It didn't take long before my first target appeared. A young girl, barely in her teens—maybe 18 or 19—caught my attention. She wasn't an obvious threat, but her reputation was growing. I'd seen her around, selling Grade 2 troops at cheap rates. The market had been ignoring her at higher prices, and now she was desperate for any deal she could make.
Her name was Kirin, and it seemed like she had talent, even if the circumstances didn't seem to favor her. But who was I to judge? If I could see potential, I could turn that into something profitable.
I made the decision. I'd offer her a position in my newly founded Candlelight Chamber of Commerce.
I invited Kirin to a private videos chat, my background, a modest but functional room filled with maps, trade routes, and plans for expansion. She entered nervously, her hands fidgeting with the hem of hher clothes.
"Tell me, Kirin," I began, "I've been watching your efforts. You're selling Grade 2 troops at lower prices—what's the story behind that?"
She looked at the floor for a moment before speaking. "I… I was selling them at a higher price before, but nobody bought them. It was either sell at a loss or face a complete shutdown."
I could sense the weight behind her words. She wasn't just struggling with her sales; she was also facing the harsh realities.
"Well," I said, "I'm offering you a better deal. I've established a new organization, Candlelight Chamber of Commerce, and I'd like to invite you to join."
Her eyes widened, though she remained silent.
"You've got talent, Kirin. But I think we can push you to the next level. I'm willing to offer you a place here, if you're willing to work with me."
She seemed hesitant at first but then nodded. "I'm in."
"Good," I said, smiling. "Now, let's talk about your talent. You mentioned you can upgrade troops, right?"
Her expression softened, and she finally met my gaze. "Yes. My talent is called Battle Hunger. It allows me to convert Grade 1 troops into Grade 2 troops at a 100% success rate. But it's not perfect. I can only convert 10 Grade 1 troops into 1 Grade 2. And for Grade 2 troops, the conversion to Grade 3 is only at a 50% success rate."
"Battle Hunger, huh?" I repeated, intrigued. "That sounds like it could be useful. Grade 3, though... I've heard those are powerful."
Her eyes sparkled slightly. "Grade 3 troops are… different. They're beyond human. They can take down entire armies if they want to. They're superhuman, capable of demolishing towns if they're given the right orders."
I whistled in surprise. "Grade 3 huh? That's impressive."
I could see the fire in her eyes. It was clear she wasn't just some run-of-the-mill merchant. She had ambition—and that was the kind of person I wanted to work with.
After some more discussion, I decided to make a bold move. I wanted to push her to succeed, and in return, I'd benefit from the partnership.
"Here's what I'll do," I said, "I'll purchase 9 Grade 3 troops from you. Market value is 70,000 gold per troop, right?"
Kirin nodded slowly. "Yes, that's the going rate, though I've been selling them for much less because of the low demand."
I smiled. "I know. That's why I'm willing to buy them from you at premium prices—I'll pay you one rare talent fragment and 140,000 golds for the 9 Grade 3 troops."
She blinked. "A rare talent fragment and 140,000 golds? You're willing to trade that?"
"Yes," I confirmed. "It's a good deal for both of us. You'll get a talent fragment that could improve your ability, and I'll get the troops I need."
Her face lit up, and I could see the excitement building. "Deal!"
I handed her the rare talent fragment. She accepted it gratefully, her hands trembling slightly. "Thank you, Ace. I won't let you down."
I waved off her thanks. "Don't thank me yet. Show me what those Grade 3 troops can really do, and we'll talk more."
---
Later that evening, Kirin sent me a message. "Ace, my talent leveled up. I just wanted to say thank you again. You've helped me so much."
I wondered how much her talent had improved but decided not to press the matter. It wasn't time for that yet.
---
With the deal settled, I moved forward. My next priority was expanding my own resources. The Candlelight Chamber of Commerce was growing, but I needed more assets to truly make it a dominant force.
I'd sold off all of my magic cores in the past few days, and now it was time to make the next big purchase. Mana crystals.
I reached out to Kirin once more. "I need your help," I said. "I'm looking to purchase mana crystals from you. Can you sell me all of yours?"
She hesitated before replying. "I've only got a limited number, Ace. It's my lifetime supply, and once it's gone, I can't get any more."
"I understand," I said. " I'll buy it all at 1000 gold per mana crystals, and I'll let you buy them back at 800 gold a piece after a month."
"1,000 mana crystals, at 1,000 gold each?"
I didn't waste any time. "yes, I'll be taking them all."
Kirin seemed surprised but quickly agreed. "I'll send them over."
---
Next I took a risk and ventured into the world chat to make further purchases. The price was steep—1,000 gold per mana crystal, the same as Kirin had sold them to me—but I had the resources to make it happen.
I bought as many as I could find. By the time the sun had set, I'd accumulated a total of 4,800 mana crystals.
That was it—I was set. With the mana crystals secured, I had a solid foundation for the next phase of my plans.
I leaned back in my chair, looking over the details of my operations. The Candlelight Chamber of Commerce was gaining traction, and my alliance with Kirin seemed like a solid one. But I knew this was just the beginning. The road ahead would require patience, strategy, and careful management.
But with the resources I had now—Grade 3 troops, mana crystals. I'll dominate the market soon ,very soon.