"Good evening, everyone," Noah called out, his voice carrying across the assembled crowd. "Before we begin, I need an accurate count of customers to ensure fair distribution."
He moved through the crowd, counting each person quickly. The process took a few minutes with his current capabilities, and the crowd’s neat queue, the process would establish an order that would prevent chaos during the actual sales.
After completing his survey, Noah discovered there were actually one hundred and ten people present—a more manageable number that aligned better with his available inventory.
His current stock consisted of 192 loaves of bread and 48 bottles of iced tea, accumulated through hours of continuous auto-maker production.
The mathematics was straightforward but required some basic planning. With 192 loaves and 110 customers, he could allow some people to purchase two loaves while limiting others to one, ensuring everyone present received at least one of his magical loaves.
"Listen carefully," Noah announced to the crowd. "I have enough bread for everyone, but distribution will be managed to ensure fairness. Some of you may purchase two loaves, others will be limited to one, based on your queue number. Those who came earlier have an advantage."
Murmurs of appreciation rippled through the crowd. They had expected potential shortages or people mass buying, not guaranteed access for every person present.
"As for the iced tea, supplies are more limited, so it will be first-come, first-served."
The iced tea garnered less demand than the bread anyway, being primarily useful for mages and magical practitioners rather than the general population.
Noah returned inside his shop and began serving customers in an orderly fashion, processing purchases quickly and efficiently.
The first several transactions proceeded smoothly, adventurers purchasing bread for upcoming expeditions, families buying healing supplies for elderly relatives, and young mages investing in iced tea to enhance their magical development.
But the harmony was disrupted when a figure attempted to push through the established queue with obvious disregard for the waiting customers.
A man in expensive clothing bearing the insignia of baronial rank shouldered past several common citizens.
A smirk played on his face as he skipped through the queue with entitlement that came from his minor nobility status.
Many in the crowd noticed the disruption but remained silent, afraid to challenge someone of noble rank despite their obvious displeasure at his behaviour.
Noah spotted the commotion immediately and felt his expression harden with disapproval.
He served the customer on hand, before walking directly toward the baron with an expression that made the entire crowd fall silent.
"What do you think you’re doing?" Noah asked with a frown that carried unmistakable harshness.
The baron’s confident demeanour crumbled instantly as he found himself face-to-face with someone whose status transcended simple noble rankings.
"I-I was just... my position requires..." the baron stammered, his voice losing strength with each word.
He had planned to push through the queue and hide before the viscount saw him. But it seemed like he had failed miserably.
Noah wasn’t just the shopkeeper or a random viscount. His status was arguably greater than most dukes, especially considering the widespread rumours about his relationships with Princess Elara, Valeria, the guild leader, and other powerful figures throughout the kingdom.
"Position requires what? Disrespecting my customers? Ignoring the order I established?" Noah’s voice remained calm but carried steel that made the baron’s face pale visibly.
"N-no, my lord, I didn’t mean to—"
"You’re banned from purchasing anything today," Noah announced with a tone that gave no room for argument.
"Leave." Noah gestured with his hand.
The baron’s mouth opened as if to protest, then closed as he recognised the futility of challenging someone whose influence could destroy his family’s standing with a few words to the right people.
The man didn’t dare argue further. He departed quickly, thanking god that his punishment had ended with merely being denied shopping privileges rather than facing more serious consequences.
The crowd erupted in cheers and applause as the baron’s retreating figure disappeared around a corner.
"Fair treatment for everyone!" someone called out with obvious approval.
"The rumours were true, the viscount really is just and kind!" added another voice from the crowd.
"A noble who treats common folk with respect has a noble character," declared a middle-aged woman whose gratitude was written clearly across her face.
The incident had transformed Noah’s reputation once again.
In the people’s eyes, Noah had proven himself willing to stand up for ordinary citizens against noble privilege.
Word of the confrontation would spread throughout Esta within hours, cementing his position as the favourite noble alongside the royal family itself. Unlike other aristocrats who demanded deference based on bloodline, Noah had earned respect through consistent fairness and genuine care for his customers’ well-being.
"Now then," Noah announced with a smile that restored the cheerful atmosphere, "let’s continue with our business. Everyone will be served fairly and in order. I don’t want this to happen again. If anyone pushes in the lines, they will not be served and will be banned from the shop for a day; repeated offences will result in a long-term or permanent ban."
The sales resumed with enthusiasm, customers treating their purchases not just as commercial transactions but as interactions with someone who had proven himself worthy of their loyalty and respect.
The incident with the baron became an impromptu demonstration of the values that guided Noah’s business. Fairness, respect for all customers regardless of social status, and unwillingness to tolerate behaviour that undermined the community he was building around his shop.
As the evening progressed and his inventory gradually diminished through countless satisfied customers, Noah reflected on how far his influence had grown beyond simple commerce. He wasn’t just selling magical items anymore; he was shaping the social dynamics of an entire kingdom through the principles he chose to uphold.
The crowd’s reaction proved that people were hungry for leadership that prioritised justice over privilege, fairness over favouritism. By maintaining those standards consistently, Noah had built genuine respect from those whose lives his products touched.