The black card felt heavy in my pocket as I walked toward the coordinates Jax had mentioned. It wasn't a place you'd find on any GPS. To the rest of the world, it was just an old, abandoned subway entrance, but to those with a System, it was the gateway to the Underground Market.
As I descended the stairs, the air grew thick with a strange energy. My System interface started flickering, gold icons flashing rapidly.
[System Notification: Entering Neutral Zone.]
[Trading Feature: Partially Unlocked.]
At the bottom of the stairs stood a massive iron door with a small sliding window. I held up the black card. The window slid open, a pair of sharp eyes scanning the card and then my face. Without a word, the door groaned open.
Inside, the market was a buzzing hive of activity. People in hoods and masks moved between stalls, trading glowing crystals, ancient-looking scrolls, and high-tech weaponry. I felt like a small fish in a very large, dangerous ocean.
"Looking to sell or buy, newcomer?" a raspy voice asked from my right.
I turned to see a small, hunchbacked man sitting behind a counter filled with various mechanical parts. His eyes were fixed on the faint blue glow emanating from my chest—a sign of my active System.
"I want to convert my Gold Coins into real currency," I said, keeping my voice steady.
The man smirked, revealing a row of yellow teeth. "Ah, a Zero who actually made some profit. Rare. I am Old Man Silas. I can give you the best rates, but I take a 5% cut. Take it or leave it."
I hesitated. The System's official bank transfer had been free, but Jax had warned that large transfers would attract the Government's attention. Silas was my only way to stay under the radar.
"Deal," I said.
[Transaction Initiated...]
[Transferring 500 Gold Coins to Silas...]
[Processing...]
Ding!
My phone buzzed. I checked the screen with trembling fingers.
"Bank Alert: 50,000 INR has been credited to your account via Anonymous Source."
Fifty thousand! My heart skipped a beat. This was more money than I had earned in the last six months combined. But just as I was about to thank Silas, a sudden commotion broke out at the far end of the market.
"The Association! They've found us! Scatter!" someone screamed.