The morning sun rose over the bustling market square of Belcrest, its light glinting off rows of colorful stalls. Vendors hawked their goods with enthusiastic shouts: spices from the far east, handwoven silks, and exotic trinkets that promised to ward off bad luck. Amid the chaos, Kael adjusted his leather satchel, its weight reassuring against his side.
He wasn't like the other merchants here.
Kael didn't rely solely on charm or haggling to make his fortune. His edge wasn't the exotic wares he carried or his knowledge of trade routes—it was something no one else in this world had. Hidden in the depths of his satchel was his tablet, powered by a mysterious artifact he called the Ethercore.
In his previous life, Kael had been a burnt-out e-commerce entrepreneur in a world of endless Wi-Fi and overnight shipping. But after a freak accident involving his laptop, a thunderstorm, and a power surge, he woke up in this strange, medieval-esque world where the only currency was gold, and the fastest communication was carried by pigeons.
At first, Kael thought he was doomed. But then, he discovered something miraculous: his tablet and a few other modern gadgets had come with him, charged indefinitely by the Ethercore. Even better? His online marketplace app, TradeSphere, still worked—sort of. Instead of connecting him to modern warehouses and suppliers, it tapped into the world's magic to locate rare items, facilitate barter, and even deliver goods through tiny portals.
Kael glanced down at the glowing screen as he walked past the stalls, the interface showing a steady stream of orders from both the locals and far-off places. Someone in Arkridge had just requested enchanted moonstone earrings, while a farmer in Redvale needed a bulk shipment of rare seeds.
"Kael! Over here!"
He turned to see Mira, a young blacksmith, waving frantically from her forge at the edge of the market. She was one of his earliest customers and now a trusted supplier. Kael smiled and made his way over.
"You look busy," he said, setting his satchel down and pulling out a small pouch of coins.
Mira wiped the sweat from her brow and grinned. "Thanks to you, I've been swamped with orders for those enchanted tools you listed on... what do you call it? Your magic slate?"
"Close enough," Kael said with a chuckle. He handed her a scroll detailing new requests. "Here's the latest batch of commissions. Think you can handle it?"
Mira scanned the list, her eyes widening. "Dragonsteel plow blades? Kael, where do you even find these requests?"
Kael shrugged. "Trade secrets."
In truth, he didn't entirely understand how TradeSphere worked in this world. He only knew that it connected him to a network of buyers and sellers that spanned not just towns and cities but realms. It even had a rating system—something Kael found amusing when he saw comments like "Quick delivery, but the fire ruby was a bit smaller than expected. 4/5 stars."
Kael was pulled from his thoughts by a sharp voice behind him.
"Kael of Belcrest, is it true you can deliver anything?"
Turning, he found himself face-to-face with a stern-looking man dressed in rich fabrics, flanked by guards. The man's expression screamed power and impatience.
"I can try," Kael said cautiously. "Depends on the item."
The man's eyes narrowed. "I need three crates of crimson lotus powder delivered to the royal capital within five days. No caravan could make the journey in that time."
Kael hesitated. Crimson lotus powder was rare, volatile, and highly sought after by alchemists. Transporting it safely was a logistical nightmare. But five days? With TradeSphere, it might just be possible.
"Let me check my inventory," Kael said, pulling out his tablet. His fingers swiped across the screen as he searched for suppliers.
The man raised an eyebrow. "What is that contraption?"
Kael smiled. "Just my way of staying ahead of the competition."
A notification pinged: Supplier found. Crimson Lotus Powder – Quantity: 3 crates. Estimated delivery: 3 days.
Kael grinned. "I'll take the job. Payment upfront."
The man's frown deepened, but he nodded. "Half now, half on delivery."
As the coins clinked into his hand, Kael couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement. This wasn't just about making gold—it was about proving that even in a world of swords and sorcery, the principles of modern commerce could thrive.
With a satisfied nod, he turned back to his tablet. "Alright, TradeSphere. Let's make this delivery happen."