Rajendra woke up with a pounding headache.
Morning sunlight leaked through his window. The ceiling fan groaned, turning slowly as if mocking him. For a moment he wondered whether everything last night had been a hallucination.
He checked his bag.
The cotton sample was missing.
The tomatoes were missing.
The onion was missing.
The bhindi packet was missing.
He froze.
"…System."
A calm chime resonated to signal activation.
[ Yes, Host? ]
"My vegetables," Rajendra said, voice strained. "Where are they?"
[ Auto-Inventory Extraction removed them for auction. This setting is mandatory at Host Level 0. ]
"That is theft."
[ Consent is assumed at beginner levels. ]
"I did not assume consent."
[ Automatic inventory control can be disabled at Host Level 3. ]
Rajendra inhaled sharply.
"Fine. Enough games. Explain what I walked into last night. That... place. The bidders. Those items. The currencies. I want all the rules."
A new interface opened.
2 — The Multiversal Auction Hall: Rule Overview
A holographic panel unfolded like a digital book in midair.
Rajendra sat upright, bracing himself.
"Tell me everything."
Rule 1 — Access Hierarchy
A tiered pyramid appeared.
Level 0–3: Virtual Auction Chamber only
Level 4–6: Enhanced Auction Interfaces
Level 7–9: Partial access to the Hall via projection
Level 10+: Physical presence allowed in the Grand Multiversal Hall
Rajendra scowled.
"And why can't I go physically before Level 10?"
[ Dimensional pressure would destroy your mind and body instantly. ]
"Wonderful."
Rule 2 — Civilization Tiering
A series of planetary holograms rotated around him. One was Earth, glowing weakly.
Tier 0 — Primitive Civilizations
No interdimensional awareness, no mana adaptation, limited scientific development.
Tier 1–2 — Developing Civilizations
Capable of minor interdimensional involvement.
Tier 3–4 — Mana-Tech Hybrid Civilizations
Where science and arcane systems merge.
Tier 5 — High-Science Civilizations
Tier 6 — Dimensional Powers
Tier 7 — Cosmic Entities
Earth sat at Tier 0.
Rajendra rubbed his temples.
"So I am essentially a caveman in an intergalactic mall."
[ That is an accurate approximation. ]
Rule 3 — Currency Hierarchy
A clean chart formed.
Scrap Coin
Used for mock bids and worthless transactions.
Void-Coin
Standard multiversal trading currency.
Value reference: 1 Void-Coin approximates the purchasing power of ten thousand rupees.
Astral Token
High-tier currency used by advanced civilizations.
1 Token equals 100,000 Void-Coins.
Cosmic Equity
A currency reserved for powers capable of trading star systems.
Rajendra stared in disbelief.
"One day, I want Cosmic Equity."
[ Statistically improbable at current capability. ]
"Your optimism is always appreciated."
Rule 4 — Host Level System
The system projected a progress bar.
Leveling Criteria:
Successful auction sales
Buyer ratings
Item rarity
Volume of trade
System tasks
Reputation accumulation
Level 2 Benefits (Unlocked):
Procurement Menu (Basic)
Friend Requests
Private Messaging
Level 3 Benefits:
Manual inventory control
Appraisal tools
Reservation rights for items
Level 5+:
Intermediate procurement
Access to multi-world blueprints
Storage expansion
Level 10:
Physical entry into the Grand Hall
Rajendra exhaled slowly.
"So Level 10 is the real starting line."
[ Correct. ]
Rule 5 — Friend and Reputation Mechanics
A single pending friend request appeared.
Sender: MAD SCIENTIST
Rajendra's eyebrow twitched.
"She actually sent that? What was her remark again?"
[ Payment remark: "Add me as a friend in the Auction Hall." ]
"And why would she want that?"
[ Possible reasons include:
Interest in your goods,
Need for repeated purchases,
Curiosity regarding primitive organics,
Isolation tendencies,
Unstable personality traits. ]
Rajendra folded his arms.
"She sounded unstable to me."
[ This cannot be confirmed or denied. ]
Rule 6 — Forbidden Items
A list scrolled rapidly:
Dimensional weapons
Souls of sentient beings
Time paradox anchors
Reality fractures
Black hole crystals
Planetary cores
Entities below adulthood
Items capable of destabilizing a civilization
Rajendra felt his skin crawl.
"This place is far more dangerous than it looks."
[ That is an understatement. ]
Rule 7 — Penalties
Violations can result in:
Auction fines
Temporary bans
Permanent bans
Dimensional sanctions
Forced contract servitude
In extreme cases: erasure from the multiversal network
Rajendra swallowed.
"…I will not break any rules."
3 — Level 2 Features Unlocked
The panel shifted.
Procurement Menu (Basic Tier)
Rajendra can now purchase:
Simple AI devices
Technical micro-tools
Preservation equipment
Blueprint chips
Low-tier RPG consumables
Language packs
Basic nano-gadgets
Diagnostics tools
Nothing advanced, but far beyond 1987 Earth.
Rajendra nodded slowly.
"This is the real advantage."
Private Messaging
He could now open communication windows with auction contacts.
His eyes lingered on the friend request.
"Not yet," he said quietly.
System Notice
A final line flashed:
[ Caution: Your goods attracted concentrated interest from one buyer.
Her purchasing behavior is atypical.
Future interaction is likely. ]
Rajendra's voice lowered.
"System… who is she exactly?"
A long pause followed. The system's light dimmed slightly.
[ Information beyond Host clearance. ]
"Meaning?"
[ You do not have the authority to know. ]
Rajendra exhaled slowly.
"…Then I'll just have to reach the level where you can tell me."
This time, the system did not reply.
Silence hung in the air, heavy with unspoken implications.