The next morning arrived quietly, and the sunlight slipped through the worn curtains, falling across Ji-Han's face. His eyes opened slowly. Still so tired, and his body was still heavy from the previous day. But his mind was calm and different.
For a moment, he lay still, staring at the system, reminding him of his growth.
"…first step." He muttered.
"…the resources." He said while stretching.
He washed and dressed up as he stepped out into the city. The street were already alive, and hunters moving with purpose, civilians were watching from a distance, and businesses were thriving under the new world order. Among them stood a well-known company that specialized in buying and selling dungeon loot.
The Aether Exchange Corporation.
A massive glass building, reinforced with mana barriers. Guards stood at the entrance, both armed and awakened.
Ji-Han walked in.
Inside, the atmosphere was controlled and efficient. Screens displayed fluctuating prices of mana stones, weapons, and rare materials. Hunters lined up, some bragging, some negotiating.
At the reception desk stood a young woman with sharp eyes and a professional smile.
"Welcome to Aether Exchange. How may I assist you?"
Ji-Han placed his hand on the counter.
"I want to sell."
She nodded. "Please proceed to Counter 3."
At Counter 3, a man in his mid-thirties adjusted his glasses as Ji-Han approached.
"Name?" the man asked.
"Ji-Han." He replied.
"I'm Kim Dae-sung, item appraiser. Place your goods."
Ji-Han activated his subspace ring.
Mana stones of E, D, and C rank poured onto the counter. And the nearby hunters turned.
"That's a lot." Someone whispered.
Kim Dae-sung's expression shifted slightly, from routine to focused.
"…hmm… E rank, D rank, and C rank mana stones." He muttered, inspecting them one by one.
"Where did you obtain all this?"
Ji-Han answered calmly.
"Dungeon."
The appraiser gave him a long look but didn't press further.
"Alright. Let me calculate."
He called out__
"Han Soo-jin, assist with verification."
A woman in a lab coat approached, scanning the stones with a device.
"…purity is high… almost no corruption…" she said, slightly surprised.
Ji-Han remained silent.
After a few minutes, the final result appeared on the screen.
Kim Dae-sung pushed his glasses up.
"…total value: 48 million won."
Murmurs spread again.
"That's insane…"
"For someone his age?"
Ji-Han's expression didn't change, but inside—he understood.
"…this is just the beginning."
Kim Dae-sung leaned forward slightly.
"We also buy equipment. Anything else?"
Ji-Han paused, then shook his head.
"No."
He wasn't foolish enough to sell everything. Some items… were better kept.
The appraiser nodded.
"Very well. Payment will be transferred immediately."
A soft ding echoed.
[TRANSACTION COMPLETE]
Ji-Han turned to leave. But just as he stepped away—
A voice called out behind him.
"Hey… you."
He stopped.
Standing a few meters away was a tall man with a confident stance, accompanied by two others.
The man smirked.
"That's a lot of stones for someone like you."
Beside him stood Jung Tae-kyun, a C-rank attacker, and Oh Min-jae, a D-rank scout
The leader stepped forward.
"I'm Kwon Hyuk-jin."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…mind telling me which dungeon you cleared?"
The atmosphere shifted, quiet and tense. Ji-Han glanced at them briefly and then turned fully.
"…why?"
His voice was way too calm. And for a moment, Kwon Hyuk-jin felt something strange. But then he laughed it off.
"Because… someone like you doesn't just walk in with that much loot without a group."
Then a pause.
"…unless you got lucky or stole it."
Ji-Han looked at him silently with no reaction and just observing.
"Or do you look that strong for clearing a dungeon with no party?" He continued while pressing his finger on his chest.
The room felt heavier for a second, and there was a murmur everywhere. And conversation continued, eyes turned. And Kim Dae-sung watched closely whether to interrupt or leave to play out itself. But deep down, he wanted to know what he would do.
Kwon Hyuk-jin smirks slightly when the situation is turning to his side.
"…oh, what's this, cat got your tongue?" He smirked.
Before he could finish. A sudden pressure dropped. Not explosive nor loud, but so heavy. Like the weight of something vast… pressing down. Suddenly, the floor beneath their feet trembled faintly.
"..!!"
Jung Tae-kyun's leg buckled first.
Thud.
He dropped to one knee. Then Oh Min-jae followed, his breath caught in his throat as sweat poured down his face.
"W-What… is this Pressure?"
Even Kwon Hyuk-jin struggled. His body shook as if resisting something unseen.
"…im… impossible."
Across the counter, Kim Dae-sung froze.
A bead of sweat slid down his temple.
"…this isn't normal…" he whispered.
Beside him, Han Soo-jin tightened her grip on the scanner, her hands trembling.
"…this level of control…"
She couldn't finish her sentence.
Because at the center of it all, Ji-Han stood still with his eyes calm and cold. He didn't raise his voice and didn't move aggressively, but the pressure was his.
"…be mindful of what you say." He glared at him with a cold expression.
Though he said it simply and quietly, it struck harder than any threat.
Kwon Hyuk-jin's pupils shook.
"…y-you."
But he couldn't continue as his body was forced lower by the pressure. Silence fell across the entire hall. No one dared laugh or whisper. Only the sound of breathing and strain remained.
The pressure vanished like it was never there as Ji-Han turned and walked toward the door. As the door opened and closed behind him, the room remained frozen for a moment longer.
Drip.
Sweat fell to the ground.
Kim Dae-sung exhaled sharply, only now realizing he had been holding his breath.
"…who… was that…?"
Han Soo-jin stared at the entrance, her voice low.
"…that wasn't a normal C-rank…"
Kwon Hyuk-jin remained on his knees, fists clenched, body still trembling.
Humiliation burned deep. But beneath it was something far worse. Fear.
As he walked out and moved alongside the road, he was thinking about where he could go because no one would know him from his past life right now.
His eyes opened wide.
"Stupid, how could you forget?" he mutters.
He remembered that he used to work at the construction site and was on leave for his rank evaluation. Though he was permitted. And he rushed down to the site.