---
Kang Min, draped in the 「Shimmer-Cloak of the Deceiver」, stood at the center of a hall so vast it held its own weather systems.
Above him, rows of weapons could be seen from axes that could split moons, swords forged from the core of dying suns, and hammers that held the weight of entire tectonic plates floated in stasis bubbles.
『WARNING: YOU ARE CURRENTLY TREADING UPON THE DOMAIN OF THE HIGHER GODS.』
『DETECTION PROBABILITY: 44% AND RISING.』
"Forty-four percent? Those are rookie numbers."
Min whispered, his eyes fixed on the central pedestal.
He wasn't here by accident as he had spent three months grooming the gods of the [Great Celestial Banquet].
He had played the role of the [humble petitioner], [the desperate warrior], and finally, the [lucky gambler].
Kang Min had tricked [The Artisan of Stellar Anvils] and [The Weaver of Star-Threads] into signing a "Mutual Growth Pact".
This was a standard contract, except for a tiny, microscopic clause written in the ancient language of the Void.
「Clause 9.4: In the event of a solar eclipse in the 7th Dimension, the Contractor (Kang Min) shall have 'unrestricted access' to the storage of the Contractee's artifacts for 'inventory purposes.'」
It was currently an eclipse in the 7th Dimension.
"Inventory time."
Kang Min grinned.
-BOOM!
The golden gates at the far end of the hall buckled.
A roar that shook the very foundation of the Tower echoed through the vault.
『THE GOD [THE TITAN OF MOLTEN IRON] HAS REALIZED YOUR DECEPTION!』
『THE GOD IS FURIOUS!』
『THE GOD HAS INVOKED THE "JUDGMENT OF FIRE"!』
"Too late, big guy!"
Kang Min leapt into the air, his hand grasping a glowing silver hilt.
『ITEM ACQUIRED: 「THE BLADE OF THE SILVER MOONLIGHT」』
『RANK: SSS (SEALED)』
He spun in mid-air, kicking off the side of a floating shield and grabbed a massive, obsidian-headed hammer that was crackling with purple lightning.
『ITEM ACQUIRED: 「CRUSHER OF THE FORGOTTEN DEPTHS」』
"Give those back, mortal!"
A voice like grinding tectonic plates boomed.
A manifestation of the Titan appeared.
It was a twenty-foot tall giant made of living magma, swinging a fist that looked like a falling meteor.
Using the [Blade of the Silver Moonlight] Kang Min was able to parry.
The collision sent a shockwave that shattered every stasis bubble in a hundred-yard radius.
Hundreds of artifacts to relics that guilds would go to war for began raining from the ceiling.
"Fools."
Min laughed, the adrenaline turning his blood into liquid fire.
"You shouldn't have put all your eggs in one basket!"
『Skill -「Void-Pocket Harvest」is in use!』
A swirling black hole opened behind him, and like a vacuum, the falling weapons were sucked into his personal subspace.
A legendary spear.
A bow made of dragon bone.
An axe that hummed with the screams of a thousand demons.
One by one, they vanished into his coat.
『THE GOD [THE QUEEN OF THE ETERNAL FROST] IS CASTING "ABSOLUTE ZERO"!』
The hall began to freeze.
The floor turned to slick, crystalline ice.
Min felt his heart rate slow, his blood beginning to crystallize.
He reached out and snatched a flaming red axe that was falling past him.
「Hate-Forged Cleaver of the Sun」.
He swung it in a wide arc, the sheer heat of the weapon vaporizing the frost instantly.
The steam filled the hall, creating a thick, white fog.
Under the cover of the mist, Min moved fast.
He grabbed the 「Amulet of the Star-Gazers」 off its pedestal and snatched the 「Boots of the Void-Treader」 from their display.
『THE TREASURY IS 80% EMPTY.』
『THE GODS ARE EXPERIENCING UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS OF RAGE!』
He saw the exit...a rift in space-time he had pre-prepared.
