Three hours later, Frank returned to his apartnt with eight crates of tomatoes, ten bulk packages of instant noodles, and six cases of energy drinks. The delivery drone he had rented struggled under the load, its stabilizers whining as it lowered the final crate to the floor.
"That’ll do," he said, dismissing the drone with a tap on its control panel.
He wasted no ti unpacking. Instead, he opened his system interface and activated the sync field. The blue circle expanded across the floor, large enough to accommodate three crates at once.
One by one, he processed the inventory into his system:
『400x Tomatoes Synchronized – Value: 20,000 Tokens』
『120x Energy Drink Synchronized – Value: 3,600 Tokens』
『240x Instant Noodles Synchronized – Value: 9,600 Tokens』
His token balance updated:
『Previous Balance: 7,400 Tokens』
『New Balance: 40,600 Tokens』
More than enough for what he needed today. Frank quickly returned to his conversation with Valis.
Frank: "Funds secured. Please proceed with the order."
The response ca imdiately:
Valis Silvertongue: "Order confird. Awaiting transfer initiation."
Frank confird the purchase. The system deducted 12,000 tokens from his balance, leaving 28,600 remaining. A delivery orb materialized in the center of his room—larger than any he had received before, pulsing with a soft blue light.
He opened it carefully. Inside, thirty Shieldcloth suits were neatly folded, each sealed in a protective wrapping. Frank removed one, letting the material unfold in his hands. It was lighter than expected, with a subtle sheen that caught the light. The fabric felt smooth yet resilient, with a slight elasticity that would allowed for a full range of motion.
Perfect for Hunters who needed protection without sacrificing mobility.
He set the suits aside and turned his attention back to the marketplace. With over 16,000 tokens still available for today’s purchases, he had more shopping to do.
The Stoneheart Peaks realm was next on his list. Its marketplace was dominated by defensive equipnt and weaponry, set against a backdrop of granite and steel. Frank navigated to the weapons section, filtering for quality and practicality.
A blacksmith’s shop caught his attention—clean lines, professional presentation, no flashy advertisents. Just quality work displayed with confidence. The rchant’s na was simply "Durgan," boasting a five-star rating across hundreds of trades.
Frank browsed the listings until he found what he was looking for:
『Enhanced Precision Blade – Balanced Design』
『Creator: Durgan, Master Smith』
『Quality: High-Grade (Tier 2)』
『Properties: Superior edge retention, reinforced core, optimized weight distribution』
『Price: 650 Tokens』
The swords were perfect—not flashy or over-enchanted, but built with durability and function. Frank opened a chat with the blacksmith.
Frank: "Greetings, Master Durgan. I’m interested in your Enhanced Precision Blades."
The response was imdiate and direct—no flourishes or formal greetings.
Durgan: "How many?"
Frank appreciated the straightforward approach.
Frank: "Twelve units, if you have sufficient stock."
Durgan: "Available. 7,800 tokens total. Accept?"
No negotiation offered or expected. The price was fair for the quality, and Frank respected a rchant who knew the true value of their work.
Frank: "Accepted. Ready for transfer."
The transaction processed imdiately. Twelve blades materialized in a heavy delivery orb, each wrapped in oiled cloth to prevent corrosion. Frank examined one—the balance was impeccable, and the edge sharp enough to split a hair. Earth-made blades of similar quality would cost three tis as much.
With his major purchases complete, Frank spent the next hour browsing the remaining realms. He selected various healing supplies from Verdant Reach, basic enhancent scrolls from the Artificer’s Guild, and a small collection of stealth tools from the Shadow Markets.
By the ti he finished, his token balance had dropped to just under 5,000, but his inventory was robust and diverse. Every item had been selected with Earth’s Hunter market in mind—practical, effective, and difficult to source locally.
As he organized his new inventory, a realization settled over him: his operation had outgrown its origins. What had started as a desperate gamble with sugar chews and tomatoes was rapidly becoming a legitimate business. The apartnt felt too small, the managent too informal, and the reach too limited.
It was ti to formalize his operation.
Frank opened his tablet and navigated to the Hunter Association’s comrce division page. The registration requirents for rchant businesses were straightforward yet thorough:
Formal business registration with the Comrce DivisionProduct safety certificationFixed location or approved mobile vending permitTax compliance docuntationInventory tracking system
He could complete most of the process online, but the final approval would require an in-person eting. Frank began filling out the forms, carefully listing his inventory categories without specifying their dinsional origins. Under "Supply Chain," he simply wrote "Private suppliers - confidential."
When it ca to business na, he paused. It needed to be morable but professional. After considering several options, he typed:
"Golden Road Trading Company"
The na felt right—invoking images of opportunity and prosperity while remaining dignified. He submitted the initial registration and scheduled an appointnt with the Comrce Division for the following morning.
As the confirmation appeared on his screen, Frank leaned back in his chair. The apartnt felt smaller than ever, crowded with delivery orbs and inventory crates. Soon, he would need a proper storefront, warehouse space, and perhaps even employees to handle the growing operation.
The system interface pulsed once more as the daily reset completed:
『Daily Trade Limit: 0/2 Completed』
『Tier 2 Status: Active』
『rchant Rating: 96% Positive (214 Transactions)』
Frank opened a new note window and began planning tomorrow’s purchases. The dinsions were full of opportunities, and he intended to seize every one he could reach.
The Golden Road was just beginning to take form.
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