Time seemed to stretch and warp for the traveling group as they fell into a silent rhythm of movement and watchful vigilance. Their initial conversations had long since dwindled, replaced by a shared understanding to conserve energy and observe the desolate landscape. Ruined structures, skeletal frameworks of buildings that clawed at the sky, their broken arches and crumbling walls casting long, mournful shadows across their path. The occasional rustle of unseen creatures or the chilling whisper of the wind through desolate corridors breaking the silence they had fallen into.
Despite all that their journey wasn't entirely uneventful. A few attempted attacks by aggressive scavengers or desperate creatures met swift and brutal ends. These brief bursts of violence only highlighted the underlying tension of things, a stark contrast to the quiet moments when they would pause. They even stopped for proper meals, gathering around a small, carefully concealed fire for lunch and supper—a luxury that drew visible pangs of envy from Lucy who silently munched on her pre-packaged rations, a stark reminder of the meager supplies she carried on her.
It was during their supper, as the last vestiges of twilight painted the sky in bruised purples and oranges that Z approached John. Their usual bustling energy seemed subdued, replaced by a nervous formality.
"John, I need a word with you," Z began, their gaze flickering towards the others, who were already settling down for the night. "Preferably alone."
Finding no immediate threat or harm in the request, John nodded, curiosity stirring within him. Z's tone was uncharacteristically serious, even a little strained, piquing his interest. He rose and walked a short distance away from the flickering firelight, the silence of the ruins pressing in on them.
Z watched the others for a moment longer, ensuring their privacy, before turning back to John. "I took stock of the items we've gathered while we were walking," they confessed, their voice a low murmur. "And I have a rough final total now of their value. It's part of the reason I wanted to speak with you in private."
John crossed his arms, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips. "I imagine it's quite a large amount then."
"Well, yes, it is. But that's not the primary reason I called you over," Z corrected, their hands fidgeting slightly. "The total amount of coin, taking our spoils into account and giving you a fair share would result in roughly three thousand coins. And that's after I take my expenses for storing and carrying them for you." Z seemed to hold their breath, their expression a mixture of seriousness and undeniable apprehension.
John cut them off before they could continue. "Wait, who said I'm going to just sell everything? What if there are things I want to keep or find use for?"
A hint of exasperation seeping into their voice at his words. "I already made sure to keep a small portion aside, a sample of everything since I knew you would want some of the items for your own reasons, that's the total from the goods I plan to sell or trade, I haven't factored in the items I can't seem to price or feel would be more valuable if handled in a different way. Which, again, is part of why I wanted to speak with you." Z took a deep, fortifying breath, their gaze meeting John's squarely.
"Look, I have a few options right now. I could leave and sell my current stock. I could venture off to find other, smaller groups or even contact other merchants for trade and to gain favors or even connections to help my personal growth. But… you." Z paused, letting the word hang in the air, weighted with significance. "You are a real, damn cash cow that I refuse to let go of. I've made more in this little venture in a matter of days than I could have in a few months had I not met you and I doubt it's going to stop any time soon. A lot of the goods I salvaged seemed to be gifted by their patrons or hold a lot of value. Most of their weapons where scrap but they had other things such as potions or trinkets that are of clear value and use, no doubt form system users or gamers which are in a really high demand." They took a deep breath as they seemed to look intently at him. "So, I have a proposition for you."
John listened without a word, his head nodding slowly with a flicker of intrigue in his eyes as he motioned for Z to continue. Emboldened slightly, but still hesitant they pressed on. "I want you to invest in me. But I won't lie or hold anything back. If you do, there are a lot of risks involve."
"What kind of risks?" John interrupted, a shrewd glint in his gaze. "And is three thousand coins really enough for an investment? I mean, your share and charges should have made you significantly more from this venture than I've gotten."
"It has, by the merchant kings, it truly has," Z stammered, catching themselves before revealing too much. "I've made almost trip— I mean, I've made a lot more. But no, that's not what I mean by investing in me. For a merchant, it's complicated and cut-throat. Politics and backroom dealings dictate everything. Our wealth is our power, our blood in an almost literal sense. The more we have, the better goods we can access to that we can then sell and keep building like that to grow. Through that our standing improves and funnily enough, it allows us to afford more items to strengthen ourselves to survive better. More guards, better gear, more reliable information and a long list of other stuff." Z began explaining, the words tumbling out faster now, revealing a hidden depth to their profession.
