Beneath the serene cityscape of Lumina, hidden beneath layers of concrete and secrecy, there thrived a shadowy world known only to a select few.
And for the first time in his life… Rey had just stepped into it.
Down a quiet alley behind an inconspicuous stall, two stoic guards stood like statues—clad in black suits, eyes sharp as hawks, scanning their surroundings for any trouble. The crowd moved past them, indifferent to their presence.
Then—Ding!
The subtle chime of an old lift echoed behind the guards. Both turned, their brows twitching in confusion. That lift hadn't opened in months. Not unless someone with a very special kind of access activated it.
As the doors slid open, a figure stepped out.
Sleek, broad-shouldered, and cloaked entirely in black, the man wore a hood that cast his face in shadow. A dark mask concealed everything but his piercing eyes and forehead. The guards stiffened.
They didn't speak. They didn't dare.
Only a handful of people in the entire city knew the entry code to this route—nobles, syndicate leaders, or high-ranking martial warriors. Whoever this guy was… he was not someone to mess with.
With slow, deliberate steps, the masked figure walked past them. Not a word. Not a glance. Just calm, composed footsteps fading into the bustle of the underground market.
"Damn… scary aura," one guard muttered under his breath. "Exactly the kind I want someday."
The other nodded silently, still staring ahead.
Meanwhile…
The "scary aura" was currently bolting away with panic painted all over his unseen face.
'W-What the hell was that?! Why were they staring at me like I was about to assassinate the Emperor?!' Rey screamed internally as he weaved through the crowd, his steps quick and nervous.
Only after a minute of intense speed-walking did he slow down and finally let out a deep breath.
'Okay… I think I'm safe now. Holy crap, those guards… one wrong word and I'd have been minced meat.'
It was only now that he took in his surroundings properly—and was promptly awed.
A massive underground market spread out before him. Stalls lined the pathways, lit by hanging crystals and neon signs. Martial artists strolled casually with weapons on their backs. Some carried blades, others had guns slung across their shoulders like they were shopping for groceries.
'If I hadn't met you guys, I'd have never known such a world even existed,' Rey said mentally to the two spirits floating above him.
"You don't have to flatter me that much," Aiden said smugly, brushing back his ethereal hair. "Though I am great, I prefer subtle praise."
'Yeah, sure. I was talking to Victor,' Rey replied, rolling his eyes.
"Can you two stop your nonsense for once and focus?" Victor barked. "Scan everything! Don't let a single valuable item escape our eyes!"
The two grumbled but obeyed, their gazes now locked on the stalls like treasure-hungry hawks.
Rey finally began browsing, still a little tense but increasingly curious. Many booths had strange wares: glowing pills, mysterious beast hides, and ancient weapons that probably came with a curse or two. It was like walking through a fantasy RPG's black market.
Still, Aiden and Victor were unimpressed.
'So… what exactly are we looking for again?' Rey asked, scratching the back of his head.
"Stop talking. Start walking," Aiden replied, trying to sound like a wise old master.
"Oh, oh—there! That shop! Move, kid!" Victor suddenly shouted, pointing at a large store buzzing with customers.
'That one? Looks busy.'
"Just shut up and go!" Victor snapped.
Rey grumbled but headed toward the shop with the signboard: Hunter & Bone. It looked like a monster materials store, with crates of bones, fangs, and beast hides stacked behind glass displays.
As soon as Rey stepped in, a young attendant rushed over, looking flustered but professional.
"W-Welcome, sir! What can we help you with today?" he asked with a small bow.
"I'm here to sell some… materials I acquired," Rey said, deliberately deepening his voice.
The attendant paled slightly. "Ah… yes, of course! P-please wait a moment!"
He scrambled into the back and came back lugging several containers. "I-I just need to know where your items are, sir. Are they… here?"
"Put the containers down and step back. I'll handle it," Rey replied coldly.
The poor attendant flinched, nearly dropping the bins in fear. With trembling hands, he placed them down and took three big steps back like Rey was about to summon a dragon.
