[Mossport Tower • Rooftop Meeting]
In the twilight of Mossport, the sunset looked like a blood-red coin scattered between the sea and port.
Jiang Ci received a [Private Invitation Letter].
Sender: Zhoying (Lin Wanzhou)
Contents:
You've shaken the platform's foundational transaction layer.
I am inviting you to a partnership as a "neutral collaborator from reality."
Location: Mossport Tower Rooftop, 8 PM tonight.
Jiang Ci didn't refuse. Nor did he bring anyone.
The wind was strong at the top of the tower. Lin Wanzhou wore light armor, a cup of auto-generated in-game black tea in hand.
"You arrived earlier than I expected," she said softly.
"Your invitation feels more like a negotiation than a collaboration," Jiang Ci replied calmly.
Lin Wanzhou didn't deny it. She flung a real-world PDF contract onto the system's shared display table:
[Joint Agreement Draft • Jiangshi Trading Co. x Sunlight Holdings]
Summary of Terms:
Sunlight will invest $10,000 USD for 20% equity in Jiangshi Trading Co.
Provides cloud logistics, legal support, banking interfaces, international clearing services
Jiang Ci retains the CEO role and final say on product lines
The company will be integrated into ECHO Regulation Layer Zone 2, enjoying core system benefits
Jiang Ci flipped through the contract pages. His expression remained neutral, but his gaze turned colder.
"You call this cooperation, but in essence—it's half-acquisition, half-leash."
Lin Wanzhou raised an eyebrow. "You should know, you can't survive the next three months of regulatory lockdown on your own."
Jiang Ci fell silent, then slowly said, "Do you know why the system is called ECHO?"
Lin Wanzhou paused. "You've figured it out?"
"It's not just a system. It's an economic resonance network. Every market move creates real-world feedback." He looked at her. "And I don't want to be its echo."
"I want to be the voice."
She said nothing more, only whispered: "Then—when you can no longer hold on, come find me."
"I'm not in a hurry. Capital is always patient."
[ECHO System • Grey Layer Access Unlocked]
After Jiang Ci left the tower, his system interface displayed a new prompt:
[Permission Granted: ECHO Grey Market Access]
Conditions: Rejected official joint agreement + completed 5+ cross-server trades
Note: You are now flagged as an "uncontrollable system variable." Grey market access is granted for balancing purposes.
He hit [Enter] without hesitation.
The scene shifted instantly.
Gone was the port. Jiang Ci now stood in a finance-themed underground city, cloaked in smoke, code, and scrambled data.
System Notification:
[Welcome to Grey Market Node 017]
Now accessible:
Anonymous trades
Encrypted physical logistics (real-world couriers required)
Virtual currency peg auctions
Non-standard goods trade authorization
⚠️ Warning: Every action will be recorded in the Real-World Financial Risk Assessment Database
Jiang Ci scrolled through, both curious and alarmed.
He spotted a trade post:
[Seeking: Healing Potions × 50,000 bottles]
Price: 1.5 silver each (far above market)
Delivery deadline: 3 days
Contact: Codename "White Void"
Jiang Ci froze.
This wasn't just speculation. Someone was buying up in-game goods, then laundering them via cross-platform settlement into real-world profit.
And that codename—White Void—he remembered it clearly.
In his past life, after ECHO protocols went public, White Void was one of the corporate agents who won control of the central economic brain.
This was no longer a battleground for average players.
[Jiang Ci's Strategy: Fight Rules, Not Resources]
He didn't respond to the trade immediately.
Instead, he quietly posted a new system-wide announcement:
Jiangshi Trading Co. Launches: "Delegated Supply Chain" System
Features:
Players can delegate items to Jiangshi Co. for unified handling
Items are resold with mark-up; profits are shared proportionally
Daily profit pool of no less than $3 per participant (initial phase)
Note: We are not a platform. We are your bank.
When Mobai saw this, he gasped. "You're asking all players to treat their goods as deposits, and you'll run their distribution?"
Jiang Ci nodded. "Only by controlling currency flow can we challenge those who control currency issuance."
"Sunlight wants to dominate system trade? Then I'll build a central warehouse—for the people."
[Reality • A Call from the Bank]
That night at 11:30 PM, just as Jiang Ci was about to sleep, his phone rang.
It was the bank.
"Hello, is this Mr. Jiang? We've detected an anonymous game-related deposit of $337.40 USD into your account today. Do you confirm receipt?"
Jiang Ci paused.
Then he remembered—it was his "collective presale test batch" on the grey market. Someone had bought it.
He pressed [Confirm].
A system message immediately popped up:
[Congratulations! First Bulk Order Completed via Grey Layer]
Current Jiangshi Co. Assets: $582.40 USD
Player Accounts Participating: 43
Recommendation Level: +1 (Candidate for Core Virtual Economy Authority)
Jiang Ci smiled.
"Still a long way to go. But at least—we've taken the first real step."