Chapter 55
A month had passed.
Deep within a shadowy corner of Beginner City, a hidden cave entrance had become the center of quiet whispers and long lines.
People gathered—some desperate, others hopeful—all drawn by one name that now echoed in hush tones through the streets:
The Merchant Beneath the World.
"Hey, brother," one man whispered to another as they stood in line, "it's my first time here… are the rumors true?"
The other grinned, clearly a frequent visitor. "Brother, you wouldn't believe it even if I told you. This man—this being—can grant any wish. Any. But there's always a price. Sometimes it's easy, sometimes… not. But it's always fair."
"You've been here before?"
"I was one of the first," he said proudly. "Back then, I didn't even pay anything. I just asked for one million platinum coins to clear my debts. He gave me two million—for being the first."
He gestured to his fine clothes, a smug smile on his face. "Look at me now."