John's smirk returned. "So, you lied about what you could get me in our first meeting?"
Z let out a frustrated growl, running a hand under there hood. "No, no! If you had the coin, I could easily get it because I would just act as a middle merchant to those who do have whatever you wanted and then take a small finder's fee for myself from it. You would have definitely gotten your goods but we're getting off topic. Rather being an investor for a merchant like me would mean you become just under a partner in status. You'd get priority on my goods, able to request goods from me along with directing me towards what you feel would sell well even if the final decision would still rest with me. My markup wouldn't be as high either when buying from me."
"So far you haven't told me anything bad, only positive things without any down sides." John mused, stroking his chin. "But you said there are risks though. What are they and why did you seem so hesitant? Instead going straight to the positives."
"What merchant would scare away their possible investor? Look, I wanted you to know the benefits first to hopefully see that they outweigh the bad." Z said, their voice dropping again. "The bad points would be as follows. I would no longer be relying on the merchant alliance I was part of for my goods or support. The benefits I currently have will stop and I would need to rely on my investor for money and goods, I wouldn't get a stipend or starting goods or even discounts from them anymore. A lot more unwanted attention will also be on me from the various merchant groups who would no doubt start to target me, as I said its cutthroat and when you're no longer relying on the guild, they consider you fresh meat to be eaten. To survive and continue forward I would need to make a big sale with goods from my investor to show my worth and that I can handle being independent along with a steady constancy in sales and goods along with a tax each month for a license. Other merchants will also be able and allowed to hire mercenaries, or even make deals with various others—be it from this world or another—to try and hunt you down since you would be my investor and thus the source of my wealth and goods. Or they might approach you directly to have you break off the contract with me to work with them instead, promises of better wealth, connections and a range of other things they would be able to supply you with that I can't yet…" Z finished, there tone both heavy and nervous.
"So far, the downsides seem a bit more than the upsides," John commented, his tone unimpressed. "I mean, if it's just a discount and priority alongside suggesting what you sell then it certainly isn't worth even more people coming after me."
"I know, I know!" Z pleaded, desperation creeping into their voice. "But there are other benefits! You get a portion of whatever profit I make when I sell to others. You can direct me to try and find specific items or things you need. I can be a point of contact for you, hiring others on a temporary basis, finding information, securing safe passages and a range of other things including getting you into contact with specialist merchants! Things a regular merchant wouldn't be able to do. And the better my status gets, the better things can be for you as well!" They tried to reel him back in, their voice rising with renewed hope.
"How would things be better? So far, it's sounding like you're desperate and need me more than I need you, no offense," John stated bluntly, his eyes unblinking.
The way Z seemed to physically deflate, shaking slightly, was all the proof John needed that he had hit the nail on the head. "Please, I really need this. You're about the best chance I actually have of reaching my goal and…"
"And what?" John pressed, softening his tone slightly. He reached out, placing a reassuring hand on Z's shoulder, causing them to look up at him, their eyes shimmering in the dim light. "If you want me to be this special 'investor,' you're going to need to be entirely honest with me, Z. What's this goal of yours? And what aren't you saying? Look, you know I'm not a bad person. I also haven't turned you down yet, either. So talk to me and stop beating around the proverbial bush."
With a few deep, ragged breaths, Z seemed to calm, the tension in their shoulders easing slightly. "My goal is to be a Merchant King," they confessed, the ambition burning brightly in their eyes despite their vulnerability. "My family had some hardships and we lost a lot of status. The others in my family are also merchants but work in different places and roles. I was supposed to work in a different place all together, sucking up to a top executive. The end goal was for me to be a bartering tool after the guy warmed up to me, I would then all but be traded away in some political marriage or business deal to ensure my family maintained the level of wealth and lifestyle they currently have. I didn't want that so I snuck away and took a loan to become a merchant for a different guild, one they couldn't meddle with. I want to show them I can do it and be a real merchant like my great uncle is! I want to prove to them you don't need to kiss up to others or sacrifice family to get to the top, you just need to press forward, believe in yourself and have some luck to truly get what you want… Funny enough I don't hate them for what they had planned for me, I actually understand it and honestly? I think, all things considered it was the right thing to do, something I would have accepted if I hadn't met you and my own attempts failed…"
A few moments of silence followed, broken only by the crackle of the distant fire. Z slowly looked at John, who seemed deep in thought before he slowly held out a hand.
