Kai Zareth's Vault felt heavier tonight.
Not physically—it was still a gleaming sub-dimensional sanctum, echoing with the hum of cosmic algorithms—but mentally. He had just taken his first step into the gray trade. And though he hadn't been caught, the line between shadow and strategy was getting blurrier.
Still, the rewards had arrived faster than expected.
Gray Channel Delivery Complete.Recipient confirmed: Sector V-Edge Node: Vesper DriftCU Gained: +9Bonus: Tier-2 Data Crystal (Trade Routes – Decommissioned)**
Kai's heart skipped. He summoned the item instantly—a thin obsidian shard with pulsing star-thread lines etched across its surface. He held it under the scanner.
Decrypting...DATA CONTENTS:— Ruined Trade Empires of the Core Drift— Blocked Intergalactic Nexus Routes— Hidden System Traders: Rogue Class— Sealed Sovereign Relics (Marked: "Dead Markets")
He leaned back in disbelief. This… This isn't just a map. It's a goldmine.
A Dead Market Comes Alive
According to the data, twenty years ago, an entire sub-sector—Talnari Reach—had collapsed in a chain of economic warfare. Sovereign traders had gone to war over pricing control, which ended in system lockdowns, AI rebellions, and loss of Guild oversight. The Vault had sealed it off permanently.
But now, Kai had the key. More importantly, the data revealed that some vaults inside that dead sector still existed—dormant, auto-sealed, waiting for a trader brave (or stupid) enough to try reconnecting them.
"Are you suggesting I reactivate an entire dead market?" he whispered aloud.
"The potential is significant," the Vault responded. "Risk levels: Critical. Opportunity: Sovereign-tier."
Testing the Waters
Kai didn't rush in blindly. First, he began with a cautious test: he uploaded one of the Earth-tier artisan chips to a hidden auction node inside the old sector.
Connected to Ghost Market: Talnari Node-3Auction: Terran Soundchip – Rarity 3Starting Bid: 5 CUBidders Online: 14 (Two AI-controlled)
Within two minutes, the bid had jumped to 15 CU. By the hour's end, it closed at 28 CU—double the normal rate.
Kai stared at the screen.
No taxes. No trader fees. No system oversight.
"I'm gonna be rich," he muttered, almost afraid to believe it.
Backlash Brews
But not everyone was happy.
Hours later, the Vault's temperature dropped. A strange distortion crawled across the system's interface like static.
Warning: Detected Surveillance Attempt – Trader Protocol BreachSource: UnknownPotential Source: Local Trader Entity / AI Scraper
Then a message appeared in crimson text across the Vault's inner wall.
❝YOU'RE PLAYING IN A GRAVEYARD, TRADER.❞❝STAY OUT OF THE REACH OR BE BURIED WITH THE DEAD.❞
Kai froze.
Someone else knew. And they didn't want competition.
But fear didn't win. He stood tall, fists clenched.
"Let's see who breaks first."
The Next Step
Kai began preparing a larger trade drop. This time, not just one item—he loaded up:
10 Terran Artisan Chips
4 Rare Earth-Grade Fermented Tea Crates
1 Unopened 1990s Music Cassette Collection (Rarity Bonus)
He tagged them all for Ghost Auction Upload.
Estimated CU Return: 200–250 CUTrade Route: Talnari Ghost MarketRisk: Very HighReward Potential: High Sovereign Path Acceleration
This wasn't a side hustle anymore. This was a declaration of intent.
Narrative Status Report
Kai Zareth has unlocked access to the long-forgotten Talnari Dead Market. With ghost auctions yielding massive profit returns, he's stepping into uncharted territory few traders would dare touch. But danger follows—shadow traders have noticed his rise.
His legitimacy is still protected—for now. But how long can one dance on the edge before falling?
Status Panel:
Trader Rank: 3
CU Balance: 110 (Pending: 250 from Ghost Market)
Credits: 64
Known Contacts: Smuggler Envoy (Shadow Path), Bu Mira (Earth Anchor)
Access: Earth Route, Sector-7, Talnari Ghost Market (Unlocked)
System Note: Surveillance Detected – Countermeasures Deployed
Sovereign Path Progress: 18%
Morality Tracker: Balanced Risk – +Neutral Reputation, +Suspicion