Vincent's smile grew wider, but he didn't respond to Old Feng's assumption. In reality, he had been aware of the gem hidden inside the stone all along.
How?
While watching the previous customer's attempts, Vincent had been actively utilizing his Heaven Eyes skill to scan the crowd. Before Old Feng cracked open that final stone, he had sensed a strange aura emanating from it.
When the gem was revealed, he recognized that the peculiar energy he had detected indicated the presence of a gem within the lucky stone.
Though confident, Vincent had initially held onto a sliver of doubt. To confirm his theory, he proposed a wager with Old Feng.
Feigning displeasure at the vendor's challenge, he skillfully hid his ability to see through the stones.
The rest, as they say, was history.
With a frown, Vincent spoke in a displeased tone, "What are you rambling about, old man? You think I can see through your stones or something? I won fair and square."
"Then how did you do it..."
Old Feng's words were drowned out by the cheers of the crowd.
"Old Feng, quit stalling and pay the young man!"
"Ha! You've finally taken a big hit, old timer!"
"Pay up! Pay up!"
Though irritated, Old Feng had no choice but to concede to his misfortune. After asking for Vincent's bank details, he transferred nearly a million credits into the young man's account.
Vincent couldn't hide his smile. This was his first significant windfall since arriving in this world, and it felt like just the beginning.
His dream of amassing wealth and living comfortably back on Earth seemed within reach, even though the idea of relaxation felt far away in this dog-eat-dog world.
"Thanks for the business, old man," Vincent said lightly.
"Hmph! Get lost! I don't want to see your face around here again!" Old Feng grumbled.
Vincent laughed at the vendor's frustration as he left the Lucky Stones Stall to explore the rest of the Central Bazaar. He still needed to sell his items and perhaps discover something interesting.
After nearly an hour of wandering, Vincent came upon a strangely deserted stall. The vendor, dressed in black clothing with a dark veil obscuring their features, sat quietly beside their wares.
Vincent examined the items on display: old, tattered books, rusty and unadorned weapons, and various other objects that looked more like junk than merchandise. He thought to himself that there were indeed eccentric individuals in every world.
Just as he was about to move on, an inexplicable force tugged at something deep within him as his gaze fell upon an ordinary-looking rock.
His eyes narrowed as he tried to peer into the plain stone's depths. Unlike his earlier experience with the lucky stones, he couldn't see through this rock, but he felt a strong connection to it resonating within his Origin Core.
An old man's voice broke into his thoughts.
"It seems something has caught your eye."
Vincent turned to face the veiled figure. Rather than answering directly, he asked, "I'm just curious why you're selling these old items..."
"Oh? Do you think I'm peddling garbage?" the vendor challenged.
Vincent raised an eyebrow.
"If they're not trash, what are they then?"
The man fell silent for a moment before replying. "These items may have lost their value and purpose for some, but I believe in the saying, 'One man's trash is another man's treasure.'"
Vincent pondered the vendor's words, nodding silently in agreement.
"If you're not buying, please move along. Don't obstruct my business," the man said, though his tone lacked genuine hostility.
Despite being shooed away, Vincent stood his ground.
"You say one man's trash can be another's treasure. Well, I have some 'trash' here. Care to make a deal?"
The vendor's interest seemed piqued.
"Ho, a business proposition? Do tell."
With a wave of his hand, Vincent produced all the items he'd looted in Origin World. The previously sparse stall was now filled with his acquisitions.
"Care to buy this 'trash'?" Vincent asked.
While an unawakened person might have been overwhelmed by the sheer volume of items, the veiled man showed no reaction. That was, until Vincent revealed a purple book—the Thrygian Trait Skill Book. Originally rare, he had upgraded it to Epic quality before returning.
"An Epic Skill Book?" the vendor remarked, though his reaction was more subdued than Vincent had anticipated.
Vincent's curiosity about the man's background intensified. He activated his Heaven Eyes, scanning the vendor but found nothing unusual beyond confirming that he was a peak Tier 1 Origin Warrior.
"Interested in buying the lot?" Vincent inquired.
The man hesitated before responding.
"I can offer 90% of market price for all your common items."
"Ninety percent? Hmm. What about this book?" Vincent asked, gesturing to the purple tome.
"That high-quality, specialized skill book is a bit different. It's not in high demand, but it could be priceless to the right buyer. I'd recommend you auction it instead."
