"Do you want to build trust?"

My voice came out low... but it carried everything raging inside me.

I slowly turned toward Snow Master, as if even that movement required a decision.

My heart wasn’t just beating...

It was slamming against my chest, as if trying to escape this place.

My thoughts collided, clashed, searched for an opening...

For space—any space—at any cost.

Snow Master raised his eyes toward me.

His gaze was as cold as ever...

But this time, there was something else in it.

Interest?

Or curiosity?

"You want the secret space?" he asked calmly, as if it were something trivial.

"Yes."

I didn’t hesitate.

I couldn’t.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

He paused.

Just a moment—but it felt longer than it should.

Then he said:

"Sorry... we can’t afford your cost."

"My cost..."

I muttered, forcing the words out.

"I think what you mean is... whether I have something worth betting on."

"You can’t blame us."

I lifted my head slightly and stared at him.

"That’s what trust is..."

I said quietly.

"You bet when all the signs are against you."

He laughed.

A short laugh...

But genuine.

"Nice words," he said.

"But the truth? You don’t trust us either."

I didn’t answer.

Because he was right.

I don’t trust them.

Sometimes...

I don’t even trust myself.

So why would I demand something I don’t possess?

I turned my face away in silence and looked toward the girl.

No one spoke after that.

The hall sank into a heavy tension.

Everyone watching everyone.

Waiting for the first move.

Then—

The leader of the Running Horse Sect raised his hand.

"20 million accumulation points."

"Twenty... million?"

I whispered unconsciously.

The number was absurd.

Not because it was small...

But because it was beyond belief.

An amount like that...

Could completely remove me from trading and let me focus solely on rising in rank.

"How do they even gather such a sum...?"

I muttered internally.

Suddenly—

A tightness struck my chest.

Seeing their strength...

Their wealth...

Made everything I was doing feel like the work of an ant compared to an elephant.

But that was only the beginning.

"30 million."

The Whispering Wind leader said it without hesitation.

And then—

The hall exploded.

Whispers. Shock. Disbelief.

Even lower-ranked masters couldn’t hide their reactions.

This wasn’t bidding anymore...

This was madness.

Something inside my chest went cold.

Even I...

Barely believed what I was seeing.

Then the number rose to 40 million.

Then—

But it didn’t stop there.

The Southern Volcano leader stepped forward.

His voice was heavy.

"Two Catastrophe Beasts... and 50 million."

The atmosphere froze.

Then another voice followed:

"Three Catastrophe Beasts." — the Prairie leader.

Each offer struck the nerves of everyone present like lightning.

Then—

The Blue Wave leader stood.

"Five medium Catastrophe Beasts... and 60 million accumulation points."

Silence.

Real silence.

As if the world itself paused for a second.

Then—

The countdown began.

10...

9...

8...

{Ding... Ding... Ding}

"Huh?"

{Secret Mission – Defeat the Five Leaders: Activated}

{Win the bid and obtain the secret space}

I froze.

"Are you kidding me?"

I screamed internally.

This was impossible.

How was I supposed to compete with them?

This wasn’t a fair auction...

It was a pit I was being forced to jump into.

5...

4...

3...

2...

At that moment—

I didn’t think.

I didn’t calculate.

I didn’t hesitate.

"Five healing flowers... from the fourth rank."

The words left my mouth calmly...

But their impact—

Was like an explosion.

The countdown stopped.

Then—

Everyone fell silent.

But it wasn’t the silence that froze my body.

Not even Snow Master’s shocked gaze.

It was—

The five leaders.

All of them.

They looked at me...

At the same moment.

Pressure.

Overwhelming.

As if the air itself had grown heavier.

My knees nearly gave out.

For a moment...

I thought I would collapse.

Then—

Everything vanished.

Instantly.

As if the pressure had never existed.

The leaders exchanged glances.

Silent ones.

Calculating.

The woman turned toward the table.

The Volcano leader tilted his head slightly.

Then—

The countdown resumed.

2...

1...

{Ding... Ding... Ding}

{Secret Space Acquired}

{Ding... Ding... Ding}

{Reward Acquired}

{First Resident – When introducing a specific type of being, the space will adapt perfectly to it}

{Ding... Ding... Ding}

{Secret Mission – Defeat the Five Leaders: Completed}

{Reward Acquired}

{Alternative}

I closed my eyes for a moment.

Then whispered:

"I missed this feeling."

This feeling...

Of obtaining something.

Of winning—

Even when it seemed impossible.

No hope.

None at all.

"White Mask Master," Snow Master called.

I opened my eyes.

"Yes."

