"Right, I should put a sign outside. Might as well have them enter through this door from now on." Kael found a blank sheet of paper, drew a large arrow on it, and taped it outside the shop. He needed to let the regulars know the entrance had temporarily shifted to the new building next door.

  As he stepped back inside, Kael was greeted by the sight of glowing crystal balls filled with flashes of spraying blood.

  A dozen men, and every single one was being insta-killed.

  "Whoa... now that is a sight," Kael mused, raising an eyebrow before making his way back behind the counter with practiced nonchalance.

  He settled back into his deck chair. It was bad form to mock the customers, even if they were—objectively speaking—complete scrubs.

  Time ticked by. The silence of the Training Room was punctuated by a rhythmic chorus of agonized wails.

  "Impossible! How am I supposed to beat someone that strong?!"

  "I can’t even see his [CENSORED] movements! That’s twenty-seven deaths in a row!"

  "Why are these [CENSORED] so powerful?! I’ve [CENSORED] had enough! I’m going to kill them!"

  Explosive roars of frustration and the unique "bleeps" of the censorship system rose and fell throughout the shop. Kael could practically taste the emotional breakdowns happening in the booths.

  "Boss! Give me two more hours! I refuse to believe that I, the great Blood Wolf, can’t take down a single Swordmaster!"

  Blood Wolf’s crystal ball began to flicker, signaling his time was nearly up. He slammed a handful of Spirit Crystals onto the counter, his eyes bloodshot and manic.

  "Enjoy your stay," Kael said slowly, standing up to collect the fee.

  Following Blood Wolf's lead, several other mercenaries trudged to the counter to pay for an extension on their suffering. Most of them wore expressions of utter soul-crushing defeat—dazed, hollow-eyed, and barely able to move.

  In one hour, they had been slaughtered roughly sixty times. One death per minute.

  Regardless of who they chose as an opponent, they were countered instantly. Even the Protection Knight, a class not known for offense, could end them with effortless ease.

  In that single hour, they had witnessed martial techniques beyond anything they had ever heard of. Every strike, every movement, was honed for the sole purpose of killing—no wasted motion, no unnecessary flair.

  After a long period of stunned silence, a few of them began to feel a strange sensation. It was as if their understanding of martial arts or magic had... sharpened. It was a faint, blurry feeling, making them hesitate to trust it.

  Just as they sat there in a daze, Blood Wolf emerged from his booth. "Boss, give me another two hours."

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  "Sorry. Four hours per day, max," Kael said, pointing to the notice board.

  "Why?! It’s not like I’m short on crystals! I’m finishing that Swordmaster today if it's the last thing I do!" Blood Wolf was bordering on obsession.

  "Rules are rules. If you want to fight, come back tomorrow." Kael didn't know why the System set that specific limit, but looking at the craze in Blood Wolf’s eyes, he figured the man would actually go insane if he kept playing.

  Blood Wolf glared at Kael for a long moment. Eventually, remembering exactly what kind of person the Shop Manager was, he hissed through gritted teeth, "Fine. I’ll be back tomorrow."

  He turned to leave, but a subordinate tapped him on the shoulder. "Captain... the gear..."

  "Oh, right. The gear." Blood Wolf slapped his forehead. He had been beaten so senseless in the Arena that he’d forgotten why they came. "Go grab twenty sets of those ten-crystal armors and twenty of the ten-crystal weapons. Pick whatever you need."

  In the end, Blood Wolf purchased twenty sets of Common-grade equipment. He dropped four Brave-rank Mana Cores on the counter and prepared to depart.

  "Another four hundred Spirit Crystals in the bag," Kael noted, sweeping the cores away. Once the shop was empty, he picked a booth and entered the Arena himself.

  This was the perk of being the Manager: no fees, no time limits. Before, he had spent his days in boredom; now, he could spend his free time being pummeled in the Arena.

  Fortunately, Kael was a man who had been mentored by a "God of the Land." It didn't take him long to start trading blows with the simulations. A journey is taken step by step; a meal is eaten bite by bite. The longer he survived each round, the better the omen for his growth.

  From dawn until dusk, whenever the shop was empty, Kael remained immersed in the Arena.

  The next morning arrived. The sky had barely begun to lighten when Blood Wolf came charging in, looking incredibly energized.

  "You're certainly early," Kael yawned, rubbing his eyes as he drifted back to his spot behind the counter.

  "You bet I am. That Swordmaster is going down today." Blood Wolf slammed eight Spirit Crystals onto the wood, found a corner booth, and lit up his crystal ball.

  "Where are your men?" Kael asked casually. Fewer people meant a significant drop in his daily revenue.

  "Headed for the forest. The monster count is spiking lately. If they don't work hard, they'll never earn enough to upgrade their gear," Blood Wolf replied without looking back. He entered the Arena, selected the Swordmaster, and the battle began.

  Winning today? Not likely, Kael thought, closing his eyes for a quick nap.

  Before he could catch a wink of sleep, a knock sounded at the door. It swung open after a brief hesitation.

  "Boss! We’re back! Did you miss us?"

  A familiar male voice rang out, and a young man stepped into Kael’s view.

  "You're... Ying Feng?" Kael squinted, searching his memory for a moment before placing the name.

  "I’m honored you still remember me, Boss!" Ying Feng looked genuinely thrilled.

  "Ying Feng, move. You're blocking the way," Ying Xue’s voice followed from behind.

  "Oh. Right." Ying Feng obediently stepped aside.

  Ying Xue entered, accompanied by a young man with a refined, scholarly aura.

  "Boss, you moved? Though I suppose you didn't move very far," Ying Xue said, scanning the new interior.

  "It’s not a move. Think of it as a new facility," Kael corrected calmly, straightening his posture.

  "Fine, a new facility it is. Let me introduce you—this is Ling Xiao. He was very interested in your shop, so I brought him along." Ying Xue gestured to the young man beside her.

  "Greetings," Ling Xiao said with a polite smile.

  "Hello," Kael nodded back, then pointed to himself. "Kael. The Shop Manager."

  "Whoa, Boss, what kind of toys do you have in this new place?" Ying Feng asked curiously.

  "Someone’s playing over there; go see for yourself." Kael tapped the notice board and pointed toward Blood Wolf, who was currently fighting for his life in the corner.

  Once Ying Feng was distracted, Ling Xiao spoke up. "Manager Kael, I happened to see some of the weapons from your shop. I knew immediately that you must be a Grandmaster Smith. I was wondering..."

  "Grandmaster Smith? There’s no such person here," Kael cut him off instantly.