the Focus Shard had settled down, and they started to notice the existence of this item within the City another mini commotion ensued.

Many people, including Dirgen himself, asked for the crafting secret of the paper.

But seeing that their questions irritated me since I couldn't believe their greed, given how I had just given them the Focus Shard formula, they wisely decided to cut their losses and back off.

The safety agreement I had made with Lofen had already started to pay its dividends, as people were more respectful and tactful when they wanted to deal with me in any business, and despite noticing looks of envy and hate, the snide and venomous comments had ceased.

It was also a relief to not have to worry about getting followed home every day.

But although the reputation and respect my business held never went away, people started noticing that as the days went by I started to carry less things of value.

Eventually it got to the point where only the remainder of my Yellow Papers could catch an Experts attention.

That in conjunction with the advent of many new things in the City, made my shop no longer be as popular and powerful as it once was.