The Unadorned Sovereign

Chapter 6. Game Console

As Liam returned to his humble abode, a newfound excitement bubbled within him. The mysterious merchant system's interface danced before his eyes, its otherworldly realm awaiting his touch. Determinedly, he navigated its virtual settings to set up his shop. To his mild astonishment, the system imposed a restriction - he could only sell a maximum of five of goods. With a furrowed brow, he contemplated his options.

"I guess I'll start small," he muttered to himself.

He listed five different types of snacks, each priced at a modest 10 gold. It was an experiment, a dip of his toes into the unpredictable waters of virtual commerce. With a deep breath and a click of confirmation, his products were on display to the potential buyers scattered across dimensions.

His heart raced as he monitored the virtual marketplace. Minutes turned into seconds, and Liam's heart raced as he watched the notifications pour in. Sold out. Sold out. Sold out. Each snack vanished from his inventory, leaving him both exhilarated and amazed. It seemed that the city's denizens had a voracious appetite for his goods. A smile crept onto his lips - his intuition had been right; there was indeed a demand for these simple pleasures.

Gaining confidence, Liam decided to test the waters further. He raised the price of the snacks to 20 gold each. Once again, the response was swift and positive. Every snack he had to offer disappeared within minutes, confirming his suspicion that there was demand for these items.

Building on his success, he further increased the price to 30 gold for each snack. To his surprise, the trend continued – the snacks vanished as quickly as he listed them. Emboldened by the overwhelming demand, Liam decided to push the boundaries even more. With a touch of audacity, he set the price for his remaining ramen at a staggering 100 gold each.

The result was astonishing. In a mere minute, the entire stock of ramen was wiped out. Liam's heart pounded in his chest as he realized the power he held in his hands – the power to satisfy the city's cravings while building his fortune.

Selling his snacks and ramen was a triumph, but Liam's newfound entrepreneurial spirit urged him to explore further. Scanning his small apartment, Liam's gaze fell upon his old radio and TV. It seemed ludicrous, but with newfound excitement, he listed them on the system for 1,000 gold each. He hesitated only briefly before confirming the sale. Seconds ticked away, and then, a surge of satisfaction coursed through him as both items were marked as sold.

Liam's surprise knew no bounds – his old possessions, obsolete in his eyes, had found eager buyers within seconds. The realization that he held a key to the other dimension's desires became palpable. Within no time, he had accumulated a remarkable sum of 200,000 gold.

Collecting 200,000 gold was a monumental feat, a testament to his rapid adaptation to this unforeseen destiny. But, amid his growing wealth, a question loomed - what would he sell next?

***

Liam made his way to the toy store nestled conveniently near his apartment. As he entered, the faint jingle of bells greeted him, and he was met with a colorful array of toys and gadgets that seemed to hold a world of imagination within their packaging.

A young lady, her smile warm and inviting, approached him. "Hello there! Is there something you're looking for today?" she inquired, her enthusiasm contagious.

Liam appreciated the kindness in her demeanor, feeling a bit more at ease. "Actually, I'm trying to find toys that are both affordable, something that can grab the attention of people who aren't too familiar with technology," he replied, explaining his intentions.

The young lady's brows furrowed in thought, her fingers tapping lightly against the counter. "Hmm, that's an interesting request. Let me think... Ah! I might have just the thing for you."

She motioned for Liam to follow her, and he obediently trailed after her through the store's aisles. Pausing in front of a display of handheld gaming devices, she turned to him with a smile. "Have you considered handheld game console? A gameboy. They're classic, simple to understand, and they can be quite addictive for people of all ages. Plus, they come with a variety of games that cater to different tastes."

Liam looked at the array of handheld game console on the shelf, memories of his own childhood flashing through his mind. The idea resonated with him – after all, he wanted something that would appeal to a broad audience. " Gameboy, huh? That might just work. How much are they?"

The young lady checked the price tags and replied, "They're priced at $15 each."

Liam's mind worked quickly, calculating the possibilities. The cost seemed reasonable, and the appeal of a classic gaming experience was hard to deny. "Alright, I'll take them. Every single one you've got."

The young lady's eyes widened in pleasant surprise. "Really? You want them all?"

Liam nodded decisively. "Yes, all of them. I have a feeling these might be just what I'm looking for."

The sudden loud noise of the door being slammed shut sent a shockwave through the small shop, jolting both Liam and the young lady behind the counter. Their heads turned in unison towards the entrance, eyes widening in alarm at the sight that greeted them.

A group of big, bulky men, led by a skinnier man with an oily face, strode into the shop with an air of unwelcome authority. The presence of these imposing figures was enough to send a shiver down anyone's spine. They seemed to exude an aura of trouble, a warning that disruption and chaos might follow in their wake.

As if confirming the young lady's fears, one of the bulky men roughly shouldered past Liam, his sheer size pushing Liam's old body off-balance. Liam stumbled a few steps, his heart racing as he struggled to regain his footing. His gaze shifted back to the young lady, a silent exchange of shared concern passing between them.

The skinnier man, with a face glistening with an oily sheen, stepped forward. Leaning against the counter with a confident smirk, he directed his attention towards the young lady. His voice carried a mix of arrogance and menace as he spoke, "Well, well, if it isn't our dear... young lady."

The young lady's hands trembled slightly as she clutched the edge of the counter, her eyes flickering with a mixture of apprehension and frustration.

With a subtle grin, the oily-faced man gestured to a pile of papers in his hand. "Seems like your tab has been accumulating quite nicely, my dear." His words held an ominous weight as he waved the documents, emphasizing their importance. "You've had your fun, sweetheart, but it's time to settle your debt. And trust me, you don't want us to have to remind you of the consequences."

The young lady's shoulders tensed, a mix of frustration and vulnerability evident in her eyes. Her voice wavered only slightly as she responded, "I'm working on it. Just give me a little more time."

The skinny man's grin widened, the tension in the room escalating with each passing second. "Time, my dear, is something you seem to be running out of," he remarked, his tone icy as he continued to lean against the counter. The group of men behind him maintained their imposing stance, their presence serving as a stark reminder of the young lady's predicament.

Liam's heart raced, anger flaring within him at the sight of the young lady being cornered like this. Despite the fear that crept into the room, he found his voice, determination lending him courage. "Hey, leave her alone. There's no need for threats."

The skinnier man's eyes shifted to Liam, his grin widening slightly, as if amused by the newcomer's boldness. He straightened up slightly, his demeanor growing more mocking. "And who might you be? Old... man?"

Before Liam could respond, one of the bulky men moved forward, shoving him back again with a powerful hand. Liam stumbled once more, his jaw clenching as he fought to maintain his balance. The young lady's eyes met his briefly, a silent plea for him to stay out of harm's way.

The skinnier man turned back to the young lady, his tone cold and business-like. "Now, are you going to settle up or do we have to escalate things?"