I decided to explore the new features systematically, starting with the enhanced trading interface. No point unlocking capabilities if I didn't understand how to use them.
"System, show me detailed information on Blue Light Planet."
The interface that appeared was completely different from the basic version I'd been working with. Before, I'd gotten bare minimum information. Now it was like comparing a sketch to a high definition photograph.
Blue Light Planet - Detailed Analysis
Classification: Level 0 World
Time Differential: 1 Earth day = 30 Blue Light days
Technology Level: Approximately 15th century Earth equivalent
Cultural Analog: Ancient Chinese dynasties, feudal structure
Primary Economic Systems: Agricultural base, emerging merchant class, precious metal currency
Recommended Export Items:
Textiles (modern fabrics, synthetic materials)
Preserved foods (canned goods, dried items)
Tools (steel implements, precision instruments)
Beauty products (cosmetics, perfumes)
Jewelry (cut gemstones, modern metalworking techniques)
Glassware (clear glass, mirrors)
Writing materials (paper, pens, inks)
Recommended Import Items:
Artisan crafts (pottery, paintings, calligraphy)
Precious metals
Textiles (silk, traditional weaving)
Cultural artifacts
Raw materials
I paused at jewelry. That hadn't occurred to me before, or rather, it had but I'd dismissed it as too expensive. But looking at it now, it made sense.
Modern jewelry making techniques, perfectly cut stones, clean lines that ancient craftsmen couldn't achieve. In a world where nobles competed for status symbols, high quality jewelry would be incredibly valuable.
The cost had seemed prohibitive before, but I'd already sold millions worth of goods to Blue Light Planet. Maybe it was time to diversify into luxury items. Small quantities, high value. Perfect for maintaining exclusivity while maximizing profit margins.
I made a mental note to research jewelry wholesalers. But first, the new worlds.
"System, show me information on the first Level 1 world."
A new profile loaded.
World Designation: D4-19894
Classification: Level 1 World (Post-Apocalyptic)
Time Differential: 1 Earth day = 10 D4 days
Technology Level: Approximately 22nd century Earth equivalent (pre-collapse)
Current Status: Civilization collapse due to biological warfare
Historical Context: World D4-19894 achieved advanced space travel capabilities approximately 50 Earth years ago. During expansion efforts, contact was made with hostile alien civilization. Rather than direct military engagement, hostile forces deployed biological weapons targeting planetary ecosystem. Soil nutrients were systematically destroyed. Genetic virus altered plant life, causing rapid die-off and transforming consumed organic matter into pathogen vectors.
Current Population Status:
Estimated 75% casualty rateSurvivors divided into three categories:Uninfected humans (scavengers, isolated communities)Infected humans (zombie-like symptoms, aggressive behavior)Infected animals (various stages of mutation)
Primary Trade Commodity: Crystallized essence extracted from infected organisms. Human-derived crystals possess higher energy density and market value.
Recommended Export Items:
Preserved foods (any variety)
Water purification systems
Medical supplies
Weapons and ammunition
Survival equipment
Seeds (non-contaminated)
Recommended Import Items:
Crystallized essence (various grades)
Pre-collapse technology
Rare elements
Manufactured goods (scavenged)
I stared at the screen, processing what I was reading.
A zombie apocalypse world. An actual, literal zombie apocalypse caused by alien biological warfare.
And they had crystals. Magic crystals? Energy sources? The description said "crystallized essence" but didn't explain what that meant beyond "high energy density."
My first concern was obvious. "System, can the virus travel here? I don't want to accidentally cause Earth's apocalypse while trying to trade."
Negative. System transfer protocols include contamination safeguards. No biological, chemical, or radioactive hazards will be unintentionally transmitted between worlds. All trades are automatically sanitized during dimensional transfer.
Relief washed over me.
"What if I intentionally wanted to transfer the virus? Could I do that?"
Affirmative. Host may trade any item both parties agree upon. Intentional transfers override safety protocols if explicitly requested.
My blood ran cold. Someone could actually use the system to cause an apocalypse if they wanted. Buy a vial of zombie virus, bring it to Earth, release it in a major city.
"That's terrifying," I said quietly. "I hope this system never binds to a psychopath."
The system didn't respond, which wasn't comforting.
I took a breath, forcing myself to focus. At least the safeguards existed. I couldn't accidentally doom Earth. And I would never intentionally do something like that. My conscience was clear, even if the potential for disaster existed.
Moving on. "System, show me information on the second Level 1 world."
World Designation: Aira
Classification: Level 1 World (Elemental Magic)
Time Differential: 1 Earth day = 42 Aira days
Technology Level: Approximately 18th-19th century Earth equivalent
Dominant Characteristic: Elemental magic system
Magical Framework: Population possesses innate elemental manipulation abilities. Four primary elements: Earth, Air, Water, Fire. Each individual is born attuned to one element. Attunement is hereditary but unpredictable. No known method to change or enhance natural affinity.
