The Price of Power

Serana sat with her fingers resting lightly against the smooth, polished armrest of her chair, her sharp violet eyes locked onto the man standing before her. The chamber was dimly lit, save for the faint blue glow of holographic displays flickering behind her, projecting live market trends, currency exchanges, and encrypted forum threads.

Vin, clad in a dark-gray coat with subtle armored reinforcements, stood with an easy, relaxed stance. Yet there was no mistaking the sharpness in his eyes—the kind honed by years of navigating the underworld's treacherous currents. He wasn't here for idle chatter.

Nira, standing at Serana's side, had her arms crossed, already sizing up the man with suspicion.

Serana spoke first. Her voice was smooth, composed.

"I hear you've been handling trade," she said, observing the slight smirk on Vin's face. "I want to buy World of Solva's in-game currency—JSBC."

Vin let out a chuckle, shaking his head. "That's not happening."

Serana remained silent for a moment.

"You're telling me no one can buy JSBC outside of Solva?" she asked.

"Not a single credit, mark, or bond can be exchanged for it. No bank, no black market, no private deals. If you want JSBC, you have to earn it in Solva."

That answer wasn't unexpected, but it was troubling. No digital asset, no market exchange could tap into it—meaning there was a force deliberately keeping Solva's economy walled off.

"Fine," Serana said, adjusting her posture. "Then what can you sell?"

Vin's smirk widened slightly. "We're in the resources business now. Wood. Silver bars. Copper bars. All high-quality, all in bulk."

Nira scoffed. "And the source?"

Vin didn't even hesitate. "Trade secret."

Serana arched an eyebrow. "So you expect me to trust the quality of your goods with no transparency on supply chains?"

Vin shrugged. "You won't find better elsewhere."

Nira leaned forward, tapping her fingers against the table. "That's what every merchant says before getting ripped apart by market fluctuations. Let's talk prices."

Vin adjusted his stance. "Depends on the currency."

Serana flicked her fingers, summoning a holographic display listing major interstellar currencies.

"I assume you aren't stupid enough to take Earth Industrial Credits?" she mused.

Vin scoffed. "Not unless I want to go broke next week."

Earth's economic situation was a mess—highly unstable, barely above junk status.

She continued. "Lunar Exchange Credit, Ξ?"

"Now we're talking." Vin nodded. "Ξ is rock solid, no risk of inflation."

Serana shifted her gaze. "Martian War Bonds, Ϟ?"

Vin scratched his chin. "Tempting, but I'd prefer something less tied to military requisitions. If the Martian war economy shifts, those bonds are worthless."

Serana glanced at Nira, who was already calculating conversions in her head.

"Venusian Platinum Marks, ♛?"

Vin's eyes glinted. "That's a solid offer."

Ultra-stable, backed by Venus's high-end financial institutions. But expensive.

Serana smiled faintly. "Jovian Mining Credits, ⛏?"

Vin let out a laugh. "Do I look desperate?"

JMC was rapidly devaluing.

She continued down the list, testing him.

"Saturn Quantum Tokens, ⚛?"

"A little volatile but fair game."

"Neptune Star Credits, ✦?"

"Now that's what I like to hear."

Shipbuilding standard, highly valuable in deep-space trading.

Finally, Serana leaned back. "Or I could pay you in Black Hand Credits, ☠."

Vin's smirk faltered for half a second.

"Yeah, no."

☠ was untraceable, fluctuating, and highly dangerous. A single misstep, and you were left holding a worthless sum.

Serana tapped her fingers against the desk.

"Let's talk volume."

Vin's demeanor shifted slightly. The real negotiation was about to begin.

"Silver bars," he started. "Market price is 5 SSC ⨀ per unit."

"3 SSC ⨀," Nira cut in immediately.

Vin shook his head. "We're talking refined silver, not scrap metal. 4.8 SSC ⨀."

Nira's eyes narrowed. "You're trying to pass off inflated demand. Silver is not rare."

Vin shrugged. "It is when you control the flow."

Serana observed the exchange silently, allowing Nira to handle the back-and-forth.

"4.2 SSC ⨀."

"4.7 SSC ⨀."

"4.3 SSC ⨀ and we buy in bulk—minimum 100 units."

Vin hesitated. "4.5 SSC ⨀."

Nira didn't blink. "4.4 SSC ⨀ and you get Lunar Exchange Credits—not SSC."

That made Vin pause. Ξ was infinitely more stable than standard SSC ⨀. Less risk.

"Deal."

Serana allowed a small nod before shifting the discussion.

"Copper bars."

"1.5 SSC ⨀ per unit."

Nira rolled her eyes. "That's absurd. 0.9 SSC ⨀."

Vin crossed his arms. "1.2 SSC ⨀."

"1.0 SSC ⨀," Nira countered.

"1.1 SSC ⨀ and I'll throw in priority supply rights."

Serana tilted her head slightly. "Meaning?"

Vin smirked. "You get first pick before other buyers."

A useful advantage.

Serana glanced at Nira. A silent exchange passed between them.

"Accepted," Nira said.

Vin grinned. "Glad we're getting somewhere."

Serana finally turned her full attention to him. "Now, the wood."

Vin's smirk grew wider. "Ah, now that is where the real business lies."

"Go on."

"High-quality, dense grain, perfect for construction and reinforcement. 0.7 SSC ⨀ per log."

"0.5 SSC ⨀."

Vin raised an eyebrow. "You think I'm running a charity?"

Serana gave a small, cold smile. "You think I don't know market value?"

Vin exhaled. "0.65 SSC ⨀."

"0.55 SSC ⨀."

"0.6 SSC ⨀, final offer."

Serana considered it. The demand for wood in Solva was increasing. Having a secure supply at this price was acceptable.

"Done."

Vin extended a hand. Nira eyed it but didn't move.

Serana merely nodded. "Nira will handle the transfers. Now, one last thing."

Vin tilted his head. "Yeah?"

"I'm allowing your people to set up an office in Selene City."

Vin's smirk returned. "Under what terms?"

"You operate under my jurisdiction. My rules."

Vin chuckled. "Sounds fair."

Serana leaned forward, voice lowering slightly.

"Disobey me, and your supply chain will disappear overnight."

Vin's smirk didn't fade, but something in his eyes shifted.

"Message received, Oracle."

Serana watched as he turned and left.

Nira exhaled. "That was exhausting."