Jason stood still in the quiet street after Olivia had gone. A faint shimmer pulsed before him—his status screen.
> [STATUS WINDOW]
Name: Jason Owen (alias: Mars Scott)
Level: 1
Class: [Entity Merchant]
Health: 100
Mana: 100
Strength: 1
Const:1
Agility:1
Vit:1
Available Points: 0
Exp:0/50
Skills: Storage, Essence Conversion, Barter instinct (Lv.1), Essence Ledger(Lv.1)
"My stats are freaking low, but hey I have the legendary Storage space." He grins "This should help."
He then noticed his class. "Entity Merchant, is it a unique class like Weapon Sage, Explain system."
>[Of course]
>[CLASS: Entity Merchant
"Congratulations, User. You have been granted the Mythic-Class: Entity Merchant — an exclusive class accessible only through the Conversion Specialist System."
As the Entity Merchant, you gain access to a hidden interdimensional marketplace where souls,gadgets, powers, memories, and even entire beings can be bought, sold, or transformed. Anything in existence.
Every entity you encounter — monster, human, artifact, or spirit — holds value. I convert their essence into points. You decide how to spend them.
With enough points, you can forge contracts, trade for legendary items, or even rewrite your identity. You do not fight like others… You deal. You trade. You control.
Reality is just another]
"And this other skills."
>[Essence Conversion (Active)
Effect: Converts a defeated monster (entity), or any other thing into points.
Flavor: "What's a corpse worth? Let's find out."
---
🔹 . Entity Ledger – Lv. 1 (Passive)
Effect: Tracks up to 5 previously encountered entities.
Bonus: +3% better deal chance with previously catalogued entities.
UI Feature: Displays Name, Type, Last Interaction, and Trade Rating (F–S).
Flavor: "A good merchant never forgets a face—or a wallet."
---
. Barter Instinct – Lv. 1 (Passive)
Effect: Grants a +5% success rate in trades and contracts.
Bonus Effect: 1% chance to notice when someone is lying during negotiation.
Flavor: "Lie all you want. I'll still sell you the truth."]
"Cool." He nodded, " This might even be stronger than weapon sage."
He closed the screen with a thought, pulled on his hoodie, and walked out.
---
The Predator Association was a towering silver building surrounded by reinforced barriers and patrolling drones. New recruits and veterans moved in and out of its massive glass doors.
Jason—under the alias Mars Scott—walked in casually.
The receptionist, a young woman in a sleek uniform, looked up from her monitor. "Welcome to the Predator Association. Here to register?"
"Yeah," Jason replied. "Name's Mars Scott."
'I wonder what she sees when she looks at my face'
>[Nothing, your face is blurry to her and the ultra identity mask, manipulates her mind, so that she doesn't think anything's wrong.]
'Handy.'
She typed something quickly. "Alright. Stand on the scan pad."
Jason stepped onto the glowing ring embedded in the floor. A soft hum filled the air. A moment later, a flat black card slid out from a panel beside the desk.
"Here's your Predator Card," she said.
Jason took it and inspected the front. Then flipped it.
> PREDATOR CARD
Name: Mars Scott
Class: —
Level:1
Status: Unawakened
Skills: None
His brow twitched. Nothing. No class. No skills.
The receptionist peered over. "Huh… no class, no data. You're not showing up as awakened. That means you can't receive a guild recommendation, equipment loans, or dungeon assignment unless—"
"I still want to proceed," Jason said flatly.
She hesitated. "Sir, without a class, you're going to die before you even clear your first room. You should go back, train, try again—"
Jason shook his head. "I'm going."
She sighed and reluctantly reached into a drawer. "Alright. Then you'll have to sign this."
She slid a waiver form across the desk.
"This declares that anything that happens to you in the dungeon has nothing to do with the Association. No rescue teams, no insurance, no legal backing."
Jason picked up the pen and signed without flinching.
She accepted the form, looking at him again, more carefully this time.
"You're not like most newbies," she muttered. Her tone darkened. "I heard Jason Owen died in a dungeon his party cleared."
Jason froze.
"…Jason Owen died in a raid," he replied, eyes shadowed.
The air between them turned cold.
"…Try not to die like my hero," she added, almost under her breath.
Jason gave no answer, but discomfort flickered briefly in his expression before he turned away.
"Yeah okay."
Jason then looked at her. "Um... I want to enter a dungeon, preferably Rank F."
"Huh?, you wanna start now?" She said with a start.
"Is there anything wrong with that?" He asked.
"No, it's just that most awakened try to gear up first and get themselves mentally ready before talking about entering." She explained.
"Nah, don't need the hassle." He said with a wave of his hand. 'Besides I'm not exactly rolling in cash at the moment.'
"Fine, whatever." She began to type something, " Choose between,Normal, Hard, or Hell. It is advised you choose Normal."
"Hard." He said simply.
"Okay... Wait, WHAT!" She did a double take.
"You wanna die, what did I just tell you?"
"None of your business." He said waving the waiver at her face.
"I shouldn't have allowed you to sign that?" She grumbled. "Fine, have it your way. Your card."
He gives it to her she then inserts it into her computer and types something.
She hands him back his card. "The details are in it."
"Thanks." He then turn to leave the building
"Wait," she said as he reached the registration gate. "Some Predators are forming a beginner party for dungeon clearance. Interested?"
Jason glanced back. "I'll form my own."
"NO!"
Jason was taken aback,"Huh? Why?"
"You'll die the minute you step your foot in the dungeon."
"Isn't that my own choice to make I've already signed the waiver."
She raised an eyebrow, but said nothing more.
He really thinks he can do this alone?
'Some people really are tired of living.'
She didn't say it aloud. Just watched him walk toward the exit.