The Verdant Merchant

The moment the bag disappeared, he felt it the heavy, constant strain of carrying the bag was gone. No strap digging into his shoulder, no shifting weight at his side. For the first time in days, he walked freely, almost as if he had been carrying nothing at all.

A small smile tugged at his lips.

"Here, you can handle any kind of transaction," Darian explained. "From the smallest trade with low-grade mana stones all the way up to deals involving high-grade stones. They also offer exchange services, turning low-grade into mid-grade or higher, as long as you meet the requirements." He gestured subtly toward one of the counters, where a clerk carefully weighed a pouch of glittering stones. "And if you don't want to carry everything with you, the bank provides safe storage."

Rowen's brows furrowed slightly. That alone would save him endless trouble.

"But the most important part," Darian went on, "is their online system, M-Net. Once you open an account here, you can access it through M-Net. That means you can send and receive payments directly, without needing to exchange stones by hand."

Rowen nodded slowly, trying to take it all in. For someone used to the bustle of the border town marketplace, this was like stepping into another world altogether.

"Here, you can handle any kind of transaction," Darian explained. "From the smallest trade with low-grade mana stones all the way up to deals involving high-grade stones. They also offer exchange services, turning low-grade into mid-grade or higher, as long as you meet the requirements." He gestured subtly toward one of the counters, where a clerk carefully weighed a pouch of glittering stones. "And if you don't want to carry everything with you, the bank provides safe storage."

Rowen's brows furrowed slightly. That alone would save him endless trouble.

"But the most important part," Darian went on, "is their online system, M-Net. Once you open an account here, you can access it through M-Net. That means you can send and receive payments directly, without needing to exchange stones by hand."

Rowen nodded slowly, trying to take it all in. For someone used to the bustle of the border town marketplace, this was like stepping into another world altogether.

Rowen walked further down the street until a polished sign caught his eye. The name was familiar; he had seen it back in his own district, though that branch had been smaller and less impressive. This one was clearly the main shop, with wide glass windows displaying glowing scrolls inside protective cases.

He pushed the door open, and a soft chime rang out. The air inside was cool, scented faintly with parchment and mana. Rows of shelves stretched out before him, stacked neatly with scrolls of varying sizes. Some were sealed with plain wax, others bound with glittering runes that pulsed faintly with stored power.

Along the left wall, glass cabinets displayed not just scrolls but also rows of carefully labeled potion bottles. Some shimmered faintly with colored light bright red, soft blue, and deep green, each hue hinting at its effect. Small signs read: Mana Recovery (Beginner), Stamina Restoration, and Minor Healing Tonic.

Everything was polished, expensive, and organized to impress. Compared to the cramped little branch near his street, this place looked more like a treasury than a shop.

A clerk in neat robes approached with a polite smile, clearly trained for dealing with upper-district customers. "Welcome, sir. Are you here for scrolls, potions, or perhaps a custom order?"

Rowen hesitated, his eyes drifting toward the cabinets. Those potions alone probably cost more than what he made in weeks. But it was the scrolls that had brought him here.

"I'm… looking for beginner scrolls," he said carefully.

"Of course. This way," the clerk replied smoothly. "We have apprentice-tier scrolls and higher-grade ones for adepts. Prices vary depending on the spell and the quality of inscription."

Rowen leaned closer to the price tags. In the VR training chamber, he had paid by the hour 15 low-grade mana stones for apprentice-level lessons, with higher modules climbing steeply. Scrolls, though, were permanent. Once bought, the knowledge could be practiced as often as his mana allowed. The upfront cost was heavier, but the value lasted.

His gaze caught on a familiar name. Fire Spark. The same spell he had struggled with in VR now rested in a neat case, its scroll sealed with plain red wax. A brass tag read:

[Fire Spark – Apprentice Scroll]Price: 25 low-grade mana stones

Rowen's chest tightened. Almost twice the cost of an hour in VR. And that was only the most basic spell. Just above it, Fireball shimmered faintly with runes, priced at eighty.

