Andre, leader of the merchant group formed by Maximus, stood at the edge of the valley, surveying the land before him.
The valley was nestled in between two mountains, providing a natural barrier from the ongoing war between the noble alliance and the three dukes.
“Alright boys, we’ve got a lot of work to do,” Andre barked, turning to face his group of men.
“This is going to be the top commercial hub of the kingdom in the future. Aetheria Market needs to be clean and safe for our customers, so let’s get to work and make sure we build it right.”
The group of men, each with a muscular build and rough appearance, nodded in agreement.
They had been with Andre for a few weeks and knew that he was a tough but fair leader.
The men got to work, heaving heavy rocks and chopping down trees with their axes.
Andre oversaw the operation, barking out orders and making sure everything was done efficiently.
As the sun began to set, the men finally finished cleaning the valley.
Andre stood at the center, arms crossed, surveying the area with a look of satisfaction.
“Good work, boys,” he said, patting each of them on the back.
“Now let’s set up camp and get ready for tomorrow. We’ve got a lot of business to do.”
As the days passed, Andre and his men worked tirelessly to prepare the valley for the trading area.
They began by clearing out the debris and dead plants that littered the area, using shovels and axes to dig up the earth and remove any obstacles.
Once the area was cleared, they began to construct the stalls and booths.
They brought in carts filled with lumber and stone. More important he bought the enchanted mortar given by his lord.
[The Enchanted Mortar – A magical mortar that, when used to lay bricks, creates a stronger bond between them and makes the wall more resistant to damage. Price 50]
Andre supervised the construction, barking orders at his men and ensuring that everything was done according to his specifications.
The commercial hub began to take shape over the course of a few weeks.
The stalls and booths were painted in bright colors.
Finally, only the supplies and customers were needed.
…
As Andre was directing his men to build the trading area, Maximus summoned Phantom, the leader of the Phantom group, to discuss their plan.
“Phantom, I need you to spread the word discreetly. We need everyone in this kingdom to know about Aetheria Market,” Maximus said.
Phantom nodded. “Understood, sir. I’ll start sending out messages right away.”
Maximus smiled. “Excellent. Make sure to prioritize those who are affected by the conflict. We want to help them, especially nobles who need our supplies.”
Phantom replied, “Yes, My Lord.”
…
Time passed, and the messages were sent out to the people of the kingdom.
As they received the news, some were skeptical, while others were ecstatic at the opportunity to acquire much-needed supplies.
But regardless of their initial reactions, they all began making preparations to visit this so-called Aetheria Market.
The nobles saw this kind of market as an opportunity to gain access to much-needed supplies, while others saw it as a potential threat to their own business interests.
…
Billy sat at his dining table, his head resting heavily in his hands.
He had just finished his meager meal of bread, and his stomach still rumbled with hunger.
Although he is rich he and his family barely ate food in the last few weeks, with the ongoing conflict between the noble alliance and dukes.
The supplies were getting scarce and out of supply.
His son looked up at him, in deep thought. “Father, have you heard the rumors of a newly built trading area called Aetheria Market?” Billy asked.
Billy looked up, surprised. “No, I haven’t. What is it?”
“It’s said that it was built by a superpower from another place. Rumors have it that they sell large amounts of food and resources,” his son explained.
“Oh?” Billy looked at his son unsure, “Where did you get this news? is it reliable?”
“Of course Father, I heard merchants from other cities have purchased goods there and are already reselling it.” His son confidently said.
“I need to go there and see for myself. you take care of your mother and sister. I’ll be back soon”
Convinced, He hurriedly grabbed his coat preparing to set out towards the rumored Market.
His son nodded in understanding. “I’ll take care of things here, father.”
…
After days of traveling, Billy arrived at Aetheria Market, his eyes widened at the bustling scene of the commercial street.
As he approached the entrance, his eyes fell upon the plaque that read ‘Aetheria Market’, and a sense of calm washed over him.
The plaque’s presence alone was enough to convince him that this marketplace was truly extraordinary.
[The Plaque of Radiant Aura (Tier 1) – A plaque that, emits an invisible, aura that can instill feelings of awe and calmness in those nearby. Price 100]
He was immediately stopped by a guard at the entrance who asked him if he was a merchant or visitor.
“I’m just looking around” Billy replied.
…
As Billy walked through the rows of stalls, he couldn’t help but admire the variety of goods being sold.
He approached a store selling honey wheat which is a luxury staple food.
He then asked the manager about the prices of the goods.
[Honey Wheat – A type of wheat that has a sweet, honey-like flavor and is often used to make desserts and pastries. 1 ton Price 1]
“Excuse me, sir. How much is your wheat per kilogram?” Billy asked.
“It’s fifty copper coins per kilogram,” the manager replied.
“That’s quite expensive. Do you have any other options that are more affordable?” Billy inquired.
“We have some cheaper options, but they are not as high quality as the honey wheat,” the manager explained.
𝗈𝗏𝐞xt.𝐜𝗈𝑚
“I see. Can you show me the other options?” Billy asked.
[Sunburnt Wheat – This wheat is particularly tasty, but it is extremely easy to grow and produces a high yield of grain, making it an excellent choice for farmers looking to maximize their profits. 1 ton Price 0.1]
[Golden Wheat – This wheat has a rich, golden color and a slightly sweet flavor. It is often used in baked goods. 1 ton Price 0.5]
Afterward, the manager presented Billy with alternative options, “This is ‘golden wheat’ it has been quite in demand recently and its price is 25 copper per kilogram. However, if that exceeds your budget, we do have a more economical option ‘Sunburnt wheat’, priced at only 5 copper per kilogram.”
“Hmm, I need 30 kg of Sunburnt Wheat and 20 kg of Golden Wheat. How much do I pay?” Billy asked.
“That would be 650 copper. We also offer special delivery services for an additional fee. If you want to avail it, just go to Gateway Logistics” The manager reminded him
“Can I have these goods delivered to my home?” Billy was shocked by such service.
Originally he was planning to hire a carriage but since this Aetheria Market offered this kind of service, then it should be more reliable
“Of course,” the manager replied.
“But, It would be an additional 10% of the cost for delivery,”
“Alright, I’ll pay for the delivery. Thank you for your help,” Billy said as he handed over the money.
Next, he walked up to a stall selling fresh fruits and vegetables. “Excuse me, can you tell me about your product and the prices?” He asked
The owner replied, “Of course! We have a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables here. Our prices range from twenty to fifty copper coins, depending on the type of product.”
Billy nodded, “Thank you for letting me know. Do you have any recommendations?”
The owner smiled, “Our Sunburst Bananas are particularly popular right now. They are creamy and sweet, and give you energy for the day.”
[Sunburst Banana – A banana with a bright yellow, sunburst pattern on the skin. It has a sweet, creamy taste with a hint of tropical flavors. When eaten, it gives the consumer a burst of energy and a feeling of warmth. 1 ton Price 1]
Billy looked at the basket of bananas and decided to try them out, “I’ll take 50 pcs of those, please.”
The owner weighed the bananas and said, “That will be 250 copper, sir.”
Billy handed over the coins and took a bite of the fruit. The sweet and juicy flavor burst into his mouth, and he couldn’t help but smile.
…
As he walked through the commercial hub, he continued to stop at various stalls, buying the supplies his family needed.
He was pleased with the variety of goods being sold and how reasonably priced they were.
At the end of the day, Billy ordered the gateway logistic and also got in with them to his home.
He felt relaxed as his family can finally have something decent to eat. He thought that he should take his family someday to shop.