The market streets of the Rust District buzzed with noise and tension.
Li Mu walked through the cramped lanes, his eyes darting between hooded figures whispering in corners and merchants shouting over each other, waving scraps of tech like precious treasure.
Burnt-out wires.Broken spirit capacitors.Half-melted alloy chips.
Everywhere he looked, insights poured into his mind unbidden.
"Damaged conduit—repairable.""Spirit alloy fragment—resonates with energy.""Corroded coil—usable for weapon grips."
Piece by piece, his fragmented understanding of this world grew.
Then his eyes fell on the price tags.
His face instantly darkened.
These black-market merchants were daylight robbers.
A single cracked wire cost more than what the old Li Mu had earned in a week.
"…I need cash," he muttered.
Selling his own tech was the obvious first step.
But after asking around, he received only glares, curses, and even someone trying to pickpocket him. Finally, one irritated merchant spat:
"Stop annoying me, kid. If you wanna sell anything, go to the Sky Veil Auction House. Only place here that handles trade properly."
That was enough.
The Sky Veil Auction House
After several twists and narrow alleys, Li Mu finally found it.
He froze.
A massive building stood before him, its metallic walls polished to an unnatural shine. Towering iron-clad giants—mechanical constructs three meters tall—stood on either side of the gate, while guards in sleek tech-armor held spirit rifles glowing faintly at the muzzle.
Compared to the rusted chaos outside, this place looked like another world entirely.
Li Mu stared in awe—
And walked straight into someone.
The young man he bumped into wore pristine, silvery robes with a floating-city insignia woven in gold thread. Several guards followed behind him like shadows.
The young master gave Li Mu a disgusted glance.
As if looking at trash.
Then he turned away without a word.
His guards glared at Li Mu with hostility before following their master inside.
Li Mu clenched his fists.
"…When I'm strong enough, I'll remember this."
Dusting off his torn shirt, he suppressed the anger burning in his chest and stepped into the auction house.
The Receptionist
A young woman greeted him with a professional smile.
"Welcome to the Sky Veil Auction House, honored guest. How may I assist you?"
Li Mu nodded politely—until his eyes fell on the metal collar around her neck.
Curious, he activated Infinite Insights.
A wave of information surged into his mind:
"Model 12-0B Slave Collar.""Used to control the wearer. Can issue paralyzing shocks.""Self-destruct function will kill the wearer if triggered.""Cannot be broken by brute force."
Li Mu's breath caught in his throat.He stared too long.
The young woman lowered her head slightly, pretending not to notice. She had experienced that gaze many times before.
Feeling guilty, he quickly apologized and asked:
"I'm here to sell some tech parts."
Her smile faltered for a moment—disappointment flashing briefly across her expression. But she remained courteous and gestured for him to follow.
Li Mu registered that reaction in the back of his mind, deciding to ask about it later.
The Appraisal Room
After walking through a long, decorated hall, Li Mu reached a corridor lined with private rooms.
He knocked on the first door that seemed empty.A gruff voice called out:
"Come in."
Inside was a surprisingly well-furnished room—paintings on the walls, fruit on the table, breathable air circulated through hidden vents.
The man inside looked healthy—unlike the gaunt scavengers outside. His eyes were sharp and professional.
He wasted no time.
"Show me your goods. Quickly."
Li Mu took out the gadgets he had crafted that morning. His heartbeat quickened as the man examined each item.
A flicker of surprise crossed the appraiser's face.
He glanced at Li Mu.
"…Did you make these?"
Li Mu calmly denied it, saying he scavenged them.
The man visibly relaxed.
"Thought so. No way a kid from the Rust District could make working tech like this."
He appraised the items again, nodding with approval.
"I'll give you 1000 Rust Credits."
Li Mu's eyes widened slightly—but he forced himself to stay composed. He accepted the credits, bowed lightly, and left the room.
Inside his tunic, he hid the money.
Ten Steel Credits' worth.Enough to feed a family of three for a month.
For him?It was a fortune.
The Commotion
As Li Mu reached the front hall again, a loud commotion erupted outside the building.
Curious, he hurried toward the entrance.
A massive crowd had gathered, pushing and whispering.
Li Mu squeezed through the bodies, his heart tightening when he saw the scene.
At the center—
The same young master from earlier.
And kneeling on the ground, trembling, was—
The receptionist.Her slave collar was flashing red.
Two armored guards dragged her by the arms.
The young master's voice rang out:
"This slave dared to offend me. Dispose of her."
Li Mu's breath turned cold.
His fists clenched.
And for the first time in this world—He felt a dangerous spark ignite inside him.