The Merchant Enters the Game

Chapter 7 –The Merchant Enters the Game

Caelis, accompanied by his most trusted companions, left the capital to meet the Pale Luminary on the Central Island.

Meanwhile, deep within the forests of the Green Nation, two 

mysterious figures moved silently between the ancient trees.

“Master,” the boy asked as he followed behind the Merchant of 

Death, “why are we in the forests of the Green Nation?”

The Merchant brushed aside branches and vines as he walked. 

“We are here to retrieve an important book,” he replied calmly. “We will need it tonight.”

Hearing this, the boy glanced at the seemingly empty forest 

around them. “What do you think will happen next in this story?” he muttered as he walked. After a moment, he added, “The more I observe, the more I realize something… we are not meant to understand you, Master.”

At those words, the Merchant of Death stopped.

He turned his gaze toward a large, moss-covered rock. “We’ve arrived,” he said quietly. “Kid, remove that rock. The book lies beneath it.”

The boy did as instructed. With effort, he shifted the rock aside 

and retrieved an old, worn book from the ground beneath.

“This book is in terrible condition,” the boy remarked.

The Merchant extended his hand and took the book from him. “We should leave immediately,” he said. “If we linger, we won’t make it in time.”

Without another word, the Merchant of Death and his assistant 

vanished from the Green Nation.

Elsewhere, within the Veil of Null, preparations were underway.

The right hand of the Null Architect stood among his strongest warriors. Ascending to higher ground, he addressed them with a voice devoid of emotion.

“I am Vaelor, the Empty Hand,” he declared. “I will lead this task—

to bring ruin to this world by seizing the secret scrolls from the Council.”

With that, they departed. By nightfall, they would reach the 

Central Island.

Back on Caelis’s path—

The group had already arrived at the Central Island. They were welcomed warmly, and by the time formalities concluded, evening had fallen.

After refreshing themselves, Caelis, his companions, and the Pale Luminary shared dinner together. The atmosphere was calm

—almost peaceful.

Later that night, in a private chamber, Caelis sat alone with the 

Pale Luminary.

Outside the room, Thalen stood guard at the door. A short distance behind him, Eryx and Kaelis waited silently.

The night had only just begun.

Caelis spoke calmly, his tone filled with measured gratitude.

“With your assistance, I’ve been able to rule my nation without disturbance.”

The Pale Luminary laughed lightly. “Young king, that brings me 

joy.”

“Once again, thank you for standing by the White Nation in its 

darkest hour,” Caelis said politely.

The Pale Luminary smiled. “I was born in this land. It is only 

natural that I protect it when the time comes.”

“I see,” Caelis replied. “You truly are a humble man.”The Pale Luminary chuckled. “You’re being unusually polite. It 

doesn’t quite suit a king.”

Their conversation continued for a while—courteous, calm, and deceptively peaceful.

Far below them, that peace was already being shattered.

Hidden figures slipped through the Central Island’s defenses.

Vaelor led his elite force forward, his footsteps silent. “I still can’t believe it,” he murmured. “The security loopholes were real. The Merchant of Death truly lives up to his reputation.”

His eyes narrowed. “If his information about the secret scrolls 

proves false… I’ll kill that broker myself.”

They descended into the basement of the Pale Luminary’s residence. Guards fell one by one—swift, silent deaths echoing 

through the dusty corridors. At last, they reached a sealed chamber.

Inside lay the scrolls.

Vaelor laughed coldly as he lifted them. “At last… the key to reaching the Forbidden Island.”

As they turned to leave, one of his men hesitated.

“Lord Vaelor… should we leave the Pale Luminary alive? He betrays us once?”

Vaelor stopped.

Slowly, he turned toward the man. “Good,” he said quietly. “You reminded me of something important.”

A cruel smile spread across his face. “I’ll deal with that traitor 

myself.”

They began moving toward the upper floors.

