After ordering and waiting a couple of minutes, Asher and Russet were now settled in their booth, each with their treats in hand.
Asher casually sipped on his milkshake, while Russet had opted for a strawberry shortcake ice cream sandwich.
Russet's eyes lit up with pleasant surprise after the first bite.
"Oh, wow, this is amazing. Way better than the ice cream sandwiches I usually get delivered to my house."
"I'm glad you like it." Asher smiled, taking another sip of his milkshake before setting it aside.
"Now, we should probably get down to business before we give ourselves brain freezes, right?" Russet pulled himself away from enjoying his treat, quickly swallowing another bite and wiping his hands clean with some napkins he grabbed from the dispenser on the table.
"Of course, but um... I still haven't exactly been told why we're meeting. They mentioned you're interested in buying some more property?" Russet smoothly shifted into real estate mode, eager to figure out what exactly had caught Asher's attention.
He was feeling slightly nervous—or perhaps just awkward—because of who Asher was, but managed to hide it well enough.
Asher leaned comfortably back into the booth, folding his hands neatly on the table and giving a thoughtful nod.
"That's right. I need to buy a building to use for my company. I'll be doing lots of construction work, so the building's current condition doesn't matter. Ideally, I'd like something with plenty of room to expand—maybe fifteen to twenty thousand square meters or more?" Russet listened closely, his interest piqued even further when he heard the mention of a company.
"Oh? Frostvale Enterprises is expanding down into Mantle?" That would be huge news, though Russet knew better than to risk leaking information like that.
Realizing there was a misunderstanding, Asher shook his head.
"Oh, no. Not my family's company. I'm starting my own, called Karatheon. It'll be handling a lot of projects down in Mantle, so I figured it'd be best to set up a base there."
Russet's curiosity, already evident from thinking about Frostvale Enterprises possibly expanding, only increased further after learning about Asher's new company.
The heir to Frostvale Enterprises is starting his own company? Could it be a shell company for something else? No, that doesn't add up. Why would they bother buying property for a front? Maybe he really is planning to run a business himself, despite his age. He did buy that warehouse.
Even though I'm not sure exactly what renovations he's done there, the regular shipments going in and out prove it's definitely active. Maybe that's connected somehow.
Russet wasn't simply being nosy—his mind was carefully weighing possibilities. Exactly as he'd hoped, doing business with Asher once had opened another door, and this opportunity had real potential. Becoming the preferred real estate broker for someone starting a new company was like finding a golden goose.
Honestly, it didn't even matter if the company succeeded or not, as long as property was getting bought and sold. But if it did take off, it could quickly snowball into something much bigger.
I can't let this chance slip by.
Keeping the details Asher provided firmly in mind, Russet reached for his briefcase, which he'd set down beside him earlier, and clicked it open. It unfolded neatly, revealing everything he might need when working outside his office—business cards, his real estate broker license, proof of identity, and even the paperwork he'd needed upon arriving in Atlas.
Russet quickly pulled out a binder, something he always brought when meeting potential clients. It was organized precisely to list and categorize nearly all available properties from his agency.
Placing it on the table, he opened it and began flipping through pages while continuing to speak with Asher.
"So, you're looking for properties above fifteen thousand square meters. You mentioned the building's current state doesn't matter—does that mean something dysfunctional or even completely abandoned would be fine?"
Asher, who had resumed sipping his milkshake, nodded thoughtfully, eyes scanning each page as property after property flashed by, complete with detailed listings and pictures.
"Hmm," Russet murmured to himself, pausing on a particular page and quickly reading something before looking up again.
"When you mentioned handling construction, does that also include potential demolition?"
"Possibly," Asher answered casually.
"I'll likely keep some foundations intact, but I have specific ideas for how the building should look. As for the location itself, that's not too critical for me. This won't be a store, so foot traffic isn't important." Understanding that, Russet nodded in silence and continued carefully flipping through the binder.
Several minutes later, he stopped on a page and glanced up with confidence.
"Alright, I think we have two properties here that fit your specifications."
Finishing off his milkshake, Asher motioned for Russet to continue.
"Tell me about them."
"Alright, so the first property is around eighteen thousand square meters," Russet began, smoothly shifting into explanation mode. "It's a single building constructed within the last decade. Unfortunately, it burned down a couple of years back. Before that happened, it belonged to a pharmaceutical company. They weren't doing very well financially, and after the fire, they couldn't afford to rebuild, so they just sold it."
Russet turned his binder around, sliding it toward Asher so he could take a look.
Glancing down at the open page, Asher saw the property Russet described. Two images stood out. The first showed how the building looked before the fire—a sleek, modern structure, clearly influenced by Atlas's architectural style despite being located in Mantle.
All of that was gone in the second image, taken after the fire. The building's core structure had survived since it was mainly stone and metal, but the windows had shattered, and everything was severely scorched. Even the surrounding landscape had been reduced to dirt, darkened and covered in soot and ash.
