Aftermath – A Target on Rei's Back
The system announcement echoed across the entire Pasar Gelap (Black Market Bazaar).
> [Duel Victory – Rei Wins!]
At first, silence.
Then—
The entire crowd exploded in disbelief.
"A Salvager… won against an Iron Order guild leader?"
"That guy's gear was reforged mid-fight! What kind of mechanic is that?!"
"Was that… alchemy infusion?! I thought crafters couldn't fight!"
The rumors spread like wildfire.
Rei stood in the center, his breathing heavy, dagger still humming with residual energy.
Razak, the Iron Order guild leader, was slumped on the ground, his burning greatsword shattered beside him.
He glared at Rei.
"This isn't over," Razak muttered.
But before he could say anything else—
BOOM!
The ground trembled.
A new system notification appeared.
> [Faction Alert: Iron Order has placed a bounty on Player Rei!]
[All PvP-enabled players are now free to attack him in Pasar Gelap.]
Rei froze.
Then he heard it.
The sound of dozens of weapons being unsheathed.
Every mercenary, bounty hunter, and rogue turned toward Rei.
"10,000 gold just for killing him?"
"Easy money."
They charged.
Rei cursed.
He had zero healing items, no potions, and his stamina was already low from the duel.
This was bad.
Just as a dagger-wielding rogue lunged at him—
WHOOSH!
A glass vial shattered on the ground.
Purple smoke erupted, covering the entire area.
"Rei! Move!"
It was Nadia's voice.
Without thinking, he dashed toward her.
Through the smoke, he saw a familiar hooded figure waiting in a hidden alleyway.
Nadia grabbed his arm.
"Come on, we're leaving!"
They sprinted through a maze of abandoned corridors, passing underground vendors and shady dealers.
Finally, they reached a hidden safehouse beneath an old warehouse.
Nadia slammed the door shut and locked it.
Rei leaned against the wall, catching his breath.
"That… was close."
Nadia folded her arms.
"You call that close? You just made every bounty hunter in Pasar Gelap your enemy!"
Rei exhaled.
"Not like I had a choice. Iron Order forced my hand."
Nadia narrowed her eyes.
"Then stop thinking like a solo player."
She sat down, adjusting the alchemy flasks on her belt.
"If you keep trying to survive alone, you won't last."
Rei frowned.
"You're saying I should join a guild?"
Nadia shook her head.
"No. I'm saying you should start one."
Rei froze.
She leaned forward.
"You're already a target. You need allies. You need structure. You need a faction that's not under the control of the big guilds."
Rei stared at her, considering it.
A Salvager Guild.
A faction built on crafting, reforging, and breaking the system's economy.
A direct challenge to the top forces of Hustle Online.
Rei's fingers tightened into a fist.
"Alright."
His system interface opened.
> [Create Guild?]
He typed in the name.
> [Salvager's Haven]
System Alert: Guild Created!
And just like that… the first independent crafting guild was born.
But war was coming.
And Rei knew—this was only the beginning.