Chapter 62: Laying the Board

Dawn filtered through the shattered firmament, casting a thin, cold light over the dilapidated city skyline.

Inside the semi-underground parking lot, Luna remained fast asleep, her breathing steady, and a hint of color had finally returned to her pale face.

Aiden, however, had long since awakened.

He stood in the shadows near the entrance of the parking lot, his sharp gaze sweeping across the outside world as his mind raced.

Individual strength ultimately had its limits.

If he wanted to take revenge on Damien and dismantle the Dragon Sovereign Guild, relying solely on his own strength, even with the Sovereign of Souls and his foresight, would be difficult, time-consuming, and fraught with uncertainty.

He needed resources. He needed information. And more importantly, he needed a network of his own, one that operated quietly beneath the surface.

His reputation had already been established. The codename Reaper now carried enough weight within the player circles of Ashford City to command attention.

He had also accumulated his initial capital. The massive amount of gold coins stored in his anonymous account, along with the rare materials he had hoarded, provided him with more than enough bargaining power.

It was time to take the first step toward transforming himself from a top-tier player into a behind-the-scenes power broker.

He would establish a black market of his own.

This black market would be different from the noisy public trading zones on player forums and entirely different from the cold, anonymous bidding model of the system’s auction house.

It would be a small-scale, high-end, and secretive trading network designed for a select group of individuals.

Its purpose would be to facilitate the circulation of high-value items, scarce intelligence, and even... certain special services that could never appear in the open.

Aiden pulled up his anonymous private-message list on the forum and began filtering through his potential targets.

He ignored the official recruitment letters from the major guilds and instead focused on a few specific IDs.

They belonged to independent merchants and small-time intelligence brokers who, in his previous life, had earned reputations for maintaining extensive secret channels and, most importantly, keeping their dealings relatively clean.

Or at least, clean enough on the surface.

They might not have been particularly famous during the early days of the apocalypse, but Aiden knew exactly what they would become in the future.

He also knew their methods, their connections, and the kind of business they were willing to handle.

After a moment of consideration, he selected three names:

[Phantom Eyes], [Old Smoke], and [Coinlord].

Aiden then sent encrypted private messages to all three IDs.

The messages were nearly identical, though he made slight adjustments to the wording for each recipient.

"I’ve heard of your reputation and the extent of your channels. I have a business matter involving non-public items of considerable value, and I’m looking for reliable partners. If you’re interested, meet me at noon today beneath the ’Broken Bridge’ ruins in the western district. Bring a strip of white cloth as a signal. I won’t wait past the deadline.

Reaper"

The message was brief and mysterious, yet carried an unquestionable sense of authority.

It revealed his identity as Reaper, hinted at the special nature and immense value of the goods involved, and provided a precise time and location.

Yet it revealed nothing beyond that. The initiative remained firmly in his hands.

Once the messages were sent, Aiden stopped paying attention to the replies.

With his current reputation as Reaper and the mystery surrounding the invitation, he was confident that as long as those three were online and saw the message, none of them would willingly miss the opportunity.

He returned to the parking lot, only to find Luna already awake, clutching a blanket around herself as she looked at him somewhat helplessly.

"Awake? How do you feel?" Aiden asked calmly.

"Much... much better, Sir Aiden." Luna answered softly, a trace of vitality having returned to her face.

"Pack up. We’re going out for a while."

With that, Aiden began organizing his equipment.

He equipped the newly acquired [Tough Plate Leggings], causing his defense to increase once again.

He also sorted through the Common and Uncommon gear and materials he no longer needed, setting them aside as potential bargaining chips for the upcoming trade.

Luna watched him work silently for a moment before quickly getting to her feet and folding the blanket.

There was a faint trace of nervousness and anticipation on her small face.

She knew that, starting today, she would officially follow Aiden and step into a dangerous and completely unknown world.

As noon approached, Aiden drove the [Rezvani] westward with Luna accompanying him, heading toward the ruins of an elevated bridge that had collapsed during a monster attack.

The area was relatively open, offering excellent visibility. It would be difficult for anyone to ambush them here, while the surrounding terrain provided several routes for a quick retreat if necessary.

After arriving, Aiden parked the car in a concealed location and instructed Luna to remain inside.

He then made his way alone toward the agreed meeting point beneath the broken bridge.

Standing beneath the massive concrete structure, Aiden glanced around the desolate surroundings before finding a suitable position.

He leaned against a fractured support pillar and waited quietly.

Time ticked by, second after second.

The first to arrive was a man dressed in a gray hoodie. His lean figure was almost completely concealed beneath his clothes, while a generic white mask covered his face.

He moved silently, almost like a ghost, a small strip of white cloth clenched between his fingers.

It was [Phantom Eyes].

In Aiden’s previous life, Phantom Eyes had been known for the accuracy of his information and his uncanny ability to appear and disappear without leaving a trace.

Seeing Aiden already waiting beneath the broken bridge, his gaze briefly fell upon the [Power Gauntlets] obscuring the lower half of Aiden’s face.

He paused for a moment before approaching.

"Mr. Reaper?" His voice was low and slightly raspy.

Aiden gave a slight nod. "Phantom Eyes?"

"It is I." The man’s response was brief.

His eyes swept over Aiden from head to toe before moving across the surrounding area, silently assessing both the man before him and the environment.

Not long after, the second person arrived.

A middle-aged, portly man waddled toward them, dressed in an oddly luxurious silk vest that looked completely out of place amid the ruined surroundings.

A dry pipe rested between his fingers, though it remained unlit.

He wore a friendly smile, but his sharp eyes constantly moved, quietly taking in every detail.

Old Smoke, a veteran underground supply broker. "Oh my, Boss Reaper! I’ve heard so much about you!"

Old Smoke chuckled as he cupped his hands in greeting.

Yet despite his friendly demeanor, his eyes continued sizing up Aiden and scanning the surrounding area.

The last to arrive was a short man dressed almost like a goblin straight out of a Western fantasy story.

A large bag hung from his shoulder, while several exaggerated golden rings, clearly game items, covered his fingers.

His eyes practically sparkled with an unmistakable obsession with money.

Coinlord, A man whose sensitivity toward numbers, prices, and value was frighteningly high.

The three exchanged glances. They clearly recognized one another’s reputations within their particular line of work.

A flicker of surprise appeared in their eyes. None of them had expected Reaper to summon all three of them at once.

And that alone made them take the meeting far more seriously.