"Buyers Club 66 transaction procedure number three: Guide the buyer only; forceful selling is strictly prohibited..." <br><br>As he read up to this point, Xavi set down the 'Club Owner's Guidebook' in his hands. He mused with interest: if this is truly the case, then doesn't that make him, the one reading this guidebook now, a victim of a violation of these very rules? <br><br>"Master, your lunch is ready." <br><br>A tempting aroma of beet soup wafted to his nose as it was served before him. You Night, being ever so attentive, arranged all the necessary dining utensils for him. Afterward, she stood aside courteously, waiting for his instructions. <br><br>You Night was the maid of Buyers Club 66. <br><br>There was one thing Xavi had misjudged: her age wasn't on par with his; rather, it was astonishingly ancient. <br><br>Moreover, You Night was not human. She was a doll crafted through alchemy using special materials. <br><br>Her seemingly human-like appearance resulted not only from the advanced alchemy techniques but primarily because a living soul was sealed within her body. <br><br>This wasn't a joke. Xavi had personally witnessed You Night disassemble her head and left arm, only to reattach them naturally before his eyes. <br><br>According to You Night, she was created by an Arcane Chemist as payment for a specific trade item and later became a maid. She had been serving at the Club for over three hundred years. <br><br>... <br><br>When Xavi awoke, the previous owner had vanished without a trace but had thoughtfully left a letter explaining things he needed to know. <br><br>As the recipient of the deal, Xavi would henceforth possess the power to govern Buyers Club 66. However, at the same time, he would be eternally confined to this place. <br><br>The only way to break free was for someone else willing to trade their eternal freedom in exchange. <br><br>The letter also advised him to refer to the handbook for any other questions he might have. <br><br>Xavi, being a fairly composed individual, attempted to open the Club's door and step outside upon reading the letter. To his surprise, there was no resistance at all—he had walked out effortlessly... <br><br>The so-called confinement wasn't physical imprisonment but rather a form of Spiritual Shackles. <br><br>"So, to avoid dying, I have to periodically Make an Offering to the 'Club,' correct?" <br><br>Xavi humbly asked questions about some of the handbook's details. <br><br>Although You Night was now part of the Club's assets and thus belonged to Xavi, he couldn't help feeling slightly uneasy around her. <br><br>"Yes." You Night nodded, dutifully fulfilling her role as a maid. "The duration you can enjoy will be determined by the quality of the offerings you present." <br><br>"I seem to be in good health, so I suppose I might live quite long," Xavi quipped. <br><br>Hearing this, You Night suddenly left. Shortly after, she returned holding an Hourglass in her hands. <br><br>She placed the Hourglass on the table before him. "This represents your remaining time, Master. When all the sand in the Hourglass falls, your life will end." <br><br>No matter how indifferent one might be, such a sight would still spark some panic—but panic wouldn't help. Xavi quickly calmed himself. "How much time do I have left until the sand runs out?" <br><br>"Thirty days." <br><br>"..."<br><br>Realizing that things were far less ideal than he imagined, Xavi took a deep breath to steady himself. "So, if I can't attract any customers, I'll kick the bucket?" <br><br>"Those in need will come; no need for solicitation. The fact that you are here already serves as proof enough," You Night replied softly. "Moreover, the previous owner also disseminated some Proof of Entry in various ways. Anyone holding one of these can naturally find their way here." <br><br>"So, as long as I'm patient and wait for someone to come to me, everything will be alright?" <br><br>"Yes, you generally won't die." <br><br>Generally won't die... <br><br>Alright then... <br><br>As stated in the letter left by the previous owner, Xavi would indeed be "eternally imprisoned" here. Yet, in exchange, he obtained everything the Club had to offer. <br><br>... <br><br>... <br><br>"Going on a carefree trip with classmates—no worries!" <br><br>"Alright, the message is sent... Thank goodness the phone works," Xavi muttered to himself. "Although they might still worry, at least it won’t warrant