Chapter 51
Jade stepped off the warship onto Pierpoint, her boots clicking against the metal docking platform. The air here was thick with the scent of machinery and oil, the hum of energy cores powering the massive ships that dotted the horizon. Neon signs flickered against the metallic structures, casting a faint glow over the bustling crowd of merchants, engineers, and mercenaries that filled the port.
As she adjusted her coat, her eyes scanned the area until she spotted a familiar group gathered near a private meeting room in one of the upper levels of the station. The Ten Stonehearts were waiting for her.
She made her way through the crowd, nodding to a few familiar faces before stepping into the reserved chamber. The room was dimly lit, illuminated only by a central holographic table displaying planetary data, supply lines, and investment plans. The air was tense, thick with the weight of upcoming decisions.
At the head of the table sat Diamond, his piercing gaze fixed on the projections before him. Topaz leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, the ever-present smirk on his face betraying his confidence. Across from them, Onyx tapped his fingers rhythmically against the table, while Citrine sat with one leg crossed over the other, watching the exchange unfold with amusement.
Emerald was the first to acknowledge her arrival. "Jade, finally. We were beginning to think you got lost in a shopping spree."
Jade rolled her eyes but took her seat with ease. "Oh, please. As if I'd waste time when we have serious business to discuss."
Diamond gestured to the table. "Then let's not waste any more time. Tell us—how was Yuri's shop?"
Jade placed the Equipment Forging Cards onto the table, the neatly stacked pile drawing everyone's attention. "These are what I brought back. Thirty of them. Equipment Forging Cards. They're a gamble, but if they work, they'll give us a significant edge."
Topaz raised an eyebrow. "A gamble, huh? I thought you were against relying on luck."
Jade met his gaze with a smirk. "Calculated risk. If we distribute them wisely, we might not even need luck."
Citrine leaned forward, plucking one of the cards from the pile and flipping it between her fingers. "And if they fail?"