Daruis kept to the far corner of the inn, the kind of seat that let him see the door, the stairs, and the reflection of the room in the polished metal trim behind the counter without turning his head.
The meal in front of him had gone mostly untouched near the end, not because it was bad, but because his attention had shifted the moment the familiar interface settled into view.
[SYSTEM UPDATE]
Conquest Credits (CC): +420 → +860 → +1,240 → +1,980 → +2,760 → +3,400
The increments slowed, then stabilized.
[TOTAL CC: 30,400]
He leaned back slightly, fingers resting against the edge of the table as he let the number sit there for a moment.
The growth had stopped being linear days ago. What had started as a controlled expansion had tipped into something self-sustaining—supply feeding demand, demand reinforcing supply.
Over the weeks his operation held forty percent of market share but he didn't need the system to remind him of that figure.
He could see it in the way contracts filled and in how the iron he moved no longer competed, but replaced competitors.
It wasn't just trade anymore. It was displacement of the competitors.Which, apparently, counted.
[NOTICE: Market Domination Threshold Reached — Partial Conquest Recognized]
[CC Generation: Exponential Scaling Active]
Daruis exhaled quietly through his nose, not quite a smile, but close enough to suggest satisfaction without letting it settle fully.
Conquest implied Domination, and the system would recognize such form of market Domination.
He finished the last of his drink, set the cup down with a soft tap, and let the interface fade just enough to bring the room back into sharper focus.
No one was looking at him directly.
A few glanced his way, the way people did when someone sat alone for too long without moving, but nothing lingered. No recognition whatsoever, just background noise which was good.
He stood, adjusted his coat, and reached for the hood he kept folded along the collar. The disguise wasn't elaborate. It didn't need to be. Subtle changes—posture, gait, the way he held his shoulders, did more work than any mask would.
By the time he stepped out of the inn, he was just another traveler leaving after a late meal.
Eldor stretched around him with the same steady rhythm it always carried. Trade still moved. Conversations still flowed in low currents between stalls and streets.
If anything, the town felt more active than it had a week ago, though most wouldn't connect that to the iron moving through its veins.
He walked without hurry, without a fixed urgency that might draw attention. He knew the routes well enough by now. He had bought some warehouses over the days.The warehouses sat along the outer ring, positioned for easy access to incoming carts.
It was efficient and replaceable if needed. He had also purchased Estates and large homes, the estate was further in, tucked behind higher walls.
He hadn't visited them yet. No need to attach himself to a location more than necessary.
The interface slid back into focus with a thought.
[STORE ACCESS GRANTED]
Categories unfolded in layered panels, each one expanding with a soft, precise motion that felt more like recalling information than opening something external.
[CATEGORY SELECTED: SURVEILLANCE & STEALTH]
— SURVEILLANCE & STEALTH —
[Concealment]
Phase Cloak (Basic) — Reduces presence signature; less effective under direct observation.
Cost: 1,500 CC
Sound Dampening Anklets — Nullifies footstep noise across most surfaces.
Cost: 4000 CC
Light-Bend Mantle — Minor visual distortion in peripheral vision of observers.
Cost: 1,100 CC
[Escape & Evasion]
Blink Anchor (Single Use) — Short-range instantaneous reposition (max 2 km).
Cost: 7000 CC
Smoke Capsule (x3) — Obscures vision and disrupts basic tracking artifacts or abilities.
Cost: 2000 CC
Decoy Echo Device — Projects false movement signatures in a chosen direction fo 3 minutes.
Cost: 6500 CC
[TOTAL CC AVAILABLE: 30,400]
Daruis let his gaze move over the list without selecting anything yet, not because he was indecisive, but because timing mattered more than ownership of certain abilities but what caught his eye the most was the escapeand Evasion abilities, they would be useful if ever he was stuck in a predicament.
-15500 CC
Bought all 3 abilities and stored them away, he mainly only required the blink anchor but was open to more options when escaping, better safe than sorry.
He stepped past the outer edge of the town, where the structures thinned and the road widened just enough to expose movement without cover.
This choice of movement beared fruit as he could now confirm his suspicion. Two figures not too close but near enough to be obvious of their intentions. They had adjusted their pace twice since he left the inn. Once when he slowed. Once when he changed direction slightly without breaking stride.
Remaining consistent he didn't turn or panic. Didn't acknowledge it in any visible way that would deter the individuals following him. This was the perfect opportunity to test out the stuff he bought, he let the interface remain open at the edge of his vision, options sitting there with patience.
14900 CC
That was how much remained, and he would put it to good use once he's back at the cave, he's slow progression was starting to irritate him.
Behind him, the distance held steady while ahead, the road curved slightly, leading into a stretch where sightlines broke just enough to matter.
Daruis adjusted his path by half a step, subtle enough to read as natural than used the decoy device, the affect was intriguing as the decoy replicated him in every way.
The Decoy than headed in a certain direction upon his command, than he made haste so the pursuers don't catch on to me, but first he has to hide so they follow the Decoy.
As expected they followed the unsuspecting Decoy no matter what direction it took for 3 minutes.
His attention shifted back to the list of items in the shop, he mostly looked more for what he needed because he was had a feeling this was not the end of this pursuit against him.
They made sure not to make mistakes in identifying him and capturing him although failing to his decoy
So therefore that meant the next move couldn't be one either.