Chapter 9 - 9: Acquisition

Kian had been shuffling in line for over half an hour. His legs were starting to twitch with impatience by the time he finally reached the front.

The attendant from the Mercator Aqua (The Water Guild) didn't look up. He simply held out a gloved, grime-stained hand. No greeting. No eye contact. If Kian didn't produce payment within three seconds, the Guild's enforcers would introduce him to the business end of an electric maul.

Kian didn't hesitate. He pulled out a single Agri-Scrip—the local currency of 496b.

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