The clerk gave a knowing smile. "VR is quick, scrolls are lasting. It depends on what you want more: speed or foundation."

Rowen nodded slightly, though his eyes had already shifted to another case marked in deep earthen brown.

[Stone Skin Apprentice Scroll]Price: 30 low-grade mana stones[Earthen Wall – Apprentice Scroll]Price: 45 low-grade mana stones

His fingers twitched. These were defensive spells, exactly what he lacked. Stone Skin could harden the body, while Earthen Wall raised a barrier. Simple, but practical. In the wilds, even a thin wall could mean the difference between survival and death.

He thought back to his VR training. Defensive skills had been available there too, but he had chosen offense first. Fire gave him a way to fight back. Now he needed something to keep him standing when things struck back.

Rowen weighed the prices carefully, his thumb brushing against the edge of his sleeve. Fire Spark had its use—he'd already proven he could light a dummy with it. But defense was what he lacked, and in the wilds, being able to block even once could mean more than a flashy strike.

He pointed to the tag beneath the scroll. "Stone Skin. I'll take that one."

The clerk's smile widened, professional but warm. "An excellent choice for apprentices. Reliable and efficient. Please wait a moment."

He unlocked the glass case with a rune-carved key, retrieved the scroll, and laid it on the counter. The faint brown glow along its sealed edges looked like packed earth, waiting to be stirred awake.

"Thirty low-grade mana stones," the clerk said smoothly.

"Payment can be made through the Federal app," the clerk said smoothly, turning a small crystal device toward him.

Rowen pulled out his phone, tapped it against the receiver, and confirmed the charge of 30 low-grade mana stones deducted instantly. A soft chime rang out as the transfer cleared.

As the clerk handed him the scroll, his eyes flicked over Rowen's clothes the plain shirt, worn belt, and patched boots. After a pause, he leaned in.

"Forgive me if this is too forward, but… You seem like someone from the lower district, yes?"

Rowen stiffened slightly. "…Yes. Why?"

The clerk sighed, straightening a stack of tags. "Our branch down there has been struggling for months. People stopped coming, and day-to-day costs are draining the shop. Management finally decided to close it. A shame, really; it served the district for years. Do you know why folk suddenly stopped buying?"

The question caught Rowen off guard. His hand tightened around the scroll. He did know the reason. It was him. His little shop had been selling vegetables with natural restorative effects, cheaper alternatives to the very potions displayed in these polished cabinets.

Before Rowen could think of a reply, the back door opened. A sturdily built man stepped in, his presence commanding the room without effort. He wore layered robes of deep brown trimmed with silver, not flashy, but unmistakably expensive. The faint crest stitched near his collar, a mountain split by a sword, gave him away before the clerk even spoke.

The clerk straightened instantly. "Master Darius Stoneveil."

Rowen's breath caught. He knew that name. The Stoneveil family wasn't just wealthy; they were one of the established merchant families with deep ties to both the Federal Guild and the noble councils. Their influence spread across supply chains, especially in magical goods like scrolls and potions.

Darius Stoneveil was the third son of the Stoneveil patriarch and the one tasked with overseeing the family's commercial branches in the lower district region. Rumor said he had trained as a knight before stepping into management, and even without armor, he radiated the steadiness of a man who could command both battlefield and boardroom.

Darius's eyes, sharp and probing, swept across Rowen. "So. This is the apprentice who just made a purchase?" His voice carried a quiet authority, the kind that pressed down without needing to raise its tone.

The clerk bowed quickly. "Yes, sir. He purchased the Stone Skin scroll. I also mentioned the matter of the lower district branch…"

Darius's gaze locked onto Rowen. "You're from the lower district, aren't you? Then perhaps you can explain something to me. Why has my branch down there been bleeding low-grade mana stone? Customers who once bought scrolls and potions in droves have vanished. Surely you've noticed it."