The smell of wet soil and artificial ozone filled the hidden greenhouse facility as Kai inspected the newest batch of crops under ultraviolet-harmonic lights. The Super Growth Kits were working too well.
The second trial harvest yielded plants that exceeded expectations, but a concerning pattern emerged: the modified crops had started leeching surrounding nutrients at aggressive rates. A powerful solution—but one that Earth's fragile ecosystem might not be able to handle in bulk.
Zhang delivered the report with a furrowed brow.
"We're playing with fire, Kai. If this goes unregulated, we'll be rich—and Earth's soil might be sterile in ten years."
Kai didn't flinch.
"Then we don't scale up blindly. We test, we control, and we profit."
He paused.
"…But not at the cost of our own planet."
Negotiations in the Nexus
Back in the Nexus Market, Kai's merchant hub bustled with activity. Drones zipped between floating kiosks. Alien traders, some over four meters tall, argued over transport fees and dimensional tariffs.
Kai stood calmly before a gold-skinned trader named Qeyl-Ra, whose people dealt exclusively in high-yield alchemical seeds.
Qeyl-Ra's narrow eyes shimmered. "You have human soil. You have weak sun. Yet you make these things grow like Starfruit on a Jovian gas-world. You interest me, sovereign."
"I'm looking for a seed strain," Kai said, sliding over a holopad. "High-yield. Low upkeep. Resilient to over-cultivation."
"Ah," Qeyl-Ra purred. "You want the First Verdant. Dangerous. Rare. Expensive."
Kai smirked.
"And profitable."
They made a deal.
On Earth: Planting the Power Base
Using Helix Organics as a front, Kai launched a new campaign under the guise of a Global Green Initiative. It was framed as humanitarian work—boosting food supplies in underdeveloped regions.
He distributed 50 First Verdant seed samples to key partners: one to a struggling African co-op, another to a disaster-struck village in Southeast Asia, and several to quietly supportive world leaders.
In return, he asked only for "local distribution rights."
From Aid to Influence
Within weeks, results began flooding in.
Villages once on the brink of famine now exported surplus food.
A mayor in Southern India publicly endorsed Helix as a "miracle company."
News outlets started reporting whispers of "the Green Sovereign."
Earth governments noticed too. So did Earth's mega-corporations. And not all of them were pleased.
A private message pinged Kai's system, routed through three encrypted channels:
Sender: Kronex ConglomerateSubject: "You're trespassing.""This market was ours. You're disrupting balance. Pull back, or get pulled under."
Kai stared at the message and smiled.
"I've been poor long enough," he muttered. "Let them come."
Meanwhile in the Galactic Web
With his reputation rising, Kai unlocked a new trader perk:
[Perk Unlocked – Interrealm Microporting Lv.1]You can now send small items (under 1 kg) instantly across authorized worlds.Cooldown: 3 hours
Juno was impressed. "You realize what this means? You could sell luxury products to upper-tier planets—instantly. High-value, high-demand items."
Kai nodded.
"We're moving beyond Earth now."
The Whispering Artifact
Later that night, alone in his vault, Kai finally examined the sealed item from Kharos Redveil.
He placed it on the activation pad.
A low hum filled the room. The black box unfolded itself, revealing a levitating shard of obsidian… etched with glowing runes.
Suddenly, his interface flickered.
[Worldgate Fragment Detected]A sealed gate between dimensions. Locked by Sovereign Command Code.Current Status: DormantEstimated Unlock: Trader Rank 7+
Juno's voice echoed through the comms. "Kai, are you okay? Something's messing with the ship sensors—"
Kai turned off the comms. His eyes never left the fragment.
Whatever this was… it wasn't just trade.
It was power.
It was conquest.
And it was calling him.
Status Update:
Trader Rank: 6.2CU Balance: 23,800Credits: 918Karma: +2 (Balanced Morality)Reputation:– Earth Sector: +44– Veyra Syndicate: +2– Nexus Fringe: +18– Trade Guild (Neutral): ⚠ Under Observation– Kronex Conglomerate: ⚠ Hostile InterestAssets:– Merchant's Lair (Enhanced, Microport Node Enabled)– Earth Node x3 (Asia, Middle East, South Africa)– Greenhouse Facility (Lvl 2)– Front: Helix Organics– New Seed: First Verdant (Limited Stock)– Worldgate Fragment (Locked)– Assistants: Juno, Zhang, Mari