Akashic_Tales Originals
God-Tier Shop System: I Sell Everything But Mercy
[Author – SYTTROX]
[Editor – MiT7]
Chapter 2: Market Disruption
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Dawn broke over Azurecrest City, painting the merchant district in hues of amber and gold. Lin Tian crouched in the overgrown garden behind his family's estate, fingers stained green as he harvested sprigs of bluemist herb. Dew dampened his knees, the morning chill biting through his thin robes.
"Young Master Lin?" A servant hovered at the garden's edge, bewilderment etched across her weathered face. "Your father is asking for you. The monthly accounts meeting started half an hour ago."
Lin Tian plucked another sprig, adding it to the woven basket at his side. "Tell him I'm conducting business research."
The servant's mouth opened, then closed. The young master had never willingly participated in "business research" before. She bowed hesitantly and retreated, leaving Lin Tian to his unusual task.
When the basket overflowed with herbs, Lin Tian returned to his chambers. The tiny shop space shimmered into existence with a thought, its plain white walls a blank canvas for his ambitions. He placed the herbs on the counter and accessed the system interface.
[Bluemist Herb x47 Added to Inventory]
[Quality: Common]
[Uses: Basic Alchemy, Repellent Crafting, Minor Healing]
"System, show me the beast repellent formula."
The crystalline interface expanded, revealing a recipe that required bluemist herb, mineral salt, and distilled water. Simple enough for a beginner alchemist, but Lin Tian had other ideas.
On Earth, he'd studied chemical engineering before pivoting to tech entrepreneurship. The formula before him was rudimentary, effective against E-rank beasts at best. But with a few modifications...
"System, can I alter existing formulas?"
[Formula Modification Available]
[Warning: Success Rate Dependent on Host Knowledge and Materials]
[Failure May Result in Item Degradation or Loss of Materials]
Lin Tian smiled. Perfect.
Three hours later, his chambers reeked of herb smoke and mineral compounds. Sweat trickled down his temples as he bottled the final mixture, a viscous blue liquid that shimmered with faint energy. The system chimed.
[New Item Created: Enhanced Beast Repellent]
[Quality: Uncommon]
[Effectiveness: E-Rank to D-Rank Beasts]
[Durability: 24 Hours]
[Market Value: 50 Spirit Stones per Bottle]
Lin Tian had produced twenty bottles, enough for a small test run. Now he needed customers.
---
The Hunter's Rest tavern squatted at the edge of Azurecrest's merchant district, its weathered sign creaking in the afternoon breeze. Inside, the air hung heavy with the scent of cheap ale and sweat. Independent hunters gathered here, those without guild affiliations or sect backing, the bottom-feeders of the beast hunting world.
Lin Tian entered, drawing curious glances. His silver-streaked hair and mismatched eyes marked him as unusual, but it was his confident stride that truly set him apart from the tavern's regular clientele.
"Looking for Kiera Frost," he announced, scanning the dimly lit room.
A slender arm raised from a corner booth. "Over here, merchant."
Lin Tian navigated between tables, ignoring the suspicious stares. Kiera wasn't alone. Three other hunters shared her booth, all bearing the telltale signs of struggle, patched armor, scarred hands, wary eyes.
"Friends of yours?" Lin Tian slid into the empty seat.
"Fellow independents." Kiera gestured to her companions. "This is the merchant I mentioned. Says he can undercut guild prices."
A burly man with a beard like steel wool snorted. "Impossible. Crimson Hawk controls the supply chain. Even if you could match their prices, they'd crush you within a week."
Lin Tian placed a blue vial on the table. "This repels beasts up to D-rank. Lasts twenty-four hours. Forty spirit stones."
The table fell silent. Guild-rate for such a repellent started at sixty stones, assuming they'd even sell to independents.
"What's the catch?" asked a freckled woman with a bow strapped to her back. "Watered down? Side effects? Illegal components?"
"No catch." Lin Tian leaned back. "I'm establishing market presence. Consider this an introductory offer."
The bearded man uncorked the vial, sniffing cautiously. His eyebrows rose. "Smells stronger than guild stock."
"Because it is." Lin Tian tapped the vial. "I modified the standard formula. This version creates a scent barrier that affects a beast's olfactory processing, not just its primary scent receptors."
The hunters exchanged glances, a silent conversation passing between them.
"I'll take two," Kiera finally said, placing spirit stones on the table. The others followed suit until Lin Tian had sold eight vials.
"The Northern Forest dungeon opened yesterday," Lin Tian said as he collected payment. "What else do independents need that guilds overcharge for?"
The freckled archer leaned forward. "Healing salves. Minor ones go for thirty stones through guilds."
"Bowstring enhancers," added a quiet man with a scar bisecting his left eye. "Forty-five for the cheap ones."
"Beast bait," Kiera contributed. "Sometimes you need to lure specific beasts for part harvesting."
Lin Tian committed each item to memory. "I'll have samples by tomorrow. Same price point, twenty percent below guild rates."
The bearded hunter's eyes narrowed. "You're either a fool or have a death wish. Crimson Hawk doesn't tolerate competition."
"Let me worry about Crimson Hawk." Lin Tian rose from the table. "Spread the word to other independents. I'll be back tomorrow, same time."
As he turned to leave, the tavern door swung open. Three men entered, each wearing the distinctive crimson armband of the city's dominant guild. Conversation died as they surveyed the room with practiced arrogance.
"Speak of the devils," muttered Kiera.
The lead guild member, a broad-shouldered man with a face like chiseled granite, spotted Lin Tian and frowned. "You're Lin Feng's son. What business does a merchant family heir have in this establishment?"
Lin Tian met the man's gaze evenly. "Just exploring market opportunities, Guild Officer..."
