Three things changed overnight.
One: Mira sold out of the light seeds before sunrise.Two: Two scavengers offered me raw scraps in exchange for a single self-warming cloth.And three:
A message appeared in my system inbox.
A feature I hadn't even realized existed.
[Inbox – 1 Unread Message]Sender: Unknown (Encrypted Node: [6T-A1R-N1NE])Subject: "Interested in Consignment?"Body:"You've made 3+ purchases in 24 hours. Pattern flagged. Don't worry—we're not hostile.You show merchant potential.If you're interested in micro-consignment supply, respond with your ledger signature.We pay in volume, not loyalty. One-time test offer attached."
Below the message was a single link.
[Accept Sample Offer?]– Contents: 1x Universal Trinket Box (Unbranded)– Sellable in: Mid-Tech Slums, Pre-Industrial Worlds– Estimated Resale: 1.0–2.5 Earth Credits– Cost: Free
Free. No C.U. cost. No barter fee.
Which meant either a gift... or a trap.
I stared at the screen for a long time.
The risk?
Minimal.
My location was already being tracked—the observer in the alley confirmed that. Declining this would change nothing.
[ACCEPT OFFER]
The trinket box shimmered into my inventory. A sleek, matte-black cube the size of a fist. I popped it open.
Inside?
A simple assortment of glow pins, audio trinkets, and one click-light charm—mini curiosities, likely junk in a cosmic market, but down here?
Gold.
I gave one pin to a local gang courier—just a favor. No deal.
By mid-morning, he was back.
"Yo, the boss wants more," he said. "Wants to know if you've got ten."
I lied.
"Maybe."
[Note: Street Demand Node – New Contact Logged: Broken Sun Gang, Tier 1]
This was real now.
Supply. Demand. Interest.
Even if it was dangerous.
I bought more from the marketplace—selectively.
[Purchased:]
4x Trinket Boxes – 2.8 C.U.
3x Scent Filters (wearable) – 1.2 C.U.
5x GlowInk Tablets – 2.5 C.U.
Total: 6.5 C.U.
Each was a gamble.
But I already had three vendors waiting.
And I'd decided on a name.
A brand.
Not cosmic. Not otherworldly. Just… something believable here.
"KaiFix."
Simple. Flexible. Anonymous.
[New Trade Tag Created: KaiFix]
That evening, Mira handed over 5.5 credits, and two more vendors requested stock. I began assigning tokens—small markings on boxes to track inventory.
I wasn't just scavenging and uploading anymore.
I was building something.
Then another message arrived.
[Inbox – 1 New Message]Sender: "R."Subject: "You've drawn notice."Body:"Keep quiet. Tier-3's are watching now.If you want to survive, stay small for 20 more trades.Don't break the Chain.Don't reveal your world yet.And don't ever trade a Realm Key."
My hands went cold.
Who was R? A warning? A threat?
A trader?
Or… something else?
The words "don't reveal your world" echoed louder than they should have.
Was I that obvious?
Or had someone figured out that Earth—my Earth—had a newly activated system bearer?
Either way, I took the advice.
No big moves. Not yet.
But inside me?
A spark.
If I played this right...
I'd never be poor again.
Status Panel
Cosmic Units (C.U.): 12.2
Earth Credits: 11.0
EEP Rank: 3 (Merchant Tier)
Trades Completed: 12
Trade Network:
– Street Vendor Mira (Stable)– Broken Sun Gang Contact (Neutral)– Trinket Buyers (2 Pending)
Inventory:
Trinket Boxes (4)
GlowInk Tablets (5)
Scent Filters (3)
Mini-Light Seeds (0)
Micro-Aether Capsule (1)
Map Fragment – Nether Spiral (1/4)
Translation Core – Ancient Realms (2 uses)
Realm Key: Locked
Reputation Note:– Tier 3 Traders have logged your activity– Recommend: Low visibility– Next Rank Evaluation: 18 trades remaining
📌 Author's Note:
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— S.A.