Liam Noah lay motionless in the far corner of his high-security cell in Blackthorn Prison, his gaunt body bundled in what little remained of his dignity—a pile of filthy rags. Moonlight filtered through the iron bars, casting faint silver slashes on the stone walls, but Liem's hollowed eyes barely registered the light.
Ten years in this miserable place had gnawed away at his flesh, but not his hatred. That fire burned hotter every day, fueled by the betrayals and lies that had stolen his life.
The guards didn't care to notice him; to them, he was just another prisoner, a faceless entity in the machinery of punishment.
Liam Noah. The True Chosen Savior of the Union Colonies.
The title tasted like ash in his mouth. He was supposed to have been the one heralded as a hero. But no—his brother, Adrian, had taken that glory. Liam had spent his life overshadowed by the lies of others.
His flesh and blood parents had abandoned him in a park. When Liam was tested and uncovered he had magic and entered the Founding Fathers Academy. This only caused the watchmaker couple who adopted him, the only ones who truly loved him die, murdered in an attack by the Klan.
All his life his twin Adrian had bled him dry—stealing his knowledge, his power, and even the future that should have been his. Yet, despite the desolation surrounding him, Liem's mind was a cauldron of resentment and sharp lessons. He had learned that the so-called virtues of society—honor, charity, kindness—were mere chains used to bind the strong and empower the weak.
They masked the true nature of humanity: a vicious, unrelenting struggle for dominance where the only way to survive was to seize every opportunity that presented itself, no matter the cost to others.
As he lay in the corner, shivering beneath tattered rags, Liam's thoughts drifted to the betrayals that had led him here. His twin brother, Adrian, had always been the golden child, the beloved savior of the Union Colonies.
Liam was the forgotten one, the one cast aside, blamed for things he had never done. It was Adrian's shadow that had loomed large over his life, suffocating any chance for recognition or affection.
They said Adrian was the Savior. But Liam knew the truth: Adrian was a thief, a parasite feeding off his brother's life force and magic to rise to prominence. And what did he get in return? Betrayed by his own family. Framed for a murder he didn't commit. Abandoned to rot in Blackthorn Prison while Adrian basked in fame and adoration.
How foolish he had been to think that honor and loyalty mattered to those who surrounded him. It was the cunning, the ruthless, who thrived in this world. Those who showed mercy were merely giving others a chance to strike back.
Liam had learned that the hard way, through countless betrayals and false friendships, each one carving deeper wounds into his already battered soul.
With every passing day, the prison walls felt more like a tomb, sealing away the man he could have been. The outside world continued to spin without him, the atrocities occurring within the Union Colonies' Magical population, under the Knights of the Klux Klan's rule only deepening his resolve. He could almost hear the whispers of the tortured magic users, the cries of the innocent being hunted like game, all victims of a system that perpetuated fear and hatred.
But Liam had a plan. The isolation had forced him to think, to adapt, and he had learned to harness the magic within him. He no longer saw it as a tool for goodness; instead, it became a weapon, a means to his end. It was time to break free, to reclaim what was his, and take revenge on those who had wronged him. The chains of his past would no longer bind him.
But now Adrian was dead—struck down by his own arrogance when he challenged a Dark Lord he couldn't beat. And Liam was finally free of that mental parasite. His magic, long suppressed, had returned to him like a torrent. He could feel it building within him, stronger than ever before. Years of siphoning had inadvertently expanded his mana pool beyond natural limits—his brother's greed had, ironically, been Liam's salvation.
Now, all that remained was revenge.
Liam curled tighter into himself, his mind awash with bitter plans. When he escapes this hell, he would tear down everything the Union Colonies held dear. The world had taken everything from him, and now he would do the same in return.
But just as the weight of years pressed down on him again, a strange sensation broke through the fog of his thoughts—a shimmering in the air, a faint buzz, like reality itself had bent. And then...
The rags stirred. Light filled the prison cell. Slowly, Liam opened his eyes, and his breath caught in his throat.
