Evan instructed the ladies to bring the products with him to the marketplace. They carried a variety of items: tools that glowed faintly with intricate enchantments, cloth that shimmered with mana-threaded brilliance, and beautifully crafted outfits.

  Evan, Lira, Lenai, and Mika entered the bustling marketplace one after the other. Evan approached the counter where a saleswoman stood, her demeanor professional yet welcoming. She offered a warm smile and greeted them.

  “Good evening, Lord. How may I assist you today?”

  Evan replied, “Could you please tell me how much these items can be sold for?”

  The saleswoman began listing the prices, her tone efficient and clear:“

  One enchanted tool costs 20 gold. Mana-threaded cloth sells for 25 gold each. A simple mana-tunic costs 35 gold, while an enchanted mana-tunic is slightly higher at 45 gold. The mana-threaded cloak costs 40 gold, and a full basic outfit can be sold for 50 gold.

  “Since you have six enchanted tools, that totals 120 gold. Five mana-threaded cloth pieces will cost 125 gold. Five simple mana-tunics add up to 175 gold, three enchanted mana-tunics total 135 gold, four mana-threaded cloaks will sell for 160 gold, and the five full basic outfits will bring in 250 gold. In total, everything amounts to 885 gold.”

  Evan stood frozen in amazement, his mouth slightly open as he processed the numbers. Lira gently nudged him, pulling him out of his stupor. Turning to the ladies, he beamed and exclaimed, “You all are amazing!”

  At that moment, a familiar ding echoed in his mind. He quickly checked his system panel.

  Quest: Enchanted Bazaar Completed.

  Rewards: +30 Gold and +5 Population Happiness.

  Evan’s smile widened as he turned back to the ladies. “Can you please continue producing these items? For now, focus on making them for the people of our territory. Set some aside for sale when we have surplus.”

  The ladies smiled broadly, their faces glowing with pride. “Of course, my lord,” they responded in unison.

  Evan then turned to the saleswoman. “Could you please put these items on the marketplace?”

  The saleswoman smiled warmly and replied, “Yes, of course. Once the goods have been sold, you will receive a notification.”

  Evan nodded appreciatively. “Thank you.”

  With that, he left the counter, satisfaction evident on his face. The marketplace hummed with activity as Evan looked over his companions, proud of the progress his territory was making.

  He then hurried to the Town Center. Upon arrival, he said, “Sylla, I would like to construct the Basic Trade Post. What’s the cost of it and the other unlocked buildings?”

  Sylla replied, “The Basic Trade Post costs 40 gold. The Tavern is 50 gold, the Small Temple is 60 gold, the Training Grounds are 30 gold, the Herbal Garden is 25 gold, and the Water Well is 20 gold.”

  Evan thought for a moment, carefully considering his priorities. He had enough gold to construct multiple buildings, but efficiency was key. Among all the structures available, the Basic Trade Post had the most immediate value—not only would it allow him to expand his economic influence, but it was also directly tied to a quest given by the system.

  He recalled the notification from earlier:

  Quest Name: "Crystal Commerce"

  Objective: Refine surplus Mana Crystals at the Crystal Nexus and trade them through the Basic Trade Post.

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  Reward: +20 Gold, +10 Mana Crystals.

  Development Impact: Encourages efficient use of resources and fosters economic growth through trade.

  This wasn’t just about selling goods—it was about establishing a stable economy. The Nexus was already refining mana crystals, producing arcane shards and mystic dust. Without a Trade Post, he was limited to selling items locally, but with it, he could move those resources beyond his borders and tap into external markets.

  The benefits stretched beyond gold. Mana Crystals were a valuable commodity, and trade would allow him to secure rare materials, form alliances, and even influence surrounding territories through economic power. If he set up the infrastructure now, he could position himself ahead of any potential rivals before they had a chance to dominate the market.

  Nodding to himself, he made his decision. “Please construct the Basic Trade Post for now. I will return to construct the rest later.”

  Sylla nodded and got to work. A few minutes later, she returned and said, “It has been constructed, my lord. Check your territory panel, and you will see it added.”

