"Do you hold any weapons?" The security guard asked and Marcus denied it, while Janette put two pistols and two throwing knives on the table. "Anybody else?" The guard asked, put the weapons away and gave Janette a chip in return. "Please keep your name tags always visible on your person. The use of abilities is forbidden in the exhibition." The second guard said and escorted the small group around Marcus into the exhibition rooms. "I still feel bad we left Grace and Candis at home," Achara said, walking next to her husband. Sophon was in a baby carriage, sleeping. The whole group looked like they were about to go to a wedding. The men were dressed in suits and the women wore dresses, all of them were well groomed.

"Maybe we should bring them something from the trip?" Marcus proposed, and looked around the first room. The high ceilings and colorful walls hid very well that the whole exhibition was underground and protected by many layers of security measures. Not at least a permanent Schuhman-Device was stopping any form of teleportation from happening. Above the exhibition was the Feigenbaum Tower, an exclusive piece of property filled with bars, restaurants, hotels and special venues for people too important to be known by the public. "Sure, any girl would like a little enchanted item for a few million dollars as a souvenir," Janette joked.

The first room was spacious and only a handful of people walked between large glass showcases. There were more guards standing around than actual visitors, Marcus observed. Achara and Kou were already inspecting the first enchanted item and giggled at the price. "Easy 250 million dollars," Kou said and laughed. It was a green bow named 'Green Star'. Marcus joined Janette and together they walked past several showcases, none below 100 million dollars. "Have you noticed that most guests here are class holders of level 100 and more?" She asked without looking up. "Forget weapons, most of them are walking weapons of mass destruction," Marcus said, and Janette smirked, "Look who's talking."

Soft music was playing in the background while they explored the network of rooms. The security was evident wherever they went. Cameras, sensors and all rooms had automated reinforced doors capable of sealing whole sections in case of an attack. As they explored the exhibition they realized that each area was dedicated to a type of equipment or specific theme. Eventually Marcus was strolling alone into a small side room after Janette had abandoned him at the sight of some enchanted guns. A girl's best friends weren't diamonds, but large caliber pistols, which were enchanted to endure the power of cal. 50 rifle rounds.

He didn't mind a bit of peace and quiet and looked around the room. It was somehow different from the others, in contrast to everywhere else all enchanted items were placed into one white wall. Four rows with five pieces each. It was a mix of items with no noticeable pattern or theme. Marcus looked over the unprotected pieces and at the prices. All were between five and twenty million dollars. It seemed, this was the low price category, Marcus thought.

Do you think you could touch one?

I don't know. Would this allow you to get a look at the enchantment?

I am confident that would be the case.

"Has something caught your eye?" A female voice asked behind Marcus. He turned and an attractive black woman in a revealing red dress smiled at him. She was bald but her colorful makeup stretched from her face over her skull, forming exotic patterns. Behind the alluring woman stood two bodyguards in suits, a man and a woman, and both of them gave off a deadly air. Marcus swallowed hard. "I am just admiring your work Mrs. Shan," he said, and gave her a little bow. It was hard to read her face, she was hiding her feelings very well. The conversation came to a sudden end, and Marcus wondered if he should somehow praise her for her work.

The black woman tilted her head and squinted her eyes for a moment. "From time to time I like to play a fun game with people who enter this room, Mr. Freimann. If you can tell me what all these pieces have in common you can choose one for yourself, for free," she said. She knows who I am, Marcus thought as he turned back to the wall of expensive objects. He had actually seen one or two pieces he found interesting and thought to buy. Marcus looked at the objects and read their enchantments, while Mrs. Shan watched him.

This wasn't a game, but a test. Marcus was sure of it. He had read about her and she was known to be eccentric, impulsive, but also direct and she stood to her word. She didn't look like it, but similar to Candis she was over eighty years old and one of the few original free Artificers, before the nations took control of the class.

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"Well?" She asked, and his time to make a judgment was running short. He stood in front of a silver colored knife with a red ruby in the grip, 'Blood Soul', which was enchanted with durability and a poison effect. It cost ten million dollars, a fair price for a high quality item with two enchantments. A small amulet next to the weapon was called 'Singer of Hope' and was enchanted only with endurance regeneration major, seven million dollars. Marcus had an idea, which could get him into hot water. "They are all failures," he said, and turned to the Artificer.

