I stood in my kitchen, stirring a pot of pasta sauce, thinking about how close I was to leveling up.
The past few days had been a whirlwind of connections and transactions. One by one, the silver rings had found their targets.
Chen Rong in the Western Territories. A silk merchant with connections spanning three provinces.
Zhao Jin in the Northern Kingdoms. A spice trader who'd built his fortune on risky ventures and unlikely partnerships. When the ring appeared to him, he'd apparently laughed and said, "Finally, something interesting."
Li Shun in the Southern Archipelago. A woman, actually, which surprised me. She ran a trading fleet that connected dozens of island nations, moving luxury goods between cultures that barely spoke to each other. Her network was extensive, her reputation impeccable.
All three had accepted the divine merchant story without much hesitation. The parameters I'd set ensured they were already predisposed to believe in supernatural solutions. Ambitious, desperate, or both. Exactly what I needed.
I'd given them the same speech I'd given Chen Xuan, with minor adjustments for their different circumstances. Presented myself as a god of merchants offering blessings in exchange for trade. They'd all knelt, all pledged loyalty, all received their first shipments of impossible goods.
And I'd been generous. Each one got a larger variety than Chen Xuan's first shipment. More fabrics, more accessories, more of everything. I wanted to establish them quickly, get them selling fast, generate points as soon as possible.
It had worked.
Within days, payments started arriving. More chests of gold and silver. But also, interestingly, actual currency. Gold and silver coins stamped with unfamiliar symbols, bills printed on strange paper. The system had converted it all automatically.
One million dollars had appeared in my bank account from currency exchanges alone. The system apparently could convert any form of money, as long as it was actually used as currency in its world of origin.
Combined with what remained of Edward Black's hundred million, I was still sitting comfortably wealthy.
But more importantly, I'd received points. One hundred fifty seven points from those three initial transactions. Not as much as Chen Xuan's big sale, but they'd only just started. Once they sold everything and came back for more, the numbers would grow.
I'd sent them second shipments immediately. Even larger quantities. More variety. I was confident this round would push me over the edge.
The pasta water boiled over, snapping me back to the present. I turned down the heat, drained the noodles, combined everything.
Cooking for myself felt oddly normal. After weeks of takeout and restaurant delivery, actually preparing food was almost meditative. A reminder that despite everything, I was still just a twenty year old guy making dinner in his kitchen.
A twenty year old guy who traded with other dimensions, but still.
I was plating the pasta when the notification appeared.
Payment received from Chen Xuan. Accept transfer?
My heart jumped. Chen Xuan. It had been several days since I'd sent his last shipment, which meant months had passed in Blue Light Planet. More than enough time for him to sell everything and gather payment.
I ran to the basement.
"Accept," I said immediately.
Transferring payment.
Crates materialized in my basement. A mix of wooden boxes and what looked like jade containers. I could see gold glinting through gaps in one crate, antiques carefully wrapped in silk in another.
But I didn't care about the physical payment right now. My eyes were locked on the system notification still floating in my vision.
Transaction Complete
Points Earned: 325
Three hundred twenty five points.
I pulled up my status screen with shaking hands.
Current Points: 726
"Seven hundred and twenty six," I said aloud. "System, show me my complete point history."
A detailed breakdown appeared.
Point History:
Starting Balance: 9 points
Transaction with Chen Xuan (bulk shipment): +265 points
Purchase of 3 Silver Rings: -30 points
Transactions with Chen Rong: +52 points
Transactions with Zhao Jin: +48 points
Transactions with Li Shun: +57 points
Transaction with Chen Xuan (current): +325 points
Current Total: 726 points
I stared at the number. Seven hundred twenty six.
More than enough to advance to Level 2. More than enough with a safety buffer for emergencies.
I reached for the mental connection to Chen Xuan, forcing myself to go through the ritual first. Business before celebration.
"Chen Xuan."
His presence manifested immediately, that familiar sensation of him kneeling in his study halfway across a dimension. "My lord! This humble servant greets you!"
"Report on your recent business."
"My lord, everything sold magnificently! The nobles continue their frenzy for divine goods. However..." he paused, and I could sense his careful consideration of words. "The market for reusable items has stabilized somewhat. Those who purchased clothing and mirrors in previous batches have no need to buy more immediately. But the edible goods, my lord! The divine beverages, the sweet pastes, the biscuits and spiced delicacies, these sell as fast as I can supply them. Everyone wishes to taste the flavors of the immortal realm."