  Evan did as she suggested and confirmed it. He looked up at her and said, “Thanks for your assistance. Until next time.”

  He turned and made his way to the Basic Trade Post. Inside, he found another saleswoman. “May I know how to use this building’s services?” he asked.

  She answered, “You can use this building to trade resources with other territories—neutral or allied settlements—whether they have a Trade Post or not.”

  Evan nodded in understanding and then asked, “How do I send out requests for what I need?”

  She explained, “You just tell me your trade request, and I will input it. For otherworlders within range of your Trade Post, the trade request will pop up in their game interface. For natives—those without a Trade Post—messengers will inform them. As for those with a Trade Post, a simplified system sends messages via the mana ley-lines.”

  Evan nodded again. “Thank you for the information. That is all for now.”

  The saleswoman nodded in acknowledgment. Evan then turned and left, heading toward the Crystal Nexus to check how Lia was progressing with the mana crystal production.

  Evan arrived at the Crystal Nexus, its glowing blue and green lights casting an ethereal hue across the stone walls. The air hummed with energy, a faint crackling sound resonating from the arcane machinery at its heart. Lia stood at the center of the room, her hands glowing faintly with mana as she carefully manipulated the controls of the nexus. A steady flow of refined mana crystals fed into the large crystalline chamber, where they were broken down into shimmering arcane shards and wisps of mystic dust.

  Evan paused at the entrance, observing her work. Lia’s focus was absolute, her movements precise and deliberate. Sweat beaded on her brow, glinting in the soft light of the nexus, but her determination remained unwavering.

  “Lia,” Evan called out gently, stepping into the room.

  She glanced up briefly, her face lighting up with a smile. “My lord,” she greeted, her voice tinged with both respect and a hint of exhaustion. “I didn’t hear you come in.”

  “I wanted to check on your progress,” Evan said, moving closer to the nexus. He watched as another mana crystal dissolved into a fine mist, swirling within the chamber before solidifying into two sparkling arcane shards. “How’s the refining going?”

  “It’s steady work,” Lia replied, her voice confident but measured. “I’ve refined 40 mana crystals thus far—enough to produce 28 arcane shards and 12 units of mystic dust. I’m on track to finish the quota within the hour.”

  Evan nodded, impressed. “That’s excellent. Have there been any issues with the process?”

  Lia shook her head, her fingers moving deftly to adjust the nexus controls as another crystal slid into place. “The nexus is functioning perfectly. The mana flow is stable, and the yield has been consistent. If anything, it’s the manual sorting that slows things down. But I’ll manage.”

  Evan stepped closer, inspecting the trays beneath the nexus where the processed materials were stored. The arcane shards glowed with a soft, pulsating light, while the mystic dust shimmered like a cloud of tiny stars. He picked up one of the shards, feeling the faint warmth of its power in his palm. “These are incredible. This level of refinement will be vital for our future projects.”

  Lia’s expression brightened at his praise. “I’m glad to hear that, my lord. The more mana crystals we can secure, the more we can produce. With enough shards and dust, we can enhance tools, craft magical weapons, or even upgrade some of the structures in our territory.”

  Evan placed the shard back in its tray and folded his arms thoughtfully. “That’s the plan. I’ll make sure we allocate more resources to gathering mana crystals. Your work here is vital, Lia. You’re laying the foundation for our advancements.”

  Lia straightened, pride evident in her posture. “Thank you, my lord. I won’t let you down.”

  Evan gave her a reassuring smile. “I know you won’t. Finish the task, and when you’re done, take some time to rest. I need my best working at full capacity.”

  “Yes, my lord,” Lia replied, a small smile crossing her lips as she returned to her work.

  Evan lingered for a moment longer, watching as the nexus pulsed with life under Lia’s expert hands. The steady rhythm of progress filled the room, a tangible reminder of the strides his territory was making.

  Satisfied, he turned and made his way out of the Crystal Nexus, the hum of refined mana still echoing in his ears as he left Lia to her crucial work.