Ethan stared at the Sealed Relic Box, feeling the weight of his decision settle on his shoulders. He’d committed to opening it, but now he faced a much bigger problem—how to deal with the Containment Ward.

  The appraiser had already begun working on bypassing the personal binding, using the Ethereal Inkstone to decipher the scholar’s seal. But the second layer—the one actively containing something—was beyond her expertise.

  “You’ll need an expert in containment magic,” she had told him before leaving. “Someone who understands what’s inside before they even attempt to break it.”

  Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair. An expert in containment magic? Where the hell was he supposed to find one?

  Exploring the System

  He opened his Multiversal Merchant System, hoping for some guidance.

  Shop Expansion Options

  ? Inventory Upgrade – 5 Astral Coins

  ? Dimensional Anchoring – 10 Astral Coins

  ? Appraisal Lens – 3 Astral Coins

  ? Containment Analysis – 2 Astral Coins

  Ethan’s eyes locked onto the last option. Containment Analysis. It was cheap, but it sounded exactly like what he needed.

  “System, what does Containment Analysis do?”

  Containment Analysis allows the shop to scan and identify the nature of bound artifacts, curses, or entities. It does not break seals but provides insight into their nature and potential risks.

  The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  Ethan tapped his fingers against the counter. It wasn’t a perfect solution, but it was a start.

  Only one problem—he had zero Astral Coins left.

  Seeking a Trade

  Ethan looked around his shop, assessing what he had that might be valuable. He needed a quick trade—something small, but valuable enough to earn at least two Astral Coins.

  The shop bell rang, breaking his thoughts.

  A figure stepped inside, wrapped in a storm-gray cloak. They moved with careful steps, their eyes scanning the shelves before settling on Ethan.

  “You’re the one who trades in rare goods?” the figure asked, their voice smooth but cautious.

  “That’s the idea,” Ethan replied.

  The customer reached into their sleeve and withdrew a crimson gemstone—its surface shifting as if liquid fire pulsed beneath.

  “I need something to contain this,” the customer said. “A vessel strong enough to suppress its energy.”

  Ethan’s mind raced. He didn’t have an artifact designed for containment, but—

  He glanced at his inventory. He still had a Voidglass Vial, something he had picked up from a previous trade. It wasn’t meant for powerful objects, but it could work.

  “I have something that might do the job,” Ethan said. “But it won’t be cheap.”

  The customer studied him before nodding. “How much?”

  Ethan opened his system interface, assessing the gemstone.

  Molten Containment vessel

  ? Grade: High

  ? Properties: Stores raw elemental fire. Unstable in open air.

  ? Value: Estimated 4-5 Astral Coins.

  Ethan suppressed a grin. This was perfect.

  “For a proper containment vessel, I’d need at least four Astral Coins,” Ethan said smoothly.

  The customer frowned. “That’s steep.”

  Ethan shrugged. “You could always risk it cracking open in your pocket.”

  A pause. Then a sigh. “Fine.”

  A moment later, Ethan’s balance jumped to four Astral Coins, and the transaction was done.

  Unlocking Containment Analysis

  Ethan immediately used two Astral Coins to purchase Containment Analysis. A faint pulse rippled through the shop, and his vision shifted slightly.

  He turned to the Sealed Relic Box.

  Containment Ward Analysis:

  ? Type: Entity Suppression

  ? Energy Source: Unknown

  ? Risk Level: High

  Ethan exhaled. He had confirmation now—there was something inside. Something powerful.

  But the system didn’t tell him what.

  And if he wanted to break the seal, he needed to find someone who could handle high-risk containment magic.

  His search had just begun.