Noticing where Asher was focusing, Russet spoke up again, "As you can see, the area around the building is badly burned. It's not impossible to fix, but it would definitely mean extra work and costs if you wanted it looking presentable again. Still, there is one bonus—no surrounding buildings, so plenty of room to work."
"Hmhm," Asher acknowledged softly, nodding slightly.
Well, it's certainly large enough, four stories high. But it doesn't match the blueprints I have in mind. Nothing here is really salvageable. I'd have to tear it all down completely and rebuild from scratch. I'd basically just be paying for the land itself.
After considering that briefly, Asher pushed the binder back toward Russet.
"What about the second option?"
At Asher's request, Russet quickly flipped through the pages again, already launching into details about the second property.
"While the first building is near Mantle's residential area, this second property sits closer to the wall that separates Mantle from the crater. Because of that, its price per square meter is a bit lower. The building itself used to be a research lab owned by the Schnee Dust Company, back when the crater was still an active mining operation. Naturally, that means it's very outdated."
Once again, Russet rotated the binder toward Asher and slid it across the table as he continued.
"The Schnee Dust Company sold it to us because it had become nothing more than a financial burden. It's been disconnected from the city's power grid and water system for a long time now, so you'll have to dig those up and reconnect everything from scratch. The structure itself is in decent shape, though heavily neglected. The entire property covers around twenty-one thousand square meters."
"The Schnee Dust Company? Now that's interesting," Asher mused aloud, studying the images closely.
True to Schnee Dust Company and Atlas style, the building was originally mostly white—or at least it had been. The paint was now peeling and worn away. Rather than a single building, the property was more of a complex, explaining its larger size. Beyond an old, crumbling statue of Nicholas Schnee at the front, stood the main structure.
The central building, likely meant for reception and welcoming visitors, was only two stories high. It connected via a skywalk to a larger building to its right, which seemed to have been the primary laboratory. On its left side, there was a corridor at ground level, turning sharply to connect to another building.
In total, the property included about four separate structures.
Compared to the first option, Asher could more easily visualize how he would renovate this one without needing to demolish everything completely.
Russet, noticing Asher's rhythmic tapping against the table and the focused look on his face, immediately knew this was the property he preferred.
After a brief pause, Asher confirmed his thoughts.
"This one looks good. How much is it?"
Russet glanced upward at the ceiling briefly, recalling the details.
"I believe the listed price is around Ⱡ28,000,000, but that's completely negotiable."
Asher nodded to himself and slid out of the booth, standing up.
"Sounds perfect. Would you mind if we go take a look at it before I make any decisions?" he asked, grabbing his empty milkshake cup and tossing it into a nearby trash can.
"Oh, uh, of course, Mr- I mean, Asher." Russet caught himself and quickly packed his binder back into his suitcase, finished off the rest of his melting ice cream sandwich, and hurried to follow Asher, who was already making his way toward the door.
Outside, Asher was heading for the parked convoy, his bodyguards flanking him on either side. Russet had to move quickly to keep up.
Altogether, the trip took about an hour. That included the drive to the transport hub, the flight down to Mantle, and then another drive with Asher's secondary private security once they reached the city. They spent most of the next hour at the property itself, with Asher thoroughly inspecting everything.
Just as he had with the warehouse, Asher made a point to walk the entire property, going into each building and checking out every room and stairway. The structures were still sound, so there were no immediate concerns. As they moved through the place, Asher asked Russet detailed questions, studying the materials and the construction methods used for the old research lab.
Russet found the level of scrutiny unusual—most buyers didn't inspect a site this closely themselves, especially if they were planning on heavy renovations. Still, he didn't question it and simply followed along.
For Asher, this was about more than just due diligence. He was increasing his assimilation percentage of the property within the Nexus Space. Just from Russet's binder and the details provided earlier, he'd already reached about five to ten percent. With every new question and careful look at the site, that percentage climbed, rising another thirty percent by the time he was done.
The rest would come from reviewing the property documents, blueprints, and related records Russet would send him. Once he pushed past fifty percent, the Nexus Space would simulate the entire property, and then he could start drafting his own blueprints based on a complete digital model.
When they were finished, Asher and Russet stood at the entrance to the walled-off area surrounding the property. Asher gave the building one last careful look, then nodded, clearly satisfied.
"Yeah, this place will work perfectly. Is it alright if I use an escrow-based purchase? Most of my funds are still on the way. I already have a conditional sales contract for the car ready to sign, and I can provide proof of the pending income."
Russet's expression didn't change—he nodded eagerly, an understanding smile on his face.
"Of course, that won't be a problem at all." If this had been a new client on their own, he might have hesitated, but with Asher? Were the Frostvales lacking in money? Plus, there was no way Asher would risk his family's reputation over something like this.
By the time the day wound down, Asher was already heading home, feeling the steady rumble of the partially armored truck he'd grown used to riding in. It was late, and the blue lights of Atlas's buildings shone through his window, mingling with the clear, starry sky above the city.
