After dropping Ethan at his place, Noah visited his dad at the hospital before the visiting time ended.
Back in his apartment, Noah looked around his modest kitchen after rolling his sleeves up.
I gotta cook for myself. The good days of Alissa cooking for me are finished now.
The memory hit harder than expected. Alissa’s gentle hands preparing meals, Kip’s eager chatter, even Grix’s cleaning.
Noah pulled ingredients from his well-stocked refrigerator, actual food, not just ramen and energy drinks.
His level 2 cooking skill had improved the way he prepared food, he was much better than before.
At least I can feed myself properly now.
The sizzle of meat hitting hot oil filled the silence. Steam carried the aroma of garlic and thyme through his small space, making it feel more like home than it had in months.
A text from Ethan: "Thank you again. You changed my life today."
He had exchanged numbers with his younger cousin, Ethan.
Noah gave him a quick reply before he plated his meal.
"This meal is so...good!"
As Noah leisurely ate his food and watched his favourite show...something was happening in Sin City.
Lola’s fingers traced the faded parchment, candlelight dancing across words written in blood and starlight centuries ago.
Her beautiful, ruby eyes reflected the flickering flame as she whispered the ancient verse:
"When the reign grows weak and torn,
And exile’s children cry forlorn,
A merchant shall from distance come,
Where gold flows free as morning sun.
In hands that never knew the crown,
He’ll bear the gifts to pull us down—
Or raise us high to rightful throne.
The Lost One’s blood shall recognize
The Bearer’s truth beneath disguise,
And kingdoms three shall bend the knee
When prophecy sets bloodline free."
When prophecy sets bloodline free.
Lola repeated the words that burned like acid in her throat.
Three hundred years of hiding, of pretending to be just another succubus in Sin City’s sprawling plaza.
Three centuries of watching usurpers rule what should have been hers by birthright.
And then he appears. A mysterious shopkeeper with impossible items that I’ve never seen or tasted before.
Lola’s tail curled around her bare ankle as she remembered yesterday’s encounter.
The way he’d deflected her charm.
The way his bread had made her mana sing.
The way he’d somehow ejected her from his shop with magic she couldn’t identify.
A merchant from distance. Check. As for the other conditions...I still need some more time before I can be certain.
The prophecy had seemed like wishful thinking for so long.
A fairy tale to comfort the last of the Lilin’s bloodline during endless nights of exile.
But what if it’s real? What if he’s really...the one.
Thunder rumbled outside her modest room, shaking dust from ancient rafters.
Sin City never slept, never rested, never acknowledged the royal blood that once ruled these very streets.
Tomorrow I’ll test him some more. See if the Bearer truly stands before prophecy’s gate.
Her reflection caught in the window’s dark glass.
Beautiful, dangerous, and alone.
The last princess of a fallen kingdom, reduced to curious observer of her own potential salvation.
Or damnation. The prophecy works both ways.
The candle guttered in a sudden draft, plunging the room into darkness. But Lola’s eyes glowed softly in the black, cat-like and predatory.
Time to discover if that shopkeeper is my kingdom’s savior.
Or its final destroyer.
Outside, Sin City’s red lights painted the night in blood-red promises.
Somewhere in another world, a dimensional shopkeeper slept peacefully, unaware that he’d just become the centerpiece of a three-hundred-year-old prophecy.
The next day arrived.
Noah started his day with a beautiful notification flashing across his retina, something that he was never going to get tired of.
[Daily Revenue of $1,600 has been successfully added to your assets.]
Getting his dose of dopamine from the notification, Noah got up from bed to start his day.
Inside his store, Noah opened the doors without hesitation.
Gone were the nervous glances and cautious preparations.
He’d woken early for his dimensional nine-to-five job, ready to conquer another day of shopkeeping.
Time to make some money, baby!
Fresh inventory lined the shelves like golden treasures. Twelve loaves of healing bread and twenty-four glass bottles of mana-enhancing iced-tea.
It’s finally starting to look like a real business instead of a desperate startup.
Noah’s entrepreneurial instincts had been working overtime.
After having done some research by browsing some forums and asking questions. Noah had made up his mind. He was going to increase the price of his good.
The demons of Sin City had shown their hand yesterday—gold coins meant nothing to them.
Yesterday’s prices had been first day prices, which meant they were a limited time event.
Today would reveal his true business model.
Sorry, folks. The introductory sale just ended.
"System, can you suggest me optimal pricing that maximizes profit while maintaining sales volume."
High enough for serious margins, reasonable enough to clear inventory. Shop points are equally as important, if not more important than money currently.
[Recommended pricing analysis complete.]
[Iced Tea: 20 Gold Coins]
[Bread: 10 Gold Coins]
[This pricing ensures sustained high-volume sales while maximizing profit margins.]
Double the bread, nearly double the tea. Perfect. If I could make those sells, my dailt revenue will practically double.
Twenty gold coins per tea meant 480 gold coins daily if he sold out.
Ten per bread brought another 120 gold coins for today, before his autobaker levelled up, increasing his production and stock rate.
Six hundred gold coins today and more tomorrow. But if I could sell today’s stock, i would have made Sixty thousand dollars!
I’m making five difits...per day.
His old self would have fainted at those numbers.
His new self began calculating monthly projections and expansion possibilities.
The Sin City Plaza had begun to stir with life outside his windows.
Early-morning demons went about their daily routines, unaware that their favorite new shop had just doubled its prices overnight.
Noah straightened his shoulders, adjusted his products, and prepared to test the true depths of demonic purchasing power.