The smell of roasted beans filled the air as Kai walked through the outskirts of Old Jakarta, Earth-side. It was early morning. Sunlight filtered through rusted slats of corrugated roofs and tangled power lines. This part of the city had long been left behind by Earth's progress—but Kai saw treasure here.
Stimulants. Caffeines. Fermented snacks. All common on Earth—but considered rare luxury items in many parts of the galaxy.
In a small, local café run by a wrinkled woman named Bu Mira, Kai sampled a bitter, thick brew made from native beans she had roasted over coals.
"Still the strongest in this block," he said, sipping carefully.
Bu Mira chuckled. "And still the cheapest. What's the young traveler after now, eh? More beans?"
He nodded. "Five kilograms. Fresh-roasted. Also, your candied ginger."
Sourcing Earth Goods
Kai had three objectives for this trip:
Secure high-quality stimulants for Vardex's trial contract.
Restock rare artisan snacks for niche buyers in Sector 9.
Begin investigating rumors of other Earth traders.
He moved fast. By midday, he'd acquired:
3kg of Bu Mira's roasted beans
A small crate of fermented cassava chips
A dozen packs of artisanal green tea from Kyoto's forgotten hillside farms
The cost was minimal in Earth credits—but the Vault estimated their resale value in CU was 6x higher in the right alien markets.
[Inventory Update: Earth Stimulants (Tier 1) – 3 types added]Estimated CU Value: 31 CU
Into the Underground
As he loaded the goods into a secure hovercart, a voice stopped him.
"You're not the only one collecting Earth junk."
Kai turned. A man leaned against the alley wall, half-hidden by crates and shadows. Sharp eyes. Worn coat. He tossed something toward Kai—a tag chip.
Kai caught it. It was a trade log.
TRADE ROUTE: EARTH → SECTOR 7CARGO: Modified Terran Music ChipsSELLER CODE: TR-017CU TRADE VALUE: 88 CU
"Found that in a failed smuggler's drop," the man said. "Earth traders are popping up. Not all of them play clean."
Kai narrowed his eyes. "And who are you?"
"Someone who monitors these lanes for a fee. You're about to cross into high-risk space, Zareth."
The man walked away without another word.
Kai looked down at the chip. Someone else had already made a bigger trade than he had—and they were hiding it.
Back to the Vault
That night, he returned to his Vault via local terminal, uploading the stimulant shipment and flagging them for delivery.
[Contract Delivery Initiated: Vardex Exchange – Tier 1 Earth Stim Stimulants]Delivery Time: 2 RotationsTrade Outcome: Pending
Then, a new message blinked to life.
🛰️ SYSTEM MESSAGE:Your name has appeared in 3 trading circuits.Galactic trader Kai Zareth is being monitored by high-tier agents.Trust protocols upgraded.Vault Observation Level: GREEN
That last line made Kai pause.
Observation?
He wasn't just being watched by rivals. The system itself was watching. Evaluating. Measuring.
Sovereign Growth
Kai reviewed his numbers.
He wasn't wealthy yet—but he had momentum. Small trades were compounding into reputation, access, and CU. The Trader Exchange Meet had opened doors—but now, whispers were trailing behind him.
More was coming. Rival traders. Smugglers. Contracts with hidden clauses.
But for now, he secured another contract, sourced real-world goods, and gained a critical piece of intelligence:
Earth was no longer his hidden monopoly.
He had to move faster—and smarter.
Status Update:
Kai Zareth, Trader Rank 3, completed his first Earth-to-Mycellar Confederacy shipment of stimulants. His CU and reputation continue to climb, but so do the eyes following him.
Vault Summary:
Current CU: 58
Trader Rank: 3
Active Trade Contracts: 2
Delivery Credits: 5/month
Inventory: Earth Tea (x3), Jakarta Brew Beans (x5kg), Fermented Snacks (x6 packs)
Trade Network Links: 3
Passive Markets: Enabled
Risk Level: Monitored (Green Tier)
Known Traders: 1 (Suspected – TR-017)