The atmosphere inside the dusty tent was suffocating. The old man with the cane, known in the underworld as 'The Sand-Rat', stared at the glowing violet fragment in Kai's hand. He had traded everything from stolen water to illegal weapons, but he had never seen a 'soul' in its raw, liquid form.
"You want the Baroque Ledger," the old man wheezed, his eyes flickering with greed. "That's a dangerous request, boy. If Crocodile finds out I sold those maps, I won't just lose my shop; I'll lose my life."
"You're already losing your life," Kai replied coldly, his [Soul Vision] scanning the man. "I can see your spirit. It's gray, brittle, and fading. You have maybe six months left before the desert claims you."
The old man froze. The silence in the tent became absolute.
"Gold can't buy you more time," Kai continued, stepping closer. "But I can. That fragment in my hand isn't just energy; it's a 'Life-Lease'. Trade me the Ledger and the secret routes to Rainbase, and I will infuse your soul with enough essence to give you five more years of health."
[Ding! Negotiation Perk Activated: The Merchant's Gamble.]
[Success Rate: 82%...]
The Sand-Rat's hands trembled. He looked at the rusted swords, the piles of junk, and then at the glowing promise of life in Kai's palm. "Five years... you can really do that?"
"In my shop, everything has a price," Kai whispered. "And today, your secrets are cheaper than your life. Do we have a contract?"
The old man reached under a floorboard and pulled out a leather-bound book marked with a stylized 'B'. It was the holy grail of information—the logistical map of the Millions and the patrol schedules for the sand-ships.
[Quest Completed: The First Transaction.]
[Reward: Detailed Map of Rainbase + Secret Passages.]
[Soul Balance: 285 Coins (After transaction).]
As Kai and Vivi stepped out of the tent back into the burning sun, Kai felt a sudden, sharp chill. The air didn't just get colder; it became heavy with the scent of ozone and dried blood.
[Warning: High-Level Threat approaching!]
[Signature: 'The Blade-Human'.]
"Silas! Vivi! Get behind me!" Kai shouted, drawing his dagger as a tall man with a muscular build and 'Z' shaped scars on his chest stepped from behind a dune.
It was Mr. 1 (Daz Bonez). The strongest officer agent of Baroque Works had arrived.