They Still Don’t Know Me

Jimmy then went to his room and came back with Bruno. Peeko is still sleeping

Veyrith City – South District Market

The afternoon sun bore down on Veyrith, casting soft golden hues across rooftops and glass awnings. But down in the heart of the South District Market, shadows and noise reigned supreme. Shouting vendors, clinking cookware, the sharp clatter of mechanical fans, and wave after wave of pedestrians clogged every narrow aisle.

Jimmy stood at the edge, hood up, blindfold in place. He barely moved for several minutes, letting the noise wash over him like rain. Bruno, tucked in his earpiece, whispered softly:

:: Entrance density is 89%. Navigating through risk of contact with 12 people. Shall I scan for a faster entry route? ::

[Sign: "No. I'll wait."]

And he waited — until the crowd parted slightly, giving him just enough of a gap.

Without drawing attention, Jimmy stepped in. His coat brushed past baskets of gleaming fruit and dried junks. He ignored them all.

Veyrith Apotheka – Licensed High-Tier Medical & Enhancement Goods.

He slipped through the entrance of the mid-sized store, where chilled air and a faint scent of sterilized herbs calmed the chaos outside. The reception hall was moderately packed, mostly students and trainers arguing over prices or checking ingredients for custom Whisp diets.

Jimmy didn't approach the counter.

He moved quietly to a side table, where an older man sat, half-dozing with a magazine in hand. The man looked up slowly.

"Help you?"

Jimmy leaned slightly forward.

"I want to buy high-grade potions. S or A. Anything available."

The man blinked, suddenly more alert. Without another word, he tapped the counter twice. A door opened at the back.

"Manager," he called. "Private room."

Jimmy followed silently.

Private Room – 12:42 PM

The room was small but clean. Metallic shelves lined the walls, housing carefully sorted potions sealed in hex-crystal bottles. The air smelled of mana and refrigeration mist.

The store manager arrived moments later—a sharp-eyed man with silver-rimmed glasses, hair slicked back, and an apron cleaner than a Nexus lab coat. He carried a small crate of dry Whisp food.

"Good afternoon. You asked for high-grade potions?" he asked politely.

Jimmy nodded.

"What grades do you stock?"

"Up to S-grade," the manager replied proudly.

Jimmy didn't hesitate.

"What about SS-grade… or above?"

The manager's face twitched slightly. He chuckled under his breath.

"Young man… you think those are sold like cabbages at a vegetable stall?" He leaned back. "SS-grade potions!!, They are reserved—for aristocrats, royal guild heirs, or major syndicates. They're crafted by legacy alchemists or grown through time-laced vats."

Jimmy didn't react. Instead, he calmly reached into his coat pocket and handed the man a folded slip of paper — where he put all things he needs.

The manager read it.

His lips parted.

He didn't speak.

He composed himself immediately. "Let me check our stocks."

He moved to a screen, typing rapidly.

"I don't have Lightning or Ice potions, I'm afraid. The processing cost is too high, and we don't sell them openly. However, I have grade Fire, two Water types, and one Flying-type booster in B-grade."

"Pack 15 of each," Jimmy said.

The manager whistled under his breath but nodded. "Right away."

He called in the assistant, a younger man who rushed off with a reinforced storage case.

Jimmy then slid another list across the table.

"I'll also need these fruits. Do you recommend any energy stabilizers?"

The manager was impressed.

"You're more prepared than most professionals. One second." He reached behind the counter, took out a thick manual titled Energy-Stabilizers: Volume VI, and scribbled down a short list.

Five minutes passed.

The assistant returned with neatly packed potions, stored in temperature-controlled cases. He left again for the fruits.

Jimmy tapped the counter once more.

"Anything that helps strengthen physical endurance?"

"Of course." The manager smiled. "Bring the A-grade tonic."

A moment later, three A-grade potions were set before Jimmy in amber crystal vials.

Jimmy nodded. "Pack them."

He reached into his coat again and produced a silver card. The man blinked.

"A Nexus Prime Clearance Card…" he whispered.

He instantly snapped on black handling gloves.

Even the assistant froze mid-step.

"Damn…" the young man muttered, both impressed and suddenly nervous.

The manager forced a composed smile, pulling out a digital slate. He ran the total — with a 20% Nexus clearance discount — and said:

"Thank you for choosing us. Your total comes to—"

Jimmy had already swiped.

The machine beeped. Approved.

"You want this delivered, sir?"

Jimmy nodded and passed a location slip.

"Deliver here. Keep it discreet. Make a order of those portions and give it quickly in 1 week."

"Of course. Don't worry, it will come tomorrow. We will call you tomorrow. Free of charge. Everything will be at your doorstep within 15 minutes."

Jimmy adjusted his collar and said only:

"Have a good day."

The manager bowed.

"You too, sir. And… thank you for the business."