But the Titan of Molten Iron was standing in his way, his flaming eyes burning with a hatred that could scorch souls.
"You will not leave this place with our pride, human!"
"Pride?"
Min landed on his feet, his arms filled with four different S-rank staves.
"I don't care and wouldn't give a shit about your pride.
If it benefits me and I can use it...that's all that matters."
He threw a smoke-bomb filled with the ground-up scales of a Shadow Naga.
The room plunged into a darkness so thick that even a god's sight was blinded.
He dashed through the darkness, sliding between the Titan's legs and vaulting over a pile of discarded, low-rank gold.
As he reached the rift, he turned back, waving a single, golden coin....the 「Mark of the Prime Deity」which was known to be the crown jewel of the vault.
"Thanks for the gifts! I'll be sure to leave a five-star review!"
『SUCCESS! YOU HAVE ESCAPED THE WAREHOUSE OF THE GODS!』
『YOU HAVE COMMITTED A CRIME THAT WILL BE RECORDED IN THE ANNALS OF THE TOWER FOREVER.』
The rift closed behind him, depositing him back into Floor 301.
Kang Min collapsed on the ground, his chest heaving, his sweat steaming in the cool air.
He looked at his shaking hands, then at the notification windows that were popping up like fireworks.
『THE GODS OF THE GREAT CELESTIAL BANQUET HAVE PLACED A BOUNTY ON YOUR HEAD!』
『TOTAL BOUNTY: 50,000,000 COINS.』
"Fifty million?"
Min laughed, wiping blood from his lip.
"They're getting stingy aren't they..."
Then, a deep, royal purple window appeared.
『ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: "THE IMPOSSIBLE HEIST"』
『FOR DECEIVING THE GODS AND STRIPPING THEIR TREASURY BARE, YOU HAVE EARNED A UNIQUE TITLE.』
[TITLE: THE ONE WHO EMPTIED THE GODS' VAULT]
「Effect: Permanent +50 to Deception and Luck. All merchants in the Tower will now fear and respect you.
Passive: "God-Struck" — When facing a god or their avatar, your damage is increased by 30%.」
---
[Walker's Organization Sub-Hub B]
Kang Min stood at the entrance, adjusting the collar of his black long sleeved shirt.
He wore with it a black trouser and a pair of black chambeliss patent leather derby shoes.
And of course his black mask.
He checked the coordinates on his phone.
"Shared housing for an auction..."
"It's a long way down...but still reminds me of Floor 300."
As he stepped through the mana-sensitive turnstiles, a crisp notification chimed in his ear.
『SYSTEM: YOU HAVE ENTERED THE "COMMERCIAL NEUTRAL ZONE."』
『ALL OFFENSIVE SKILLS ARE AUTOMATICALLY SEALED.』
『TRADE ETHICS PROTOCOL IS NOW IN EFFECT.』
A young woman in a sharp grey suit, carrying a glass tablet that flickered with orange data streams, hurried toward him.
Her nametag read Assistant Manager Chaewon.
She looked like she had slept for approximately three hours in the last week.
A standard look for anyone working in the Walker's Org during a Super Rookie craze.
"Player Singularity?"
She asked, her voice a mix of professional courtesy and sheer exhaustion.
"Yes."
Min replied, keeping his voice casual.
"This way, please.
We've allocated a Level 3 Partition for your items.
I'll show you the layout and help you with the system synchronization.
Since you're... well, since your 'Buzz' rating is currently off the charts, we've given you a booth near the main thoroughfare."
She led him through a sprawling hall filled with transparent partitions.
Each booth was a hive of activity; players were frantically polishing rusted swords, mages were enchanting common rings to make them glow brighter, and scouts were trying to hawk hidden maps that were likely just tea-stained napkins.
"It's a bit crowded."
Chaewon apologized, gesturing to the rows of players.
"But the shared system allows for cross-platform bidding.
Anyone in the building...and anyone watching the official W.O. stream can place a bid on your items."
