Rian blinked a few times, shaking off the initial wave of surprise. He still couldn't believe his good fortune acquiring such a rare and powerful item seemed almost unreal. With curiosity piqued, he quickly navigated through his system menu, opening the interface for his merchant shop. He typed "Mysterious Ring" into the search bar, eager to see if this item could be found or purchased through his shop.
A few seconds passed before the screen flashed with a simple message:
[No Items Were Found]
His heart skipped a beat, a mix of confusion and excitement rising within him. Rian leaned back slightly, trying to process the implications. This wasn't just any item it wasn't even listed in the shop. That alone signalled how unique and valuable it was. He had stumbled upon something truly rare, something that couldn't be easily replicated or obtained by other players. This mysterious ring, whatever it was, held more value than he initially realized.
What Rian didn't know was that the system had only provided a temporary label for the ring, calling it the "Mysterious Ring" until its true name and abilities could be identified. Mistaking the placeholder for the actual name, Rian's search yielded no results, leading him to believe the item was too rare to even exist in the shop. The truth was, he had only scratched the surface of what this artifact could do, and its real potential remained hidden.
Pushing the thought of the ring aside for the moment, Rian refocused on his next steps. He pulled up his system panel, reviewing his stats and recent progress:
System Panel
[Name - BlackMerchant]
[Class - Merchant]
[Level - 2]
[Exp - 0%]
[Race - Human]
[Stats -
Strength - 15
Agility - 15
Mana - 15]
[Skills - Merchant Shop]
[Remaining Stats - 10]
[Gold Coins - 2100]
Seeing over 2000 gold coins in his account gave Rian a sense of quiet satisfaction. It had taken time and effort, but now he was finally starting to build a small fortune. With this amount, he could comfortably restock his shop's supplies and still have plenty left over to invest in future endeavours. But before he could think about expanding his inventory, there was something more urgent to take care of.
He exited his shop, stepping into the quiet streets of the village. With a thought, he triggered the shrinking mechanism on the shop cube, watching as his entire store gradually condensed into a small, portable object. In just a minute, the building that had once housed all his merchandise and operations now fit snugly into the palm of his hand. Pocketing the cube, Rian turned and began walking towards the village's administration office. He needed to notify them of his departure and formalize the paperwork before heading off to his next destination.
Once his business at the office was complete, Rian made his way to the teleportation gate. The towering structure pulsed with an ethereal glow, arcs of magical energy swirling around its base. A long line stretched out before the gate, filled with players and NPCs waiting for their turn to teleport to various locations across the realm. Rian joined the queue, his thoughts already drifting to the possibilities that awaited him at his next stop.
When it was finally his turn, a guard standing by the gate extended his hand expectantly. "That'll be 100 gold coins for the teleportation," the guard said, his tone casual but firm.
Rian's eyes widened slightly in surprise. He hadn't anticipated any fees, especially not one this steep. With a reluctant sigh, he handed over the coins, watching as a significant chunk of his hard-earned gold vanished from his account. It stung a little, but he quickly shrugged it off this journey was essential, after all. The moment the payment was processed, a system panel appeared before him, listing all available destinations.
He quickly searched for Village No. 1, his fingers hovering over the screen as the options appeared. A second later, he spotted it and pressed Confirm. The teleportation gate surged to life, its blue glow intensifying, and the magical energy around it swirled faster. The guard beside him nodded. "You're good to go," he said, gesturing for Rian to step forward.
As soon as Rian entered the gate, he felt the familiar rush of energy coursing through his body. His senses blurred for a moment, the world spinning around him, and then just as quickly, it all snapped back into place. When he opened his eyes again, the sight that greeted him was a far cry from the modest village he had just left behind.
Village No. 1, despite its humble name, was a sprawling metropolis. Towering buildings loomed on either side of the streets, and a bustling crowd of players and NPCs filled every corner. The air was thick with activity merchants haggled over prices, adventurers prepared for their next quests, and guild members rallied together in preparation for upcoming events. The city was alive, teeming with opportunities, and it was clear that this was the beating heart of Everlasting.
Rian took a deep breath, taking in the sheer scale of it all. He had heard rumours that Everlasting was due for an update soon, with Eclipse Technologies expanding the map to include even more territories. And yet, even without the expansion, Village No. 1 was already a colossal hub of activity. It was overwhelming in the best possible way.
As he wandered through the bustling streets, Rian opened his system interface and sent a quick message to the guild master. He needed to figure out where he could set up his shop in this massive city. The response came almost immediately:
"You can build your shop anywhere in the city."
Rian stopped in his tracks, considering the freedom he had just been given. He could establish his shop wherever he wanted, but with such a vast city, choosing the right location would be critical. He needed a spot with plenty of foot traffic but also not too overcrowded by competitors. The potential was exciting, but the challenge was daunting.
His mind drifted back to his merchant shop skill. So far, he had been stocking and selling a limited number of potions, but something was nagging at him was there a limit to how much his shop could hold? Could his skill expand beyond what he'd already unlocked? The thought gnawed at him, pushing him to explore the true potential of his abilities.