Watching people walk along the sidewalks and cars drift past, their shadows flickering across the streets, Asher found himself reflecting on the day's progress.
Russet had been more cooperative than he'd expected. Not only was the payment process smooth, but even though the official ownership transfer would have to wait until the first installment of his parents' contract cleared, Russet had given him early access to the site so he could start work right away.
It was a show of trust Asher appreciated—it meant he could get started on his plans much sooner.
After a few quiet moments, Asher reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his scroll. He navigated to his contacts and called Lionel, the Frostvale family butler. Lionel was reliable for almost everything, and Asher had relied on him to handle most of his renovation and installation projects.
As always, the call only rang twice before Lionel picked up.
"Young Master?" Came the butler's smooth, familiar voice.
"Hello, Lionel. Everything going well at home?" Asher asked, leaning back comfortably in his seat.
Lionel answered with his usual well-mannered tone.
"Of course, Young Master. In fact, I was just about to send you a message. Your parents will be dining out tonight for a dinner invitation, so the chefs are at your disposal this evening."
"Oh, really? Hm, I'll have to decide what I want when I get home, then. I'm only a couple of minutes away. Anyway, I need a favor. You still have the contact for the general contractor we usually use—the one who renovated the attic and helped with my warehouse?"
"Yes, would you like me to send you their information?" Lionel offered.
"That'd be perfect. I have a new construction project that needs their attention, and they've done great work so far. Let them know this one's a little different from before—they won't be paid directly by me, my parents, or Frostvale Enterprises, but by my new company. Also, let them know they'll be helping me test out some new construction equipment."
"I'll take care of it right away. And congratulations on your new company, Young Master. I wish you the best of luck." Lionel's words were sincere. He had been part of the Frostvale family for years and had watched Asher grow up. He'd taken Asher's coma almost as hard as his parents had, and it was obvious he had become even more attentive after Asher recovered.
"Thank you, Lionel. I'll be home soon." With that, Asher ended the call, slipped his scroll back into his pocket, and settled in to enjoy the quiet of the ride home.
=====================================•=====================================
December 21st, 2033
Asher's workshop buzzed with the steady hum of machinery, all layered beneath the rhythm of classical music drifting from hidden speakers.
Seated at his computer, Asher's hands moved quickly over the keyboard as he worked on some new software while an AI was fed freshly compiled training data, running quietly in the background.
Elsewhere in the workshop, Automated Assembly Arms glided along ceiling rails, coordinating with other pieces of automated equipment. Together, they assembled parts and 3D-printed gears Asher didn't have on hand.
At the center of the workshop sat his Optical Interface Terminal. It was on, projecting a three-dimensional hologram of what looked like a segmented mechanical leg in motion. With only a single leg displayed, its final purpose wasn't immediately clear. All the activity masked the sound of the hatch door sliding open with its usual mechanical smoothness.
Weiss and Whitley entered, stepping up into the workshop.
The two of them rarely saw Asher's workspace in full operation, so they paused, momentarily amazed by the flurry of activity.
"Looks like he's working on something—well, more than usual," Whitley remarked, choosing not to disturb Asher right away. Instead, he wandered over to the Optical Interface Terminal, eyes drawn to the animated hologram.
Ever since they met, Whitley's interest in engineering and mechanics had taken off. He already knew a lot about dust and the tech built around it, but his fascination with Asher's creations was something deeper.
Weiss was curious as well, glancing around for a moment before quietly making her way toward Asher, who was still focused on his keyboard. Her eyes narrowed with a hint of mischief as an idea came to her, and she crept up behind him as silently as she could.
When she got close enough, she leaned forward and whispered directly into his ear.
"Boo." Weiss watched as Asher's hands froze for a second before he turned his chair and looked up at her, already smiling.
"Oh, hey," he greeted her casually, then glanced over to notice Whitley near the Optical Interface Terminal.
Weiss frowned, a little disappointed.
"Seriously? I didn't scare you at all? I could've been anyone."
Asher chuckled, shaking his head.
"Not really. I put a scanner on the hatch a while ago. It wouldn't let anyone unfamiliar or dangerous in."
Weiss rolled her eyes but smiled, clearly amused.
"Of course you thought of everything."
Asher only shrugged, then gently grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer. Weiss didn't resist, her knee bumping the edge of his chair as she bent down to kiss him. The warmth between them was unmistakable, their lips meeting in a way that felt perfectly familiar.
A faint sound of disgust came from Whitley.
"Ugh."
They broke apart as Weiss straightened up, shooting her brother a look. Whitley pretended he hadn't said anything and instead focused on Asher, his curiosity getting the better of him.
"So what exactly are you working on this time?" Whitley asked, eyes flicking back to the hologram on the Optical Interface Terminal.
Asher followed his gaze, then grinned.
"Something that'll help build the future."