They arrived at Partition 42.
It was a sleek, minimalist space with a floating holographic pedestal at the center.
"To set up..."
Chaewon explained, tapping her tablet.
"...just place the items on the pedestal.
The system will auto-scan the grade, durability, and history.
You can then set a starting price and a 'Buy It Now' option.
Here, let me initialize the interface for you."
She swiped her hand, and a massive blue window expanded in front of Kang Min.
『AUCTION MANAGEMENT INTERFACE v.4.2』
「CURRENT HOST: SINGULARITY」
「PARTITION STATUS: READY」
「PENDING ITEMS: 0/10」
"Go ahead."
Chaewon said, stepping back.
"The system will handle the rest.
I'll be nearby if you-"
She stopped.
Kang Min had just adjusted his stance, and as he did, he subtly toggled his title.
He didn't want to cause a scene, but he needed the "Respect" part of the title to ensure the staff didn't try to lowball his commission rates.
[THE ONE WHO EMPTIED THE GODS' VAULT]
Assistant Manager Chaewon's eyes widened.
Her breath hitched, and she found herself taking an involuntary step back, her tablet trembling in her grip.
She didn't know why, but looking at the masked man in front of her felt like looking at a predator that had just finished devouring a deity.
"Everything alright, Manager?"
Min asked.
"I... yes! Yes."
"I'll... I'll leave you to your preparations. Please, take your time.
Anything you need... just... just press the call button!"
She scrambled away.
"Scary how well that works."
He turned back to the pedestal and began reaching into his spatial storage.
He spent the next hour meticulously setting up the "Display Window."
『AUCTION PREPARATION COMPLETE.』
『TOTAL ITEMS LISTED: 5』
『EXPECTED REVENUE: 250,000+ COINS』
He watched the crowds of players grow outside his partition.
People were pointing and hispering.
The word "Singularity" was passing from lip to lip like a wildfire.
"Two minutes to start."
His T1 Drone materialized from blue pixels before fully taking on the physical form.
『STREAMING STATUS: STARTING...』
『3... 2... 1...』
『 •LIVE! 』
The viewer count, which had been sitting at a "modest" 5,000 "waiting" fans, exploded.
「10,000... 40,000...」
The chat was moving so fast it was a literal blur of white text.
[Chat Box]
[OH MY GOD HE'S BACK!]
[SINGULARITY IS AT THE BAZAAR?!]
[Is that the....? I want it! I'll sell my house!]
Min leaned into the camera, his black mask reflecting the blue glow of the auction window.
"Welcome to the show."
A massive chime rang out through the entire Auction Hub B.
All other monitors in the building flickered, then synchronized to Partition 42.
『AUCTION #001: 『ITEM: BRACELETS OF THE UNYIELDING TIDE』 — START!』
The first bid hit the screen before Min could even finish his sentence.
「BID: 60,000 COINS — USER: IRON_AEGIS_SCOUT_03」
「BID: 75,000 COINS — USER: WHITE_STARS_OFFICIAL」
「BID: 100,000 COINS — USER: GOLD_LEAGUE_VETERAN」
Min's eyes widened behind his mask.
The price had doubled in three seconds.
"Oh..."
He whispered, a sharp, predatory glint returning to his eyes.
"This is going to be much easier than I thought."
Suddenly, a golden notification popped up.
This color was usually only reserved for High-Rankers or massive donations slammed across the center of his stream.
『THE CONSTELLATION [THE ARTISAN OF STELLAR ANVILS] IS WATCHING YOUR AUCTION WITH GREAT INTEREST.』
『A PRIVATE BID HAS BEEN ENTERED FOR ITEM #2: VESTIGE OF THE IRON LION SHIELD』
The entire hall went silent.
The players in the neighboring booths stopped their shouting.
Even Assistant Manager Chaewon, watching from the wings, dropped her tablet.
Min looked at the private bid amount.
He couldn't help but give a wide smile behind his mask.