Foundation of the Future

After the team settled on selling only five bots to Barron, Raen's mind was already five steps ahead. The numbers were exciting—but it wasn't just about money.

He turned to Nyra. "Reach out to Barron again. Tell him we'll need 625 million lux upfront—half the payment for the five bots."

Nyra raised an eyebrow. "You want him to pay that much without a single bot delivered?"

Raen nodded. "He knows what these bots are worth. And he's desperate enough to pay. The second he saw what they could do on that construction site, he was sold."

Nyra smirked. "Fair enough."

"Once he deposits," Raen continued, "I want you to buy as many bot parts as you can get your hands on. Bulk orders—no compromises. And we'll need a massive warehouse. Something scalable. High ceilings, industrial-grade floors, a secure location."

"For what?" Korin asked, looking intrigued.

"Mass production," Raen said simply. "This isn't about selling a few bots. We're going to manufacture them by the hundreds. Maybe more."

Nyra nodded and made the call.

A few minutes later, she returned, eyes wide. "He was disappointed he couldn't get 10 bots—but agreed. Said he'd rather have five than nothing. Payment deposited. 625 million. Just like that."

Korin and Lira exchanged glances. Even Saelyn seemed impressed.

Raen continued, "Now get us that warehouse. And not just any space—I want one that's secure. Preferably with an existing building, fencing, and space for expansion. This temporary lab won't do for long."

Saelyn added, "I can find something through my org's network, discreetly."

Raen nodded. "Good. And while we're at it, I want our security upgraded. Cameras, perimeter sensors—everything. I've been watching… and we've been watched."

Everyone went silent.

"You think someone's spying on us?" Nyra asked.

Raen didn't answer. He simply looked toward the window, eyes narrowed.

"We're not just building bots anymore," he said quietly. "We're building something worth protecting."