"I will invest in you, Z," he announced, his voice firm, unwavering. "Under the conditions that you don't betray me, you don't cheat me, you don't use me without my knowledge and you keep to the word. But I expect more form you. To not only become a Merchant King but to pull your family up with you, to take them to heights they thought would be impossible understand? You can't quit or stop halfway. You can't become complacent with whatever wealth you make. I expect you to reach the top and then keep going!" He raised his voice at the end, a hardness in his eyes that caught Z off guard at first. This wasn't merely a business deal; it was a demand for greatness.
"Are you sure?" Z asked, giving one last, solemn warning. "There's no backing out for at least a year once you accept and agree. The merchant magic will see to it and make sure you remain my investor, it would probably even try to take from you constantly to fund me, taking anything it can including your life should you stop supplying me."
John simply nodded, his gaze unwavering. It caused a wild hope to begin flaring in their chest as they shakily took his hand.
What followed was extraordinary. A shimmering thread, thin and golden, seemed to materialize from nothingness, winding around their clasped hands. In the air above them, an intricate image of a golden scale formed, an eye at its center, watching. Gold coins, ethereal and glowing, appeared on either side of the scale, tipping from one side to the other as if scrutinizing the sincerity of their words, judging the fairness of their unspoken intentions. Finally, with a soft, resonant clink, the scale balanced perfectly, the glowing coins settling evenly. Then, the thread and the scale dissolved into faint, golden wisps that sank into the core of both John and Z, leaving behind a subtle warmth.
"The merchant magic has judged our agreement and found it fair!" Z exclaimed, a wide, triumphant grin splitting their face. Their earlier nervousness had vanished, replaced by an infectious, almost manic energy. "I am now your exclusive merchant and salesperson and you are now my Investor and entirely responsible for me! We are going to make so much money! And I will make sure to supply everything you need. And if I can't get it for some reason, I will make sure we earn even more till I can!" Z punctuated their declaration with a small, ecstatic fist pump into the air, a fiery ambition blazing in their eyes.
"Exclusive merchant huh?" John asked, a sudden furrow in his brow. "You mean I can't deal with anyone else now! You didn't say anything like that!"
Seeing his investor's anger flare, Z quickly reined in their excitement, rushing to explain. "No, no, not like that! You can still deal with others. But you will be able to call on me if I'm not around and I can find you no matter where you go. Being your 'exclusive merchant' is just a fancy way of saying to others that you don't need to deal with them so they can't pull the whole 'see who else will sell to you' card or try to undercut you with the excuse of saying you have no one else to sell to. It's leverage for you! But I do hope you work exclusively with me, though and let me be your first thought for purchase and sales," they added, a hopeful plea in their tone.
Realizing he had jumped to conclusions a bit too fast, he sighed, a sound of resigned amusement. "Sorry. Look how about this then: you can sell my share of the loot as well and we'll split it 30/70 in my favor. But then you will be on collection duty whenever your around along with harvesting kills or getting someone to do so at your expense. And you need to make sure we get top price for items. Oh, but I want our loot so I can figure out what you chose to put one side for me along with the items you want to sell for me, there should be some useful items among them if there value is that high and some of the stuff you kept one side for me will probably be better sold than kept."
Z nodded frantically, their eyes practically sparkling with joy. "Will do, Investor! Absolutely! But, uhm… could I get two statues and two clockworks? One of each for me and one of each for selling? If I can auction them, I can guarantee we will make a super huge killing!"
"Nope," John responded, cutting them off without hesitation. "I will give you one of each as guards and helpers but you will not be selling them. They're too valuable right now. Maybe eventually but not yet.