Rey, meanwhile, raised his hand confidently—where a fake ring was glued to his finger to imitate a storage ring. Internally cringing, he activated the Storage of Void, and in the next moment…
Fwoosh!
Several monster materials—fangs, pelts, claws, and bones—spilled into the containers in perfect formation.
The attendant's mouth hung open slightly. A few customers nearby turned to glance, eyes wide.
Rey had no idea what kind of impression he just made… but it certainly wasn't that of a clueless newbie.
Rey calmly—on the outside—dumped the materials into three neatly separated containers, careful not to mix them up and create a mess. On the inside, though, he was sweating bullets.
"These are all the materials I have with me for now," he said, pushing the three containers forward like a seasoned merchant.
In truth, they were the spoils from his earlier Wilderness hunts.
—The first container brimmed with the parts of Four-Armed Monkeys, totalling forty-one in number. Muscle fibers, hides, and claws were stacked haphazardly like they were casually scooped from a battlefield.
—The second held bits and chunks of Sleaked Arm Apes, forty-two in total, filled with hardened arm tissue, leather-like hide, and sharp jaw shards.
—The last—and the smallest one—contained trophies from the rare Gale-Winged Birds. Hollow bones, razor talons, shimmering feathers, and three strange bones that looked slightly different… almost mystical.
Rey glanced around, expecting people to lose interest once they realised it was all low-tier beast material. Instead, silence.
Eyes. Dozens of eyes. All of them locked onto him.
Even shopkeepers from nearby stalls peeked over their wares with widened eyes. Murmurs began. A subtle ripple of whispers.
'Okay… why is everyone looking at me like I just walked out of a royal carriage?!' Rey panicked internally, like, already regretting not bringing a basic invisibility cloak.
"Ahem… could you maybe… hurry up with the price check? I've got places to be," Rey said, attempting a deep, composed voice as he looked at the stunned attendant still frozen in place.
Snapping back to reality, the man flinched, nodded like his neck was about to break, and immediately barked orders for helpers to bring the containers in.
Rey was offered a plush chair to sit on while the materials were evaluated. He sat down stiffly, trying to look relaxed and aloof—like someone who totally knew what they were doing and wasn't currently losing his mind inside.
To the bystanders, he looked like a composed noble or secret elite, evaluating the market.
To Rey, it felt like being on a stage surrounded by wolves.
'Aiden… I swear if you did something... I told you I wanted to stay lowkey! LOWKEY!' Rey cried mentally, his expression a mask of calm.
Aiden, the source of this chaos, just innocently whistled in his spirit form, clearly enjoying the show.
—
A few minutes earlier...
A man clad in full-body clothes entered Hunter&Bone without a word. No bags. No visible weapon. Just presence.
His steps were silent, his aura unrestrained. Not intentionally—he just didn't know how to restrain it yet. But to the people watching?
It was terrifying.
The aura felt wild—like someone who had just returned from hunting in a high-level zone and didn't even bother cleaning up. A true battle-hardened martial artist.
And when he nonchalantly waved his hand and poured dozens of beast parts out of a storage ring?
That sealed the deal.
He had a storage ring.
Only nobles or their direct retainers could afford one. That too, a clean activation with no chant, no flash—pure class.
But what truly broke the crowd was the third container.
Gale-Winged Bird materials.
Not one. Not two. Three different Gale Essence Bones, fully intact.
Everyone knew how rare that beast variant was. A Stage 1 monster with elemental affinity? Most couldn't even catch one in the wild, let alone bring back its rare loot intact.
Only skilled martial elites or high-ranking hunters could pull off something like that.
And here he was. Dumping them casually like junk fruit at a roadside stand.
People lost it—silently. Internally. But lost it nonetheless.
—
Back in the present, Rey was still unaware of the storm he had unintentionally caused. He sat quietly, praying for the transaction to end quickly so he could leave and never return.
The attendant returned—not with coins or appraisal results—but with a pale face and hurried words.