Cultural Structure: Society organized around elemental affinity. Complex political systems based on elemental balance. Advanced magical theory replaces traditional technology in many applications.
Primary Economic Systems: Precious metal currency, magical artifact trade, elemental resource exchange
Recommended Export Items:
Gold
Recommended Import Items:
Water (elemental-infused)
Earth (various mineral compositions)
Air (concentrated elemental essence)
Fire crystals
Magical artifacts
Enchanted materials
Elemental texts and grimoires
Alchemical components
Living plants (magical varieties)
Processed magical goods [List continues - 9,647 total categories available]
I blinked. Then blinked again.
"System, is there an error? Why is gold the only recommended export?"
No error detected. Current merchant inventory and available Earth resources hold minimal value in Aira's economy. Elemental magic civilization has fundamentally different material needs. Gold remains universally valuable as a magical conductor and status symbol.
I wanted to scream. Here was a world with actual magic. Real, genuine magic. Water infused with elemental power. Fire crystals. Enchanted materials. Grimoires. Everything I'd dreamed about.
And I could only trade for it with gold.
Gold I didn't have in sufficient quantities. Gold that was expensive to acquire. Gold that would bleed my finances dry if I tried to trade at scale.
"This is ridiculous," I muttered, scrolling through the import list. Magical plants. Alchemical components. Elemental essences that could probably do impossible things on Earth.
All locked behind a paywall made of gold.
I'd been spending money like water, buying inventory for Blue Light Planet. Soon I'd need to stock up for D4 as well. The million dollars from currency conversion was helpful, but it wouldn't last forever at this rate. And the antiques and gold from Blue Light Planet were proving difficult to convert to usable cash.
I almost wanted to cry. Access to a magical world, and I was too broke to take advantage of it.
With effort, I tore my attention away from Aira's tantalizing information. Dwelling on what I couldn't afford wouldn't help. I needed to focus on what I could use.
"System, show me information on the Employee Ring."
A new interface appeared.
Employee Ring
Description: Silver ring with gold centerline. Binds to designated employee, granting them limited system access and authority as defined by host.
Cost: 30 points per ring
Capabilities:
Grants employee access to designated system functions
Authority level customizable (from minimal to comprehensive)
Can delegate: inventory management, world transfers, transaction processing, client communication
Cannot grant: point spending, world unlocking, level advancement, strategic decisions
Employee bound to ring cannot betray host (system enforced loyalty)
Host retains override authority on all decisions
Recommended Use:
Delegate routine tasks to trusted individuals.
Scale operations beyond personal capacity.
Maintain strategic control while expanding operational reach.
That was actually incredible. I could hire people to handle the day to day operations while I focused on strategy and growth. The system enforced loyalty meant I didn't have to worry about betrayal or theft.
But finding trustworthy people to bind with system authority would be challenging. This wasn't something I could post on a job board.
Problem for later. What else?
"System, explain the Appraisal skill in detail."
Appraisal Skill (Level 1)
Grants host ability to evaluate items across dimensional markets.
Provides information on:
- Estimated value in each accessible world
- Quality assessment
- Optimal selling strategies
- Potential buyer demographics
- Market saturation indicators
Skill improves with use. Higher levels unlock deeper analysis and rare item identification.
Now that was useful. I could finally stop guessing about prices and market value.
I looked down at the slipper on my foot and concentrated, activating the skill.
Information flooded my mind.
Item: House Slipper (Mass Produced)
Quality: Poor
Earth Value: $5-10 retail
Blue Light Planet Value: Moderate novelty (~50 copper coins for material/color novelty)
D4-19894 Value: Worthless
Aira Value: Worthless
Assessment: Common item with no significant trade value except as curiosity in primitive markets
I couldn't help but laugh. Even the system thought my slippers were trash.
But the skill worked. I could evaluate things now. Know what was worth trading and what wasn't. That alone would save me from costly mistakes.
I pulled up my status screen again, looking at everything I'd gained.
Two new worlds. One zombie apocalypse with mysterious crystals. One magical civilization that would bleed me dry. An employee system for scaling operations. An appraisal skill that actually worked.
Despite Aira being frustratingly expensive, this was an amazing haul. Level 2 had transformed my capabilities completely.
But I'd gotten a taste for advancement now. Five thousand points to reach Level 3. What would that unlock? More worlds? Better skills? The ability to actually visit other dimensions instead of just trading remotely?
I wanted it. Wanted to keep climbing, keep unlocking, keep discovering.
"System," I said, decision made. "I want to purchase something."
The shop interface appeared, waiting for my selection.
Time to invest in growth.