chapter 146 perfect scam begins

The sun dipped lower over Viles Town, casting long shadows through the narrow streets. Players bustled about, eager to make their mark on Mortal Online. Some were busy grinding mobs, some were crafting, and some were simply exploring. But among them were those who had started accumulating too many items—far more than they could comfortably carry.

Inventory space was limited.

That was where Viles Private Vaults came in.

It had been barely an hour since the so-called "private banking service" opened, and already, players were lining up.

From her perch on a rooftop, Brainless Girl observed them with a mix of amusement and satisfaction. Everything was going according to plan.

Frost Eye stood beside her, flipping a gold coin lazily between his fingers. His golden eyes gleamed as he scanned the line of unsuspecting victims.

"Do you think they'll catch on?" he asked, tilting his head.

Brainless Girl smirked. "Not for a while. People trust what they see."

She gestured toward the grand wooden sign above the entrance.

━ VILES PRIVATE VAULTS – SECURE & RELIABLE STORAGE – 2% FEE ONLY! ━

It looked professional. More importantly, it looked official.

Players saw a banker NPC standing behind a polished wooden counter, heard him speaking in a polite and businesslike tone, and saw players ahead of them successfully storing their items.

It felt real.

And that was the key.

The Art of the Scam – Manipulating Trust

People assumed that if an NPC was involved, it had to be legitimate.

It was too early in the game for players to realize just how realistic the NPCs in Mortal Online were. Unlike traditional MMORPGs, where NPCs followed simple scripted behaviors, the NPCs here reacted dynamically.

If treated kindly, they responded warmly. If intimidated, they became defensive. If bribed, they sometimes bent the rules.

And more importantly, they could be exploited.

Brainless Girl had carefully selected the banker NPC, Nathaniel, for this operation.

He was polite. Soft-spoken. Gave off the air of a trustworthy businessman.

More importantly, he had been subtly trained over the past few days.

Every time she interacted with him, she had reinforced a pattern of behavior:

"Customers come first."

"Service must be fast and efficient."

"Always reassure customers that their valuables are safe."

Now, without even realizing it, Nathaniel was selling the scam for them.

Inside the Vault – Players Walk Into the Trap

Inside the dimly lit vault, the air smelled of aged wood and parchment.

Nathaniel, the NPC banker, stood behind a mahogany counter, his posture upright and professional. Behind him were iron-banded chests, stacked neatly against the walls. They looked heavy and secure—the kind of storage one could trust.

A Level 3 Warrior, clad in simple iron armor, approached the counter, eyeing the chests. "So, you're saying this is a private vault?"

Nathaniel nodded, his tone calm and reassuring. "Yes, sir. Unlike the public bank, we offer faster access, lower fees, and personalized service. Your items will be safe here."

The Warrior hesitated for only a moment. Then he nodded. "Alright, I'll give it a shot."

He pulled out a small pouch, dropping ten silver coins onto the counter. "I want to store my spare weapons and crafting mats."

Nathaniel accepted the coins, then gestured toward an open chest. "Please place your items inside."

The Warrior complied, depositing a backup longsword, a stack of iron ore, and several alchemy ingredients.

Nathaniel closed the chest with a satisfying clang and gave a polite nod. "Your items are now stored securely. You may withdraw them anytime during operating hours."

The Warrior grinned. "Nice! Finally, a bank that isn't crowded as hell."

He turned and walked away, feeling satisfied.

What he didn't know was that his items weren't in that chest anymore.

Where Did the Items Go?

The moment a player stored an item, it was silently transferred to a separate stash—one controlled by Brainless Girl and Frost Eye.

Players thought they were using an independent vault.

In reality?

They were handing over their loot to con artists.

The first phase of the scam was all about establishing credibility. In Mortal Online, where NPCs acted like real people, players naturally assumed that any well-organized, official-looking service had to be legitimate. Brainless Girl and Frost Eye understood that perfectly.

The Setup – Making the Bank Look Real

Brainless Girl had spent hours setting up the perfect illusion.

The NPC banker, Nathaniel, was dressed in elegant but simple merchant robes, making him appear respectable but not overly wealthy—a trustworthy middle-class businessman.

A few generic guards (bribed NPCs) stood near the entrance, occasionally scanning the crowd as if they were security personnel.

The bank's interior was clean, with wooden counters, torches lining the walls, and iron-banded chests stacked in an organized fashion.

Most importantly, there was a massive wooden sign outside:

━ VILES PRIVATE VAULTS – SECURE & RELIABLE STORAGE – 2% FEE ONLY! ━

It looked like a real financial institution. It felt like a real financial institution.

And players believed it.

The setting sun bathed Viles Private Vaults in golden hues, casting long shadows across the cobbled streets of Viles Town. The once modest line outside the establishment had swelled into a bustling queue of adventurers.

Some whispered excitedly about the new banking service. Others crossed their arms, still unsure if it was truly safe. But as they watched players ahead of them store their items and leave satisfied, their skepticism slowly faded.

Up on a nearby rooftop, Brainless Girl observed the growing crowd with a smug sense of satisfaction. Everything was falling into place.

Beside her, Frost Eye idly flipped a gold coin between his fingers, his golden eyes scanning the line. "I still can't believe how quickly they're biting," he mused.

