Even if Michael didn’t have to tell the other members of High Society, Palika, and Niechol about his decision, he did it anyway. Some grumbled, evidently displeased, that Michael was given the Racial Symbols, but he didn’t care about them. As long as they didn’t attack him or stab him in the back, Michael would be fine.
Once he told them his decision, Michael purchased everything as he intended. A good portion of his individual Achievement Points disappeared alongside the Racial Achievement Points. A moment later, various changes occurred in the land of the Tritan Alliance. The Warp Points were installed, and a massive structure appeared next to the Stellar Connecting Warp Point in Elyra.
Michael didn’t plan to choose Elyra as the main planet of the solar system, let alone decide that the barren lands of the destroyed provinces were the best location to install the Stellar Connecting Warp Point and one of the ordinary Warp Points, but the Achievement Shop did that. It chose the devastated land, destroyed due to the Blaze Patriarch’s terrifying actions, as the cheapest spot to install a Warp Point and the Stellar Connecting Warp Point.
Michael would have to establish the Cosmic Trading Market near the Warp Points, which resulted in a large building manifesting in the middle of nowhere.
“It doesn’t even look that special,” Giuliana Seraph mumbled, holding Maria’s hand.
Michael had spoken to Maria Seraph a few minutes earlier, but he was busy, and Maria wasn’t in the best mood either. Some of her friends who’d been kidnapped were among the Descendants. A white light also shrouded her, but the Blaze Patriarch did something to block the teleportation. He was in need of Maria’s healing ability to tend to his wounds.
That was her fortune, even if it didn’t feel like it. Maria was overwhelmed by a sense of guilt. She managed to avoid getting kidnapped…but why was she the only one?
Of course, Maria was at no fault, but that didn’t mean she felt innocent.
Michael wished he had some more time to talk to her and make sure she understood that she didn’t have the power to change anything, but Giuliana interrupted their discussion before he could convey his opinion properly. Giuliana Seraph smiled at him, but her eyes were ice cold.
It was understandable, somewhat, at least.
Michael wanted to talk and clear up a few things, but he had other things to take care of.
Once the Cosmic Trading Market was created, Michael checked the connection. Their Cosmic Trading Market was at Level 0. They had only one Cosmic Shop and a Basic Trading Hub. Therefore, their connection across the cosmic wasn’t vast yet. But, on a good note, a Level 0 Cosmic Trading Market was also much cheaper than the higher levels. They didn’t need access to the whole cosmos just yet. As long as they connected to some merchants and other races with connections to useful resources, they could purchase everything needed.
Considering that, Michael created a few 3-Star and 4-Star Soultrait Symbols. He didn’t know the value of Cosmic Coins – the currency used in the Cosmic Trading Market – right away, but he learned that selling 10 Common Energy Stones to the Will for 1 Cosmic Coin was possible.
The price listed to purchase 10 Common Energy Stones was higher than one Cosmic Coin, but that was expected. He predicted 1 Cosmic Coin to be worth around 5 Common Energy Stones on average. Taking that into consideration, Michael began researching with Kraft Viton, Rebecca Zauber, whom Michael found after long in the rubble of the destroyed provinces bawling her eyes out, and hundreds of researchers – Awakened — with potentially useful Soultraits.
Michael wanted to know more about Rebecca Zauber’s problems, but she didn’t want to talk about it. She was happy to have important work to deal with, work that distracted her from the nightmare pursuing her during day and night.
Less than 24 hours later, Michael listed a single 1-Star Soultrait for auction, with an instant-purchase price settled at 250,000 Cosmic Coins. That was equivalent to 1,250,000 Common Energy Stones, probably more, considering 250,000 Cosmic Coins were enough to purchase and maintain a planetary energy generator for a year.
Nobody expected others to find their shop anytime soon, let alone that someone would instant-purchase the 1-Star Soultrait, but their analysis couldn’t have been more wrong.
[1-Star Soultrait – Lover’s Kiss(Support/Enhancement) – has been purchased for 250,000 Cosmic Coins. 225,000 Cosmic Coins have been added to your finances.]
[Goods worth 25,000 Cosmic Coins have been sold in the – Tritan Alliance – Cosmic Trading Market. Level Up! Level 0 → Level 1]
[Goods worth 100,000 Cosmic Coins have been sold in the – Tritan Alliance – Cosmic Trading Market. Level Up! Level 1 → Level 2]
The Cosmic Trading Market’s range expanded rapidly after selling their first 1-Star Soultrait less than half an hour after listing [Lover’s Kiss] in their Comic Shop. Following that, they gained one Follower, who would be notified every time they listed something.
The follower count increased to three by the end of the hour.
“Looks like we underestimated the demand for Soultrait Symbols. If a 1-Star Soultrait is instantly purchased for this much, how much is a 3-Star or 4-Star Soultrait worth?” Kraft Viton asked, his eyes shimmering.
“A lot more,” Michael said the obvious. He cleared his throat, “Let’s come up with a price for the other Soultraits and list them. Once that’s done and the Soultraits are sold, you should purchase the planetary energy generators and use the remaining Cosmic Coins to get the business rolling.”
He looked at Kraft Viton, “I might establish my Cosmic Shop soon, but I don’t think I will list another Soultrait Symbol to the general store of the Tritan Alliance. The Soultrait Symbols are my initial investment. Make use of it!”
That being said, Michael entrusted Kraft Viton and some other people, like Palika and Niechol, authority to alter various things in the Cosmic Trading Market. They could also give other people permission for certain things. It was enough authority to do whatever was necessary to earn a fortune using the general store.
After that, Michael returned to the Origin Expanse, where he wasn’t forced to restrain his emotions.
He didn’t tell his people about his return. Instead, Michael disappeared far into the Untamed Jungle, where his people wouldn’t venture anytime soon.
Once he knew that he was alone, Michael unleashed the fury accumulated in his mind.
“Fucking bastards!” He roared, the curse power within him erupting.
His body transformed naturally, a serpent tail growing out of his tailbone while thick scales covered his body. His eye shape changed slightly, and his hands transformed into massive claws. A primal roar escaped Michael’s lips as he unleashed the power of True Extraction Domain.
He stretched it as thin as possible to cover tens of kilometers, only to continue expanding as the True Extraction Domain absorbed the energy in its area of effect. At last, Michael used Swallow Domain, his focus on all weeds and harmful life in the surrounding tens of kilometers.
The World Serpent within Michael bellowed aloud and added a trace of its Essence into the Major Seal, drastically amplifying Swallow Domain’s potency.
The area of effect expanded further, and Michael’s desire to remove all harmful existence changed slightly. ALL harmful, dangerous lifeforms in the surrounding 50 kilometers were eliminated and swallowed the instant the Curses’ power erupted.
This included the intelligent lifeforms that the Untamed Jungle had considered parasites—a leech of its supreme lifeforce.
Michael sensed what he’d swallowed when it happened, and his fury subsided immediately.
He swallowed hard.
“Well, fuck.”