Chapter 106: The Price of a Golden Fruit

Author’s Note — Volume II Begins!

Hey, everyone!

Just a quick announcement!

Volume I: The Moon Rises Twice officially concluded with Chapter 105.

Starting from Chapter 106— The Price of a Golden Fruit, we’ve officially entered Volume II: Beneath the Crimson Moon!

Unfortunately, I forgot to create a separate volume in the contents before publishing the new Chapters, so they may still appear under Volume I. But don’t worry, this doesn’t affect the story or its continuity.

Volume II marks the beginning of a new Chapter in Jet’s journey. The stakes are rising, new enemies are emerging, and the consequences of everything that happened in Volume I are finally beginning to unfold.

Thank you all for reading and supporting the novel so far. We’re only getting started!

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FLASHBACK — THREE DAYS AGO

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Three Days Before the Attack.

There were countless ways to become wealthy in the Awakener world, but few were as dangerous as selling something that powerful people wanted.

In Zenith City, where Guilds controlled businesses worth billions of Union Dollars and powerful Awakeners could accumulate fortunes through Dungeon Raiding, an entirely different marketplace existed beneath the legitimate economy.

It was known as the Black Exchange.

Unlike ordinary auction houses, the Black Exchange specialized in transactions that required absolute discretion.

Rare Origin Treasures, unregistered Relics, forbidden items, and materials obtained from dangerous regions of Beyond regularly passed through its hands.

Sellers could conceal their identities, buyers could make purchases without attracting attention, and the Exchange collected substantial commissions for ensuring both parties honored their agreements.

Of course, anonymity was never truly guaranteed. Especially when the merchandise was valuable enough.

At approximately eleven that evening, Silas Renwick, a senior broker operating one of the Exchange’s private trading platforms, received an unusual submission.

The item was a fruit.

Golden in color, roughly the size of an adult’s fist, with delicate patterns resembling overlapping leaves covering its smooth surface. Faint golden particles occasionally drifted from its skin before disappearing into the surrounding air.

Its appearance alone was enough to attract attention, but what truly interested Silas was the information accompanying it.

[Item: Unidentified Golden Fruit]

[Classification: Origin Treasure]

[Mana Concentration: Extremely High]

[Effects: Unknown]

[Starting Price: 90,000,000 Union Dollars]

Silas leaned forward, studying the photograph displayed on his monitor.

"Ninety million for a fruit?" he muttered, rubbing his chin. "Either someone has discovered something extraordinary, or they’ve completely lost their mind."

He opened the appraisal report. According to the independent appraiser, the fruit was genuine. It contained an extraordinary amount of Mana, far exceeding what would normally be expected from an Origin Treasure of its size. However, the appraiser had been unable to determine its precise effects.

That wasn’t particularly unusual.

There were countless treasures originating from Beyond whose properties remained unknown until someone consumed or used them.

Some granted temporary improvements, others possessed extraordinary healing properties, and a few could even help Awakeners overcome limitations that had restricted their advancement for years.

Naturally, such treasures commanded enormous prices.

Silas pressed a button on his desk.

"Mara, come to my office," he instructed through the intercom. "There’s something I want you to examine."

Several minutes later, a woman in her early thirties entered carrying a tablet. Mara Ellery had worked alongside Silas for nearly a decade and was responsible for verifying unusual merchandise before it reached the Exchange’s wealthiest customers.

Silas turned his monitor toward her.

Mara examined the photograph, then the appraisal information. Her eyebrows gradually rose as she reached the asking price.

"Ninety million Union Dollars?" she asked, glancing at her employer. "For an unidentified Origin Treasure?"

"The appraisal is genuine," Silas replied, leaning back in his chair. "What interests me is the seller. Whoever owns this thing is demanding complete anonymity."

Mara scrolled through the transaction details. "They’ve registered through an intermediary, provided false identification, and requested payment through several separate accounts. Even the communication channel is encrypted."

Silas smiled faintly. "Someone who knows how the Black Exchange operates."

"Or someone who doesn’t want anybody discovering where they obtained it," Mara suggested, studying the fruit again.

"That’s hardly our concern," Silas answered, waving his hand dismissively. "Our responsibility is to verify the merchandise and collect our commission. Put it in the private catalogue and notify our highest-paying clients."

Mara hesitated before nodding. Within the hour, the golden fruit appeared in the Exchange’s invitation-only marketplace.

And the response was immediate. Several wealthy collectors expressed interest. Two independent Awakeners requested additional information, while a representative from an influential Guild offered to purchase the fruit outright if the seller could provide more details about its effects.

The intermediary rejected every request. The seller would not reveal their identity, disclose where the fruit originated, or meet prospective buyers.

The only condition was simple.

Pay the asking price, and the fruit would be delivered.

Ordinarily, such demands would have discouraged serious buyers.

Instead, they attracted someone far more dangerous.

***

Shortly after midnight, inside a luxurious private residence overlooking Zenith City’s illuminated skyline, a man wearing a dark coat studied the golden fruit displayed on a large screen.

Three individuals stood before him.

The oldest among them, a silver-haired man named Corvin, had spent decades gathering information for people powerful enough to make entire organizations disappear.

Even he appeared unusually cautious tonight.

"An unidentified Origin Treasure containing an extraordinary amount of Mana," Corvin explained, holding a tablet. "The appraisal confirms its authenticity, but the Exchange has no information concerning its effects."