Vivian Shan gave him a sad look, "How did you know?" Marcus put on an apologetic smile, "It was more of a wild guess. You are a very artistic person, all your great works combine style with function. None is generic, they all tell a story and have character. The ones in this room have failed to become what you wanted." The woman laughed hard. Once she had gained back her composure she said, "Choose one Mr. Freimann. It is yours." Marcus tried to keep calm and turned to the wall of enchanted items. Should he just take the most expensive one? No, that would make him look cheap in her eyes.

Ask if you are allowed to touch them.

"Can I touch them?" Marcus asked and she nodded, but squinted her eyes slightly.

Marcus reached out to the silver knife and put three fingers on it. Two seconds later Xeen screamed in his head and Marcus jumped back from the blade.

XEEN! Are you alright?

NO! I am not ALRIGHT! How could I be alright in the face of such desecration of my art! THE HORROR! It is all wrong, it lacks all foundations and any form of insight! Marcus! Please, we must enlighten the Sorcerers of your world! I will not be able to find rest before then.

"Are you alright?" The unaware woman asked Marcus, as if he had lost his mind. "I am. Sorry for the dramatic act. I only now realized I should wear gloves." He quickly improvised the thinnest of lies. "Ideally you should, but my creations can endure soft touching. I promise you," she said, and her eyes were still carefully watching him.

Marcus nodded and turned to the wall again, taking a deep breath to calm himself. He walked past the wall and inspected some of the items, until he saw one at the end of the lowest row that drew his attention. 'Herculean Bracers' it said next to two dark silver bracers with only one enchantment, pain dampening. "They were meant to be magnificent, but my skill failed where my dreams wished me to go," Mrs. Shan said, as she saw his interest.

"How strong is the dampening effect?" Marcus asked, with great interest. "Strong enough to be dangerous for most people. In your case, it might just be perfect," she said, proving she knew a lot about him. "If possible, I would like to choose these then," Marcus said. She nodded, "A good choice. I will make sure they will be put in your care."

All the time they had talked nobody had bothered them in the room and that felt wrong to Marcus, "Your customers are very exclusive and rare." Mrs. Shan took a moment to think about his words and the deeper meaning behind them. With a smile she said, "Indeed, my exhibitions are rarely packed. Still, you are also correct to notice that the attendance these days is unsatisfactory. Certain factions have put more and more pressure on my potential customers to stay away from me."

Marcus gave her a faint smile, "The USA?" She chuckled, "For one. My old country has still not forgiven me that I fled instead of becoming a slave. But they aren't the only ones. The Block has denounced me for selling to so called 'terrorists and agitators'. There is currently an astronomical bounty on my head. But you might know a thing or two about this situation, Mr. Freimann," she said, and ended with a mysterious smile.

Before Marcus could react to her comment, fast steps closed in on their small room and the guards stirred. "Who are you flirting with in the corner Marcus?" Janette said, as she entered the room. The moment she saw the Artificer she stopped still. Marcus knew that there was no way Janette was actually surprised and let her play out her little act. "Ah yes, the infamous Ms. Long. Or should I say the other infamous Ms. Long," Vivian Shan said, and gave her a nod. Janette looked a bit wooden but also nodded. "This is a good moment to join back with the money sacks. A girl needs to earn a living. Will you accompany me on the way?" Mrs. Shan said to Marcus, who smiled and stepped next to her. Janette gave Marcus a short look behind Mrs. Shan's back, but joined the two anyway.

"I hope you have found something to take home with, Ms. Long. Or are my products not good enough in comparison to Merlin's?" The Artificer said, without turning around. "Not at all. Merlin creates great equipment, but he lacks your flair. I saw an interesting pistol just now, but in case of such expenses, I need to first discuss this with my wife," Janette answered very diplomatically. Even Janette had to tread lightly around a woman as influential and powerful as Vivian Shan. The black woman grinned, but didn't say anything more.

They reached a large room and Mrs. Shan waved to a woman at the other end of the room. "I have to leave you now, and endure the mindless drivel of a very rich person to get their money," she said with a smile, and moved through the room waving and laughing as if she just had met an old friend.

"What did you talk about?" Janette asked, as they walked away. "We played a game and she gifted me an item worth seven million dollars," he said, like it was nothing. Janette laughed until she saw he wasn't joking, "You serious?" Her jaw dropped as he nodded. Marcus told her the full story as they went to find the Saito family.

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