"I'd like to buy some of your low-grade items."

"What?" Axton blinked.

The request was unusual.

Nobody willingly threw money at low-grade junk unless they were desperate collectors or resellers.

The latter being true for Axton.

He tilted his head slightly, studying her expression.

"Why?" he asked.

QueenBee didn't hesitate.

Her voice was steady, her eyes sharper than before. "I need to empower my guild. What happened here opened my eyes. We can't keep relying on you, Khan."

Her tone carried no resentment, no arrogance—only determination and the will to grow from where she and Dragon Claw currently are.

Axton narrowed his eyes.

He had seen QueenBee many times before, but this was the first time he noticed that spark burning in her gaze.

She had been shaken by the invasion, and now, instead of shrinking, she was determined to rise.

"Don't get me wrong," she added quickly. "We still need you, but what happens if you're not there? We need to fend for ourselves too."

Axton let out a small chuckle. "That's a good mindset."

He summoned his inventory and scrolled through his collection. "Fine. I'll sell you what I don't need anymore."

In an instant, his backpack materialized.

He sorted out everything that ranged from common to grade 2.

These were items that were practically useless to him at this point but still valuable for an entire guild of players trying to catch up.

Some of these items had been obtained directly from demons he killed.

Some of them he had before now.

Others were gathered by his clone from the members of Grand Nexus after their humiliating defeat.

All in all, it was a hefty pile.

One by one, he selected the items and prepared them for trade.

******

A few minutes later, the total cost appeared on QueenBee's interface.

Her eyes twitched violently.

'I didn't expect them to cost this much…'

The number glaring back at her was enough to make her chest tighten.

For a moment, she wondered if she had bitten off more than she could chew.

Axton, on the other hand, looked completely unbothered.

QueenBee cleared her throat awkwardly. "Ahem. I'll… get back to you. This decision isn't mine alone to make."

The amount involved wasn't something she could authorize with a snap of her fingers.

She needed the approval of someone higher and more powerful and she knew just the right person for that.

There was one person who could make the final decision on such a large-scale investment.

"Please, wait here," QueenBee said quickly. "I'll be back in a sec."

She turned and hurried away.

Axton watched her leave, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

He was both happy and impressed.

Happy that he was going to make money from the deal, and impressed, because of the fire he saw in QueenBee's eyes.

'Looks like even QueenBee is evolving,' he asserted in his mind.

'Not bad. The stronger my allies get, the easier it is for me to move freely.'

A small part of him wondered who she was running to and whether that person would actually agree to her request or turn it into something far more troublesome.

He couldn't tell for sure.

******

(Real World)

QueenBee, now back in the real world as her natural self, Crystal, slowly removed her gear and leaned back in her chair, exhaling as if she had just finished running a marathon.

Sweat clung lightly to her forehead, and her chest rose and fell as she let the exhaustion seep out of her body.

"Phew…" she muttered, dragging a hand through her hair. "Thank God that hectic event is finally over."

Her words were soft, almost swallowed by the quiet hum of her room.

Yet the exhaustion wasn't just physical.

Crystal hadn't logged out just to rest.

She had something more pressing — something important enough that she had to consult her elder brother, Trey, before diving back into the virtual world where Axton was surely waiting.

Crystal pushed herself out of the chair, legs wobbling briefly before finding balance.

She stretched, cracked her neck, and with quick steps headed out of her room, down the carpeted hallway, and straight toward her elder brother's office.

*Knock* *Knock*

Two knocks against the heavy wooden door.

"Come in," a deep voice called faintly from inside.

Crystal opened the door and peeked in.

There he was.

Trey sat comfortably in his black spinning chair, his tone calm and professional as he handled a phone call.

His home office was neatly arranged — shelves lined with leather-bound books, a large desk with dual monitors glowing, and a faint smell of coffee lingering in the air.

The moment Trey spotted her, his serious expression melted into a warm smile.

He lifted a hand, waved her in and gestured toward the cushioned chair across from him.

"Let's continue this later," Trey said into his phone. "I've got some other things to take care of."

He ended the call, set the phone aside, and gave his full attention to his sister.

"What's good, sis?"

Crystal sighed and sat down, leaning forward until her elbows pressed against the edge of the desk.

She propped her face in her palms, almost like a sulking child, but her tone was laced with subtle urgency.

"I need to buy some drops from Khan. It's… a lot. And you know I don't have the authority to make that kind of decision alone."

Trey raised an eyebrow.

"Drops?" he repeated. "From Khan, huh?"

When he saw how serious she looked, he couldn't help but chuckle.

"Hahaha! That's what this is about? If you think it's beneficial for the guild and ties into our bigger plans, then go ahead."

Crystal blinked, then slowly leaned back into her chair.

A glimmer of excitement bloomed on her face, her lips curving into a smile.

"Really?"

Trey nodded once. A solid, confident nod.

"Yes. But…" he tilted his head. "How much are we talking about here? In real cash."

Crystal hesitated, biting her lower lip before pressing her finger thoughtfully against her chin.

"About… $2.5 million."

The words dropped like stones into the room.

For a moment Trey simply stared at her and then, to her surprise, he leaned back in his chair and shook his head — not in refusal, but with a dry laugh.

"I was thinking you'd ask for something even more outrageous," he admitted. "But if it's just that sum, then fine. You have my permission."

Crystal's eyes widened. "Thanks, big bro!"

She nearly sprang out of the chair in excitement, but Trey's calm voice anchored her in place.

"Just make sure," he said, his tone suddenly sharp, "that this investment is for our benefit. If you burn millions and we get nothing in return, you'll have me to deal with."

Crystal's head bobbed up and down rapidly like a pecking bird.

"Definitely. I promise it will be worth it."

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