Kingdom of Durenholde.
The royal castle of Esta stood proud against the evening sky, its limestone walls glowing amber in the setting sun. Banners of blue and gold snapped in the wind along the battlements.
Inside the great hall, candles illuminated a feast spread across polished oak. The royal family dined together, their silverware clinking.
Queen Lynnea watched her husband with growing concern. King Aldric barely touched his roast pheasant, instead pushing it around his plate with uncharacteristic distraction.
The deep lines around his eyes had deepened this past week.
"You've hardly eaten," she said, placing her hand over his.
Aldric forced a smile. "Just thinking."
"About matters you shouldn't bring to the dinner table," she countered gently.
Prince Cassius, their eldest, set down his goblet. "Father, if there's news we should know—"
"It's nothing," Aldric insisted, before raising his head from his plate. "Eat up,"
Elara, seated across from her father, fixed him with her amber gaze.
"We're family. Whatever weighs on you weighs on all of us."
The king's shoulders sagged. He set his fork down with deliberate care before he sighed.
"The demons breached the eastern wall again last night. Forty-three dead." He rubbed his temples. "The supply routes from have been cut off completely. Grain stores will last another month at most."
Silence fell across the table.
"People are already going hungry in the lower city," he continued. "And with the potions shortage..."
Queen Lynnea gripped her husband's hand tighter.
"Actually," Elara leaned forward, "I may have found something that could help—at least with the healing crisis. I'm not sure about the supply number, but something is better than nothing."
The king raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"A new shop appeared in the city overnight. In that abandoned alleyway near the Silver Wolf Guild hall."
"Appeared?" Cassius frowned.
Elara nodded. "The guild master, Valeria, my friend, discovered it first. She purchased bread from the shop owner and experienced remarkable healing effects."
"Bread?" The king's brow furrowed. "With healing properties?"
"It sounds impossible, I know." Elara reached into her satchel and unwrapped a small portion of the loaf. "But I purchased some myself today, to try it out myself. The shopkeeper is... unusual. Definitely not from Esta, perhaps not from any kingdom I know."
Aldric stared at the ordinary-looking bread. "You're claiming this enhances healing?"
"See for yourself." She placed it before him.
The king hesitated, then took a small bite. His eyes widened instantly.
"Oh mighty god," he murmured, touching his shoulder where an old battle wound had troubled him for years. "I can feel it working. My regeneration is already accelerating by around thirty percent?"
Elara's eyes widened.
"I also felt the same effect! Does that mean that the effects are not affected by the realm of strength? That's impossible..."
"It seems like it..." Her dad muttered, absentmindedly.
He took another bite. "This is remarkable and unprecedented."
"Who is this baker?" Queen Lynnea asked.
Elara shrugged. "He won't say. He appeared as mysteriously as his shop."
"And his ambition?" Aldric's eyes narrowed.
"Unknown," Elara admitted. "I invited him to attend the Magic Academy, thinking we could learn more about him and his methods."
"He refused." Elara's lips quirked. "Rather quickly, too."
The king's eyebrows shot up. "Refused? Most would fall over themselves for such an opportunity."
"Precisely why I found it interesting." Elara drummed her fingers on the table. "He doesn't seem to be looking for power."
Aldric studied the remaining bread, deep in thought. "With the demons pressing closer and our supplies dwindling... we need every advantage."
He straightened, the king's authority returning to his posture. "Elara, revisit his shop. Learn what you can about him and his shop."
"And if he proves trustworthy?" she asked.
A small smile crossed the king's face. "Then perhaps the crown might become his most valuable customer."
Noah rubbed his nose, glancing around his near-empty bakery.
"Someone must be speaking ill of me behind my back," he muttered, before pulling out his status.
[Level 1 Auto-Baker: Sell 60 loaves of bread to upgrade to level 2.]
[Shop Upgrade Slot: Sell 10 loaves of bread.]
Noah leaned against the counter, satisfaction warming his chest. Not bad. I'm nearly halfway to unlocking new products.
He expanded the main status window.
Current Assets: $ 1650.56
Attributes: Strength: 4, Vitality: 4, Intelligence: 6, Agility: 3
Skills: Programming (Level 2), Finance (Level 1), Surviving on Ramen (Level 3)
The corner of his mouth lifted.
'Two loaves for $600. Not too shabby.'
His fingertip traced the shop points figure.
'Ten points per sale adds up faster than I expected.'
"System," he whispered, glancing toward the door to ensure no early customers would catch him talking to himself. "What can I do with my shop points?"
[The host can lock a location, upgrade the store, and unlock many more functions later on.]
Noah's brow furrowed. "Upgrade the store? What does that do?"
[Upgrading the store will increase its size, increase the chance of being placed in a crowded area, improve product quality, and much more.]