The stall owner leads Ana, Mara, and Jace through a service entrance beneath the market. They leave the bar and its bartender behind as conveyors hum in the cramped depot.
Smart belts carry sealed crates of vegetables, protein packs, and medical supplies beneath scanning arches. A shared contract display flashes amber, flagging the bar’s account for corporate review.
A depot coordinator approaches, a broad-shouldered middle-aged man in a charcoal work vest with copper interface studs along his shaved scalp and a yellow route tablet.
The Depot Coordinator
Stop the release at lane four. The new route needs a responsible verifier before anything moves under that flagged account.
He angles the tablet toward Ana. A projected map links the cooperative stall, the bar, and three neighborhood drop points, while corporate review notices pulse beside each name.
Mara
The terms are written and the emergency role is clear. Ana is the bar’s runner and the stall’s named contact.
The Depot Coordinator
Then Ana verifies the route personally. Confirm the destinations, the account connection, and whether this shipment can proceed before the next conveyor cycle.
“We want to run things independently is that allowed? We don’t like corporate contracts”
SUCCESS (Legendary Conversation, rolled -2)
Ana
We want to run things independently. Is that allowed? We do not want corporate contracts.
The depot’s belts continue their measured crawl as Ana faces the coordinator. Mara folds her arms beside them, while Jace watches the corporate notices pulse across the display.
The Depot Coordinator
Allowed, yes. The cooperative can use its own route, accounts, and verifiers. Corporate contracts are not required for this shipment.
He changes the route setting from corporate-linked to cooperative, severing the review prompts from the bar, stall, and three neighborhood destinations. The shipment releases into lane four.
The Depot Coordinator
Independent routing means you carry the handling fee and the liability record. I am logging a manual verification charge against the cooperative account now.
A small payment deduction flashes green on Ana’s badge. The depot accepts the independent arrangement, but the reduced balance leaves less room for tomorrow’s supplies.
Mara
That is still better than letting a corporation own every favor we do. We will make the numbers work together.
Quest Complete
Protect the bar's affordable supply access from corporate interference
Skill Upgrade: Observation Great→Superb