Jin pressed forward through the rusted corridors of the Hollow Vault, every breath laced with the cold bite of stale air and static electricity. The silence here wasn't just the absence of sound—it was oppressive, like the Vault itself was watching.
His gloves pulsed faintly—tracking movement, sensing hostile intent.
📍 Mini-Map Fragment (25%) AcquiredNext Room: Energy Residue Level – Moderate
⚠️ Mid-level Guardian presence detected.
Jin steadied his breath. His last trade with the wraithlike residue had earned him a Wraith Coin—and an insight. These dungeons weren't just puzzles or combat tests. They were negotiation arenas, built by forces far beyond human understanding.
He turned a corner.
And stopped.
A large room lay ahead, circular and domed, its ceiling covered in shimmering glass-like veins. At its center stood a monstrous figure:
A Vault Guardian.
It resembled a tall humanoid statue, fused from armor plating and fractured crystal. One of its arms ended in a jagged blade. The other held a scale—broken, its sides uneven.
But it didn't move.
Not yet.
[Vault Guardian – Hollow Custodian – Tier E+]Role: Mid-Dungeon RegulatorBehavior: Passive until provoked or approached
Trade Option: ACTIVERequired: Token of Balance or Equivalent Currency
Reward: Access to Core Chamber + Skill Manifestation
Jin's heart skipped. A skill? That was a major leap.
He reached into his inventory.
The only item that glowed in response was the Wraith Coin.
"It's worth a shot," he muttered, stepping into the room.
The Guardian's eyes ignited—two thin beams of flickering white-blue light. Its head tilted slowly, the scale arm lifting with a metallic groan.
Trade Initiated: Wraith Coin OfferedValidating...
"Balance measured… sorrow weighed… value accepted."
The scale dipped once.
Then shattered.
A beam of violet light struck Jin's chest, and the system surged:
🎯 New Skill Acquired: Echo Trade (Passive)Description: The spirits of prior trades linger.
🔹 Trade with certain entities may yield an echo effect.🔹 10% chance to replicate last successful trade outcome when engaging similar-type entities.🔹 +5% bonus gain when trading with Rift-affected creatures.
Skill Rank: F (Upgradeable)
🎁 Bonus: Vault Map Fragment (2/4)📜 Secret Note: "There is always someone watching."
The Guardian dissolved into fragments, absorbed by the room itself. A door slid open behind the statue's platform, revealing a sloped passage spiraling downward.
Jin wiped sweat from his brow.
"That was easier than expected," he muttered.
But then the lights dimmed—and a new interface opened:
[Unknown Signal Intercepted]
💬 "Another one, huh? Using trade over brute force. Clever... but reckless."
💬 "Tag him. Marked for observation. He'll draw them out eventually."
[Origin: ???]Source Guild: ObfuscatedSignal Decryption: 4%...
Jin's blood ran cold.
Who was watching him?
And what did they mean by "draw them out"?
Descending Deeper
The lower halls of the Vault pulsed with Rift energy now—thick strands of it hanging in the air like static cobwebs. Debris floated instead of falling. Reality bent subtly with every step.
Jin saw movement ahead.
But it wasn't a monster.
It was a Trader—or what was left of one.
A ghostlike projection of a man in scorched armor leaned against the wall. His eyes glowed faintly, locked in a looped memory.
[Residual Echo: Trader "Meric Vass" – Deceased]Status: Preserved Memory LoopInteraction: Possible
Trade: [Memory Fragment] for [Item of Sentimental Value]
Jin hesitated.
He only had a few items that meant anything to him—but then he remembered a chipped dog tag he had looted weeks ago. It wasn't valuable. But it had a name etched into it:
"CASS – 1st Squad"
He offered it.
The projection blinked… then smiled.
"I can rest now," the ghost whispered, before vanishing into motes of light.
📘 Trade SuccessfulReward: Memory Fragment – "Gate Collapse: Year 18"Description: A vision from a failed dungeon breach. Can be consumed to gain knowledge or reputation.
Bonus: Mini-Map Fragment (3/4)
Jin kept walking.
With each step, he wasn't just growing stronger. He was uncovering layers of the world he never knew existed.
The Rift dungeons weren't just places to loot—they were archives. Cemeteries. Negotiation grounds between life and death.
And he was beginning to understand:
Every trade carried weight.
Every deal was a ripple.
And something in the deep Rift… was starting to notice him.
📌 Author's Note:
Hey there, fellow readers! 👋
If you're enjoying Merchant of Realms: The Infinite Trade System and want to support this story's growth, you can help me keep writing by joining my Patreon!
Your support means:
💥 Early access to upcoming chapters
📜 Exclusive side stories and lore reveals
🧭 Influence on worldbuilding (vote on realms, trade items, and system perks!)
💬 Access to a private Discord community of fellow fans
Even a small pledge helps me dedicate more time to this story and reach our goal of 1000+ chapters!
👉 Join here: [patreon.com/SAManhwarecap]
Thank you for reading, liking, and sharing this journey!
Let's build the Realm Trade Empire together! 🚀
— [RealmVendor]