At the very same moment—

Caelis leaned back in his chair as if he owned the entire place. He lifted his teacup casually.

“Now,” he said, “tell me something.”

The Pale Luminary looked at him.

“Why did you send assassins to my nation?” Caelis asked.

“To kill my parents.”

The Pale Luminary forced a laugh. “That’s a poor joke, Your Majesty.”

Caelis smiled gently. “Should I kill you first and confirm the truth later… or would you prefer to speak now?”

The Pale Luminary’s smile stiffened. “I don’t understand what you’re implying.”

Caelis cracked his neck. His voice sharpened.

“Malgareth.”

The name echoed through the room.Malgareth stepped forward.

Eryx and Kaelis froze—realizing only now that Malgareth had been present all along.

Caelis gestured toward him. “Do you recognize this man?”

The Pale Luminary’s face drained of color.

“Guards!” he shouted, lunging forward with a hidden dagger.Eryx intercepted the strike instantly. Kaelis moved into position, 

blade ready.

The Pale Luminary stumbled back, weapon raised, eyes darting between them.

Yet Caelis remained seated—calmly sipping his tea.

The Pale Luminary sneered. “Ashbron… are you truly so confident that these pawns can defeat me?”

Caelis placed the cup down.

“No,” he replied softly.

“They will destroy you.”

The Pale Luminary laughed. “When my soldiers arrive, they’ll 

crush your minions like dust. And then I’ll kill you—slowly.”

Caelis met his gaze. “Let’s see what happens.”Moments passed.

Heavy footsteps echoed through the corridor—followed by steel clashing, screams, and silence.

The Pale Luminary’s confidence cracked. “Why… why aren’t they 

coming?”

The door suddenly burst open.

A single figure entered, dragging the lifeless body of a Council guard across the floor.

It was Thalen.

The Pale Luminary staggered back in horror. “Who… who is this monster?”

Thalen glanced at the body and then toward Caelis.

“Cael,” he asked casually, “did I overdo it?”

Caelis stood. His expression was calm—cold even.

“No,” he said. “You did perfectly.”

He began walking toward the Pale Luminary.

As Caelis closed the distance, the Pale Luminary lost all composure.

He attacked wildly—slashes and thrusts without thought, like a 

cornered beast.

But Caelis moved effortlessly.Each strike missed by inches. A step to the side. A calm pivot. A 

slight tilt of the head.

It wasn’t a duel—it was domination.When Caelis reached striking distance, he gathered all his 

strength into a single blow.

His fist crashed into the Pale Luminary’s stomach.

The impact sent him flying backward, smashing into the wall behind him. He collapsed to the floor, coughing violently as blood spilled from his mouth.

Caelis walked toward him without haste.

He knelt, bringing himself to the fallen man’s level. Grabbing him by the hair, Caelis tore away the broken mask and leaned in close, their faces inches apart.

“Do you remember what I said to you seven years ago?” Caelis 

whispered.

“If I ever found you guilty of my parents’ deaths… I would kill 

you.”

Eryx stepped forward, his voice tense.

“Cael… are you really going to kill him?”

Caelis answered by smashing the Pale Luminary’s face into the ground.

“No,” he said coldly. “Not yet.”

He straightened. “First, he will help me uncover the one truly 

behind the attack.”

Caelis turned his head slightly. “Thalen. Secure him.”

Thalen moved immediately.

From the corner of the room, Kaelis clenched Caelis’ sleeve tightly. Her voice trembled.

“This side of you… it’s scary, Elis. I don’t like it.”

She lowered her head. “Next time, I’ll be stronger—so you never 

have to become like this again.”

Chains rattled as the Pale Luminary was restrained.Suddenly—

The wall exploded inward.

Dust and debris filled the room as a towering figure stepped 

through the rubble.

“Where is the Pale Luminary?” a voice thundered.

“His time has come.”

As the dust settled, the man’s eyes scanned the room.

He recognized Malgareth instantly.