"S-Sir… our manager would like to personally speak with you about the transaction. Just a moment of your time, please," he said, bowing slightly and sweating.
Rey blinked. 'What now?!'
Behind him, Aiden whispered gleefully, "Just say yes and act cold. I'll handle the rest."
"...Fine, but make it quick. I've got more places to offload my stock," Rey replied coolly, repeating what Aiden told him word for word. He even added a slight sigh for flair.
The attendant nearly tripped over his own feet rushing to lead Rey toward the back room, where the shop manager waited.
'Aiden... if this blows up, I'm blaming you.'
'Relax. You just accidentally became a VIP. Enjoy the ride.'
Rey stepped into the manager's office and found a sharply dressed man sitting behind a large desk cluttered with documents, records, and strange holders. The man had a clean-cut look—brown hair, deep black eyes, broad shoulders, and an expression that screamed professionalism.
But Rey wasn't focused on any of that.
He was too busy reciting Aiden's exact instructions in his head—like a student about to bluff his way through a final exam.
"Don't talk unless necessary. Don't fidget. Don't smile. And for the love of all spirits, act like you've been here before," Aiden had whispered, as if that alone would stop him from trembling like a leaf.
Rey walked forward and sat down in front of the man without waiting to be asked, doing his best impression of a cold-blooded noble. His expression was calm. His posture? Straight. But inside?
'What if that was rude? Should I have waited? Should I bow? Oh no, he's looking at me! Is this how nobles act?!'
To Rey's relief, the man simply smiled and gave a courteous nod.
"Good evening, sir. My name is Selven Drost, the manager of Hunter&Bone. I asked my staff to escort you here because I felt the shop floor wasn't a proper place for someone of your… status," he said politely. "It would be an honour for me to personally handle your trade."
'He's buying it?! Wait, he's really buying it?!' Rey blinked, trying not to react.
Aiden appeared beside him with a smirk. "Told you. You act the part, they treat you like royalty. This guy's probably wetting his pants trying to guess which noble house you belong to."
'Can you not whisper that while I'm trying to survive here?!'
Selven, noticing Rey's brief pause, spoke up. "Is everything alright, sir? Are you uncomfortable with the chair?"
"No," Rey said in his best deep-and-mysterious voice. "Just remembered something. Nothing important."
"My apologies. I didn't mean to intrude," Selven said quickly, pulling out a detailed sheet from his drawer. "Here is the summary of the monster materials you handed over. Please take a look."
Rey took the sheet with controlled grace and began scanning the list.
[Monster Material Evaluation Sheet]
Four-Armed Monkeys — 41 confirmed kills, est. 100+
Armed Muscle Fibers (164)
Monkey Hides (41)
Claw Fragments (82)
Sleaked Arm Apes — 42 confirmed kills, est. 145+
Sleaked Muscle Tissues (84)
Reinforced Hides (42)
Jaw Shards (42)
Gale-Winged Birds — 7 confirmed kills, est. 50+
Wind-Infused Feathers (21)
Talon Shards (7)
Hollow Bones (7)
Gale Essence Bones (3)
'Estimated kills?! Why is there an "estimated" column? That's not what I said…' Rey thought, raising an eyebrow.
"Sir?" Selven asked, eyes narrowing slightly.
"It's… nothing major," Rey said smoothly. "Just wondering about this 'estimated' count."
"Oh! That," Selven chuckled nervously. "It's just a rough projection based on the quantity and condition of the loot. Your materials are pristine—only someone with significant experience could extract them so cleanly. So we assumed your total kill count must be much higher."
'Hah? That's not what happened at all! I barely survived those fights…'
But outwardly, Rey simply nodded and placed the list back on the desk. "Very well. I'm ready to complete the trade. Please offer your best price. I was told this meeting was important enough to warrant personal handling by your junior."
Selven flinched slightly at the subtle jab but recovered with a respectful smile. "Of course, sir. Our team is finalizing the value as we speak. It won't be long."
With that, Selven excused himself and stepped out.
