The coins in Rion's palm felt heavier than they should have. Twelve silver. He had never held this much money at once. For a brief moment, he simply stared at them, feeling the rush of his first successful trade.

  But he knew better than to celebrate too soon. Money was only as valuable as what you did with it.

  The marketplace of Velmara had no patience for hesitation. Around him, merchants barked their prices, noblewomen examined expensive fabrics, and street vendors juggled coins between quick hands. If Rion wanted to survive and rise, he needed to keep moving.

  His next deal had to be even bigger.

  ?? Step One: Finding an Undervalued Product

  Rion scanned the market like a hunter. If he wanted to multiply his money again, he had to find a product that was:1?? Underpriced – Something people were selling too cheaply.2?? In demand – A product customers wanted but hadn't found yet.3?? Scalable – A deal where he could buy cheap and sell high, fast.

  His sharp amber eyes flickered across the bustling market. Weapons? Too expensive. Jewelry? Too risky.

  Then he saw it.

  A cloth merchant sat lazily behind his wooden stall, his arms crossed. Unlike other sellers who shouted for attention, this one barely seemed to care. His stall was filled with plain-looking fabric rolls, stacked carelessly. But Rion wasn't looking at the fabric—he was looking at the label.

  "Handwoven Zyphiran Silk"

  Rion's heart pounded. Zyphiran Silk was one of the finest in the continent. Normally, it sold for twenty silver per roll. But this merchant had priced it at only eight silver each.

  Did he not know its value?

  Or was something wrong with it?

  Rion stepped forward, keeping his expression neutral. The key to bargaining was to never show excitement.

  "How much?" he asked casually.

  The merchant sighed, barely looking up. "Eight silver per roll. Take it or leave it."

  Rion picked up a roll, running his fingers across the material. It felt smooth, light, and cool—real Zyphiran silk. This wasn't fake. The merchant really was selling it too cheap.

  Rion took a slow breath. This was a gamble. He had twelve silver—if he bought one roll and couldn't resell it, he'd lose everything.

  But if he was right…

  He could make triple the profit.

  "I'll take one for seven silver," Rion said, sliding his coins forward.

  The merchant barely reacted. "Eight."

  "Seven and a half."

  The merchant scratched his chin, then shrugged. "Fine. Take it."

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  Rion felt his heart race as he took the roll of silk. This was it—his biggest trade yet.

  Now, he just had to sell it before sunset.

  ?? Step Two: Finding the Right Buyer

  Rion's first instinct was to find a noblewoman like before. Nobles loved luxury fabrics. But he had to think bigger.

  Who buys fabric in bulk?

  Tailors.

  Rion turned away from the crowded market and headed into the city's artisan district. The air here smelled of freshly dyed cloth, leather, and ink. Skilled craftsmen worked in small shops, creating clothes, shoes, and accessories for the wealthy.

  He stopped in front of an elegant tailor's shop. The wooden sign above the door read:

  "Eldrin's Royal Tailoring"

  Perfect.

  Taking a deep breath, Rion stepped inside.

  The interior was lined with fine dresses, noble coats, and embroidered capes. Behind a long counter, a middle-aged man with sharp eyes adjusted a mannequin's sleeve.

  Rion smiled. "Excuse me, sir. I have something that might interest you."

  The tailor barely glanced at him. "If you're here for work, we're not hiring apprentices."

  "I'm here for business," Rion said smoothly. He placed the Zyphiran silk roll onto the counter, unraveling it slightly so the tailor could see the high-quality material. "A rare opportunity. Genuine Zyphiran silk—normally twenty silver a roll."

  The tailor stopped adjusting the mannequin. His eyes flickered to the fabric.

  Rion saw his chance. "But today, I'm offering it for just fifteen silver."

  The tailor lifted the silk, feeling the material between his fingers. His eyes narrowed.

  "Where did you get this?"

  Rion kept his expression calm and unreadable. "That's not important. What's important is that it's genuine and cheaper than what the merchants sell."

  The tailor studied him for a moment. Then he sighed. "I'll give you ten silver."

  Rion pretended to hesitate—but inside, he was thrilled. Even at ten silver, he was making a profit. But he had to push for more.

  "Twelve," Rion said firmly.

  "Eleven."

  "Eleven and a half."

  The tailor smirked. "You're sharp, kid." He counted out eleven silver and fifty copper coins.

  Rion tried not to smile too hard as he accepted the money.

  He had turned 7.5 silver into 11.5 silver.

  Not as much as he hoped, but still a profit.

  As he walked out of the shop, the sun was setting over Velmara. He looked down at the coins in his hand and grinned.

  This was only the beginning.