A few hours had passed since Moon had received his badge. The monthly awakener stipend had already flowed into his bank account, ten thousand dollars, standard rate for registered awakeners regardless of level. It wasn't major wealth, but it was stability, giving awakeners a breathing room.

He'd decided to replace his old phone first. He purchased a mid-range model, nothing flashy, basic functions, and got it activated immediately. It had cost him about $500, which was decently priced.

Then he made his second major decision: purchasing a membership to the Trading Centre, one of the most prestigious exchange centres in the city.

The Trading Centre wasn't just a marketplace.

It was the marketplace, a global network where awakeners bought and sold sanctuary materials, information and equipment.

Membership wasn't cheap, requiring both upfront payment and monthly dues, but the benefits were substantial.

Verified buyers, fair market prices, secure transactions, and most importantly, complete anonymity for high-value trades.

Moon needed that anonymity. He had a level twenty Winter Beast corpse and days worth of accumulated materials in his storage ring. Selling through legitimate channels meant taxes and records, but the Trading Centre's privacy policies ensured his transactions wouldn't be flagged for unusual volume or value.

This information would only be given to any major power if there was a compelling reason. Such as an investigation into homicide and criminal records.

Even the awakener's association couldn't force the Trading Centre to give out the information on awakener's trades. After all, the owner of the Trading Centre was one of the few Fourth Sanctuary awakeners, with powers that could topple countries.

He completed the membership registration online, paying the initial fee of two thousand dollars. His account was approved within the hour.

As he navigated the application, Moon found himself reflecting on how much the world had changed since the collapse.

After the apocalypse descended over two hundred years ago, multiple nations had been completely wiped from existence, erased by rift breaks, overrun by monsters, their populations scattered or dead. The survivors had faced a choice: continue fighting amongst themselves or unite against the existential threat that had nearly ended humanity.

They chose unity, or at least, they chose consolidation.

Politics weren't completely removed—that would be impossible—but the old national boundaries had dissolved. The remaining powers reorganized themselves into four major superpowers, with a handful of weaker regional authorities operating under their protection or by themselves.

The four major powerhouses of humanity were:

The first major powerhouse is the United Terran Alliance (UTA), in which Moon is currently situated.

Consisting of the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central American nations (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador…), and the Caribbean island nations.

The capital is called New Avalon, formerly Washington D.C., rebuilt and expanded.

The UTA was known to be the richest in Gate density and beast material resources among the four major powerhouses. The UTA controlled more active sanctuary gates per square kilometre than any other power, making it the primary source of raw materials and the wealthiest superpower by GDP. Their economy ran on sanctuary resources.

The second major powerhouse is the Eastern Dawn Confederation (EDC)

Consisting of China, Japan, Korea, and neighbouring Asian countries that had survived the collapse.

The capital is called Tianlong Nexus (built on the ruins of Beijing and Shanghai, merged into a single megacity)

The EDC is known for their ancient cultivation techniques merged with modern awakening systems, and the highest population density. The EDC had successfully integrated pre-collapse martial traditions with sanctuary abilities, creating hybrid classes unique to their region. Their sheer numbers meant they produced more awakeners than any other power.

The third major powerhouse is The Eternal Covenant

Consisting of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and other surviving European nations.

The capital is called Luminar City (built on unified ground between former Paris, Brussels, and Luxembourg)

They are known for their most advanced gate research and magical theory. The Covenant's academic institutions led the world in understanding sanctuary mechanics, skill evolution, and the information about various beast clans. Their aristocratic awakener houses maintained significant political and economic influence, creating a semi-feudal power structure wrapped in modern bureaucracy.

The last major powerhouse is The Sahara Dominion

Consisting of Egypt, South Africa, Morocco, and other unified African nations.

The capital is called Kingdoms' Rest

Out of the four powerhouse, they were the youngest superpower but rapidly growing due to their large abundance of materials that had started emerging there. The Dominion had been underestimated initially, but their aggressive expansion into sanctuary territories and strategic control of Mediterranean gates had elevated them to nearly equal status with the older powers. They were hungry, ambitious, and unencumbered by the political baggage the other superpowers carried.

Moon lived in New Avalon, the heart of the UTA. It meant he had access to the best sanctuary resources and the most active trading markets. It also meant more competition, more scrutiny, and more danger from the sheer density of high-level awakeners concentrated in one location.

But for now, that worked in his favor. It was easier to disappear in a crowd than to stand out in isolation.

His new phone buzzed with a notification, his Trading Centre membership was fully activated. He could now access the marketplace.

Moon allowed himself a small smile. He had already completed multiple goals he had set for the day, he had registered himself, gained new income stream, and signed up to the trading centre.

♢♢♢♢

Arriving before the Trading Centre building, it was massive. It was a large skyscraper filled with an abundance of items, information, and Awakeners.

Only the best of the best could enter the higher floors, whilst first sanctuary awakeners were limited to the first ten floors. Still, these floors were filled with all kinds of wonders.

Moon entered after scanning his card, and nodding at the guards standing outside the building. The guards were only first sanctuary awakeners, but Moon wasn't arrogant enough to believe that was it.

This building housed materials that came from even the third sanctuary, naturally, the stronger awakeners were hidden deeper inside.

"Hello, sir. How can I help you?" The voice of a young man entered Moon's ears.

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