The city lights shimmered behind them like ghosts of ambition as Saelyn's sleek black vehicle rolled into the quiet district. The change in atmosphere was immediate—no towering skylines, no fast foot traffic. Just silence, shadows, and buildings long forgotten.
"This is the tech redevelopment zone," Saelyn said as she stepped out. "Old shells. Dead startups. Good infrastructure beneath the dust."
Raen followed in silence, the hood of his worn black hoodie pulled up against the breeze. His eyes scanned the modest buildings—none of them flashy, most barely holding on. But that was what he liked. No eyes. No noise. Just potential.
"I don't want anything massive," he said, his voice even. "Forget big halls and labs with logos plastered on glass. I need something compact. Quiet. Sleek."
Saelyn tilted her head. "You're thinking cockpit over kingdom."
"Exactly. A lab that doesn't look like one. Controlled. Breathable."
They visited a few buildings. The first was a gutted biotech firm, too large. The second had smart windows and voice-activated systems, but too many previous owners had left behind ghosts and clutter.
Then they found it.
A narrow, three-story structure tucked behind a low alley. Reinforced foundation, thin steel-frame architecture, minimalist design. Concrete and glass with a smart-lock system on every level. Nothing remarkable from the outside—but Raen's expression sharpened the moment he stepped in.
"This is it," he said.
Saelyn glanced around. "Doesn't look like much."
"It's perfect," Raen murmured. "A quiet structure for loud ideas."
The interior was clean but empty. Old workstations. A basement rigged for backup power. Data ports already embedded in the walls. Raen walked slowly through each floor, mapping his lab in his mind.
"We're going to need a public face," Saelyn said, following him. "You still want silent ownership, I assume?"
"I do." He paused. "You'll pick three people from your side. Trusted. No politics. One of them can be the front. The other two will work directly with me."
"Any specialties in mind?"
"Code. Robotics. Systems theory. I don't care about their resumes. I care if they'll die for you. I'm not letting spies into ARKBOUND."
She gave a quiet laugh. "You want loyalty cult-level."
"I'm risking myself. And the tech I'm about to build... no one's ever seen it."
She watched him a moment longer. "I'll find them."
Raen nodded, tugging the edge of his hoodie down slightly. "This is where ARKBOUND starts. Quiet. Focused. Under the radar."
They stepped back outside. The alley's silence welcomed them like an omen. A beginning. A foundation.
Saelyn tapped her comm. "The walls around the village will be done in four weeks."
"And security?"
"Already handled."
"Good." Raen gave the building one last glance. "By the time those walls are done, I'll have the builders ready."