As Rian stood in front of his shop, he instinctively glanced to the left corner of his view to check his gold coins, but he noticed they were missing. A notification from the system caught his attention, and he clicked on it.
The message read:
[Rearrangement has been done; from now on, players can see their sold coins in player profiles.]
Curious, Rian opened his player profile and scanned the details:
System Panel
[Name - BlackMerchant]
[Class - Merchant]
[Level - 2]
[Exp - 0%]
[Race - Human]
[Stats -
Strength - 15
Agility - 15
Mana - 15]
[Skills - Marchant Shop]
[Remaining Stats - 10]
[Gold Coins - 300]
As Rian absorbed the information about his gold coins, he stepped into his shop. Almost immediately, a flurry of notifications rang out:
[You have unlocked the announcement system - You can make announcements to your region or the whole world.]
Reading the message, Rian felt a wave of excitement wash over him. The idea that he could broadcast messages to the entire world was staggering. He could share news about his shop, promote special deals, or even call attention to unique items he had for sale.
He paused for a moment, contemplating the possibilities. This feature could significantly boost his business and reputation as the BlackMerchant. With a determined grin, he began to think of ways to leverage this new power to not only attract customers but also to solidify his presence in Everlasting.
Rian opened the announcement function, eager to see how it worked. As he navigated through the options, his heart sank at the sight of the costs required for different levels of announcements:
Village Announcement: 100 gold coins
City Announcement: 5,000 gold coins
Kingdom Announcement: 50,000 gold coins
World Announcement: 100,000 gold coins
He had initially thought it would take around 1,000 gold coins to make a world announcement, but the reality hit him hard as he processed the actual amounts.
"One hundred thousand gold coins," he muttered, feeling the weight of his aspirations. The dream of broadcasting his presence to the entire world seemed daunting now, but he quickly reminded himself that every journey started with small steps."
Rian knew that before making any announcement, he needed to be fully prepared. The moment his name became known, the entire world would know he was operating in [Village 99999], and he needed to make sure his shop was well-stocked for the grand opening. He envisioned rows of filled shelves, stocked with the most sought-after items, ready to impress anyone who stepped foot into his store.
Determined to make his shop's opening unforgettable, he opened the merchant interface to browse through his product options. He first checked the potions section, which displayed the following list:
Healing Potions: 1 gold coin
Mana Potions: 1 gold coin
Poison Resistance Potions: 5 gold coin
Heat Resistance Potions: 5 gold coin
Water Resistance Potions: 5 gold coin
Strength Enhancement Potions: 10 gold coin
Agility Enhancement Potions: 10 gold coin
Invisibility Potions: 10 gold coin poisons: Depends on which poison
Berserk Potions: 10 gold coin
Night Vision Potions: 10 gold coin
Rian scanned the list carefully, formulating a plan. He needed a good balance between essential items like Healing and Mana Potions and rarer, high-value potions like Invisibility and Berserk Potions. He was keen on securing enough stock to meet any initial rush of customers while offering some unique, hard-to-find items that would set his shop apart.
He began selecting the potions he wanted, his mind already racing with ideas to make his grand opening the talk of the village and eventually, the world.
Rian had made up his mind. He decided to start small, purchasing a Village Announcement for 100 gold coins. With 200 gold coins left, he opted to focus solely on potions for now and leave items for later. His strategy was clear: sell potions, earn some money, and expand gradually.
He used his remaining funds to purchase 50 Health Potions, 50 Mana Potions, 5 Berserk Potions, and 5 Night Vision Potions. With his excitement building, he began placing them carefully on the shelves of his shop, eager to prepare for his grand opening.
In a special container, he arranged 10 of his most valuable potions 5 Berserk Potions and 5 Night Vision Potions while the remaining nine stayed in his inventory, ready for future use.
Once everything was in place, Rian clicked on the announcement system and selected the village-level announcement. A panel appeared, prompting him to type his message. With a deep breath, Rian began his announcement:
[The Black Merchant's Empire invites all adventurers, warriors, and merchants to visit my shop! Here, you'll find the finest potions and rarest goods. I am located in Village 99999, and everyone, from near or far, is welcome to trade. The Black Merchant's Empire awaits your presence where gold meets opportunity!]
Satisfied with his message, he hit confirm and watched as his announcement was sent out to the village. His heart raced as he imagined the impact this would have, the excitement of customers flooding in to see what BlackMerchant had to offer.
The moment Rian sent the announcement, a ripple spread throughout Village 99999. Every player in the village immediately received the system notification, alerting them to the opening of BlackMerchant's Empire. Excitement buzzed through the crowd as whispers of the infamous BlackMerchant's shop spread like wildfire.
Players began frantically searching for the location of the shop, eager to see what goods were on offer. Some players, realizing the significance of this, quickly logged out of the game to spread the news in forums and to their guildmates. The revelation that BlackMerchant was operating in such an obscure village caused a frenzy.
Meanwhile, several popular guilds wasted no time. Guild leaders were mobilizing their forces, gathering their most trusted members, and preparing to head toward Village 99999. The thought of securing a deal with the BlackMerchant was too tempting for anyone to ignore. The leaders brought along their right-hand men, hoping to negotiate first and secure an advantage over the competition.
