The Verdant Merchant

Darian led him toward a broad counter tucked into the far corner of the hall. Behind it, a clerk in a neat uniform sat with a polished crystal terminal glowing faintly on the desk. A small line of merchants waited, most of them with ledgers and pouches of stones in hand.

When the clerk's eyes lifted and landed on Darian, their posture immediately straightened. "Young Master Velestra," he said respectfully. "How may I assist you today?"

"I'm here for some personal matters," Darian replied lightly, then placed a hand on Rowen's shoulder. "But first, I'd like you to open an account for my friend here."

Rowen stiffened under the sudden attention. The clerk's gaze flicked to him, surprise obvious at his plain clothes, but they quickly smoothed their expression. After all, anyone personally brought forward by a Velestra wasn't someone they could dismiss.

"Of course," the clerk said, already pulling a fresh crystal ledger forward. "We'll need some details and the initial deposit to begin."

Rowen swallowed once, glancing at Darian before stepping closer to the counter.

"There are four levels of accounts you can open," Darian explained, as though sensing his hesitation. "Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Bronze is the basic kind; common folk, low-ranked adventurers, and small merchants usually stick with that. It handles everyday deposits, withdrawals, and low-value stone exchanges."

The clerk nodded in agreement while preparing the ledger.

"Silver gives you more breathing room," Darian continued. "Mid-ranked adventurers and merchants prefer it higher transaction limits, better exchange rates, and some storage privileges. Gold is for the ones who've already made a name for themselves: large guilds, caravans, and seasoned adventurers. They get priority service, vault space, and better credit options. And Platinum..." Darian smiled faintly. "That's for nobles, federal merchants, and the like. It comes with top-level vaults, overseas transactions through M-Net, and almost no ceiling on what you can move."

Rowen listened carefully, trying to process the tiers. The words "Bronze" and "basic" echoed in his head.

Rowen cleared his throat. "Um… what details do you need? And how much is the minimum deposit for a Bronze account?"

The clerk straightened, his tone professional. "For the Bronze level, we'll need your full name, age, and current place of residence. If you have no family name, that is acceptable; many merchants in the outer districts are the same. crystal will bind the account to you, ensuring that only you can access it unless you later authorize another."

Rowen nodded slightly, then pressed again, "And… the deposit?"

"The minimum to open a Bronze account is twenty-five low-grade mana stones," the clerk said evenly. "This ensures the account remains active for a full year. You may deposit more if you wish, and of course you can withdraw at any time. The system will also allow you to make and receive payments instantly through M-Net once the account is active."

Rowen blinked. Twenty-five wasn't a small number, but it was within reach. He still had more than enough stones left after buying the ring. He let out a small breath and glanced at Darian.

Darian gave him an encouraging nod. "It's a fair price. Think of it as an investment; you're setting yourself apart from most shopkeepers in the lower town."

The clerk pushed a smooth crystal ball across the counter.

"Place your hand on it," he instructed.

Rowen pressed his palm down. The surface rippled with light, and a moment later, a glowing barcode floated into the air above the ball.

"This," the clerk explained, "is your unique account imprint. You can scan it with any M-Net-linked device. The first time you scan, the system will automatically bring up the registration app. Fill in your details there, and your account will be linked to M-Net."

Rowen blinked at the floating pattern, the shifting lines almost mesmerizing. "And after that?" he asked.

"Once you complete the signup, you'll need to make the initial deposit of twenty-five low-grade mana stones," the clerk said. "That finalizes your account. After the payment is verified, your bronze-level card will be printed."

Rowen hesitated only a moment before reaching into his pocket. He pulled out the simple phone, its surface a little scratched from daily use. Holding it up, he pointed the camera at the floating barcode.

With a soft beep, the screen lit up, and an unfamiliar interface opened on its own. The clerk leaned forward slightly. "That's the M-Net registration app. Fill in your details there, and it will link your account to the system."

Rowen typed in his name, age, and residence. When he hit confirm, a new prompt appeared: Initial Deposit – 25 Low-Grade Mana Stones.

