He turned to the crowd, his voice firm and commanding. "Now, get out of here because the shop is closed for today!" The players, still buzzing from the earlier announcement, began to disperse, murmuring among themselves as they left.
Once the last of them had cleared out, [DeathIsWithMe] turned his attention back to Rian. "Do you have space in there to sit and talk?"
Rian nodded, relief flooding through him. "Yes, I have plenty of space to discuss." He motioned toward a back room in the shop, hoping it would provide the privacy they needed to talk about what this unexpected alliance would mean for both of them.
As they moved into the quieter area, Rian couldn't shake the feeling that this conversation would shape the future of his business.
After settling into their seats, [DeathIsWithMe] leaned forward, his expression serious. "First things first, from now on, call me Guildmaster," he said with a commanding tone. Rian nodded, still a bit overwhelmed by the situation.
"Now," the Guildmaster continued, "I want to know what you can sell at the current moment and see if you can get your hands on a guild token."
Rian, trying to compose himself, responded quickly. "At the moment, I have 40 healing potions, 40 mana potions, 5 night vision potions, and 4 berserk potions. As for the guild token, I can look for one. If I manage to get it, I'll contact you, Guildmaster."
The Guildmaster raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "That's a solid stock for someone just starting. If you secure a guild token, not only will it solidify your connection to us, but you'll also gain access to exclusive resources that will help you grow your business further."
Rian felt both the pressure and excitement building. "I understand. I'll make it my priority to find one."
The Guildmaster leaned back, nodding in approval. "Good. We need merchants like you in [Apocalypse]. If you can handle this, we'll see just how far you can go."
The Guildmaster nodded decisively. "I'll buy all of your stock for now. Let's also add each other as friends, so you can contact me easily later."
Rian felt a rush of excitement. "Yes, sir! That will be 1,700 gold coins."
The Guildmaster looked at him for a moment, weighing the transaction, then pulled out the gold coins without hesitation and handed them to Rian.
Rian's heart raced as he counted the coins, feeling a mix of gratitude and disbelief. "Thank you for doing business, sir."
With the deal finalized, Rian couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something much bigger.
After fetching all the stock and carefully placing it before the Guildmaster, Rian felt a sense of accomplishment wash over him. The Guildmaster met his gaze with a knowing smile, saying, "Well, now that only villages are unlocked and you're here in village 99999, I want you to come to our guild base in village number 1 and set up your shop there."
Rian's heart raced at the prospect. As the Guildmaster stood up, he felt the weight of the moment settles on his shoulders. The Guildmaster walked purposefully toward the teleportation gate, leaving Rian to grapple with the implications of his words. "Replace your shop and come there." Those words echoed in his mind, stirring a mix of excitement and trepidation.
After a brief moment of contemplation, Rian finally sat down and logged out. As he opened his eyes, he found himself back in the familiar surroundings of his home. His parents and sister, Lila, were gathered around the dining table, their expressions a mix of curiosity and warmth as they waited for him to join them.
Lila beamed up at him, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Brother, you're amazing! Did you get an invitation from DeathIsWithMe? You're all over the news!"
She eagerly held up her phone for everyone to see, displaying a news channel dedicated solely to broadcasting events from the Everlasting game. The headline read: "Today, one of the most mysterious players, known as BlackMerchant, has revealed his location and shop in the world of Everlasting. But what happened next shocked the community: the guild leader of Apocalypse, DeathIsWithMe, personally approached BlackMerchant with an invitation to join his guild. After a brief discussion, DeathIsWithMe announced that BlackMerchant has officially joined the guild, declaring that anyone who dares to cause trouble for him will face the full wrath of Apocalypse."
Rian's heart raced as he absorbed the news. The implications of DeathIsWithMe's words echoed in his mind, mingling with the excitement of his sister and the pride swelling within him. He had always aimed to carve out a space for himself in the game, but this was beyond anything he had anticipated.
After hastily freshening up, Rian joined his family at the dining table, the aroma of home-cooked food wrapping around him like a comforting embrace. As he settled into his seat, his sister Lila leaned in, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Brother, how was the first day of opening the shop? How much money did you earn? What was it like facing DeathIsWithMe, the legend?"
Her questions tumbled out in a flurry, each one igniting a sense of pride and excitement within him. Rian took a deep breath, eager to share the whirlwind of events that had unfolded. "It was incredible, Lila! I sold a ton of potions healing, mana, night vision, and even some berserk potions. Players were lined up outside my shop, eager to trade."
He paused for dramatic effect, glancing at his parents, who were listening intently. "And the best part? I earned over 2,000 gold coins today! I'm now even closer to winning my bet." His heart raced as he realized just how significant this was for his family's future.
Then, he continued, his voice growing more animated. "Then, DeathIsWithMe himself showed up! I couldn't believe it. He invited me to join his guild, which is the most powerful in the game. At first, I was shocked and nervous, but I told him I wanted to focus on business and stay out of conflicts."
Rian's excitement bubbled over as he recounted the moment. "To my surprise, he respected my decision! Instead of pressuring me, he declared that I had officially joined the guild just to protect me from any trouble. It was surreal everyone in the village heard his announcement, and they were all in awe."
His family's faces lit up with amazement, and Lila clapped her hands in delight. "You're a big deal now, aren't you, Brother?" she beamed. Rian couldn't help but grin, feeling the weight of his new reality settling in, along with the hope for a brighter future for them all.
His parents were utterly stunned when Rian revealed that he had earned over 2,000 gold coins in just a single day. His father, Johan, sat there completely dumbfounded, his mouth slightly agape as he processed the news.
"Two thousand gold coins? In one day?" Johan echoed incredulously, shaking his head as if trying to clear a fog. It took him a moment to collect his thoughts, and he glanced at his wife, his expression a mix of awe and pride. "I used to work three months to earn that much! Rian, this is incredible!"
As the reality of his son's achievement sunk in, Johan felt a stirring desire deep within him a longing to consider retirement, to leave behind the grind of everyday work, and instead spend his days playing games with his wife and enjoying time with Rian and Lila. The thought of being able to share Rian's adventures in the gaming world, to bond over their victories and challenges, filled him with excitement.
His mother, too, wore an expression of disbelief mixed with joy, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Rian, you've opened up a whole new world for us. You could change everything for our family," she said softly, her voice full of warmth and encouragement.
Rian felt a swell of pride and happiness. For the first time, the dreams he had harboured for his family seemed within reach, and he could already envision a future where they would all share in the joys of both the real world and the game.
He looked at his father earnestly and said, "Father, I want you to retire now and help me run the shop. And, Mother, you can join us too if you want to play along."
Johan sat in deep thought, weighing the possibility of retiring from his job. The idea of stepping into the gaming world alongside Rian, managing the shop, and experiencing the adventures that came with it filled him with a mix of excitement and uncertainty.
Could he leave behind the routine he had known for so long? Yet the thought of working together with his son, sharing in his successes, and embracing the vibrant community of Everlasting was undeniably appealing. The dream of a more fulfilling life began to take root in his mind, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of hope as he considered this new path.
His wife smiled encouragingly, sensing the conflict within Johan. "It could be a wonderful change for us, dear," she added, her voice soothing. "Think of the time we'd get to spend together as a family."
Rian watched the exchange, feeling a surge of optimism. He knew that together, they could create something special, both in the game and in their lives.