In just moments, the small, quiet village transformed into a hotspot of activity, with adventurers and guild members alike setting their sights on the mysterious merchant who had taken the game by storm. Rian's shop was about to see a surge of visitors, each hoping to benefit from his reputation and rare goods.
The anticipation around BlackMerchant had reached its peak. Everyone assumed, based on his name alone, that Rian would be selling rare and valuable items, and they were eager to get their hands on them. As more players converged on his shop, the excitement quickly turned into tension.
Soon enough, a large crowd gathered, with players forming a line outside his shop. However, the members of Venom Guild stepped forward, blocking others from entering.
"No one will enter this shop. Our Venom Guild will be the first to make a deal with BlackMerchant!" one of their members declared, standing firm with a smug grin.
Tensions flared as players began to push forward, some drawing their weapons. "Move! No one can decide who gets in first!" shouted another, ready for a fight.
Inside the shop, Rian could hear the commotion. He hadn't expected such chaos so soon. Wearing his mask, which concealed his identity, he stepped out of his shop to face the crowd. The moment he appeared, a wave of silence fell over the players. They stopped their arguing and fighting, eyes glued to the mysterious BlackMerchant.
Rian surveyed the scene calmly before speaking in a composed voice, yet one filled with authority. "Please, don't cause trouble for the other players who have come here to trade, purchase, or make requests. Everyone will have their chance."
His words, although simple, carried an unspoken weight. The crowd, mesmerized by the man behind the mask, began to relax, realizing they could lose their chance at doing business if they continued fighting. Even the Venom Guild members stepped back, no longer willing to risk angering the one person they were all here for. The air shifted as order returned, and Rian, now in control, turned to re-enter his shop, knowing that the real work was about to begin.
After sitting down at the counter, Rian glanced up to see his first customer approach. The player's name floated above him: [NoChicken]. Rian gave a small nod before asking, "How can I help you, sir?"
NoChicken, with a curious glint in his eyes, looked at Rian and replied, "I want to know what you're selling first. Then I'll decide what to buy."
Rian smiled slightly beneath his mask, waving his hand as a simple interface appeared. "Today, I'm selling potions," he said, gesturing toward the shelves behind him. "Healing potions, mana potions, and…" He paused for a moment, adding a touch of suspense, "Only 5 Night Vision potions and 5 Berserk potions."
NoChicken's eyes widened as he heard the last part. Those potions were known to be rare and valuable, especially in early-game stages. He wasn't the only one interested in them, as whispers spread quickly through the crowd of waiting players, heightening the excitement.
The shop's atmosphere grew intense as everyone realized they were vying for limited supplies. Rian could feel the eagerness radiating from his first customer, knowing that his choice could set the tone for the rest of the day.
NoChicken, with a nod of approval, watched as Rian calmly tallied up the price for his request.
Rian responded, "Low-level healing potions and mana potions are 10 gold coins each. The Night Vision potion and Berserk potion are 100 gold coins each."
After hearing the price of the rare potions, NoChicken seemed a bit taken aback but quickly composed himself. "Well, I'll be taking 10 healing potions, 10 mana potions, and 1 Berserk potion."
Rian smiled under his mask and replied, "Certainly, sir. That will be 300 gold coins."
Without hesitation, NoChicken pulled out his gold pouch and handed it over. Rian placed the pouch on the counting machine, which confirmed the total of 300 gold coins exactly.
"Please wait a moment while I fetch the potions," Rian said with a professional tone. He stood up, walked over to the well-stocked shelves, and selected the 10 healing potions, 10 mana potions, and 1 Berserk potion, returning to the counter with them.
Carefully placing the potions on the counter, he said, "Here are your potions, sir. Thank you for your purchase."
NoChicken nodded in satisfaction as he collected his items, feeling pleased with his haul, especially the rare Berserk potion.
As the next customer approached, Rian was surprised to see a young woman stride confidently towards the counter, her gaze sharp and unwavering. Before he could even greet her, she spoke in a firm yet alluring tone, "BlackMerchant, I'm from the Azura Star Guild, and I believe we have matters to discuss something I'm sure will pique your interest."
Rian blinked, momentarily taken aback by her boldness. The tension in the shop seemed to thicken as her words hung in the air. He could sense the subtle pressure of the powerful guild behind her. The other players around them fell into a hushed silence, their curiosity piqued by this sudden confrontation.
Rian, however, remained calm, his expression hidden behind the mask. He slowly leaned forward on the counter, his voice cold but resolute. "I appreciate the offer, but let me be clear: I have no intention of joining any guild, nor do I wish to involve myself in your politics or schemes."
His refusal echoed in the room, causing a ripple of disbelief among the onlookers. The girl's confident smile faltered, but only for a brief moment before she regained her composure. The air between them was thick with tension, and everyone could feel the weight of Rian's rejection.
"I'm not here for alliances," Rian added, his voice unwavering. "I'm here to do business nothing more, nothing less."
The girl from Azura Star Guild narrowed her eyes, clearly not used to being turned down so easily, but Rian had made his stance clear.