The others—unknown.

“Hmph,” he said. “Seems I’ll have to kill more than planned. First the Luminary… then Malgareth.”

His gaze locked onto the restrained Pale Luminary.

“Who took my prey?”

Caelis stepped forward.“I did.”

Vaelor’s fury erupted.

“Then I’ll kill you first, brat—then deal with the rest!”

He lunged.

Thalen intercepted the strike, steel clashing violently. At the same moment, Eryx attacked from the side.Yet—

Vaelor blocked both.

With a surge of raw power, he forced them back several steps.The room fell silent.

Vaelor straightened, his eyes sharp with interest.

“…Who are you people?”

With that question, Vaelor ordered his elite soldiers to take their positions, sealing the chamber and preventing anyone else from entering the battle.

Just as everyone prepared to strike, a slow, deliberate clap 

echoed through the room.

Clap.

Clap.

Clap.Confusion spread instantly. Eyes searched the shadows, 

weapons half-raised, breaths held.

Then they saw him.

Perched casually on the broken window frame sat the Merchant of Death. A faint wind flowed behind him, fluttering his black 

garments as they swallowed the moonlight. He stopped clapping and smiled faintly.

“Well done,” he said calmly. “You all played your parts perfectly.”

Vaelor’s eyes burned crimson with rage.

“What do you mean?”Caelis and the others stiffened.

“What are you saying?” Caelis demanded.

The Merchant of Death pointed lazily toward the scroll.“I’m here to take that.”

Then, without looking back, he added, “Kid—take it from that idiot.”

The Kid moved.

In a single heartbeat, he crossed the distance, snatched the scroll from Vaelor’s grasp, and stepped back.

“Give it up,” the Kid said coldly. “It belongs to us now.”

Vaelor roared and charged at the Merchant of Death——and in the very next second, he was slammed into the floor.

The Merchant stood over him, one foot pressing Vaelor down effortlessly. His gaze shifted, locking onto Caelis.

“I like you,” he said softly.

“The Twenty-First King of the White Nation.”

Caelis stepped forward, trying to speak——but the Merchant raised a finger.

“I trade information for information,” he said. “If you want answers, you must give me something I want to know. So—what do you say?”

Caelis clenched his fists.The Merchant turned and walked toward the fallen Pale 

Luminary, looking down at him with mild interest.

“Thanks for telling me the location of the book.”He tossed another book toward Caelis—the same one he had 

taken from the Green Nation.

“Here, Ashbron,” he said. “Consider this a gift… from our first meeting.”

Caelis caught the book.

In the next instant, the Merchant of Death and his assistant 

vanished into thin air.

Vaelor and his elite soldiers lay unconscious across the chamber.That same night, Caelis left the Central Island with Pale Luminary 

in custody. Using their secret means of transportation, they returned to the capital before dawn.

The next day, Pale Luminary was thrown into the deepest dungeon.

As Caelis turned to leave, he spoke without looking back.

“Eryx—double the security. Keep your eyes on him at all times. 

Give him only enough food to survive.”

He walked to the throne and sat down.

Before him stood his loyal friends—ready to carry out any order, or destroy any threat that dared approach their king.

Somewhere far away…The Merchant of Death searched through an unknown land.

“We’ll meet again soon, Ashbron,” he murmured.

Behind him, his assistant hesitated.

“Did you understand Master’s complete plan?”

The Merchant walked a few steps forward and laughed quietly.“No,” he said. “I know you wouldn’t understand.”

He continued calmly,

“Master used the Veil of Null to take all the blame—by killing the Pale Luminary. All suspicion falls on them. Caelis remains clean.”

He glanced back slightly.

“Now do you understand?”Across the world, the news spread.

The Pale Luminary had been killed by the Veil of Null.

The attackers were captured by the Council within an hour.

Soon, the Council announced, a new Pale Luminary would be chosen—to maintain the balance of power.

To be continued…