The morning began with smoke and noise, same as always.
But everything felt different.
The fragment of the Nether Spiral burned quietly in my system's archive, a secret map waiting to be pieced together.
And I was only two trades away from Rank 3—two steps from unlocking full decryption access, realm directories, and finally… the interstellar trade network's market board.
Buying.
Not just uploading junk and hoping someone bites.
Buying.
Which meant one thing:
Profit.
The scanner pinged at dawn.
An old communication console buried beneath the collapsed rail trench. Fried from a pulse bomb decades ago. Normally useless.
But the system picked up something strange.
[Analyzing…]– Object: Starlink Emergency Uplink (Legacy Model)– Type: Obsolete Communications Relay– Trade Value: 2.2 – 3.4 C.U.– Signal Status: Dormant distress beacon detected
Upload?
I lifted it carefully—it was heavy, but intact enough.
Uploading…[Trade Offers Pending…]
The offer came fast.
[Incoming D.T.R.]– Sender: Archivist Turr'Na – Dune Library Vaults– Request: "Legacy Starlink Console"– Offer: 3.2 C.U. + 1x Micro-Aether Capsule (Restorative Grade)
Accept Trade?
[+3.2 C.U. Received][Item Received: Micro-Aether Capsule (Restorative)][EEP Rank Progress: 9/10]
One more.
Just one.
I moved fast.
Back to the scrapyard's deeper zone—a place even the scav dogs avoided. Rusted mechs. Collapsed hoverframes. Contaminated plating.
I found a sealed containment box jammed into a shredded freight bay.
[Analyzing…]– Object: Secure Vault Case – Origin: Moon Freight 17A– Contents: Unknown– System Match: Partial– Trade Value: 3.0 – 4.8 C.U.
Risk Level: HighUpload?
I hesitated.
But this was it.
Uploading…[Trade Offers Pending…]
Then the alert hit:
[Incoming D.T.R.]– Sender: Trader Elix'tor of the Iron Vane Market– Offer: 4.5 C.U. + 1x Trade Ledger Access Token
Accept Trade?
My eyes widened.
A Trade Ledger Token. That meant—
[+4.5 C.U. Received][Item Received: Trade Ledger Token][EEP Rank Up: 10/10]
EEP RANK 3 UNLOCKED– Decryption Key Access Granted– Realm Map Archive Access Unlocked– Trade Marketplace: Basic Tier Opened– Trader-to-Trader Purchases Enabled
I exhaled, grinning.
Finally.
System Notification: Welcome to the Open Market.
Trade Marketplace (Basic Tier)– Browse items posted by other active traders– Limit: 3 active purchases per cycle– Requires C.U. or equivalent barter
Would you like to view market listings now?
I tapped yes.
The screen bloomed with light.
Dozens—no, hundreds—of listings appeared, each with a trader ID and description:
"Crystalized Airroots – Regrow in any atmosphere – 1.2 C.U."
"Liquid Protein Packets – Non-toxic, long shelf – 0.8 C.U."
"Nova Ember Lighter – Compact heat source – 2.5 C.U."
"Healing Spores (Tier 1) – Medical-grade – 1.9 C.U."
"GlowInk Tablets – Write on any surface, marketable – 0.5 C.U."
My eyes scanned the list, a wild idea forming in my head.
What if…
What if I bought items cheap, then resold them here in Sector 9?
To the slum merchants. The gangs. The black market operators.
Even a 1-credit profit margin could stack fast here.
[Balance: 26.8 C.U.]
I tested it.
Bought two cheap items:
5x GlowInk Tablets – 2.5 C.U.
3x Liquid Protein Packs – 2.4 C.U.
[C.U. Spent: 4.9][Inventory Updated]
They arrived in seconds—shimmering containers, like exotic contraband.
I stared at the GlowInk Tablets—chalk-sized rods that glowed faintly.
Mira could sell these in the market stall. I'd pay her 0.2 credits each, let her sell them for 1.0. She'd think she was making a steal.
The packs? I'd offer them to hungry locals—slightly cheaper than synthetic food bricks.
It was nothing huge yet.
But it was the beginning.
Of a supply chain.
Of a brand.
Of an empire.
That night, I returned to my shelter and ran diagnostics.
The Encrypted Chip responded. Its core flickered—now accessible.
[Decrypting…]– Contents: 1x Realm Key (Locked)– 1x Invitation: Hidden Trader's Hub– 1x Locked Inventory Sector
I wasn't just on the network anymore.
I was on the path.
But I knew one thing for certain:
If someone found out I was buying and reselling goods—injecting alien tech into Earth's black market—they'd come after me fast.
But I'd be ready.
Because I wouldn't be poor much longer.
And I wouldn't be alone.
Status Panel
Cosmic Units (C.U.): 21.9
Earth Credits: 2.5
EEP Rank: 3 (Merchant Tier)
Trades Completed: 10/∞
Notable Items:– Translation Core – Ancient Realms (2 uses left)– Map Fragment – Nether Spiral (1/4)– Refurbished Drone Eye (Integrated)– GlowInk Tablets (5 units)– Liquid Protein Packs (3 units)– Trade Ledger Token (Used)– Decryption Access: Enabled– Realm Key: Locked (Encrypted Chip)
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— S.A.