"Do you still have fourth-rank flowers?"

His voice was calm...

But his eyes?

No.

There was clear tension in them.

I smiled.

"For whom?"

I asked.

"For you... or for the city?"

His expression shifted slightly.

"Let’s leave now... you’ll get what you want."

He didn’t waste time.

A white cube appeared in his hand.

Its edges were strangely rounded.

Suddenly—

A surge of energy surrounded us.

Then—

Light.

White.

Blinding.

I closed my eyes.

When I opened them again...

We were back.

At the base.

"What was that?" I asked.

"A Location Stone. A second-level teleportation tool."

"And do you have a higher level?"

I smiled faintly.

He gestured toward the table.

Inviting me to sit.

I sat.

The difference in his attitude now was obvious.

Before...

I was just a gamble.

Now...

I was a resource.

"Do you realize what you just did?" he asked.

"A good deal."

I replied simply.

He stared at me sharply.

"Then you don’t understand."

Silence.

Then he continued:

"Healing flowers... are one of the five requirements to reach the sixth rank."

My thoughts halted.

But my face didn’t change.

"I see..."

I said.

Then looked at him.

"That’s why I offered five flowers."

A lie.

But I wouldn’t reveal my ignorance.

I had already exposed enough.

Enough.

This world doesn’t forgive stupidity.

Nor does it tolerate naivety.

I took a slow breath.

"Do you want a flower?" I asked.

"Two now... the rest later."

I raised my hand.

"Relax."

I looked at him directly.

"I don’t have an infinite supply. What I have is limited... and these flowers?"

I paused.

"They’re not just healing... they’re weapons."

Silence.

He observed me.

"I can give you two now... but every future flower will be a separate deal."

"Agreed."

No hesitation.

I pulled out two small boxes from nothing.

Placed them before him.

"They’re yours."

His eyes widened.

Surprise flashed across his face—

He tried to hide it.

Failed.

"Free?"

"No."

I smiled.

"The price of trust."

I paused briefly.

Then added:

"But later... things won’t be this easy."

He looked at me.

Then smiled.

"You’ll get what you want."

I tapped the table with my finger.

"I want the following."

Silence.

He waited.

"First... 40 million accumulation points."

No response.

"Second... one billion dinars."

His expression shifted.

Slightly.

"Third... a future request. Not now."

A long silence.

But this time...

I wasn’t the one under pressure.

He was.

"Agreed."

He answered.

Just like that...

I got what I wanted.

Suddenly—

The hall fell silent.

Not ordinary silence...

But a heavy one.

As if even the air had stopped moving.

A powerful aura descended.

Sharp.

Cold.

Suffocating.

Like an invisible blade passing across my neck.

Then—

In the center of the hall—

Light appeared.

Not blinding...

But focused.

Steady.

Like a point of existence that refused to be denied.

Snow Master stood immediately.

No hesitation.

No questions.

That alone told me—

Whoever was coming...

Was not ordinary.

And he knew him.

My senses shattered.

Something inside me screamed.

Warning.

Fear.

I couldn’t tell.

But my body moved on its own.

I stood.

From nothing—

A figure formed.

Not teleportation.

Not gradual appearance.

It was as if existence itself made room for him.

"Fifth rank..."

I whispered unconsciously.

But—

This wasn’t like the others.

He was different.

Long hair...

Flowing softly over his shoulders.

A simple white robe.

No symbols.

No markings.

Yet—

It felt heavier than any attire I had ever seen.

He landed on the ground.

No sound.

No impact.

Yet—

It felt as if the entire hall sank slightly beneath his feet.

Then—

He moved.

Toward me.

Each step...

Wasn’t heard.

But felt.

As if the ground itself announced his arrival.

His eyes—

Blue.

Deep.

Clear.

But—

Something about them wasn’t normal.

Not calm.

Not cold.

But...

Tired.

And his aura...

Wasn’t overwhelming as I expected.

It was...

Sick.

Like a great power...

That had been broken.

Or drained.

Or...

Eroded by time.

He came closer.

My breath stopped without me noticing.

I didn’t know—

Was I afraid of him?

Did I pity him?

Or fear what he hid behind that calm?

He stopped in front of me.

For a moment—

His eyes met mine.

There was no threat in them.

No welcome either.

Something deeper.

As if—

He saw more than he should.

Then he spoke quietly:

"Welcome."

His voice was soft... almost melancholic.

Snow Master bowed without a word.

"What have I gotten myself into..."

I whispered internally.

A dangerous feeling began to spread inside me.

Sharp.

Clear.

Telling me one thing—

I had made a mistake.

A fatal mistake.