A moment later, he returned—this time with an assistant carrying a tray. On it sat a small bowl of roasted nuts and a sleek glass bottle filled with pale violet liquid.
"This, sir, is a special refreshment for VIP clients. The drink is made from the fruit of a DuskBerry tree, which only bears fruit once every ten years. Please, enjoy it while we finalize your transaction."
Rey stared at the glass.
'Isn't this… alco...?'
He quickly waved it away. "I don't drink."
"Oh no, no! It's not liquor. It's premium fruit juice. A delicacy even nobles rarely get more than once every few years."
Rey still hesitated.
Victor appeared at his side, arms folded. "Relax, kid. I scanned it. No poison. No drugs. It's exactly what he said. Expensive, fancy, harmless."
'You guys are my emotional support system… and my poison tasters,' Rey sighed.
He lifted the bottom of his mask just enough to sip. The moment the liquid touched his tongue, his eyes lit up.
It was… divine.
"That is our signature," Selven said proudly. "We only serve it to those with true distinction."
Rey quickly lowered the mask again and placed the empty glass down with a subtle nod. "It's good."
"I'm glad to hear that, sir," Selven replied, trying not to smile too widely. "I'll make sure a bottle is packed with your payment."
'Payment! Yes, finally!' Rey clenched his fists in anticipation.
Selven checked his phone, nodded, and looked back at him. "The evaluation is complete. It'll be here shortly."
The two men sat in silence for a while until Rey finally decided to ask the question that had been bothering him since he entered.
"Sir Selven," he said slowly, "can I ask you something about this underground area?"
Selven straightened. "Of course, sir. Anything you wish to know."
"I appreciate the service and respect you've given me. But I need to ask… why?"
"Why?" Selven blinked.
"I mean… why all this? The attention. The juice. The private room. You're treating me like royalty," Rey said, trying to sound casual. "I've never even been here before and even more so..."
Selven froze mid-breath. His expression wavered for a second.
Just as he opened his mouth to answer…
"No, what I'm actually asking is… why does a small city like Lumina have such a massive Underground Market? I've been to other cities before, but none had anything even close to this scale," Rey asked cautiously, carefully trying not to sound like a total newbie, even though that's exactly what he was.
He just hoped the question came off as curious—not clueless.
Selven paused, then gave a light chuckle. "Ah, that. I thought it was something more complicated."
He leaned back in his chair, fingers laced together in a relaxed gesture. "It may surprise you, sir, but while Lumina isn't as big or renowned as the other cities in the Dragon Kingdom, its position is... rather special. We're situated right at the kingdom's border, which most would assume to be a dangerous spot due to nearby beast territories. But ironically, that makes us a trade hotspot."
Rey blinked. "A trade hotspot?"
Selven nodded. "That's right. Hunters and martial artists from neighbouring kingdoms pass through here all the time. They come to buy and sell monster corpses, rare parts, and all kinds of resources. It boosts our economy to a significant degree. In fact, this trade zone is one of the kingdom's silent moneymakers—and probably the only reason our city hasn't been erased by some bored Duke yet."
Rey nodded thoughtfully, trying to act like he understood all that... while in reality, he was still stuck on "silent moneymaker."
Just then, a staff member entered, carrying a tray with a neatly folded piece of paper placed on top.
"Sir, here's the price estimation for your materials. I hope it meets your expectations," Selven said, reaching for the paper—only for it to slip from his hand and drift to the floor.
"My apologies, sir! I'll pick it up at once—"
"No need. I'll get it," Rey interrupted.
And then… it happened.
The paper floated into the air all on its own, gently sailing across the room before landing perfectly into Rey's hand.
Selven froze mid-stand. The junior staff member beside him nearly dropped the tray.
In this world, things like ghosts didn't lift paper. But high-ranked martial artists did—with abilities like Telekinesis, or its rare derivatives.
To them, this meant only one thing: The man before them wasn't just a noble.
He was a Low-Disciple-rank elite at the very least.
The manager and junior were left stunned, standing like statues.