"Zhao. Darius Zhao." The man's eyes flicked to the spirit stones on the table, then to the blue vials visible in the hunters' pouches. "What are you selling to these... independents?"
"Information," Lin Tian replied smoothly. "My father believes the independent market segment is underserved."
Officer Zhao's expression darkened. "The Lin Family should stick to textiles and jewelry. Hunter supplies fall under Crimson Hawk's purview by city charter."
"I wasn't aware the charter granted monopolies." Lin Tian's voice remained pleasant, though his mismatched eyes hardened. "Perhaps you could direct me to that specific clause?"
A tense silence stretched between them. The other patrons watched with the wary attention of those accustomed to violence erupting without warning.
Finally, Zhao smiled, a gesture devoid of warmth. "No need for legal debates in a place like this. I'm simply offering friendly advice between business associates. The hunting supply market can be... hazardous... for newcomers."
"I appreciate your concern." Lin Tian inclined his head slightly. "I'll be sure to proceed with appropriate caution."
Zhao held Lin Tian's gaze a moment longer before turning away. "Enjoy your drinks, independents. The Northern Forest grows more dangerous by the day. Shame if any of you lacked proper equipment."
After the guild members claimed a table on the opposite side of the tavern, Kiera leaned toward Lin Tian. "You've painted a target on your back."
"Good." Lin Tian's lips curved into a predatory smile. "Can't disrupt a market without getting noticed."
---
Back in his chambers, Lin Tian accessed the system interface. The day's transactions had pushed him closer to his quest objective.
[Quest Progress: Establish Market Presence]
[Transactions Completed: 8/10]
[Time Remaining: 5 Days]
He needed to accelerate production. The confrontation with Crimson Hawk would escalate quickly, and he needed leverage.
A knock at his door interrupted his planning. His father entered without waiting for permission, face flushed with anger.
"I received a message from Darius Zhao," the elder Lin said, pacing the room. "He claims you're interfering with Crimson Hawk Guild's supply contracts. Have you lost your mind?"
Lin Tian calmly sorted his remaining herbs. "I'm expanding our business interests."
"By antagonizing the most powerful guild in Azurecrest?" His father slammed a fist against the wall. "The guild master is a Peak Soul Realm cultivator! He could destroy our entire family with a gesture!"
"The guild's power comes from their monopoly," Lin Tian replied. "Break that, and they're just another faction."
His father stared at him, bewilderment replacing anger. "What happened to you? A month ago, you couldn't be bothered to attend a simple accounting meeting. Now you're launching a market war against Crimson Hawk?"
Lin Tian considered how much to reveal. "Let's just say my priorities have changed. I meant what I said, give me three months to prove my worth."
"You won't have three months if you keep this up." His father moved toward the door, then paused. "The monthly shipment of alchemical supplies arrives tomorrow. Since you're suddenly interested in business, you can oversee the inventory." He tossed a jade token onto the bed. "Warehouse access. Don't make me regret this."
After his father left, Lin Tian examined the jade token. Warehouse access meant bulk materials, exactly what he needed to scale production.
The system chimed with a notification.
[New Quest Generated: Survive Guild Pressure]
[Objective: Maintain Business Operations Despite Crimson Hawk Interference]
[Reward: Rare Recipe Unlock]
[Failure: Reputation Decrease, Potential System Penalty]
Lin Tian's mismatched eyes gleamed in the fading daylight. The game was evolving, stakes rising. He'd built and lost an empire once before. This time, with the system's help, he'd create something that couldn't be taken from him.
A soft chime indicated someone had found his shop. He materialized it with a thought.
Kiera stood at the entrance, a dead forest fox slung over her shoulder. Blood matted its russet fur, but its eyes remained intact, glassy orbs that seemed to follow Lin Tian's movements.
"Your repellent works," she said, dropping the fox onto the counter. "Too well, actually. Beasts avoided my usual hunting grounds completely. Had to track this one for miles."
Lin Tian examined the fox. "You're not here to complain about effective merchandise."
She smiled, revealing a chipped canine. "No. I'm here to place an order. Word's spreading among the independents. By tomorrow, you'll have more customers than product."
"I'm scaling up production tonight."
"You'll need help." Kiera leaned against the counter. "I know herbs, hunting, and haggling. You know whatever merchant magic created that repellent. Seems like a partnership worth exploring."
Lin Tian studied her, the calculating gleam in her eyes, the confident set of her shoulders. She wasn't offering out of charity. She saw opportunity and wanted her share.
"Thirty percent commission on sales you facilitate," he countered. "Plus priority access to new products."
"Forty percent and you teach me that modified repellent formula."
"Thirty-five and I'll teach you an improved version once I develop it."
Kiera extended her hand. "Deal."
As they shook, Lin Tian felt the system pulse with approval.
[Business Partner Acquired: Kiera Frost]
[Relationship Status: Business Associate]
[Trust Level: Developing]
[Loyalty Potential: Moderate]
The loyalty metrics were new, an interesting development. Lin Tian filed the information away for later exploration.
"We start at dawn," he said, releasing her hand. "Bring any herbs you can gather. Tomorrow, we give Crimson Hawk something to worry about."
After Kiera left, Lin Tian returned to his alchemy. The confrontation with the guild had accelerated his timeline, but that wasn't necessarily bad. Pressure created diamonds, or in this case, a market opportunity ripe for exploitation.
The system interface glowed in the darkness as he worked through the night, the quest counter ticking steadily upward with each new product created.
[Quest Progress: Establish Market Presence]
[Transactions Completed: 8/10]
[New Products Created: 7]
[Time Remaining: 5 Days]
Lin Tian smiled as he bottled another batch of repellent. Crimson Hawk had no idea what was coming.