Let's burn it down

Alex felt embarrassed and awkward, as this was the first time someone had responded so bluntly to his greeting. Usually, people would give him some face, saying things like, "No, no, you didn't make me wait too long."

"Now that you're here, shall we discuss business?" Astarion suggested, moving on from the small talk.

"Of course, Young Master. Business is what the Nexus Towers are all about," Alex replied, eager to proceed with the reason for their meeting.

"So, Young Master Astarion, my colleague informed me that you're interested in purchasing gold worth 5 billion Cresto," Alex began.

"That's correct," Astarion confirmed, casually taking a sip from his cup of coffee.

Alex swallowed hard, sensing the magnitude of the deal, and motioned for the manager to hand him a tablet.

"Based on the current market price per gram of gold, you would be able to purchase approximately 12 thousand tons," Alex explained after checking the latest gold prices on his tablet.

"We can arrange for the delivery of this gold within about 7 da-" Alex started, but Astarion cut him off.

"I want it in 6 hours," Astarion stated firmly.

"I beg your pardon?" Alex asked, his face a picture of confusion.

"Young Master Astarion, securing 12 thousand tons of gold in just 6 hours is nearly impossible, even for me," Alex tried to explain.

"I'm aware, but you still need to make it happen. Utilize resources from other Nexus Towers if you must," Astarion replied with a steely gaze.

The Nexus Towers typically avoid seeking assistance from each other, as collaborating would necessitate sharing the credit and benefits derived from any deal.

If several Nexus Towers combined their efforts to source gold for Astarion, they could potentially fulfill his request in as little as three hours.

Alex let out a heavy sigh, realizing his chance for a promotion was slipping through his fingers. He had initially been reluctant to ask for help from other Nexus Towers, but Astarion's demands left him with no alternative.

"But Young Master Astarion, procuring gold in coin form within six hours might be beyond even our capabilities," Alex explained, his tone reflecting a mix of concern and resignation. He was seated across from Astarion, tablet in hand, ready to calculate and coordinate as needed.

"Just secure gold bars as well," Astarion replied nonchalantly. He was leaning back in his chair, a cup of coffee in hand, exuding an aura of calm confidence. His gaze met Alex's, his expression still cold as ever.

"So, where should we direct all this gold, Young Master? Shall we send it to the Vastaril family's skyscraper?" Alex inquired, attempting to manage the logistics of Astarion's large purchase.

"No, I plan to buy a new house today, so send it there," Astarion replied, his voice steady and firm.

"Oh, in that case, would you like me to present you with some options, or do you already have a particular property in mind?" Alex asked, ready to assist further in Astarion's endeavors.

"Yes, I want to purchase the entire Mountain Wraith," Astarion declared, his tone cold and decisive.

"The entire mountain?" Alex couldn't hide his shock and confusion. He had anticipated Astarion might be interested in a skyscraper or similar property, not an entire mountain.

"Yes," Astarion confirmed, his gaze unwavering.

"Very well, Young Master. I will prepare the digital documents for the purchase of Wraith Mountain for you," Alex conceded, realizing that although acquiring 12 thousand tons of gold was beyond his reach, facilitating the sale of Wraith Mountain was entirely feasible.

Decades ago, mountains were considered public property, and no individual or entity could claim ownership. However, this changed under pressure from wealthy clans and families who wished to own and utilize mountains for their purposes.

Since then, the sales of mountains have been managed through Nexus Towers worldwide. Fortunately for Alex, Wraith Mountain was already listed for sale in the Nexus Towers, simplifying the transaction.

"And lastly, I would like a sword made from astro iron, and I need it within six hours," Astarion stated as he rose from his chair, ready to conclude their business.

"I apologize, Young Master Astarion, but crafting a sword from astro iron would take at least a month, given the time required to forge a weapon from such material," Alex explained, trying to manage Astarion's expectations.

"Can't you find a ready-made one?" Astarion asked, looking for alternatives.

"I'm afraid that's not possible within six hours," Alex said, shaking his head, indicating the difficulty of the request.

"Then get me a sword made from crystal iron. That should be easier to acquire, shouldn't it?" Astarion suggested, seeking a compromise.

"I can do that," Alex confirmed, relieved. Their Nexus Tower had a sword made from crystal iron in stock. While crystal iron wasn't as durable as astro iron, it was still considered the second strongest metal on Earth,

As Astarion requested a sword, Alex didn't take it too seriously. It's common among the upper and wealthy clans to adopt behaviors reminiscent of nobles from the past, such as learning swordsmanship and using primitive weapons.

"Then, please excuse me. I need to go and make arrangements for the purchases," Alex said as he left the room, leaving Astarion alone.

"12,000 tons of gold should be enough for the zombie and beast apocalypse," Astarion thought to himself. The reason he was purchasing so much gold is straightforward: because tomorrow, the apocalypse will begin.

And the currency currently in use by people will become worthless. After all, there's no one who would risk their life for some pieces of paper, and metals like gold and silver will become the universal currency.

The value of gold will rise to a point where a single human could be sold for just a few gold coins. In the apocalypse, slave trading will become more of a business than a crime, as there are literally no laws.

The reason Astarion purchased Wraith Mountain is because it was an opportunity from his half-brother and the first protagonist. Now, Astarion can't let someone have something good.

As Astarion looked out the window, the entire city view could be seen. The floor he was currently on was neither too low nor too high but perfect for scenery like this.

Everything could be seen: children playing in the ground while laughing, people walking on the road, taking to their family.

[Master, this view is beautiful, right?] Sol said.

"It sure is," Astarion replied with a cold expression as he looked over the city.

[Let's burn it down.]

"That's a good ide- cough cough," Astarion started to agree before he caught himself, realizing what he was about to condone.

"Sol, what do you take me for? Do you think I'm a monster who would burn down an entire city just because I feel like it? I am a law-abiding citizen. I won't do anything that is against the law," Astarion said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"That's why we'll burn down this city during the apocalypse," Astarion concluded.