chapter 145 A MASTER PIECE IN MAKING

Brainless Girl left the tavern, the weight of the 30 gold coins in her inventory settling like a promise. The streets of Viles Town were alive with activity—players rushing between quests, NPC merchants calling out deals, and guild recruiters trying to pull in fresh talent.

She ignored them all.

She had work to do.

Frost Eye had given her the money and the freedom to handle things her way. That was more valuable than any gold. It meant he recognized her worth. And if there was one thing Brainless Girl knew how to do, it was turn trust into power.

Brainless Girl stepped into Viles Town Bank, the grandest building in town. Unlike the usual lifeless, pre-programmed banks in other games, Mortal Online's NPCs behaved like real people.

The bank was busy. A long wooden counter stretched across the hall, with NPC bankers behind it, dressed in blue-and-white robes. The scent of parchment and ink filled the air as dozens of players lined up, chatting, depositing loot, or withdrawing gold.

But Brainless Girl wasn't here for regular banking.

She needed to hijack the system—without letting anyone realize it.

Unlike other games where NPCs followed scripted interactions, Mortal Online's NPCs had independent thought, personal preferences, and even ambition. Convincing an NPC wasn't about clicking the right dialogue option—it was about understanding them, manipulating them like a real person.

She scanned the tellers, looking for the right target.

Finding the Perfect NPC

Most of the NPC bankers were rigid and efficient—focused purely on transactions. They would never bend the rules.

But then, she spotted him.

A man in his mid-thirties, dressed in the same blue-and-white uniform, but unlike the others, he wasn't working mechanically. His nameplate read Nathaniel.

He sighed when no one was at his counter.

He rubbed his temples like someone bored with routine.

He actually listened to players instead of just repeating system-set responses.

Most players wouldn't notice these tiny details. But Brainless Girl wasn't most players.

Making the First Move

She walked up to his counter with an easygoing smile and casually placed 15 gold coins on the counter. She didn't slide them forward—just let them sit there.

Nathaniel raised an eyebrow. "Welcome to the Viles Town Bank. How can I assist you?"

Brainless Girl leaned slightly forward. "I need a custom banking arrangement."

Nathaniel frowned. "We offer personal vaults and priority storage for high-value—"

She interrupted with a small smirk. "Not the usual services. Something more... private."

His expression didn't change, but she saw the tiny flicker of interest in his eyes. That was the reaction she was looking for.

"Private in what sense?" he asked, lowering his voice slightly.

Brainless Girl tapped the counter lightly with her finger. "Let's say I don't want every single transaction recorded in the public logs. Some clients prefer discretion."

Nathaniel didn't answer immediately. Unlike normal NPCs that responded instantly, he actually thought about it.

That was what made Mortal Online different. NPCs weren't programmed with strict yes/no conditions. They weighed risks and rewards like real people.

Finally, he exhaled and rubbed his chin. "That would require a unique storage handler and an additional custom service fee…"

Brainless Girl slid another 5 gold coins forward. "Then let's make it official."

A system notification flashed before her.

> [Custom NPC Service Unlocked: Private Bank Storage]

Nathaniel has agreed to personally manage a separate storage facility. Service fees will be determined by your set rates.

Locking the Deal

Nathaniel's posture changed slightly. He wasn't just a banker now—he was a business partner.

"I can arrange off-the-record deposits for select customers. However, to maintain security, the storage must be privately owned or rented."

Brainless Girl smirked. "Already working on it."

Nathaniel processed her words, then nodded. "Then, as your personal banking agent, I will oversee all transactions related to this service."

Brainless Girl hid her excitement well.

She had just hijacked part of the banking system.

And nobody had noticed.

With Nathaniel under her control, all she had to do was set up a "safe storage location"—one that looked like a bank but was actually controlled by her and Frost Eye.

She turned to leave but paused.

"One last thing," she said, glancing back at Nathaniel. "If anyone asks, this conversation never happened."

Nathaniel met her gaze, then gave a small nod. "Understood, Miss Brainless."

Brainless Girl grinned.

Brainless Girl exited the Viles Town Bank with a confident smirk, the weight of her recent success pressing pleasantly on her mind. She had secured Nathaniel, the banker NPC, ensuring that he would direct players toward their private vault service. But that was only the first step. To truly trick players, she needed more than just a recommendation—she needed an actual physical location that players would believe was part of the town's banking system.

