The asteroid colony of Ghael-IV was dying—slowly, silently, and just under the radar of any official Chain concern.
Situated along a decaying mining corridor, its supply routes had been crippled by pirate interference, environmental hazard spikes, and a sudden sanction from the Galactic Chain Authority. No trader had visited in weeks.
Which made it perfect for Kai.
From his system console, he watched as desperate requests piled up:
Request ID: G4-MED123[URGENT] Life-support meds running out. Need anti-radiation vials. Will pay in Terran diamonds.
Request ID: G4-FOOD87Can trade ore containers for protein slabs. Multiple families starving.
Kai's eyes sharpened. "This is it. My opening."
He opened a route.
But the system immediately flashed red:
ERROR: TRADE ROUTE BLOCKEDGhael-IV is currently under Tier-3 Chain QuarantineTraders operating in this zone without diplomatic license will be flagged
Penalty: Trade Rank Suspension or Ban
Yena cursed under her breath. "That's deliberate. They're letting that colony die."
Kai narrowed his eyes.
And someone was making sure of it.
Later that day, a message appeared in his inbox.
Encrypted. No Chain signature. But Kai recognized the style.
He opened it.
Sender: Trader Mynor
"The Hollow wakes, and you play king with scraps.If you're ready to learn what real trade power looks like…Meet me at the broken dock. Midnight."
At first, Yena warned against going.
"It's a trap," she said, polishing her shockblade. "He's had it in for you since the Verge Market cut."
Kai shrugged. "Then I'll trade him fear."
They arrived at the "broken dock" just past midnight. It was an abandoned landing pad on the edge of the Verge's lower ring—deserted, foggy, haunted by flickering lights and the occasional scavenger drone.
Mynor waited alone.
A tall man in a jagged leather coat, gold wire implants snaking down his jaw, his arms folded across a terminal that hummed with Hollow energy.
"I don't like you," Mynor said without preamble. "But you're bold. You've got the spark."
Kai said nothing.
Mynor flicked a datachip toward him. "That chip holds backdoor relay codes for Ghael-IV. Bypass Chain protocols, no alerts."
Kai caught it midair. "Why?"
Mynor smirked. "Because I want you owing me. Because the Chain needs shaking."
"You're offering an alliance?"
"I'm offering a rogue pact."
The next day, Kai set up a direct trade relay with Ghael-IV using the backdoor Mynor had provided.
And it worked.
He transmitted 3 crates of synthetic med kits and half a unit of rehydrated food slabs—low-tier in most markets, but worth lifesaving value to Ghael's colony.
In return, he received something far more lucrative:
– 6kg Terran diamonds– 5 crates refined noctilite ore– 1 sealed neural stabilizer (military grade)
Total estimated value? 220+ C.U.
He nearly doubled his trade worth in one deal.
And he hadn't used the Chain once.
But it didn't go unnoticed.
Later that night, Hollow Echo pinged him with an urgent report:
System Alert: Unregistered Observer Attempted Breach of Trade LogsSource: Unknown Entity – Designation "Fracture Warden"
Recommendation: Encrypt all rogue transactions immediately. Expect escalation.
Kai stood on the roof of his Verge warehouse, watching as drones loaded more shipments into old shuttles, ready for off-chain routes.
"We're becoming something more," he whispered.
Yena stood beside him, arms crossed. "You're dancing between law and legend, Kai."
He grinned. "I plan to become both."
Current Status:
Kai has bypassed the Galactic Chain Authority to establish a direct rogue supply line with Ghael-IV—a dying asteroid colony. With help from rival-turned-partner Trader Mynor, he completed his largest off-chain trade yet, earning valuable black-market goods and rare minerals.
His Cosmic Units have surged to 343.4 C.U., and his Earth Credits to 312.1, marking his biggest single-day profit so far.
But his trade activities have drawn attention—this time not just from the Chain, but a shadowy entity called the Fracture Warden, capable of intercepting hidden trade protocols.
The first Rogue Pact has been sealed.
The trader war is brewing.
📌 Author's Note:
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— S.A.