"Auction, huh?" Vincent mused, contemplating where he might do so.
Noting Vincent's consideration, the vendor added, "I could auction it for you, if you'd like."
"For how much?"
The man's tone became more appreciative.
"I like you. Straight to the point. I want 20% of the sale."
Vincent frowned, displeased. "Five percent."
The vendor shook his head. "Can't do it. Fifteen percent."
Rather than continue haggling, Vincent made to withdraw.
"Forget it. I'll auction it myself."
Seeing Vincent about to reclaim the book, the man hurriedly interjected.
"W-Wait! Ten percent, and you can choose one item from my stall."
Vincent regarded him silently.
"Come on," the vendor pressed. "The auction site takes a 5% cut. I'd only be making 5% myself. Cut me some slack here."
Though Vincent's expression remained impassive, inwardly he was laughing. Of course, he knew the standard auction fees and how time-consuming the process could be. Still, he played along, acting as if he was accepting out of pity.
"Alright. Ten percent and..." he paused, surveying the items before him.
"...I'll take this one," he said, pointing to the rock that had drawn him in so strongly.
The moment he made his choice, Vincent felt a piercing gaze upon him. He glanced around, but the sensation vanished as quickly as it had come.
'What was that? Am I getting paranoid?' he wondered.
Oblivious to Vincent's internal dialogue, the vendor responded cheerfully.
"Excellent! Let's draw up a contract, shall we?"
With a wave of his hand, the man conjured a transparent interface. He signed it with his fingerprint before passing it to Vincent.
Vincent carefully scrutinized the contract's contents. It was a standard digital business agreement used in Astralis, governed by the laws of the Starmark System. Any breach would result in immediate arrest—a marvel to Vincent, who hailed from Earth.
Satisfied that everything was in order, Vincent added his own fingerprint signature. Both parties received a copy of the finalized contract.
"So, you're Vincent..." the vendor murmured, eyeing the signed document.
Vincent learned the man's name was Alex.
"I'll need your bank details and contact information," Alex said.
"Then you can have this..." He carefully handed over a small box, about the size of a fist, containing the rock.
Vincent accepted it without a word. The moment his fingers brushed the container, he heard a faint, rhythmic pulsing—like a heartbeat.
'Just what are you?' he pondered, studying the strange stone.
"Everything alright, young man?" Alex's voice broke through his musings.
Snapping back to the present, Vincent replied, "Yes, fine." He tucked the box into his storage ring.
"When can I expect results from the auction?"
"I'll notify you in three days at the earliest, a week at most."
"Alright. Just transfer the payment for my common items to my account. I've got other business to attend to."
Alex nodded, watching as Vincent left the Central Bazaar.
"Interesting..." the vendor murmured to himself.
As Vincent rode in a hover cab on his way to school, he couldn't help but grin at the bank notification that flashed across his interface.
Notification: You have received a payment of 1,500,000 credits from Alex. Your account balance is now 2,400,000 credits.
His first day in Origin World had netted him over two million credits, catapulting him from pauper to millionaire. Of course, he knew the source of most of his newfound wealth.
'Azhara, my little walking treasure,' he mused. 'I hope we cross paths again in Origin World.'
Chuckling at the thought, Vincent retrieved the item he'd acquired from Alex. Upon opening the box, he immediately noticed a change in the rock's appearance. It now emitted a faint black aura, exuding a mix of dread, chaos, and raw power.
Filled with both curiosity and caution, he slowly reached for the stone. The moment his fingers made contact, a flash of black light erupted from within. The outer layer disintegrated, revealing a shiny black marble that was eerily familiar.
It was identical to the one that had transported him to this world!
"How... why is it here?" Vincent muttered, baffled.
If the marble that had brought him to this reality now served as his Origin Core, what was this similar orb, seemingly filled with countless bright stars.
Before he could ponder further, a pillar of obsidian light burst forth from the marble. It shot skyward, piercing the clouds and drawing the attention of countless onlookers throughout District 12.
Vincent's consciousness faded as the black light engulfed him.
An indeterminate amount of time later, Vincent felt awareness returning. To his shock, he found himself floating thousands of feet above the ground.
"Where the hell am I?" he wondered aloud, gazing at the unfamiliar landscape far below.