As Jimmy Stepped Outside...

The traffic had worsened. Lines of students and trainers filled the outer Nexus square, a new buzz rolling through the crowd.

But Jimmy caught sight of something else—

Near the medical alley exit, he saw four people standing: two Arcana agents in half-disguise, a plainclothes officer with a comm-unit, and the same girl he faced during the F-rank trial—red hair and all. Seyraflare stood beside her.

She glanced at him.

He said nothing.

He simply pulled his hood tighter and vanished into the crowd like smoke.

.......................

The main hall of the Nexus Registry Centre, buzzed with activity, even more than usual.

Today, security was doubled.

Two uniformed guards stood stiffly at the front gate, each wielding a wand-like scanner in one hand and a runic tablet in the other. A red rope barred the automatic doors behind them, and every person was being stopped and scanned thoroughly.

Jimmy rolled up slowly on his black bicycle, dismounted, and adjusted his blindfold.

As he approached the checkpoint, the guards immediately stepped forward.

"Hold up," one of them said firmly. "Routine security. We need to scan you."

Jimmy raised his arms silently in cooperation. The metal detector hovered over him — no abnormal readings. The only thing it beeped on was a small leather pouch clipped at his waist.

"Just a purse," the guard muttered, nodding to the other. "He's clean."

They unhooked the rope.

"You can go in."

Jimmy gave a polite nod and walked into the building. But he thinks 'today another VIP came and will sure go near my room'

Inside the Registry Lobby

The familiar air-conditioned hum welcomed him — along with the unmistakable smell of polished tiles and recently printed documents. The digital screens above rotated data: Trial Rankings, Whisp Training Slot Availability, Breeding Pair Requests.

Behind the main counter stood the same receptionist from earlier — a neatly dressed woman with sharp bangs and a crisp Nexus emblem on her shoulder badge.

She was currently engaged in conversation with a rotund man with a shiny bald head and too-tight sleeves.

As Jimmy approached, the receptionist caught sight of him over the man's shoulder.

Her tone changed instantly.

"Ohh! You!"

She waved at the man.

"Excuse me for a second."

He grumbled something, but backed away.

She turned her full attention to Jimmy.

"You're right on time." She took his ID card and slid it into the terminal. A small green light pulsed, and a soft beep followed.

"Data sync successful… new certification uploaded," she muttered.

She gave a smirk. "We've got a variety of fresh Whisps in stock today, you know. Rare elements too. Want to take a look? You've earned a few free selection tokens."

Jimmy shook his head.

[Sign: "I'll choose from my hometown Nexus. They've got higher quality stock."]

She blinked, then let out a teasing pout.

"Ohhh... so cold! Bad boy!"

Jimmy didn't react to the jab — instead, he calmly handed over another card.

She took it, flipped it, and her brows lifted. "Whisp Caretaker ID?"

Her fingers flew across the keyboard.

"You're also a registered Caretaker?" she asked.

Jimmy nodded, then spoke for the first time:

"How much time will it take to renew?"

The woman frowned in mock suspicion.

"Let me check…"

She tapped rapidly, calling up the caretaker records linked to his ID. Her screen flooded with data:

— Breeding Certifications: ✅

— Habitat Cleanliness Rating: A+

— Nutritional Regimen Logs: A

— Emotional Bond Strength (avg): A

— Rarity Handling Permission: Certified

— Volunteer Hours: 360+

Her eyes widened.

"Whoa… everything checks out. You've got A ratings across all Whisp breeding categories..."

She opened the renewal request window.

Just as she clicked the submit button, a soft ding rang from her terminal.

"…Already done?"

She blinked, checked the log again.

"Renewal complete. That was fast. Guess someone pre-cleared you in the system…"

Her jaw dropped as she read the updated info.

"You've been upgraded to B-Level Nexus Caretaker—and it's marked 'approved by central division.' That's better than our own staff average here!"

She grinned.

"You know… if you ever want a part-time job here, we could really use someone with your profile. You'd be teaching half the staff, honestly."

Jimmy smiled faintly.

"I don't have time."

He slipped the ID cards back into his coat pocket.

She sighed and leaned on the desk.

"Well, if you change your mind… ask for me. You'd get the red-ribbon coat."

Jimmy gave her a two-finger wave, turned, and walked out through the exit doors.

The street had quieted slightly as lunchtime approached, but the earlier buzz still lingered from the red-and-blue sky incident. Jimmy unlocked his bike and hopped on, weaving through slower pedestrians and side stalls.

His mind remained still — no distractions, no thoughts — just the wind brushing against his cheeks and the soft whirr of rubber against pavement.

A delivery cart from the potion store passed him in the opposite lane. He nodded at the driver, who smiled in recognition.

Jimmy's thoughts turned to Luna and the new-born Peeko, now asleep in his Mind's Garden.