But the real surprise? It wasn't them.
It was Rey himself.
'AIDEN! WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?! Why did you let me show that off!?'
Aiden, floating nearby with a smug grin, simply crossed his arms. "Relax, kid. Sometimes mystery is more powerful than strength. Watch the magic unfold."
Rey sighed and looked down at the paper, pushing away his irritation.
His eyes scanned the document.
[Total Estimated Value: 8,256 Dracins]
His heart skipped a beat.
'Wait... WHAT?!'
He expected maybe a few thousand, like two or three. Maybe. But over eight thousand? That was highway robbery—in reverse! His eyes drifted to the final item.
Gale Essence Bone (3): 2,115 Dracins
Rey's jaw nearly dropped.
'One bone… is worth that much?!' he screamed internally. But he quickly masked his surprise with a subtle nod, pretending it was exactly what he expected.
He casually handed over the empty transfer card he had got from Jacob's factory back then.
The junior swiftly took it and transferred the funds with a respectful bow, then returned it with two additional Dracins as rounding change.
"Then… our business is concluded. I'll take my leave," Rey said, rising from the chair with that same silent intensity.
Selven stood as well, offering a handshake—then immediately regretted it, thinking the silent guest would reject it. But surprisingly, Rey turned back, gave a firm shake, and walked out.
Selven stood still, staring at his own hand like he'd just touched royalty.
"Oh, I forgot the gift..." Selven said as he rushed outside to catch up to the mysterious figure to hand over the bottle of Dusk Berry Juice he had promised to give before.
But he was gone like never been here before.
—
Outside, Rey was once again the center of attention, despite his best attempts to blend in. People still watched him with hushed whispers and wide eyes as he merged into the crowd like smoke.
He wandered the market for a while, hoping to find something that could actually interest Aiden or Victor—but so far, it was all a dud. Stall after stall… nothing useful.
Thirty minutes passed, and Rey finally sighed, ready to call it quits.
'Alright, let's just go. There's nothing useful here—'
But just as the words formed in his mind, Aiden yanked his hoodie down slightly and spun his head toward a particular stall.
"Oi, kid. That one," Aiden whispered. "Check it out."
Rey groaned. "Not another pile of junk—"
Still, he obediently approached the vendor, pointing to an old, dusty vial in a cracked wooden box. "What's this?" he asked.
The vendor's eyes lit up with rehearsed sadness.
"Ah, sir! That… is my family heirloom! Passed down for generations, held safe through blood and tears. But alas—times are hard. I must part with it for the sake of my starving children."
'Here we go again…' Rey thought.
The man continued dramatically, "This is no ordinary item, my noble sir! It's called the Great Surge Pill! A relic of power and pain! A pill that grants the user a miraculous 50% increase, at least, in energy absorption… but at a terrifying cost. For one hour, the taker will suffer unbearable pain—like dying and reviving over and over! Only a few of our ancestors survived its effects! A true trial for heroes!"
He clutched his chest like he was about to faint from the emotion of it all.
Even Rey was silent for a moment.
'...That has to be the worst lie I've heard today.'
He was about to walk away, shaking his head—until Aiden suddenly grabbed his arm.
"Don't move," Aiden whispered. "That pill… It's weird. Not fake. And not useless either."
"Kid, buy the pill. It's real."
Aiden's voice echoed sharply in Rey's mind as he hovered in front of the stall, jabbing his ghostly finger at the dusty old vial like it held the secret to immortality.
'Have you completely lost it? That guy's lying through his teeth. I can smell the scam from here,' Rey grumbled mentally, annoyed and skeptical in equal measure.
"No, no, you're right—he is lying," Aiden said casually. "But not about the pill being real. It is a Surge Pill. He's just wrong about the rest. It's a failed variant, yes, but only 40% of its potency is lost. Still dangerous... but still useful. Trust me. Buy it."
Rey frowned. 'You better be right. If this turns out to be snake oil, you're paying me back for sure of the loss.'
