Yena stood stiffly in the center of the Burrow's main chamber, arms crossed and face unreadable.
The system prompt hovered between us, softly pulsing:
Initiate Assistant Bonding Protocol?Subject: Yena RellStatus: Unbonded (Trusted)Benefits: Secure trade authority, item listing access, encrypted shared memoryCost: 1.5 C.U. + 3 Earth Credits (bonding tax)Duration: Permanent unless revoked via Tribunal
I looked at her. "Last chance to back out."
She raised an eyebrow. "I've already handled your contraband soup-packs and watched you almost fry a power cell. I'm in."
I confirmed the prompt.
Assistant Bonding InitiatedWelcome, Trader Assistant – Yena RellAssigned: Tier-4 Provisional AuthorityBond Permissions: Item Handling, Interface Access, Emergency Override (Tier-2 Only)
Yena's eyes widened slightly as the system interface flickered into her vision. "It's… faster than I thought."
"Everything is," I said. "Now let's make it worth it."
With Yena bonded, I could finally delegate some of the daily tedium.
She immediately organized our stock into sortable digital logs, added tags for value range, and categorized items by demand frequency.
Within three hours, our operation efficiency had increased by 20%.
But efficiency wasn't my main goal.
Growth was.
Which is why, that night, I made the biggest gamble since my first sale.
Incoming Direct Offer – Flagged: Ultra-Private
The message arrived in a cold, silent blink. No trader tag. Just a code.
Buyer ID: C-01//VaultedClient
Query:Seeking: One (1) Pre-Earth Era ObjectSpecifications: No replicas. Non-digital. Personal-use artifact.Reward: 32 C.U. on confirmation.Terms: No negotiation. Trade must be blind. You ship, we verify, we pay.Refusal to meet deadline cancels offer.
My chest tightened.
This wasn't just rare—it was incredibly specific and came with no bargaining window.
"Could be a trap," Yena warned. "No tag, no forum trail, and the name 'VaultedClient'? You're either about to be rich, or buried."
I scoured our stock.
Nothing fit.
Except…
I opened a black crate we'd salvaged from the ruined orbital relay two weeks ago. Most of it was junk: old metal, scorched circuits.
But tucked between foam layers was an odd item I'd almost trashed.
A rusted locket.
Handcrafted. Definitely Earth-origin. No tech. Just a twist-lock hinge and inside… two faded photos.
A woman and a child.
No inscription. No metadata. No way to fake something this old and this heartfelt.
I sent the photos to the system for validation.
Artifact Validated – Origin: Earth (Pre-Tech Era)Type: Sentimental ObjectEstimated Creation: ~2020sReplica Status: NegativeEmotional Resonance: 91% (Human-scale detection)
Yena stared. "You're actually going to send that?"
I nodded.
"I don't know if it's wise," she said. "But I get it."
I posted the item with no visible description. Just an image and the title:
"For the One Who Still Remembers."
Within an hour…
Transaction ConfirmedItem ReceivedVerified AuthenticCosmic Unit Transfer: +32.0Message: "It matched. Thank you."
No name. No follow-up. The offer vanished as suddenly as it had come.
I leaned back in my chair, heart racing.
Whoever that client was—they weren't a normal buyer. And now they knew I could deliver rare Earth memories.
The system dinged with two more updates:
Reputation Tier Upgraded: Tier-4 (Respected)New Passive Perk: "Relic Whisperer"– Gain 10% higher visibility when listing historic or cultural items– Buy requests for rare goods appear 1 cycle earlier
New Thread Unlocked: "Galactic Trader Exchange – Tier 4+ Open Debate"
I tapped into the forum.
It was chaos.
Hundreds of active users arguing over price wars, system enforcement favoritism, and rumors that EEP was tightening audits on Tier-5 traders who had gotten too powerful.
And buried inside was one thread titled:
"The Rise of a New Earthling — Who is the Trader from the Dust?"
The post featured a screenshot of my C.E.P.B. listing and a blurred image of the locket sale title.
I wasn't named. But I was noticed.
Yena walked by, saw my frozen face, and smirked.
"You're famous."
"Or targeted."
She shrugged. "Same thing around here."
That night, we moved our stock to deeper crates and locked down the Burrow with a manual override in case the system failed. Too many eyes meant someone might try a physical visit.
But even with the tension in my spine, I couldn't help smiling.
In just over a dozen days, I'd gone from scavenging trash to earning enough to survive, bond an assistant, and even brush against the mysterious collectors of the stars.
And now?
I had 45.3 C.U., a respected rank, a stable tradepost, and the glimmer of real influence.
But I also had questions.
Why had that buyer wanted something so emotional?Why did their validation system feel older than the system I used?And most importantly…
Why did my system now show a hidden module, grayed out, that read:
"Galactic Artifact Chain – 1/17"
Current Status (Narrative Format):
Kai's current balance stands at 45.3 C.U. and 85.1 Earth Credits. He has successfully bonded Yena Rell as his first system-linked assistant, increasing operational efficiency and unlocking new trade authority. He has made his highest-value sale yet (32 C.U.) to a hidden buyer seeking Earth artifacts, gaining the Relic Whisperer passive perk and forum access to Tier-4 discussions. His reputation is quietly growing within the broader network, attracting both allies and attention.
He now possesses a mystery-linked system module—Galactic Artifact Chain (1/17)—whose purpose remains unknown.
📌 Author's Note:
Hey Traders! 👋
Loving The Sole Trader of 10,000 Light Years? Help this story grow by supporting on Patreon!
Your support gives you:
🚀 Early access to new chapters📜 Exclusive side stories & lore🧠 Vote on trades, upgrades, and realms💬 Join our private Discord for fans!
Even a small pledge helps me keep writing and reach our 1000+ chapter goal!
👉 [patreon.com/SAManhwarecap]Thanks for reading—let's build the Realm Exchange together! 🌌💱
— S.A.