He'd recognized the difference between durable goods and consumables. Clothes and mirrors were one-time purchases, but food had to be constantly replenished.
"Very well done," I said, infusing my voice with divine approval. "You have proven yourself a skilled merchant, Chen Xuan. Continue as you see fit. Manage your inventory to maintain exclusivity and high prices. You have my blessing to conduct business as you judge best."
"This servant is honored beyond measure, my lord!"
"I will send you another shipment soon. Larger than before, with more of the consumable goods your buyers crave."
"My lord's generosity knows no bounds!"
I ended the connection, barely maintaining the godly persona. The moment it faded, I grinned like an idiot.
Seven hundred twenty six points. Time to level up.
"System, display advancement options."
A new interface appeared, different from anything I'd seen before.
Merchant Level Advancement
Current Level: 1
Available Advancement: Level 2
Cost: 500 points
Current Balance: 726 points
Remaining After Advancement: 226 points
Advance to Level 2?
[Accept] [Reject]
I stared at the options. This was it. The moment I'd been working toward since the system first bound itself to me.
But I hesitated. Two hundred twenty six points remaining would still leave me with a buffer. Enough to buy more silver rings if needed. Enough to handle emergencies. I wouldn't be starting Level 2 from zero.
"Accept," I said firmly.
The world went white.
It wasn't painful exactly, but it was intense. Information flooded my mind, not in words but in pure understanding. New features, new capabilities, new possibilities all downloading directly into my consciousness.
When the light faded, I was kneeling on my kitchen floor, breathing hard.
Notifications filled my vision.
Congratulations! You have advanced to Merchant Level 2.
New Features Unlocked:
- Access to 2 Random Level 1 Worlds
- Employee Ring
- Appraisal Skill (Level 1)
- Enhanced Trading Interface-
Next Level Requirements: 5000 points
Five thousand points to reach Level 3. Ten times what I'd needed for Level 2.
But that was future Alex's problem. Present Alex had just unlocked access to two new worlds. Two Level 1 worlds, which according to the system's classification meant they were more advanced than Earth.
"System, show me my updated status screen."
A new interface appeared, more detailed than before.
Name: Alex Sinclair
Age: 20
Lifespan Remaining: 64 years
Merchant Level: 2
Progress to Level 3: 226/5000 points
Current Points: 226
Available Worlds:
Blue Light Planet (Level 0)
[Random Level 1 World - Not Yet Accessed]
[Random Level 1 World - Not Yet Accessed]
Skills:
Appraisal (Level 1)
Available Features:
Client Registry
Transaction History
Silver Ring of Connection (Can purchase)
Employee Ring (Can purchase)
Active Connections:
Chen Xuan (Blue Light Planet)
Chen Rong (Blue Light Planet)
Zhao Jin (Blue Light Planet)
Li Shun (Blue Light Planet)
Pending Transactions: 3 (Estimated completion: Various timeframes)
I stared at the screen, taking it all in. Two new worlds waiting to be explored. An appraisal skill that would let me evaluate goods properly. An employee ring that could help me delegate tasks.
And still 226 points in reserve for emergencies or opportunities.
This was beyond anything I'd expected. Level 1 had been about establishing basic trading connections. Level 2 opened up entire new dimensions of possibility.
My pasta sat forgotten on the counter, probably getting cold. I didn't care.
I'd just leveled up my interdimensional merchant system, unlocked access to potentially advance worlds, and gained skills that would make my business actually sustainable.
"This is incredible," I whispered.
The system didn't respond, but I could feel its presence more strongly now. Like it was more integrated with me at this level, more responsive to my thoughts and needs.
I looked at the status screen again, focusing on the two unknown worlds.
What were they? What kind of civilizations existed there? What could I trade?
And most importantly, how soon could I find out?
My kitchen floor was uncomfortable. I stood up, legs slightly shaky, and leaned against the counter.
"One thing at a time," I told myself. "Process this. Understand what you've gained. Then figure out how to use it."
But I was grinning. Couldn't help it.
Level 2. Two new worlds. Actual skills.
The future just got a whole lot more interesting.