He turned to the vendor and put on his best "noble with a bleeding heart" expression.
"Ahem... Sir, I was touched by your tragic family tale. I'd like to purchase this pill and do my part to ease your burden," Rey said dramatically, hand over heart.
"Oh! Thank you, kind sir!" the vendor bowed deeply, joy lighting up his face.
Internally, though, he was practically bursting with glee.
'Another idiot walks right into my trap! This guy's loaded—I bet I can squeeze even more out of him than the last two!' he thought as he picked up the vial like it was some ancient divine artifact.
Rey unscrewed the cap and examined the pill inside. It was dark, almost black, with streaks of deep blue—definitely not the kind of colour that screamed "safe."
"How much?" Rey asked, already bracing himself for something dumb.
The vendor's eyes gleamed like a predator spotting prey. "Ah, well… I was planning to sell it for much more. But your kindness moved me. So—just for you—2,500 Dracins."
Rey's face twitched.
'Two. Thousand. Five. Hundred?! For this dusty marble?!'
Before he could say anything, Aiden shot him a deadly glare.
'Buy it,' Aiden mouthed.
Rey sighed. "...Do you have more of these?"
"Oh, actually… I do have one more! I was saving it for my child—but if it's you, sir, I can part with it."
Rey's hands trembled slightly. The vendor noticed.
"Sir, are you alright? Should I call someone?"
"No, no," Rey replied quickly, voice trembling with exaggerated emotion. "It's just… I feel so 'honoured' to help you and your family in your time of need. I'll take both pills. Show me where to pay."
With the swift tap of a card, 5,000 Dracins vanished from Rey's account—nearly two-thirds of his hard-earned spoils—into the hands of a man who could win Oscars for deception.
"Thank you for your purchase, sir. Just a small note—no refunds," the vendor said with a sly smirk, tucking the card reader away like he'd just slain a dragon.
"I understand," Rey muttered, trying not to punch that smug face right then and there.
'That guy just conned me out of 5,000 for a bottle of pain and misery…' Rey thought bitterly, clutching the two vials.
Behind him, the vendor was already packing up with a whistle on his lips.
"Ah, thank the heavens that fools still roam this world. I made more off this guy than the last two trades combined! What a payday!" he whispered to himself, wrapping his goods and prepping to leave.
But then…
A shadow fell over his stall.
Several men, dressed in dark streetwear, calmly surrounded the vendor. Their grins weren't friendly.
"Hey, what's going on—"
Before he could finish his sentence, a fist connected with his face.
Then another.
And another.
Within seconds, the vendor was on the ground, getting the kind of "customer feedback" that couldn't be written on paper.
"W-What are you doing?! H-Help! Guards—!"
The nearby patrolling officers turned to look…
Then immediately turned back around and walked the other way, as if they hadn't seen a thing.
The reason?
One man—tall, calm, dressed in a low-black profile suit—stood watching the vendor's beatdown like it was an afternoon show. When the guards noticed him, he gave a small wave of his hand.
They left without a word.
Ten full minutes later, the beaters finally stopped. Bruised and broken, the vendor lay in a heap, wheezing for air.
The suited man walked over, crouched beside him, and whispered coldly.
"If you ever scam anyone again, especially someone like him, you're done. We won't be so gentle like him to leave you next time. We'll erase your name, your face, and everything you hold dear. Got it?"
The vendor's head bobbed furiously in terrified agreement.
The suited man stood and walked away into the crowd, blending into the Underground Market like mist in the night.
If Rey had been there and gotten a better look, he might've recognised him—it was one of the two guards who had been stationed near the secret elevator when he arrived.
But Rey?
He was long gone, wandering through the market once more.
Unaware that his mysterious aura and "don't-talk-to-me" attitude had started ripples—ripples big enough to stir hidden forces and power players who usually watched from the shadows.
To Be Continued...
What just happened? Why did someone punish the vendor for Rey's sake? And what ripples is Rey unknowingly creating in this hidden world? Stay tuned for the next chapter to find out!