The shops were only a few hundred metres away, and Logan reached them quickly.
The First Expanse was vast beyond comprehension, filled with deadly regions and mysteries that were still not fully explored despite being aeons old. Earth had established several bases within it, and the one Logan currently stood in was the very first.
It resembled a small town, complete with rows of shops and government facilities woven neatly together. Logan had dreamed of coming here countless times, imagining what it would look like.
And now that he was finally here, he could admit it had surpassed his every expectation.
A wide road stretched ahead of him, flanked on both sides by shops of all kinds. Some were glamorous and eye-catching with their glass fronts polished to perfection, practically dragging your attention there. While others were modest and practical, clearly catering to those who didn't have a large sum of money.
Logan's gaze moved carefully from one storefront to another, looking for the one that fit his budget.
After walking down the lane for a while, he stepped into a decent-looking shop tucked between two larger establishments.
CLICK!
The door rattled softly as he pushed it open.
"Welcome, kid. What would you like to buy?" an old man asked Logan, warmly welcoming him in. The man had a long white beard that flowed down to his chest, and a gentle smile formed on his face as he looked at Logan.
"Good day, sir. I would like to buy an amethyst shard and a psychic fruit. What are your rates?"
The old man nodded and disappeared into the backroom. Moments later, he returned carrying two large red boxes and placed them carefully on the counter.
"The shards are five hundred dollars each, and the fruit is a thousand. Feel free to choose whichever you like."
The shop owner opened the boxes one by one.
Inside the first lay neatly arranged amethyst crystals, their surfaces gleaming with a deep purple colour. In the second one rested several pink fruits, smooth and faintly luminous under the shop lights.
Logan stared at them and quietly activated his Evolution Vision.
His brown eyes shifted to gold with a faint glow flickering within them as his gaze settled on the materials before him. Just as he had expected, the ability revealed the energy contained within each item.
The more energy they had, the higher quality they were of.
Logan began with the amethyst shards, subtly moving them aside one by one in search of the best specimen. To normal eyes, they were nearly identical. But through his vision, the differences were obvious.
Each crystal held energy that moved like tiny fireflies trapped inside glass. Some flickered weakly, while others burned brighter, their concentrated energy glowing like miniature light bulbs.
During the shuffling, Logan found one that was completely different from the rest. The energy inside it was overflowing, as if it were barely containing itself. If the others were like lightbulbs and fireflies, this one was like a tiny star struggling to stay confined.
Logan picked it up, glancing at the smiling shopkeeper while suppressing the excitement rising in his chest. If the shard's energy were properly measured, it would easily be worth at least fifty thousand dollars.
Thankfully, the shopkeeper had not appraised it, which was a common thing in small shops. They purchased their goods in bulk, and sometimes you could find diamond disguising as coal in such shops.
"I'll take this one," Logan said, trying to not sound too excited before moving on to the next box.
Just like before, he could see the energy within each fruit clearly. After examining them carefully, he found one with extremely high psychic energy. It was smaller than the rest, almost the size of a grape, and looked rather ordinary.
But the energy it contained was immense.
Sadly, there was only one of that quality. If there had been more, he would have bought them all and resold them later. Still, obtaining two top-quality ingredients at such a low price already felt like Lady Luck was smiling upon him.
"Please pack this as well," Logan said, handing the fruit to the old man.
"You are such a well-behaved kid. I like you," the old shopkeeper said as he packed the materials. Just then, he added another small red box to the bundle.
"Huh, what's this?" Logan asked, confused as he looked at the extra box.
"Since you look like a newcomer to the Vast Expanse, I would like to give you a dagger to help you out. You are a kind child, after all."
Logan was skeptical for a moment at the sudden gesture of kindness. But seeing no immediate harm, he accepted the red box and paid for the materials.
"Thank you for your kindness, sir," Logan said with a slight bow as he turned to leave the shop.
As he stepped outside, the old man's voice followed him.
"Be careful out there… and always remember."
His tone had subtly changed.
"In the Vast Expanse, even the smallest of details matter."
Logan nodded at the warning and left, making sure every word stayed with him.
Outside the shop, he opened his wallet and checked the remaining money. He had been saving for years, waiting for this exact opportunity. After the purchase, he still had three thousand dollars left. That would have to be enough for food essentials and, if possible, a piece of leather armor.
Logan moved across different shops, haggling where he could and carefully buying only what he truly needed. He kept track of every expense. By the time he was done, a huge bag rested on his shoulder, filled with food and daily essentials. Strapped to his body was a simple leather chestplate.
That was all the armor he could afford.
Even that had only been possible because the first shopkeeper had given him a dagger for free.
Logan pulled out the dagger once more, examining it closely. It looked ordinary, with a short handle and a sharp blade. However, a small gem was embedded near the hilt, dotted with tiny black specks.
He did not think much of it and slid it back into place.
Adjusting the bag on his shoulder, Logan began walking toward the exit of the human base.
Ahead of him lay the real Vast Expanse, filled with dangerous nightmares and ancient legacies waiting to be discovered.