chapter 78 golden trap

The Golden Trap – Lark's Offer

Just as the players were arguing among themselves, a voice cut through the noise.

"Enough."

The crowd parted, revealing a man dressed in luxurious dark green robes, embroidered with gold. His boots barely made a sound as he walked, exuding an air of quiet authority.

Lark.

The manager of Greenhaven's branch of Pink Solution.

Unlike the usual flashy guild leaders, Lark was calm, composed, and dangerously persuasive. He never raised his voice, never forced his will. He simply made offers no one could refuse.

He stopped beside Malthor's stall, his gaze sweeping over the struggling adventurers.

Then, he sighed.

"Malthor, you're far too kind to these people."

Malthor, ever the opportunist, bowed his head slightly. "I only do what I can, Lord Lark."

Lark smiled faintly.

Then, he turned to the players.

"You all claim to want to help Malthor. But words mean nothing without action." He gestured toward the coin pouch on the stall. "If you truly wish to aid him, then prove it. Sign a contract with us."

The players stiffened.

"A… contract?" one muttered.

Lark nodded. "A simple deal. If you sign with Pink Solution, we will handle the payment for the bandits."

A pause.

Then, he delivered the true bait.

"You will receive 10,000 credits and 10 silver upfront. And in return, we will provide a monthly salary—5,000 credits per month. Just one contract… and you will be set for life."

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

"That much?!"

"Five thousand per month…?"

The struggling players hesitated.

Lark's smile was warm, patient. "We are not cruel. We reward loyalty. By signing with us, you won't have to waste time running errands for scraps. You will have security, wealth, and strength."

It sounded perfect.

Too perfect.

Kaelith narrowed his eyes.

Lark was clever.

Most players were broke, desperate, and unsure of their future.

A guaranteed salary, immediate riches, and no more struggling? It was a golden trap.

Malthor remained silent, watching.

Kaelith could tell—this was the real deal.

Malthor's scam kept players running around, exhausting them.

Then Lark arrived, offering them an easy way out.

A perfect system of control.

Kaelith remained silent, hiding in the crowd. His hood was pulled low, his posture relaxed, but inside, his mind was anything but calm.

He knew Lark.

Too well.

This wasn't the first time he had seen that smooth, calculating smile—the same false kindness that hid chains beneath it.

Because in his previous life, he had fallen into this exact trap.

Not out of greed.

Not out of desperation.

But because of his stepsister's sweet lies.

"Kaelith, don't be stupid! This is your chance! Pink Solution will take care of you! You won't have to struggle anymore!"

She had spoken with such confidence, such certainty.

And he had believed her.

Signed the contract.

And walked straight into hell.

At first, everything had seemed perfect. A monthly salary, priority quests, access to guild resources.

Then reality set in.

The missions got harder. The rewards got smaller. The demands never stopped.

Lark had pushed him into death-traps disguised as quests.

Assassinations. Brutal escort jobs. Impossible dungeon raids.

Kaelith had endured it for five years.

Five years of slavery.

Then, after one nightmare of a mission, he had finally won something truly valuable.

An Epic-tier item.

He had thought it was his way out.

His reward for all the suffering.

But when he had returned, barely able to stand, Lark had been waiting.

Smiling.

The contract was clear.

All high-value loot obtained during guild missions belonged to Pink Solution.

Lark had taken the item without hesitation.

Kaelith had turned to his stepsister, expecting support.

Instead, she had scolded him.

"Are you an idiot? Of course, it belongs to the guild! That's how it works!"

For the first time, he realized the truth.

She had never signed the contract.

She had never joined the guild.

She had tricked him into signing.

And when he had confronted her, furious, betrayed, demanding answers…

She had acted sad.

"I… I'm sorry, Kaelith. I didn't mean for it to be this way."

Sweet lies.

Again.

And he had fallen for them.

Again.

But the rest was history.

That was the day he walked away.

Left the guild.

Left his stepsister.

Left everything.

But he had not given up.

He had clawed his way back.

Built his own guild.

Gathered strong allies.

For fifteen years, he had risen higher and higher.

Until his guild stood among the strongest.

Until he had finally created something truly his own.

Then—

She had returned.

His stepsister.

With sweet words.

With tears in her eyes.

With regret in her voice.

"I was wrong, Kaelith… I should have stood by you. Can you forgive me?"

And he had believed her.

Again.

For the last time.

Because the moment he let his guard down…

She killed him.

With a Soul-Binding Artifact.

An item so powerful it erased him completely.

His own guild—his legacy—was shattered within weeks.

His entire life's work, stolen.

And now, in this new life…

He wasn't here to shatter scams.

He wasn't here to be a hero.

He was just watching.

Because he had learned his lesson.

Some traps can't be escaped.

Some people never change.

And some lies are sweeter than the truth.

The Silent Deal – Malthor's Glance

As Lark continued his speech, promising wealth and security in exchange for a contract, the crowd of players buzzed with uncertainty. Some were hesitant, others intrigued, and a few had already fallen for the bait.

Kaelith remained in the shadows, blending into the gathered adventurers. His hood concealed his expression, but his sharp gaze never wavered.

Then, amidst the commotion, Malthor moved.

The old merchant, who had played the part of a helpless victim, subtly glanced in Kaelith's direction.

It was brief—just a flicker of movement, a single glance.

But Kaelith understood.

Malthor's eyes weren't filled with fear or desperation like before.

They were calculating.

Amused.

And then, without a word, Malthor smirked.

A tiny, almost imperceptible shift in his expression.

It lasted less than a second, but Kaelith caught it instantly.

Malthor's lips barely moved, but his message was clear:

"You see through it, don't you?"

And then, Malthor did something even more interesting.

He slightly tilted his head toward Kaelith and gave a slow, deliberate blink.

A silent offer.

"Help me in the shadows, and I'll make it worth your while."

Kaelith's fingers twitched.

This old merchant was playing a deeper game.

While Lark and Pink Solution were busy wrapping players in golden chains, Malthor was toying with the scam itself.

A rat among wolves.

He wasn't just scamming adventurers—he was manipulating the entire situation.

And now, he was inviting Kaelith into the game.

A perfect reward, he had promised.

Kaelith's instincts screamed danger.

But at the same time…

His lips curled into the faintest smirk.

Malthor wasn't just a fraud.

He was entertaining.

Kaelith didn't respond—not yet.

But Malthor would understand.

The game had begun.