Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Beginning
East City was more chaotic than Lee-oh expected.
Stalls lined every alleyway, merchants yelling about elixirs, scrolls, weapons, and rare pets. Lee-oh felt a pang of doubt. Would his potions even stand out in a place like this?
They made their way to the Adventurer's Bazaar—a trading district where items and potions were exchanged freely, regulated by a guild. Lee-oh rented a small booth using 50 points.
He arranged his potions methodically: red for stamina, blue for mental clarity, green for minor healing, and yellow for detoxification. Each one labeled, categorized, and freshly sealed.
Daey-ib stood beside him, arms crossed. "Now we wait."
The first hour was slow.
Then, a young swordswoman stopped.
"These look... high quality. Are you the alchemist?"
Lee-oh nodded. "Yes. I made all of these from wild herbs."
She inspected a detox potion. "This... this is better than guild stock. I'll take five."
+150 points
More adventurers came. Word spread. By sundown, 20 of the 30 potions had been sold. Lee-oh had raked in 1,200 points.
System Notification:
Shop Level Up Requirement Met. Would you like to upgrade to Level 2?
Lee-oh accepted immediately.
System Upgrade: Shop Lv. 2 Activated
New Features: Potion Batch Crafting, Premium Ingredient Scanning, Hidden Recipe Unlocking, Basic Quest Board
Lee-oh nearly staggered.
"This is... this is bigger than I thought."
Daey-ib clapped him on the back. "You're not just surviving now. You're thriving."
But as the sun set, a cloaked figure approached the stall. He wore a guild insignia on his shoulder and narrowed his eyes at Lee-oh's remaining stock.
"Where are you getting these ingredients?" the man asked coolly.
Lee-oh hesitated. "Just from the forest. Why?"
"You're not registered with the Alchemist's Guild. Selling these could be... problematic."
Tension filled the air.
"Unless, of course," the man added with a smirk, "you'd like to register now... for a fee."