Time passed in steady shop activity.
Customer after customer entered his shop, each displaying identical reactions when they spotted the legendary protein bars displayed in abundance.
Noah had established pricing tiers based on magical rank rather than uniform costs. The system he created encouraged broader access while acknowledging different economic capabilities.
Novices paid one hundred golden coins.
Apprentices faced three hundred coin prices.
Adept-level practitioners and above were charged six hundred coins.
Of course, they were all required to have in-store consumption to prevent resale across all ranks.
Rank-based pricing plus consumption requirements. Covers security concerns while maximising accessibility.
Additional restrictions limited novice and apprentice purchases to one per day each, preserving inventory for higher-paying adept customers.
This meant that once a novice dropped by and bought it, another novice would have to wait for the next day before they could buy it. Of course, this rule would be implemented by him when he wanted. If the end of his shift arrived and he still had stock left, he would sell it to a novice despite the previous rule.
Rules were sometimes meant to be broken.
With twelve bars of daily production, minus his personal consumption and Lola’s purchase, ten units remained currently for sale.
The morning continued with steady sales that validated his pricing strategy.
The familiar sound of theatrical cape-billowing announced Viscount Vex’s arrival before he became visible. His entrance carried the same dramatic energy that made him Noah’s most entertaining regular customer.
Precious perched behind his ear with obvious excitement, her needle-sharp teeth clicking in anticipation of their usual shopping routine.
But his usual confidence evaporated the moment his eyes landed on the protein bar display. Five identical units sat in elegant presentation, representing the legendary enhancement that had dominated yesterday’s auction.
"Impossible. I thought it was unique. A singular treasure that I will never see again," he breathed, his voice carrying genuine shock.
Vex approached the display with reverent steps, his expression cycling through disbelief, wonder, and growing excitement. Precious leaned forward with obvious interest, apparently sharing her master’s amazement.
"We thought it was finished," he murmured to his carnivorous companion. "That we’d missed our only opportunity."
They assumed the auction represented singular availability. Natural conclusion given the bidding intensity.
"Are these... for sale?" Vex asked with hope plastered all over his face.
Noah nodded. "Six hundred golden coins or equivalent trade value."
Vex’s face fell as financial reality intruded on his enthusiasm. His shoulders sagged with the weight of someone whose resources couldn’t match their desires.
"I don’t have six hundred coins with me personally right now," he admitted with obvious disappointment. "And I fear returning home might mean missing this opportunity entirely."
Noah watched as Vex calculated his options.
He really wants permanent strength improvement. Not just social bragging rights.
Most people would buy such things to brag about them. After all, having an expensive item that anyone could buy gave them status and airs that others couldn’t have.
"Let me check my storage ring," Vex said with desperate hope. "Perhaps I have something of equivalent value."
Trade goods instead of currency. Always interesting to see what people carry.
Vex began examining his dimensional storage, muttering assessments as various items appeared and disappeared. Precious offered commentary through tooth-clicking that seemed genuinely helpful to Vex’s decisions.
His plant provides advice on most things. Their partnership is remarkably thorough.
"Oh, this one! I almost forgot about it!"
His excitement peaked as he withdrew something that made both man and plant vibrate with anticipation. The object that emerged was clearly valuable beyond mere monetary consideration.
Mystery item. This should be interesting.
What Vex produced was an egg roughly the size of a basketball, its surface covered in golden scales. The shell seemed to glow with internal energy that suggested its extraordinary contents.
That’s not a normal chicken egg.
"This is an egg I found during an exploration expedition with Precious, while I don’t know its exact value, several experts I consulted estimated at least five hundred golden coins," Vex explained with obvious pride.
Five hundred minimum. Close to the required price range.
Precious clicked her teeth with what sounded like confirmatory agreement, apparently having participated in the original discovery.
"What do you think?" Vex asked with hopeful anticipation.
Noah did not give Vex an immediate response.
Noah focused his inspection ability on the mysterious egg.
[Description: An egg containing a juvenile Golden Mane Lion, a magical creature renowned for incredible strength, fierce loyalty, and protective instincts. When hatched, the creature will bond permanently with the first being it encounters. Golden Mane Lions mature into formidable companions capable of matching adept-level magical practitioners in combat effectiveness.]
[Estimated Price: 700 Golden Coins]
Seven hundred coins. That’s good. But the egg...I will have a beast companion, a Lion at that, too. Noah thought, a huge smile breaking out on his face.
The description revealed something extraordinary—not just valuable trade goods, but a potential permanent companion with combat capabilities.
A magical lion that bonds with its first contact. That must be incredibly rare. It can also reach an adept level.
"Deal," Noah said without hesitation.
Vex’s face transformed with relief and gratitude that transcended simple commercial satisfaction. His hands trembled slightly as he placed the precious egg on Noah’s counter.
"Thank you," he said with genuine emotion. "This means more than you realize."
Permanent enhancement versus future companion. Different types of power improvement.
Precious extended tiny vine-tendrils toward the protein bar with obvious approval, apparently recognising the wisdom of trading future potential for immediate advancement.
Even his plant agrees with the exchange.
The transaction completed smoothly, leaving Vex with his coveted enhancement and Noah with a mysterious egg that promised interesting developments ahead.
As Vex departed with his protein bar, carefully wrapped for strategic consumption, Noah contemplated the golden egg now resting on his table.
"System, how do I make it hatch?"
[Host, the lion egg you have is in its final phases of development. You can accelerate the process by feeding it iced tea. The magical enhancement will absorb into the developing creature, strengthening its natural abilities and creating a more powerful bond with its first contact.]