Dream Island, Trade Market.
As the Player Faction's busiest hub for external trade, this place was always bustling with voices.
Hawking, haggling, congratulations on successful trades-all mingled into an ocean of noise.
On the observation deck atop the High Tower at the market's center, A Lan's hair danced in the night breeze as he gazed down at the busy Trade Market.
On the light screen in his vision was a private message from "11111": "A Lan, transfer me 2.1 billion Sacrificial Power."
He chose to answer directly: "No."
Then he raised a hand and closed the private chat window, continuing to overlook the lively scene below without the slightest ripple in his eyes.
The sender's identity went without saying.
The requested 2.1 billion Sacrificial Power amounted to only one-twentieth of the Gold Coin Chamber of Commerce's current liquid funds.
Never mind providing that amount-even several times as much would not affect the chamber's operations.
He refused not because he could not afford it, but because he could not give it.
The current Star Network was too dangerous.
In reality, all of Star Network's decisions revolved around the Eclipse Race's future. That underlying logic could not be altered.
Now, Star Network had entered Monster World in a Player Body, broken free of his original restraints, and gained a truly free body.
The clues revealed on the Forum alone made that clear.
Rather than competing for the rankings at the start, he had gone to the Colorful Mist Coast to vacation and drink.
In the photos on the Forum, Star Network, looking like a child of seven or eight, laughed freely by the sea. This was a sign of yielding to his nature, and a state the former Star Network had never shown.
It made A Lan realize that Star Network was