Brainless Girl chuckled. "People trust what looks official. Give them a professional setting, an NPC banker, and the illusion of security? They'll walk right into the trap."

Frost Eye smirked. "And when do we spring it?"

"Not yet," she said, resting her chin on her hand. "First, we let the idea of Viles Private Vaults spread. We build trust. The longer we wait, the bigger the payout."

Below them, the vault's operation continued smoothly.

---

Inside the Vault – New Customers, New Opportunities

The warm glow of torchlight flickered inside the wooden structure. The scent of parchment, polished wood, and burning wax filled the air, reinforcing the illusion of an established financial institution.

At the polished mahogany counter, Nathaniel, the NPC banker, adjusted his sleeves and gestured for the next customer to step forward. His composed demeanor and gentle smile radiated professionalism.

A Level 4 Alchemist, dressed in a long blue robe with a belt lined with glass vials, approached the counter. The faint scent of herbs and chemicals followed him, a clear sign of his trade.

"Private storage, huh?" he asked, adjusting his round spectacles.

Nathaniel offered a reassuring nod. "Yes, sir. Unlike the public bank, our service is faster, more private, and charges only a 2% fee. Your items will be stored securely."

The Alchemist rubbed his chin before dropping ten silver coins onto the counter. "Alright, I'll test it out. Store my alchemy ingredients and some experimental potions."

Nathaniel accepted the payment, then gestured toward an iron-banded chest. "Please place your items inside."

The Alchemist complied, carefully placing:

A bundle of rare herbs

Two vials of mana-restoring potion

An unfinished experimental potion

Nathaniel closed the chest with a satisfying clang and gave a polite nod. "Your items are now stored securely. You may withdraw them anytime during operating hours."

The Alchemist adjusted his spectacles with a satisfied nod. "Finally! A storage solution that isn't a nightmare to access."

With that, he turned and walked out, clearly pleased with the service.

Brainless Girl's smirk widened. "See that? Confidence. He'll come back. He'll even recommend us to others."

Frost Eye twirled his coin. "One customer at a time."

But the line wasn't slowing.

---

More Players Join In

A Skeptical Rogue Tests the Service

A Level 3 Rogue, clad in dark leather armor, stepped forward next. His sharp eyes darted around, scanning the vault.

He wasn't as quick to trust as the Alchemist. His movements were cautious, fingers twitching near the hilt of his dagger.

"So," he muttered, "what makes this vault better than the public bank?"

Nathaniel maintained his professional tone. "We offer faster service, lower fees, and complete discretion. Unlike the public bank, we do not ask questions about stored goods."

The Rogue's lips twitched. That last part was exactly what he wanted to hear.

He pulled out a small pouch of silver coins, placing five on the counter. "Alright, I'll give it a shot."

From his inventory, he withdrew:

A set of throwing knives

A rare poison vial

A handful of stolen gems

Nathaniel took the payment and gestured toward a chest. The Rogue placed his items inside before stepping back, eyes narrowed.

"Withdraw anytime, correct?"

Nathaniel nodded. "Yes, sir. Your valuables are safe."

The Rogue snorted but turned and left, muttering, "We'll see."

Brainless Girl leaned forward slightly. "He'll be back. And if he trusts us long enough, he'll eventually store something really valuable."

Frost Eye smirked. "Then we make it disappear."

---

A Duo of Low-Level Players Store Their Hard-Earned Loot

Two Level 2 Fighters stepped up next, their armor mismatched and dented—a sign of new players struggling through early-game grinding.

One of them wiped the sweat off his brow. "Man, I can't carry all this ore anymore. My inventory's almost full."

His companion, equally burdened, nodded. "Same here. I heard this vault is legit. Let's just dump our extras here and come back later."

They both placed their meager handfuls of silver coins on the counter.

"We'd like to store our extra iron ore and some food supplies," one of them said.

Nathaniel processed the request with his usual efficiency. "Please place your items in the chest."

The two Fighters carefully placed their iron ore, bread, and minor stamina potions inside.

Nathaniel locked the chest. "Your storage is secure. You may withdraw at any time."

One of the Fighters stretched, groaning. "That's a relief. Now I can actually pick up loot again."

As they walked out, Brainless Girl tilted her head. "That's the kind of player that'll come back regularly. Small deposits add up over time."

Frost Eye sighed dramatically. "You know, if we weren't criminals, we'd be running a damn good business."

Brainless Girl laughed. "We are running a good business. Just… not a legal one."

---

The Vault's Reputation Grows

By nightfall, Viles Private Vaults had become a known name among the lower-leveled adventurers of Viles Town.

A Level 3 Mage came in, storing extra mana potions and a spare spellbook.

A Level 2 Archer cautiously deposited extra arrows and a backup bow.

A Level 3 Merchant stored valuable crafting materials, relieved to free up space.

With each transaction, trust in the vault grew.

No one suspected anything.

The presence of a calm, professional NPC banker, the well-organized interior, and the smooth efficiency of the service made it seem like a legitimate institution.

Brainless Girl stretched and leaned back on her hands. "We let this go on for a while longer. Let more people invest in us."

Frost Eye twirled his coin one last time. "And then?"

She grinned.

"Then we clean them out."

For now, though, the scam was not a scam.

Not yet.