After saying that, Edmund's expression shifted to something more serious, his blue eyes narrowing with intensity. He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the desk. "About a month ago," he began, "we heard the will of the world... it spoke of the blessed ones people like you. It said you would come to our world, wielding a power that defies death itself. Even if you die, you can come back to life."
Rian's eyes widened, the weight of Edmund's words sinking in. This NPC or whatever Edmund knew about the resurrection mechanic of the game. But how?
Edmund continued, his tone even more grave. "The will of the world also said it would create temporary places like this village to help the blessed ones adjust. To train, grow stronger, and understand their abilities. And it mentioned something else... that you blessed ones would gain powers similar to ours, and that you'd be given systems."
Rian sat in stunned silence. The system that only players should have access to... was this all part of the world's design?
Edmund's gaze darkened as he continued, "The will of the world also mentioned that she the entity behind it all would bring certain individuals to manage the territories she would create. But I never expected I'd be teleported myself just a few days ago."
Rian listened intently, feeling a sense of tension building within him.
"A lot of people thought the world's will was just some myth or a joke," Edmund went on. "But those of us in higher positions... we knew. We knew this was real because the demons had been rampaging. They've grown far more powerful than ever before. The people of this world are no longer strong enough to defeat them. That's why the world itself had to step in, creating you blessed ones and giving us new tools to survive."
Rian's thoughts spun wildly as Edmund's words echoed in his mind. The world itself had to step in. The demons... rampaging. A will creating territories...
He couldn't shake the strange connection he felt. Eclipse Technologies had mentioned a major update to the game in a few days, and now here he was, learning that this "game" might be more than just code and pixels. Was this the main plot I've been unknowingly thrown into? He wondered.
He began linking the dots the strange occurrences, the village's sudden importance, and the fact that an NPC like Edmund seemed more self-aware than the others. Everything seemed too real, too deliberate. What if this isn't just a game?
"Enough of this," Edmund said, his tone shifting as he leaned forward, locking eyes with Rian. "Let's talk about why I've called you here." His gaze was sharp, and the weight of his words held Rian's attention.
"I've heard rumours," Edmund continued, "that there's a certain 'blessed one' a merchant, to be exact selling unique potions unlike anything we've seen before. Potions capable of great things, something rare in this world." He paused, watching Rian's expression closely. "And I believe that merchant is you."
Edmund leaned back slightly in his chair. "I had my people keep an eye out. The moment they found you, they were to bring you directly to me."
Rian, still trying to process everything, quickly collected his thoughts and composed himself. He looked directly at Edmund and said, "Yes, sir, I have many unique items and potions."
Edmund's eyes narrowed slightly as he leaned forward, intrigued by Rian's response. "Look, BlackMerchant," he began, "I want something that can kill demons something powerful, reliable. Because soon, this city or village will vanish, and we'll be taken back to where we came from."
He paused for a moment, a subtle smirk playing at the corner of his lips before continuing, "Oh, and I forgot to mention... I come from the Lion Kingdom. I am Duke Edmund of the Lion Kingdom."
Rian was momentarily stunned. The position of a Duke in any kingdom carried immense power, and now he found himself face-to-face with one from the Lion Kingdom. His curiosity piqued, and the urge to leave the village for this mysterious kingdom grew stronger. He quickly gathered his thoughts and replied, "Sir Edmund, you see, I don't know the specific weaknesses of demons, or what could be most effective against them. Could you tell me what you want, specifically?"
Edmund sat back in his chair, studying Rian with sharp eyes. "Demons are tricky creatures," he began. "Their weaknesses vary depending on their rank and type. But there are common factors. Many demons are vulnerable to holy or blessed items, and some are weak to poisons that target their bloodline. I need something that can target a wide range something versatile. We're on the brink of war, and if you, as a merchant, can provide me with such a thing, it will not only benefit my kingdom but also ensure you stay in high demand."