calling the police. Maybe I should just turn off my phone for now... That'll do for the time being." <br><br>Having settled his thoughts, Xavi decided not to return home for the next couple of days. First, he needed to clarify his own situation. <br><br>As for university… skipping a day or two of classes didn't seem like a big deal. <br><br>With a temporary plan in mind, Xavi focused his energy. <br><br>Since the previous owner managed to pass the mantle onto him, perhaps he could use the same method to find someone to replace himself. Or, was there an as-yet-undiscovered way to escape the Club's binding without needing to trade its ownership? <br><br>Considering this, Xavi concluded that he might be a slightly greedy person. <br><br>But, upon deeper reflection, experiencing such bizarre events without harboring some ulterior motives would seem rather illogical, wouldn't it? <br><br>For now, he resolved to patiently await the arrival of his first transaction. <br><br>In terms of patience, Xavi had confidence in himself. <br><br>Perhaps owing to his natural inclination toward solitude, he could spend an entire afternoon staring blankly in a park—neither fiddling with a phone nor clutching a translated novel like ordinary people. <br><br>When in Rome, do as the Romans do. <br><br>There weren’t too many pages in the handbook, and Xavi finished reading it quickly. <br><br>Next, he began closely observing the Club. <br><br>In truth, the Club's interior was far more spacious than it appeared from the outside, boasting a three-story upward structure. Seen from outside, however, it merely looked like an average shop. <br><br>Moreover, as You Night explained, only certain individuals could perceive it. Those who couldn't would see only the original appearance of this location, the shop that once stood there. <br><br>This was probably one of the Club's many peculiarities, Xavi thought. But he didn’t feel this was particularly odd—after all, he had already witnessed You Night dismantling and reassembling her head and limbs. <br><br>... The Club's upper three levels comprised: the storefront on the first floor, living quarters on the second and third floors, and facilities such as the kitchen and bathrooms. <br><br>The lower three levels consisted of: the storage room on Subterranean Level One for ordinary trade goods, another storage room on Subterranean Level Two for valuable trade goods, and The Subterranean Level Three Altar—a site for sacrificial rituals. <br><br>Xavi took a quick look around The Subterranean Level Three Altar and immediately felt an eerie chill. He hastily turned back to the first-floor storefront without dwelling too much on it. <br><br>The altar on the third sublevel was overwhelmingly bizarre. Just being near it gave him the unsettling sense of being watched from all angles. <br><br>After leaving The Subterranean Level Three Altar, Xavi began to cool his mind and reflect on what had transpired. <br><br>Under normal circumstances, the likelihood of him agreeing to such terms was practically zero. <br><br>"Sure enough, I’ve been conned." <br><br>No sighs, no anger. Habit is a terrifying thing. <br><br>"Master, did you just say something?" While cleaning the shop, You Night suddenly paused and turned her head inquiringly. <br><br>"Nothing," Xavi replied with a smile, letting the maid continue her work. <br><br>He began scrutinizing You Night more closely. <br><br>Whoever the Arcane Chemist was that created her—what was their reference model? She seemed like a blend of Eastern and Western features, tall yet graceful. <br><br>Of course, her excellent figure was undeniable. But still—a doll, a doll, she's just a doll. <br><br>Yet inside her resided a living soul... So who exactly was that soul? Why was it sealed within You Night's body? <br><br>The intriguing questions only piled up. Thinking about them, Xavi drifted off into one of his habitual daydreams. <br><br>Ding-dong—! <br><br>The sound came from the bell hanging by the door—it chimed whenever someone entered. <br><br>The bell’s sound snapped Xavi out of his daze. He looked toward the entrance and saw a haggard-looking middle-aged man. <br><br>"Excuse me... Is this Buyers Club 66? Is it true that you can buy anything you want here?" The middle-aged man’s voice carried both hope and doubt. <br><br>In his hand, Xavi noticed a black card. <br><br>That, presumably, was one of the Proof of Entry You Night had mentioned.)