He was no longer in the dank stone walls of Blackthorn.
Instead, he found himself in a lavish office. The air was thick with the scent of expensive wood polish, and a grand oak desk stood before him. Behind it, a woman—dressed in a sleek, tailored suit—sat, her cold, calculating eyes fixed on him. Her presence radiated power, and Liam immediately sensed she was no ordinary person.
"Mr. Noah."
She said smoothly, her voice like silk over steel.
"I am a Random Omnipotent Being, and you have been brought here for a singular opportunity. You possess a rare potential, and I have come to offer you a trade."
She leaned forward, her gaze unwavering.
"You stand at a crossroads. You can return to your world, seeking vengeance and redemption the hard way—an uncertain path, likely ending in your death."
Liam said nothing, his gaze locked on hers.
"Or..."
She continued, a faint smile curling her lips,
"You can take my offer. I am prepared to grant you the Merchant System—a powerful tool that will allow you to buy, sell, and trade anything you desire. You will have the ability to acquire not just wealth, but skills and opportunities to reshape your destiny. Even the lives of others, all for the right price. Ofcourse."
His mind whirred with possibilities. A chance to take control, to not just survive, but to thrive. This was everything he had ever dreamed of—everything he deserved after years of suffering.
"What's the catch?"
Liam asked, his voice steady, the remnants of his doubt overshadowed by the prospect of liberation.
"Every advantage comes with a price."
She replied, her gaze unyielding.
"You will start with a debt of 10 million points, which you can use to travel back in time—before your fall, before your brother's betrayal. With this second chance, you can rewrite everything."
"And as for the 10 million points you'd borrow."
She continued
"If you fail to repay the debt, the system will collect… by seizing whatever it deems valuable. Parts of your body, or you might even lose your very own time."
She smiled, but it wasn't a pleasant smile.
"But don't worry, you'll have ample opportunities to earn it back. The Merchant System thrives on transactions. The more creative you are, the faster you'll pay off your debt."
The woman leaned forward, her cold, calculating gaze piercing into him.
"The Merchant System will allow you to trade almost anything for MSP—abilities, resources, even people's lives. But with every transaction, there's always a chance to make deal with others. Be it their memories, experiance, or even pieces of their soul. The more valuable the transaction, the higher the cost."
Liam's hands tightened into fists, but he didn't flinch. He had already lost almost everything that made him human, but someone's soul. He was already twisted enough by years of torment and betrayal, making someone sell part of themselves was a small price to pay for the power to take his revenge.
He considered her words. The thought of returning to a time before the Founding Fathers Academy, armed with knowledge and a chance to rewrite his story, ignited a hunger in him that he had thought extinguished. The prospect of revenge fueled his determination.
"I accept."
He declared, the words tasting like freedom on his tongue.
"I will take the Merchant System."
A slow smile crept across her face, a smile that promised both danger and opportunity.
"Very well, Mr. Noah. Welcome to your new life."
In an instant, Liam felt himself being pulled apart and reassembled, a sensation both exhilarating and terrifying. As the world around him shifted, he knew he was no longer just Liam Noah—the forgotten, the forsaken. He was reborn as the Merchant, ready to seize his fate, exact vengeance, and craft a reality where he controlled the narrative.
When he opened his eyes again, he found himself standing outside the gates of the Founding Fathers Academy. His heart raced as he took in the familiar sight—students milling about, chatting, and laughing. None of them knew who he was, or what he was about to become. But this time, things would be different.
Liam felt a weight in his mind—a presence, almost. Then, a voice, cold and mechanical, echoed in his thoughts.
[Merchant System activated. Current balance: -10,000,000 points]
[First 100,000 MSP payment due within one month]
[Welcome Merchant]
[Please select your first purchase]
A smirk crept onto Liem's face. He was back, and this time, he was going to take everything that had been stolen from him—and more. The world had made a mistake by turning its back on him.
Now it was his turn to make them pay.