The seated man examined the photograph.

"How much?"

"Ninety million Union Dollars, sir," Corvin answered. "Although several buyers have already expressed willingness to offer more."

The man smiled. "Interesting. Someone obtains a treasure valuable enough to attract wealthy Awakeners, yet refuses to explain where it came from."

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "Find the seller."

Corvin nodded. "We’ve already begun making inquiries. However, the transaction was arranged through several intermediaries, and the seller appears to have taken precautions against identification."

The man slowly raised his eyes. "Corvin, how long have you worked for me?"

"Fourteen years, sir," Corvin answered immediately.

"And in those fourteen years, have you ever known me to accept an excuse involving a few encrypted accounts and false identities?"

Corvin lowered his head. "No, sir."

"Then don’t disappoint me." The man returned his attention to the photograph. "I don’t particularly care about the ninety million. What interests me is where someone obtained such a treasure. If there’s one fruit, there might be another. Perhaps dozens."

His smile widened slightly. "And if there’s something producing them, that would be considerably more valuable than the fruit itself."

Corvin understood.

Their organization possessed enormous financial resources, experienced investigators, information brokers, and Awakeners whose Divine Runes were particularly useful for gathering intelligence.

Tracing an anonymous seller might be difficult for ordinary people.

For them, it was simply a matter of deciding how much money to spend.

***

By morning, the investigation had already produced results.

The first intermediary surrendered his transaction records after receiving an offer that exceeded several years of earnings. Another revealed the communication service used by the seller, while an information broker identified the accounts responsible for arranging the fruit’s appraisal.

The seller had concealed their identity carefully.

Unfortunately, every intermediary they employed created another opportunity for information to escape.

Corvin’s people followed the trail through financial transactions, private communications, and witnesses who had unknowingly participated in the sale.

By the time the sun rose over Zenith City, they had narrowed their investigation to a single individual.

Two hours later, Corvin returned to the private residence.

The man in the dark coat was enjoying breakfast when his subordinate entered.

"We found the seller, sir," Corvin reported, placing a folder on the table. "The false identification and intermediaries complicated matters slightly, but we’ve confirmed who arranged the transaction."

The man didn’t look particularly surprised. "Good. Have they received payment?"

"Not yet," Corvin answered. "The fruit remains with the Exchange, awaiting completion of the sale."

"Then acquire it. Pay whatever is necessary."

Corvin nodded.

"And the seller?" he asked.

The man set down his cup. "Bring them to me."

Corvin hesitated. "Should we question them beforehand?"

"No," the man replied, his expression turning cold. "I want to know where that fruit came from, and I have someone far better suited to extracting answers than your investigators."

***

Silas Renwick received an unexpected notification shortly before noon.

The golden fruit had been purchased. Not for ninety million Union Dollars but for one hundred and twenty million.

The buyer had completed payment without requesting another appraisal, negotiating the price, or demanding information about the fruit’s origins.

Silas stared at the transaction confirmation, hardly believing his eyes.

"One hundred and twenty million," he murmured, an enormous smile spreading across his face. "Someone really wanted that thing."

Mara entered moments later, looking considerably less enthusiastic.

"Silas, there’s something strange about the buyer," she said, approaching his desk. "Their account has the highest authorization privileges I’ve ever seen. Even our senior administrators aren’t permitted to examine their information."

Silas glanced at her. "Did the payment clear?"

"Yes, but...."

"Then what exactly is the problem?" Silas interrupted, laughing as he gestured toward the screen. "We’ve just completed one of our most profitable transactions this month. Stop worrying and prepare the commission report."

Mara studied him for several seconds before reluctantly leaving.

Silas returned to his monitor, unaware that the transaction had already served its purpose.

The fruit had been acquired.

The seller had been identified and somewhere in Zenith City, arrangements were being made for an interrogation.

***

Odhran woke with a splitting headache.

His mouth tasted of blood, and an uncomfortable numbness spread through his shoulders. He attempted to move his arms, only to hear the unmistakable rattling of metal restraints.

His eyes snapped open. He was sitting in a heavy chair, his wrists secured to its armrests and his ankles bound tightly against its legs. Another restraint crossed his chest, preventing him from leaning forward.

The room was almost completely dark. A single overhead lamp illuminated the chair and a small table positioned several feet away.

Odhran instinctively attempted to circulate Mana through his right arm. Immediately, a sharp pain traveled across the seven black ravens tattooed from his fingers to his shoulder.

His Divine Rune had been suppressed.

His expression changed. The last thing he remembered was walking through an underground parking structure. Someone had approached from behind, and before he could react, a powerful blow struck the back of his neck.

After that, nothing. Odhran slowly raised his head and saw that someone was sitting beyond the circle of light, watching him.

"Who the hell are you?" Odhran demanded, pulling against his restraints. "Do you have any idea who you’re dealing with?"

The figure remained silent for several seconds.

Then a man leaned forward, revealing a pair of black leather gloves.

"Good evening, Odhran," the stranger greeted pleasantly, placing a photograph on the table. "I’m glad you’re finally awake."

Odhran’s eyes moved toward the photograph

A golden fruit.

His expression stiffened for the briefest moment.

The stranger noticed and smiled.

"Now then," the man continued, tapping the photograph with one gloved finger. "Why don’t we have a little conversation about where you obtained this?"