"Go ahead," the clerk said.

He gestured toward a slim, rune-lined machine at the side of the counter. Its faint hum suggested it was already active.

Rowen glanced once more at Darian, who gave him a faint nod. He reached into his storage ring, pulled out his old bag, and counted out twenty-five stones onto the counter. The clerk swept them neatly into a crystal basin set beside the terminal. A flash of blue light pulsed through the device, verifying the stones' grade and count.

"Deposit confirmed," the clerk announced. He turned slightly and tapped a rune on the side of the machine. With a faint hum, it whirred to life, etching runes into a thin bronze card. A moment later, it slid out onto the tray.

The clerk picked it up carefully and handed it over. "This is your Bronze Account Card. It's tied to your imprint and M-Net ID. Use it when dealing with customers or merchants who are set up for M-Net transactions."

Rowen took the card with both hands, the bronze surface cool against his fingers. Runes shimmered faintly along the edges, but what caught his attention most was the front. His name, Rowen, was etched cleanly beneath a small, rune-stamped picture of his face. Below that, his residence was listed: Border Town.

He blinked at it, almost startled. He hadn't posed for any picture, yet the imprint from the crystal ball had clearly captured him. It felt strangely official; more than just a piece of metal, it was proof that he existed in the federal system now.

For the first time, Rowen was holding something that tied him directly to the broader world beyond the border town.

Darian caught the look on his face and smiled faintly. "Feels different, doesn't it? That card means you're no longer just some nameless shopkeeper in the border town. You're recognized now as part of the system."

Rowen gripped the card tighter, a mix of nerves and pride swirling in his chest.

Darian glanced at the time, then gave Rowen a brief nod. "I'll leave you here. I've got some business upstairs."

He turned and headed toward a tall, rune-lit lift at the side of the hall. Rowen's eyes followed him. The guards by the lift bowed slightly and allowed Darian through without question.

Before stepping in, Darian looked back once more. "Oh, and you'll notice soon enough access in here is tied to the kind of account you hold. Bronze, Silver, Gold… each level lets you step further in. That's why merchants and nobles care about their card tiers. Remember that."

With that, Darian entered the lift, the doors sliding shut with a soft chime.

Rowen stood quietly for a moment, his new bronze card warm in his palm. The meaning of Darian's words sank in. Even in this bank, even in the federal system, tiers mattered. How much you could access, how far you could go… it all came down to how much you had and what level of card you held.

Rowen deposited all the low-grade mana stones into his account. After scanning the barcode earlier, the Federal Bank app had been installed on his device, letting him pay directly through it from now on. With that done, he stepped out of the bank and made his way toward the Cornerstone.

Rowen slipped the bronze card into his pocket and left the bank. Shade followed him closely.

He walked straight toward the Cornerstone building. It stood tall with guards at the entrance, the same place he had visited yesterday for his second talent check.

Rowen entered the Cornerstone with the intention of learning some beginner-level spells. At the main counter, he asked where he could find a place to understand the basics and practice new techniques.

The receptionist gave him a kind smile and explained that they had a new technology available if he wanted to try it. It was a VR-based system where students, teachers, or adventurers could both learn techniques and practice them in a controlled space. The cost was fifteen low-grade mana stones per hour.

Rowen agreed without hesitation. The receptionist then informed him that the training rooms were located on the second floor. Rowen took the lift up and stepped out after they entered the VR training room.

After entering, Rowen saw several people sitting on soft seats, each wearing helmet-like devices on their heads.

There was also a counter inside. The receptionist there asked politely how they could help him. Rowen replied that he wanted to try the VR training session.

Rowen placed the helmet on his head, and the world around him faded. A moment later, he stood inside a virtual white room. In front of him, a large screen appeared with simple instructions.

[Welcome to the Virtual Training System.] [Please log in with your M-Net ID.]

Rowen quickly entered his details. The system then prompted him for payment.

[Beginner VR Training Session – 15 Low-Grade Mana Stones per hour. Proceed? ]