Chapter 5: Rivals, Risks, and Rank-Ups
For the first time since the System chose him, Kai felt in control.
Not powerful.
Not wealthy.
But purposeful.
He had 2 Cosmic Units, a few strange artifacts in his Vault, and two comet-core seeds shimmering with value. Enough to buy a few days of food, fuel, or—if bartered right—a minor relic from the Old Stars.
But profit wasn't the only thing that made a sovereign trader.
Reputation was currency. Influence was credit. And survival was leverage.
Kai was beginning to understand.
The Silent Bidding Ring
In a hollowed-out crater beneath Deraxis's western ledge, traders gathered around a glowing white cube.
It floated—softly humming—and projected items up like holograms. A trading AI managed the Silent Bidding Ring, a high-stakes barter zone where only ranked traders could participate.
Kai, just a Reputation Rank 1, wasn't allowed inside.
He watched from a distance as artifacts flickered through the display:
A vial of collapsing star dust.
A prototype Black Hole Stabilizer.
A relic key from a dead celestial empire.
One trader raised a finger, and the cube pinged. Another offered a scroll. Another responded with 200 CU.
Kai swallowed hard. That's the level I need to reach.
Then he saw her.
A woman in obsidian armor, her hair a cascade of silver flame, her face veiled. She turned slightly, as if sensing his gaze. Her eyes—deep crimson—met his.
Then she smiled.
Mocking.
"You're not in our league, beginner."
"Friend of yours?" a dry voice asked beside him.
Kai turned to see an insectoid trader with crystal arms and eyes like liquid mercury. It—he?—held a glowing tablet in one claw.
"That's Serika. Known as the Ember Veil. Rank 4 trader. Controls a minor star route. Her Vault's estimated at 1,000 CU minimum."
Kai whistled. "And here I am, worth two."
The insectoid clacked its mandibles in what Kai guessed was a chuckle.
"I like you. You're not pretending to be more than you are. Most greenhorns bluff. You... observe. That might keep you alive."
The alien stuck out a claw.
"Name's Thrask. I run iceworld commodities—ethanol clouds, frostbeast skins, cryo-copper ore. You ever want to run a route with protection, ping me."
Kai accepted the handshake.
A connection. A minor one—but the first real network contact he'd made.
[New Contact Added: Thrask the Iceworld Broker][Alliance Potential: Low][Reputation +1]
Final Trade Before Rank-Up
Kai knew he needed one more completed trade to rank up. The System had been clear:
[Trader Rank 3 Unlock Requirement: 3 Trades or 20 CU Generated]
His Ice Seeds were valuable, but not liquid yet. He needed something smaller. Faster.
Then he remembered the Whisper Record.
Ancient Earth. Artistic value. Rare.
But rare didn't always mean profitable—unless you found the right buyer.
He scouted around, showing the record discreetly.
After hours of searching, he found his target: a four-eyed collector in a flowing cape stitched with pre-First Collapse language.
The collector hissed when it saw the scroll.
"Earth-culture relic! Whispered audio-calligraphy—real, not synthesized?"
Kai nodded. "Original source. AI scan confirms era authenticity."
The collector pulled out a thin blue crystal.
"Trade: 15 CU and a minor Cultural Echo. Agreed?"
Kai blinked.
Fifteen?!
He kept his face calm. "I'll accept… but throw in one micro-cleaner. The scroll was kept in poor humidity."
The collector snorted. "Fine."
[Trade Complete: Whisper Record → 15 CU + Cultural Echo + Micro-cleaner][Reputation +1]
✅ [Trader Rank Increased!]→ Rank 3: Initiate Trader→ Interworld Trading Hub Access: UNLOCKED→ New Features:
Direct Trader Messaging (Limited)
Trader Market Listings
Secure Trade Teleports (10 per month)
Kai's interface shimmered as a new tab unlocked. A blinking icon labeled: Galactic Exchange Network.
He tapped it.
Thousands of items. Price fluctuations. Buy-sell bids. Trader rankings. Even requests from other systems—urgent trade contracts, bounties, delivery runs.
His heart raced.
This was the real game.
And now… he had a seat at the table.
Status Panel:
Kai Zareth, Trader Codename Rising Ghost, had entered the ranks of legitimate interworld traders. With reputation finally recognized and profit rolling in, his Vault shimmered with potential.
His name was still unknown in the greater Exchange, but the networks had registered his activity—and some eyes were watching.
Some curious.
Some hostile.
But all aware now… that a new merchant was rising.
Current Cosmic Units (CU): 17Vault Items:
Rystonian Ice Seeds x2 (Est. 10 CU each)
Cultural Echo (Value Unknown)
Micro-cleaner (Utility Item)
Anti-Detection Cloak (2 min use)
Reputation Rank: 3 – Initiate TraderAccess Unlocked: Interworld Trading Hub