New tricks already?
Lin Moze frowned as he read the prompt on the panel, pausing his actions.
A Dimensional Merchant—just the name alone hinted at someone who conducted business across different dimensions.
Regardless of whether this merchant was personally powerful or just backed by a formidable organization, one thing was clear—they had access to extraordinary goods.
But what could Lin Moze possibly offer in exchange?
Opening the Starter Gift Pack might yield something useful, even if luck played a role. However, accepting the invitation might leave him empty-handed if he couldn't make a deal.
Still, walking away from this opportunity left a bitter taste in his mouth.
The sounds of chaos from the schoolyard and corridors grew louder. No doubt, the apocalyptic crisis had already begun. He needed to decide—fast.
Clenching his jaw, Lin Moze stared at the glowing sphere in his hands and declared:
"I accept the invitation!"
This was a gamble—a big one.
But since both paths relied on luck, why not take the risk for something potentially greater?
The Dimensional Merchant wouldn't have extended this offer if they weren't prepared to accommodate his current situation. Surely, he wouldn't leave empty-handed.
As soon as he finished speaking, his vision went black.
When he opened his eyes again, he was in a completely different place.
The room looked straight out of a sci-fi movie, dominated by deep blue and silver-white hues.
A massive floor-to-ceiling window spanned one wall, revealing a dazzling cosmic vista filled with stars.
On the opposite side, dozens of holographic screens floated in midair, displaying real-time images and streams of data.
A quick glance revealed one screen showing scenes from his school—students and teachers fleeing down corridors, desperately trying to avoid terrifying creatures.
The monsters had lifeless, grayish bodies streaked with glowing red veins concentrated around their hearts.
Screams, cries of despair, tearing flesh, and guttural roars formed a symphony of horror.
Lin Moze quickly looked away, focusing instead on the center of the room.
A circular table and two hovering, silver-white half-sphere chairs floated in midair.
One of the chairs slowly rotated, revealing a sharp-looking young man in a silver robe with short black hair.
The man's eyes lit up upon seeing Lin Moze. He jumped from his chair, quickly crossing the room and grabbing Lin Moze's hand.
"My friend! I knew you wouldn't turn down my invitation!"
Before Lin Moze could respond, the man enthusiastically dragged him to the table.
"Come, sit! I know you must have a lot of questions, but don't worry—we have plenty of time to talk."
Lin Moze sat down, and the chair adjusted itself to perfectly fit his body, providing an unexpectedly comfortable experience.
The merchant looked eager to continue, but Lin Moze spoke first:
"Hello. You must be the Dimensional Merchant who invited me. According to the information I received, you can provide assistance through trade?"
The merchant paused, seemingly impressed, then smiled and said:
"You're not only the most promising candidate I've scanned, but also the fastest to adapt to the situation."
Extending his hand, he introduced himself:
"Senior affiliate of the Dimensional Merchant Alliance—codename 'Starborne,' ID 2770. A pleasure to meet my future VIP client."
Lin Moze shook his hand, replying wryly:
"Lin Moze—someone you may call talented, but currently lacks the ability or safety to survive this apocalypse."
Starborne laughed.
"Fair enough! Let's get straight to business."
With a snap of his fingers, his chair floated back into place as he continued:
"It's refreshing to skip the usual process of convincing clients to accept reality. But I bet you're still curious—who's behind this disaster?"
Not really.
Lin Moze considered saying it aloud but held back.
He wasn't the type to obsess over mysteries. Knowing the culprit wouldn't help him survive the zombies outside.
Instead, he silently listened as Starborne continued.
"Honestly, I'd love to spill all the juicy details to build rapport, but let's skip the complicated backstory involving a bunch of troublesome entities. Let's talk about my products!"
With another wave, a giant holographic catalog appeared.
"I guarantee top-tier quality—tools, bloodlines, legacies—you name it. Everything's 100% genuine. No knockoffs!"
Lin Moze scrolled through the glowing products and nodded.
"Not bad, but I can't afford any of these."
"Exactly why I prepared a special selection for promising Saviors like you!" Starborne beamed.
"These exclusive items are heavily discounted and available on credit—no interest, no strings attached. Consider it an investment in our partnership!"
Another wave, and the screen narrowed to show a smaller, less impressive inventory.
"But don't worry," Starborne added. "Even these 'bargains' are authentic. The only catch? Each one has a... minor flaw."
"Minor, huh? Got it."
Lin Moze skimmed the options and pointed to a glowing orb.
"What's this?"
"That's Dragon Essence from the 'Wind and Cloud' martial arts world. It's the refined essence of one of that realm's four divine beasts. Consuming it grants a thousand-year lifespan and immense, pure energy."
"Sounds great. What's the flaw?"
"You need an exceptionally rare martial arts constitution to survive it. Otherwise, you'll either burn to death from the inside or explode on the spot."
"..."
Lin Moze rubbed his temples.
It seemed these "discounted" items were more like high-risk traps.
Still, he had no choice but to gamble.
With the apocalypse looming outside, even flawed power was better than no power at all.
"Show me the rest," Lin Moze said, steeling himself for what came next.