Ethan watched the bidders exchange their relics and consumables with a small, mental tch. He was about to raise his hand to bid for the 'Mind Shock' Grimoire when the System's voice rang in his mind, sharp and mocking.

[Why are you so fascinated by these trinkets?] said the System. [The ability they are selling is complete garbage. If you want that skill, I have it right here.]

A screen flickered into existence before Ethan's eyes, visible only to him.

[Mental ShockWave] Type: Combat Skill Description: Allows the user to launch a long-range mental assault. Damage scales with the user's Magical and Spiritual power. In cases where the power gap is excessive, the target will suffer instant brain death or permanent paralysis. Price: 100,000 Lux points

Ethan stared at the price tag, his eyes widening. "Don't you think you added a few too many zeros there?" Ethan thought.

The System let out a mechanical laugh. [The toy they used against you earlier didn't even stop you for a full second. It's an inferior version that requires the caster to be close to the target. If you had been just one meter further away, it wouldn't have worked—that's why that man let you get close before attacking. This skill, however, has no limit. The more powerful you become, the further you can strike, eventually reaching an infinite range. It is a Growth-type skill, Ethan. It is a masterpiece.]

Ethan paused, realizing the System was right. He had been craving a meager plate of food from a stranger's house when he had a feast fit for kings waiting in his own home.

"You're right," Ethan admitted. "Forgive me for doubting you, my beloved System."

[Hey, hey! I don't like men. I'm not into that, you know...] said the System.

"You talk like a woman, and you expect me not to think you're a girl?" Ethan countered.

[I already know you're a creep, but don't mess with me,] the System snapped. [I am basically the reincarnation of Amethyst. Do not forget that.]

Ethan chuckled internally, enjoying the banter despite the grim surroundings. "Fine, fine. Forgive me, Mr. Mini-Amethyst."

[Go to hell... I'm not helping you anymore,] said the System.

"And you say you're not a little girl, haha," Ethan thought.

[....]

The System went silent, retreating into a huff, but Ethan felt a new sense of clarity. He looked at the bidders competing for the Class 3 items with a newfound sense of pity. He didn't need their scraps. He had enough Lux to eventually reach heights they couldn't even imagine.

However, he still had nearly a billion dollars in cash and a Golden Card. He might as well see what else this "Taboo" round had to offer before he tore the place down.

A representative from a hidden sect offered a small, jagged obsidian shard in exchange for the tome. Zwager inspected it and hummed. "A Void Fragment. It is rare, but its purity is slightly below the threshold of a true Level 3 artifact. It is insufficient for a direct trade."

The representative didn't even blink. "I will add 2 billion dollars in cash to compensate for the discrepancy."

"Celestial accepts," said Ross, striking his bell.

Ethan felt a cold splash of reality. He had walked in here feeling like a king with nearly a billion dollars in his pocket, but in this room, his $982 million was nothing more than a 'top-off.' It was loose change used to bridge the gap between real treasures. In the world of the Taboo, paper money was just an additive; it couldn't buy the seat at the table on its own.

I'm poor, Ethan realized with a bitter internal laugh. In this room, I'm the equivalent of a beggar with a few gold coins.

[Finally realizing it?] said the System, its voice dripping with smugness. [I told you those 'credits' were just numbers for mortals. Here, power is the only currency that doesn't lose value.]

Zwager cleared his throat, his sharp gaze sweeping across the small group of elite bidders. "Now that the introductory items are accounted for, it is time to transition to the main phase of the evening. Everyone, prepare yourselves," said the evaluator.

He paused, his eyes lingering on Ethan for a fraction of a second. "I see some new faces among us, so I shall briefly outline the rules. This is the Open Exchange Round. Unlike the previous stage, all participants present may offer items they wish to trade or put out a request for specific artifacts they need. If another guest has what you seek, or desires what you offer, the final negotiation will be mediated privately to ensure you obtain exactly what is required."

Zwager stepped to the side of the podium, his hands clasped behind his back. "As always, we will proceed from left to right. My role remains that of an Evaluator—I am here to ensure that no newcomers are subjected to fraud or 'entry-level' scams, and to mediate so that every exchange is as equitable as possible. We shall begin."

The room grew even quieter. This was where the real power of the "Taboo" round lay. It wasn't about what Celestial had in their vaults; it was about the collective treasures of the supernatural underworld gathered in one small, high-security room.

The first bidder on the far left, a man whose skin looked like weathered parchment and who breathed with the help of a small, glowing mechanical respirator, stood up.

"I seek a Spirit-Condensing Pill of at least Grade 4," said the man. "In exchange, I offer the Heart of a Frost Wyrm. It is a raw elemental source, Grade 3, perfectly preserved. It is ideal for those seeking to forge a weapon of ice or prolong the life of a dying water-element mage."

Zwager stepped forward, leaning over the small container the man produced. "The mana density is stable. It is indeed a high-quality Grade 3 catalyst. A fair request for a Grade 4 pill. Does anyone wish to respond?"

Ethan watched as the exchange of legendary materials began. His mind was already racing. He didn't need their pills or their frozen hearts, but he did need things that could bolster the infrastructure of Royal.

"System," Ethan thought, his eyes narrowing as he calculated his next move. "If I want to grow Royal into something that can withstand the Union, what should I be looking for here?"

[...]

The System remained silent, still apparently 'sulking' from their earlier banter, but Ethan knew it was listening.

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