"I'll stock up as much as I can after I set up here," Rian muttered to himself, his resolve firm. He wanted to test the boundaries of his shop skill, to see if there was a cap or if he could push beyond the limits he thought existed. This city would be the perfect place to find out.
Determined to get started, Rian asked a nearby NPC for directions to the administration office. After a brief exchange, he made his way to a grand building that exuded wealth and power. The structure loomed over the surrounding area, its polished stone walls and ornate carvings a testament to the importance of the business conducted within.
The moment Rian stepped inside, he was greeted by a lavish interior. High ceilings stretched above him, adorned with intricate designs, and the floor shimmered beneath his feet. Unlike the quiet, nearly abandoned administration office from his previous village, this one was bustling with activity. Players and NPCs alike rushed around, conducting business and finalizing transactions. It was clear that this place was a hub for the wealthy and influential.
As Rian approached the end of a long line of players, a shout suddenly rang out from somewhere ahead. "Whoa! Is that BlackMerchant? It's true, he did join Apocalypse!"
The cry caught the attention of nearly everyone in the room. Within moments, dozens of eyes were on him. Players stared in awe, some whispering excitedly to each other, while a few NPCs paused in their work to glance his way. Rian could feel the weight of their gazes admiration, curiosity, and even a bit of envy.
He hadn't expected to make such an impact, but clearly, his reputation had grown faster than he realized. Since joining Apocalypse, his status had risen, and now everyone in the room knew his name.
Sensing the opportunity to turn the situation to his advantage, Rian raised his voice just enough for everyone to hear, speaking with confidence, "I would like to offer an exchange. If anyone here is willing to give up their spot in line for me, I'll make it worth your while. Or better yet, if there's a way to meet directly with the manager, I'm open to that as well."
The room buzzed with excitement as players mulled over Rian's offer, their eyes lighting up at the thought of a deal with the famous BlackMerchant. Even some of the NPCs seemed to pause as if contemplating whether they could benefit from his proposal. The atmosphere shifted; Rian's reputation as a shrewd merchant preceded him, and everyone knew a deal with him often came with hidden advantages.
Just as the deal was sealed, an NPC woman approached Rian with a respectful bow. "Sir, our manager would like to meet you on the second floor," she said, her tone calm but laced with urgency as if his presence had already caused a stir behind the scenes.
The murmurs in the room intensified, a wave of curiosity sweeping through the players and NPCs alike. "What did BlackMerchant do to get the attention of the manager?" one player whispered, glancing at his friends.
"He's not just any merchant, that's for sure," another muttered, eyes tracking Rian as he followed the NPC woman. The NPCs exchanged knowing looks, clearly intrigued that someone with enough clout to summon the administration office's manager was now in their midst.
As Rian ascended the stairs to the second floor, he saw a simple office door - no glow, no magic, just a plain door. The NPC woman who led him stopped in front of it and announced, "Sir, he is here." A moment later, a commanding voice responded from inside, "Let him in."
As the door opened, Rian stepped in and saw a middle-aged man sitting behind a desk, busy with paperwork. The man had a fit, muscular build, white hair, and piercing blue eyes. His posture was firm, and the air around him radiated authority. Despite being engrossed in his work, the man exuded a commanding presence that filled the room.
"Come, sit down. We have a lot to talk about," the man said, his voice firm but not unkind.
Rian nodded and moved forward, taking a seat across from the man. He could feel the weight of the situation as the man set aside his paperwork and leaned forward, his sharp blue eyes locking onto Rian with a calculating gaze. There was no small talk.
The man leaned back slightly in his chair, his gaze never leaving Rian's face. "My name is Edmund Shot," he said, his voice steady and authoritative. "And if I'm not mistaken, you're one of the blessed ones, correct?"
Rian's brow furrowed in confusion at Edmund's words. "Blessed one?" he thought, not fully understanding the man's meaning. Before he could voice his thoughts, Edmund leaned forward, as if reading Rian's mind.
"You don't know, do you?" Edmund said with a small, knowing smile. "These villages - like Village No. 1 - they're just temporary places for all of you."
Rian was stunned, his mind racing. How could an NPC know that? The thought gnawed at him. He glanced at Edmund, searching for any clue that might explain it. Was he really an NPC? The idea seemed absurd, but something about the man's demeanour, the way he spoke it all felt too... aware.
Edmund's voice was calm, but there was a weight behind his words that made Rian pause. "Even if you're wearing a mask, I can still feel your emotions. So why bother with it? Remove it for now, and after our meeting, you can put it back on."
Rian hesitated, his mind racing. He had grown comfortable hiding behind the mask both figuratively and literally. But something about Edmund's demeanour, his insight, was unsettling. Slowly, he reached up, his hands gripping the edges of the mask before he pulled it off.
For the first time in a while, Rian felt exposed. His face bare, he looked at Edmund with a mixture of curiosity and wariness.
"There," Edmund said, his tone softening. "Now we can have an honest conversation."