chapter 79 shadow move

The Shadow's Move – Kaelith Joins the Game

Kaelith didn't respond with words. He didn't need to.

Instead, he took a single step back, slipping deeper into the crowd, his fingers brushing against a familiar item in his inventory.

[Trickster's Mask]

A rare artifact—one of the few items that could alter a player's identity in real-time.

Its ability was simple:

Hide the username.

Distort the voice.

Change the facial structure.

A perfect disguise.

With a thought, he activated it.

The moment the mask's magic took hold, his name above his head vanished.

To everyone else, he was now just another nameless adventurer.

Someone forgettable.

Someone who didn't exist.

Now, it was time to play along.

The Performance Begins

Kaelith pushed forward through the hesitant crowd, stepping boldly toward the front.

Malthor, ever the skilled conman, didn't even flinch. He simply raised an eyebrow, acknowledging the move without a single word.

Kaelith's voice came out distorted under the mask's effect, but his tone was confident, steady.

"Enough talking. If Malthor says he needs 100 gold, then we should listen. The bandits won't wait forever."

A murmur spread through the adventurers.

One player scoffed. "And who are you supposed to be?"

Kaelith didn't answer. He turned to Malthor instead. "I can contribute a few silver. What about the rest of you?"

His words were deliberate.

Not pushing too hard.

Not forcing anyone.

Just nudging the flow.

Some players hesitated. A few glanced at each other, uncertain.

And then, Malthor did what he did best.

He sighed heavily, shaking his head like a tired old man burdened by the world's cruelty.

"I never wanted to ask for help, truly... but this is the only way to save the town."

Guilt.

A masterful move.

Kaelith watched as a few players caved, opening their pouches and dropping in whatever spare silver they had.

It wasn't enough to reach 100 gold yet.

But it was a start.

Malthor's glance flickered toward Kaelith for the briefest moment.

A silent message: Well played.

Kaelith remained silent.

The game had only just begun.

The Art of Manipulation – Kaelith's Grand Exit

Kaelith stood still for a moment, his gaze scanning the restless crowd. The air was thick with hesitation, greed, and uncertainty. Players whispered among themselves, trying to decide whether to hand over their hard-earned silver to Malthor or seek another way.

It was time to tip the scales.

With his Trickster's Mask hiding his identity, Kaelith took a step forward, making sure his posture was confident, his voice clear. The mask distorted his tone just enough to make it seem like he was someone important—a figure of authority, someone who knew more than the rest.

A Carefully Placed Suggestion

"Listen up!" Kaelith's voice cut through the chatter like a blade, making heads turn. "We can't just throw silver at the problem and hope it goes away. If you really want to survive in this town, if you want real power, there's only one solution!"

He let the words hang in the air.

A few players leaned in, waiting.

Then, with perfect timing, he declared:

"We must join Pink Solutions!"

The reaction was immediate.

Like a switch had been flipped, the crowd descended into chaos.

Some players gasped in realization, nodding as if they had always known Pink Solutions was the way. Others suddenly scrambled forward, pushing past each other in their rush to be the first to pledge their loyalty.

The Feeding Frenzy

Players tripped over each other in their desperation.

Some began yelling over the crowd, trying to get Pink Solutions' attention.

Others shoved aside their own friends, wanting to be first in line.

A few even threw silver coins at Lark's feet, as if paying their way into the guild would guarantee their spot.

Lark, the scheming manager, observed the chaos with a satisfied smirk.

His arms opened wide, as if welcoming them into his embrace.

"Ah, so you finally understand!" He laughed. "Pink Solutions is the only true power here! Sign with us, and you'll receive wealth, protection, and endless opportunities!"

The crowd erupted further.

Kaelith smirked under his mask. He had fanned the flames, turning a hesitant group of adventurers into mad dogs fighting for a place under Lark's boot.

It was the perfect distraction.

Malthor's Silent Escape

While the madness reached its peak, Kaelith shifted his focus.

Malthor, the "helpless merchant", was no longer at the center of attention.

No one even noticed when he took a step back.

Then another.

Then another.

Silent. Unnoticed.

The merchant glided through the crowd, using the confusion to slip away like a ghost.

No one questioned it.

No one cared.

Why would they? Their focus was on Pink Solutions, on power, on promises of wealth.

Kaelith, however, was watching.

And Malthor knew it.

Just as the merchant was about to disappear completely, he brushed past Kaelith.

It was a fleeting moment, barely noticeable.

And yet—

A small slip of paper pressed into Kaelith's palm.

A gesture so subtle, so perfectly timed, that even Kaelith almost missed it.

Malthor didn't stop.

Didn't even glance back.

By the time Kaelith looked up, the merchant was gone.

Kaelith's Next Move

Kaelith didn't open the note right away.

That would be too risky in the open.

Instead, he kept walking, blending into the background as if he were just another player watching the madness unfold.

His smirk deepened.

Whatever Malthor had written, one thing was clear—

The real game was just beginning.

Lark pov

As the players fought to join Pink Solutions, Lark stood at the center, his expression composed—but his mind was twisting with greed.

He watched them scramble, shove, and beg, their eyes burning with ambition and desperation.

"Fools."

They thought they were climbing the ladder to power.

They thought Pink Solutions was their ticket to safety, riches, and prestige.

But in Lark's mind, it was the perfect trap.

His smirk was hidden, but his thoughts dripped with amusement.

"Yes, join, join... sign your souls away."

Once their names were on that contract, there was no escape.

A Deal That Couldn't Be Broken

The moment they signed, they belonged to Pink Solutions.

They would be forced to work.

Every rare drop, every gold coin, would be taxed away.

They would grind endlessly, but never truly grow stronger.

And if they tried to resist?

The contract's magic would ensure they suffered.

Lark chuckled silently to himself.

"Once you sign, no one can separate you from hell."

Their dreams of power? Illusions.

Their hope for freedom? Dead on arrival.

Gold, Slaves, and Endless Profits

But the best part?

These fools were paying him for the privilege of becoming his slaves.

10,000 credits upfront.

10 silver just to sign.

And once inside? A lifetime of debt.

They would mine gold for him.

They would farm rare loot—only for him to claim it.

And the best part?

If they complained, if they begged for mercy—

He'd simply laugh.

Because the contract didn't allow them to leave.

"Ah... I'm getting gold, power, and an endless supply of workers. What a perfect deal."

He held back his grin, watching the players continue to fight each other.

The Final Thought

In the end, they weren't joining Pink Solutions.

They were surrendering to it.

Lark's eyes gleamed.

"Welcome to hell."