CHAPTER 57: CHAPTER 56: KAEL’ AMBITION

Then Seris came to him, her face serious as if she were very angry.

"Kael, I want to talk to you about something important."

Kael was a little nervous about this.

"What happened?"

"I’ve heard from some customers that a merchant in the western quarter is reselling your lanterns for triple the price. Another set up his own purified water stand near the east plaza."

Kael read the list silently.

"I knew arbitrage would start happening eventually," he murmured.

"You’re not angry?" she asked, brow raised.

He shook his head. "No. They’re still buying from us first. That’s what matters right now."

"But they’re profiting off your ideas."

Kael gave a faint smile. "They’re also advertising for me. Every time someone sees one of our lanterns or drinks our water, it builds demand. The more they resell, the more people come to us for the source."

He stretched his arms, glancing around at the shelves—half-empty again.

"It just means we need to move faster. Expand our product line. Stay ahead of the imitators."

Seris crossed her arms. "How far ahead are you thinking?"

Kael stood and walked to the window.

"Let them play catch-up," he said quietly. "I’ve got an entire other source they can’t even dream of."

Seris looked at him sideways. "You speak strangely sometimes."

Kael shrugged. "Maybe I just think strangely."

A few days later—

Kael was now walking alone through the streets of Ginip. He had left Seris in charge of the shop for the day.

Kael’s shop—no, his small supermarket—had become quite famous in Ginip. It was different from any other shop in the town. It sold all kinds of useful products: lanterns that lasted for weeks, spices, clean water, preserved food, soap that actually smelled nice, and even basic medicines. Things that seemed strange or rare in this medieval world were all common inside his shop.

And yet... the number of customers had recently gone down.

Not because people were unhappy with the products. In fact, it was the opposite. His items were so useful and durable that people didn’t need to buy them again and again.

"Most of the town has already bought my stuff," Kael muttered to himself. "Of course sales would slow down."

Ginip was a small town, home to a modest population of just 4,000 to 4,500 people. Most residents were farmers, hunters, laborers, or adventurers, while a few were small-time merchants who only visited the town once a week to trade. Compared to the bustle of a big city, Ginip remained a quiet, unhurried place—simple, steady, and largely untouched by the chaos of the outside world.

Kael turned a corner and walked down a quieter lane, hands in his pockets.

I’ve made a lot of money already. So now what? Should I expand to a bigger city?

It was tempting. If he could earn this much in a small town like Ginip, just imagine the profits in a major city. Tens of thousands of people. More demand. More opportunity.

"Maybe I could become a millionaire in just a few days," he murmured.

But then he shook his head.

No. That’s not smart. Not yet.

Big cities meant big merchants. Established trade families. Guilds with powerful connections. Many of them might have noble backers, underground connections, and influence that could make or break a newcomer overnight. If Kael showed up with strange products and stole the market, they wouldn’t just let him be. They might try to pressure him. Or worse, silence him.

I’m not strong enough yet to face those kinds of people. They have power, money, and guards. I have a shop and some connections.

Still, Kael wasn’t helpless. He had a big advantage no one in this world could match.

He could travel between Earth and this fantasy world.

That was his secret weapon.

He could buy things cheaply on Earth, bring them here, and sell them for huge profit. But he also knew this couldn’t go on forever. People would ask questions. Where did these products come from? Why does only his shop sell them? If he wasn’t careful, someone powerful would get curious.

So Kael began thinking carefully.

I need to build a stronger base here in Ginip. I already have the support of the mayor. That’s a good start.

I should use that support while I can.

His thoughts quickened. He had money. He had products. He had popularity. Now was the time to grow.

What if I buy more shops? Or build a few small factories? I could start producing simple items right here in Ginip.

That way, he wouldn’t always need to bring products from Earth. He could sell things made here—soap, matches, dried food, simple tools—and mix them with his more advanced goods.

"It’ll make me look less suspicious," he reasoned. "And it will help the town too. Jobs, trade, tax. No one will question success if everyone benefits."

Factories would also give him control. He wouldn’t have to rely on Earth’s prices or availability. He could slowly teach his trusted workers new techniques, using bits of modern knowledge without making it obvious.

Maybe I can make this whole town a production hub. Quiet, safe, away from greedy nobles.

And it wasn’t like Ginip had much competition. There were no major trade guilds here, no one here had monopolies. No noble family watching from some manor, and most local merchants focused on food or cloth. No one had Kael’s supply chain or ideas.

He became overexcited.

"I could dominate the local market completely," Kael thought, eyes gleaming. "Yes... yes! Total market saturation! No one shall poop without using my soap! No lantern shall glow unless it bears my glorious label!"

"And once I’m strong enough... I’ll move to the big cities and the whole kingdom!"

A passing dog barked. Kael pointed dramatically at it.

"Yes, bark now, peasant mutt, but one day even your fleas will pay taxes to me!"

He paused.

"...Okay, that was weird."

Still, Kael couldn’t help grinning — wide, gleeful, a little unhinged.

If anyone had seen his face just then, they might have assumed he’d successfully overthrown a small kingdom.

While he was absorbed in these thoughts, he heard several screams, as if someone was cursing someone.