The best way to do that? Set up a fake bank warehouse.

Finding the Perfect Location

Viles Town wasn't a massive city, but it was lively. At only five days into Mortal Online, most players were still getting their bearings. The highest-leveled players were around Level 4, with the majority hovering at Level 3, focusing on early-game grinding. Most players didn't have a deep understanding of the game's economy mechanics, making them easy prey for scams like this.

Brainless Girl knew that the real banks in town charged a 5% storage fee, and that was a huge burden on new players. If she could offer something that looked like a legitimate alternative at a lower cost, they would flock to it.

She wandered through the market district, past the crowded merchant stalls and shouting vendors, until she reached a row of abandoned buildings—places where NPC merchants had once run businesses before failing and shutting down.

That's when she spotted it.

A two-story warehouse, built from sturdy stone and dark wood, with a faded, dust-covered sign that read "Lorik's Trading Post." It was close enough to the real bank that players wouldn't question its legitimacy but tucked away enough that town guards wouldn't casually patrol the area.

She grinned. This was perfect.

Buying the Warehouse

Of course, she couldn't just take it. Unlike most MMORPGs, where buildings were just decorations, Mortal Online had a fully functional real estate system. To use the warehouse, she had to purchase it from its current NPC owner.

Inside the dimly lit office, behind a worn wooden desk, sat Geller, the elderly merchant NPC who owned the property. His gray beard was unkempt, and his fingers tapped against the desk impatiently as she entered.

"You here to buy, or are you wasting my time?" he grumbled, squinting at her.

Brainless Girl didn't bother with small talk. She placed 10 gold coins on his desk. "I'm here to buy."

Geller's bushy eyebrows lifted slightly, but he still frowned. "Hmph. This place isn't worth that much. The foundation's cracked, the storage space is—"

She slid another 5 gold forward. "I don't care about the foundation. I just need storage."

Geller hesitated, staring at the 15 gold coins on his desk. He let out a long sigh before finally pushing a contract toward her. "Fine. It's yours. Just don't complain if the roof caves in."

A system notification appeared.

> [You have purchased 'Lorik's Trading Post.']

The property is now under your name. You may modify its purpose, storage, and security settings.

Brainless Girl smirked. That was easier than expected.

Turning the Warehouse into a Fake Bank

Now that she owned the warehouse, it was time to make it look like an actual financial institution.

The first step was changing the name. She had a worker paint over the old sign, replacing it with something more official-looking:

"Viles Private Vaults"

Next, she needed guards.

No real bank would function without security, so she hired two NPC mercenaries to stand at the entrance, their arms crossed, wearing basic iron armor. They weren't strong, but they didn't need to be. Their presence alone would reassure players that this was a legitimate storage facility.

Inside, she made a few modifications:

Basic wooden counters lined up to resemble a bank teller area.

Iron storage chests were stacked in the back, giving the illusion of vaults.

A small fee chart was posted near the entrance, stating:

Storage Fee: 2% (cheaper than the real bank's 5%)

High-Security Storage: 4% (complete scam, but sounded fancy)

Now, all she had to do was get people inside.

Luring in the First Players

That evening, Brainless Girl and Frost Eye sat on a nearby rooftop, watching the town's activity. They didn't have to wait long.

A Level 3 Warrior approached the warehouse first, glancing around cautiously. "Hey," he said to one of the NPC guards. "This place offers low-tax storage, right?"

One of the guards nodded. "A private vault, unlike the public banks. Only a 2% service fee instead of 5%."

The warrior's eyes lit up. "Cheaper? Hell yeah."

He walked inside.

Brainless Girl smirked, watching the first victim fall into the trap.

More players soon followed. Low-level adventurers, mostly Levels 3 and 4, looking for a cheaper alternative to the official bank. They didn't even question the legitimacy of the vault—after all, it had guards, a proper name, and even an NPC inside handling transactions.

Frost Eye chuckled, flipping a gold coin between his fingers. "They're already falling for it."

Brainless Girl leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "They think their items are safe."

Frost Eye grinned.

"That's the fun part, darling. They won't know until it's too late."