Frank's fingers danced across the system interface, weaving through menus with practiced precision. His apartment was silent, the artificial light from his screens casting sharp shadows on the otherwise empty walls. The clock read 4:37 AM.
Sleep was a luxury he couldn't afford–not today.
"Time to diversify," he muttered, his voice barely rising above over the hum of his tablet.
The Firefang Queen's core had deposited 18,500 credits directly into his Association account yesterday afternoon. The balance notification glowed on his screen, demanding action.
Frank pulled up his wholesaler connections and began placing orders. First, electronics: thirty Game Boy consoles with assorted game cartridges—4,200 credits vanished in a single purchase. Next, clothing: sixty pieces ranging from denim jackets to printed hoodies—3,800 credits. Finally, his proven sellers: crates of tomatoes, energy drinks, noodles, and imported candies—10,500 credits.
He set his tablet aside and cracked his knuckles. The real work was about to begin.
The sync field hummed to life as he activated it, a blue circle expanding across his floor. Frank didn't wait for physical deliveries; the dimensional system didn't require items to be present. It only needed detailed specifications, images, and confirmation of purchase.
He uploaded the inventory files one by one:
『Game Boy Console (30) -- Added to Inventory』
『Denim Jackets (15) -- Added to Inventory』
『Printed Hoodies (20) -- Added to Inventory』
『Urban Footwear (25) -- Added to Inventory』
『Premium Tomatoes (200) -- Added to Inventory』
『Energy Drinks (150) -- Added to Inventory』
『Instant Noodles (180) -- Added to Inventory』
『Assorted Candies (250) -- Added to Inventory』
The system seamlessly absorbed each addition, categorizing items according to their specifications. Frank had dedicated hours to crafting detailed descriptions for each product type, emphasizing features that would attract dimensional merchants.
His fingers hovered over the keyboard as a notification chimed, signalling that someone was already expoloring his freshly updated inventory.
Katra the Scaled -- Irmathian Sky Isles
"Game Boy. What function?"
Frank blinked in surprise. The dragon merchant's interest was unexpected but welcome. He recalled from his experience that dragons had a penchant for collecting things.
Frank: "Handheld entertainment device. Interactive screen with games. Battery-powered, fifteen-hour operation."
He selected three images from his reference files to attach to his message: one of the device powered on, another mid-game, and a third displaying victory graphics.
Katra: "Function unclear. Demonstrate."
In response, Frank attached a short video clip showing someone playing a game from start to finish, with a small character jumping over obstacles and defeating enemies.
Katra: "Fascinating. Price?"
Frank: "280 tokens per unit."
Katra: "I take all thirty. Immediate transfer."
The decisiveness startled him. There was no haggling, no questions about reliability–just immediate commitment.
Frank: "Confirmed. 8,400 tokens total."
The transaction processed instantly. Frank's token balance surged by 8,400, and thirty Game Boys vanished from his inventory into the dimensional transport system. His profit margin wa 6,000 credits–not bad for a product he hadn't even received yet.
Frank reorganized his inventory display, creating specialized categories with cross-realm reference tags. The Tier 2 access significantly expanded his marketplace reach, opening connections to nine additional realms beyond his original thirteen.
He coded custom notifications to alert specific merchants when their preferred items became available:
『Ember Wastes: Energy Drinks, Spicy Foods』
『Frostglass Domain: Fresh Produce, Cooking Ingredients』
『Beastkin Ridge: Protein-Rich Foods, Durable Clothing』
『Irmathian Sky Isles: Entertainment Devices, Shiny Objects』
A new message appeared:
Lurevan -- Frostglass Domain
"Tomatoes. Fifty units. Same price."
Frank confirmed the order without negotiation. The tomatoes transferred immediately, and 2,600 tokens appeared in his balance. Lurevan had become his most reliable customer—predictable orders, no haggling, and prompt payment.
Another notification chimed:
Verith Moonweave -- Astral Bazaar(Tier 2)
"These 'clothing' items. Materials unlike our realm's textiles. They are both functional and aesthetically appealing."
The formal, evaluative style of the message marked this merchant as an elf, emphasizing aesthetic qualities. Frank had previously researched the Astral Bazaar; it specialized in luxury goods rather than necessities.
Frank: "Earth fashion combines practical function with unique visual elements. Each piece features distinct textures and designs."
Verith: "The 'denim jacket' particularly interests me. The metal fasteners and indigo coloring would fascinate our collectors."
Frank had priced the jackets at 180 tokens each—triple his cost but reasonable for interdimensional trade.
Verith: "I propose formal arrangement: monthly acquisitions of your realm's 'fashion' with priority access to new styles. Initial purchase: ten pieces to assess market response."
A contract? Frank straightened in his chair. Long-term arrangements meant stability, predictable income, and deeper marketplace integration.
Frank: "Would the terms include quantity commitments and fixed pricing?"
Verith: "Precisely. A minimum of thirty pieces monthly at current rates for six months, with first option on new style categories."
Frank calculated quickly. Guaranteed monthly sales of at least 5,400 tokens, plus potential growth if the items proved popular. This arrangement would provide a stable revenue foundation while he expanded his combat supplies business.
Frank: "Terms accepted. A formal contract will follow within 24 hours."
Verith: "Excellent. I will take ten pieces now. Variety preferred."
Frank selected an assortment: two denim jackets, three hoodies, two pairs of jeans, and three graphic t-shirts. He packaged them with a basic care guide for each fabric type. The system processed the transfer, adding 1,800 tokens to his balance.
His vision blurred slightly as he leaned back in his chair. The early morning hours were catching up to him, but his work wasn't finished. He still needed to update his inventory tracking system to accommodate the expanding business.
The system chimed again, and a message appeared from an unfamiliar source:
Unknown Merchant -- Venomshade Market(Tier 2)
"Your inventory grows impressively diverse, Earth Trader. Perhaps we might discuss items of a more... specialized nature? There are collectors in my realm who pay handsomely for unique substances."
Frank frowned at the message. The phrasing hinted at something beyond standard commerce—possibly restricted materials or controlled substances.
Before he could respond, a second notification flashed on his screen:
『Hunter Association Alert: Unauthorized Dimensional Anomaly Detected』
『Coordinates: 47.3N 122.8W -- West Arcadia Sector』
『All Hunters Rank D and Above Requested for Response』
『Hazard Level: Unknown』
Frank stared at the alert. West Arcadia—barely two miles from his apartment. Dimensional anomalies were rare outside established gates and always dangerous.
His tablet chimed with HunterNet notifications as local groups mobilized for response. The message from the unknown merchant faded into the background, suddenly less important than the potential threat developing nearby.
He hesitated, fingers hovering over his interface. Should he ignore the alert? He wasn't a combat Hunter, just a trader with a sword and basic skills.
Then again, dimensional matters were his business now.
Frank closed his trading interface and reached for his blade.