"Don't scream if you still want your breath to stay warm," whispered a heavy voice from beneath the pitch-black hood. Toby and Mia jumped in surprise. Their bodies bumped against an ancient stone pillar encrusted with ice in the dimmest corner of the Dark Logistics Market. The two low-caste teenagers reflexively pressed close together, trembling violently as they stared at the mysterious figure who had just silently emerged from the shadows. Before their fear could turn into screams, the dark-hooded figure—the Ghost Merchant—casually flicked his hand. Thud! A giant iron pot with a tightly fitted lid landed smoothly on the snowdrift before them. The moment the pot's lid lifted slightly, a rich, savory aroma of spices burst into the night air. Thick hot steam billowed high, carrying a wave of warmth that instantly melted the icy crust around Toby and Mia's feet. "W-What is this...?" Toby stammered with wide eyes, inhaling the scent of

"Hunt him down to the absolute ends of the 6th Floor! If you find him, flatten his shack to the ground!" Officer Bruno’s roaring order echoed through every corner of the main fortress's military headquarters. Yet the threat of that manhunt felt like a ridiculous joke in the face of the intensifying blizzard. Just two hours after the order was issued, the temperature outside plummeted past minus fifty degrees. The military's heating crystals ran completely dry, causing the elite soldiers' Thermal Armor to freeze stiff, turning into iron traps that froze their blood. The combat faction nobles no longer cared about manhunts or class pride. Their teeth chattered violently, their lips turned blue, and the mana in their bodies froze solid, leaving behind excruciating pain. In the darkest corner of the Dark Logistics Market, a figure draped in pitch-black robes sat relaxed atop a wooden crate. Austin-02—the Ghost Merchant—blew gently on a cup of hot herbal tea that radiated a faint gol