He paused, letting the gravity of his words sink in, before adding, "So, do you have anything in your stock that can fit such a need? Or can you acquire it?"
Rian looked at Edmund for a moment before saying, "Please wait a minute, sir. I'll see what I can do about it." With that, he opened his merchant shop interface and typed in a single word: Holy.
As soon as he pressed enter, a massive list of items appeared on his screen:
Holy Water Flask - 500 gold coins
(Can purify low-level demons and undead upon contact)
Blessed Silver Dagger - 15000 gold coins
(Deals bonus damage to demonic entities and curses)
Holy Radiance Elixir - 500 gold coins
(Temporarily boosts resistance to dark magic and demonic powers)
Holy Barrier Talisman - 5000 gold coins
(Generates a temporary protective barrier against dark forces)
Sanctified Arrow Bundle - 1000 gold coins
(Arrows blessed to pierce demonic armour and skin)
Light of the Saints - 10000 gold coins
(A rare scroll that can summon a blast of divine energy, damaging all demons in the vicinity)
Rian scrolled through the items, impressed with the sheer variety available. His mind raced as he evaluated which of these might suit Edmund's needs. After a few moments of scanning the list, he turned back to the Duke.
"Sir Edmund, I've found a range of items that might help. There are holy water flasks, blessed weapons, talismans for protection, and even rare scrolls that can summon divine energy to harm demons. Which type of item would you prefer?"
Edmund's eyes widened in surprise as he realized Rian truly had access to such valuable items. A glimmer of hope crossed his face as he spoke with a mix of excitement and urgency.
"Please, can you tell me how many Holy Water Flasks you can get us? And, also, I'm very interested in the rare scroll that can summon divine energy tell me more about that."
Rian nodded and responded, "Sir Edmund, the question is, how many do you need?"
Edmund, taken aback for a moment, regained his composure and said, "I want around 10,000 Holy Water Flasks."
Rian followed up, "And what about the Light of the Saints scrolls? How many do you need?"
Edmund's face shifted to one of utter shock as he exclaimed, "What?! You have Light of the Saints scrolls? That spell has been lost to history, only Mysthic-level priests can cast it, and even then, just once a day!"
Rian remained calm. "Yes, I have access to them. They're rare, but available. So, how many would you like?"
Rian had no idea that the Light of the Saint's scrolls were considered ancient relics, lost in time, or how much value they held in Edmund's eyes. The Duke, still stunned by the revelation, took a moment to regain his composure. His voice, though steady, betrayed his amazement, "If you truly have them in stock, then I'll need a thousand."
Rian nodded, calculating quickly. "Each Holy Water Flask costs 1,000 gold coins, and the Light of the Saint's scrolls are 20,000 gold coins each. That brings your total to 30 million gold coins."
The number hung in the air like a weight. Edmund's face paled as the enormity of the sum washed over him. Sweat formed on his brow, his earlier confidence shaken. With a look of desperation in his eyes, he turned to Rian. "BlackMerchant, I beg of you, can't you give me a discount? I need them, but I don't have 30 million gold coins."
Rian, though inwardly delighted at the thought of such a massive windfall, maintained a composed exterior. "Sir, I'm afraid I can't offer a discount. The supplier charges me 990 gold coins per Holy Water Flask and 19,990 for each scroll. I'm barely making any profit myself, and handling such vast sums is a risky business."
The room fell silent. Edmund caught between desperation and necessity, knew these items could change the fate of his kingdom, but the weight of 30 million gold coins felt insurmountable.
While Edmund was deep in thought, torn between whether he could even gather such an enormous sum of gold coins, Rian was practically dancing in his mind. If this deal went through, he would earn so much that his worries about his father and mother's financial future would disappear for years to come. The prospect of such wealth made his heart race, and he silently hoped Edmund would agree to the terms and pay up.
Rian kept his outward expression neutral, but inside, he was filled with excitement, eagerly anticipating the potential life-changing windfall.