Year 1451, month 11, day 08
Today is another remarkably good day, and the morning air carries a crispness that matches my mood. I am eager to sell another batch of goods today, but my primary focus is centered on a brand-new business attempt. I have had this specific idea in my head for a long time, turning it over and analyzing the risks, but until now, the circumstances simply weren't suitable for it to bloom. With my current capital and stats, the timing is finally right.
The idea I am referring to is the implementation of skill crystals into equipment. After confirming that the symbols I see on various items of equipment are indeed empty slots, I have noted that the number of these sockets increases in direct proportion to the quality of the item. As far as I can tell through my observations of other merchants and adventurers, I am the only person so far who possesses the ability to see exactly how many sockets a piece of equipment has. To everyone else, a sword is just a sword until a crystal is successfully forced into it.
To get this venture off the ground, I first had to collect equipment with as many empty sockets as possible. This was not much of a problem in a trade hub like Yargan; I could simply walk into any reputable smithy and buy up steel weapons or armor that met my criteria. The real challenge, however, was the acquisition of the skill crystals themselves. They are the main bottleneck because it is extremely rare for a monster to drop a skill crystal upon death.
The established mechanics of this world dictate that when you kill monsters of the same kind, the amount you have killed accumulates behind the scenes. Eventually, it becomes possible for you to acquire a skill crystal as a drop. This accumulation rate increases significantly as the level of the monsters you are hunting becomes higher. For instance, while killing a level 30 variant slime, maybe 100 or 200 times could eventually net you a slime skill crystal, such a drop would not be guaranteed even if you were to slaughter 1,000 level 1 gray slimes.
That is, at least, what is generally known and accepted by the public. It can be considered a proven fact through centuries of trial and error by delvers. It is extremely rare for low-level monsters to drop one, whereas the frequency starts to become more common as you descend deeper into the dungeon. The problem is that there are simply not many people capable of surviving those lower floors. The ones who can are mostly high-ranking knights of the Union or elite adventurers who have powerful noble sponsors backing their every move.
As for the market prices of these rare items, they generally start at around 10 gold coins for basic types, like the turtle skill crystal I acquired myself. The price can easily climb to 100 gold coins for something like a goblin skill crystal, which possesses the rare utility of being able to exchange the effects of other crystals. Some skill crystals are even rarer than that, and for those, the price can only go higher, limited only by the desperation of the buyer.
Even though it is normally impossible to see how many skill crystals a piece of equipment can hold—except for me—it is not entirely impossible for others to find out. The conventional method is incredibly wasteful, but since high-level skill crystals are so valuable, some people find this a more profitable approach in the long run.
If someone truly wants to possess a sword with three skill crystals embedded, they would first have to purchase the specific, high-value skill crystals they eventually want to implement. Then, they decide on the base sword they want to wield. After confirming these components, the truly difficult and expensive part of the process begins.
They must find at least three different varieties of the cheapest, most common skill crystals that are compatible with a sword. They buy a base sword and try to implement these "trash" crystals into it one by one. There is a very low probability that the first try would be successful across all three slots, so they often have to repeat this entire process, buying new swords and more cheap crystals until they finally manage to get a single sword that holds three skill crystals. Even with the cheapest materials available, this endeavor might cost a commoner a literal fortune.
Regardless of the immense amount of money spent, once they finally possess a sword with three cheap skill crystals successfully embedded, they then have to purchase three orc skill crystals. Orc skill crystals are unique in that they have the effect of erasing an already implemented skill crystal from a piece of equipment. By using these on their three-crystal sword, they can finally clear the slots and have a high-quality weapon with at least three confirmed empty sockets.
After that reset, they can finally insert whichever high-value skill crystals they actually wanted into that sword, up to the three confirmed slots. Of course, there is still a tiny possibility that the sword might actually have four empty sockets, but that chance is extremely low.
The core problem here is that people normally don’t even know that these sockets exist as a fixed state of the equipment. Even the knowledge of testing, clearing, and re-implementing is treated as little more than a rumor, even among well-known enchanters and master blacksmiths. Most people I have heard this from claim that this is a secret method used primarily by the dwarves, who generally reside within the Almiranth Kingdom. Therefore, most assume this is either a myth or something that only a dwarf’s innate craft-magic can accomplish.
I am certain that some human researchers have already tested it, but they must represent an extreme minority since it is so hard to gather the resources for even a few tests, let alone enough to prove the theory. Even if the method were proven beyond a doubt, not everyone has the treasury to pay such an exorbitant amount. Most people who want enchanted equipment just try to add one or two skill crystals and hope for the best, or they become greedy and end up demolishing their expensive belongings while trying to force a third one in. Only the exceptionally lucky manage to walk away with a high-tier piece.
Fortunately, I am not bothered by these limitations, and I can even use this general ignorance to my advantage. I can start by producing equipment that already has two or three skill crystals and sell them to build my renown. Once my name is associated with high-success enchanting, I can start to attract much "fatter" customers with deeper pockets.
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While I can certainly gain money by successfully adding skill crystals to equipment, I expect my main income will actually come from those items that cannot be added. All I have to do is take an item, wait for a short period to simulate the "work," and then return the item to its owner while claiming that the implantation has failed.
This will undoubtedly create a massive stir. I will advertise my service by claiming that the equipment will not be destroyed even if the attempt to implement the skill crystal fails. People who hear this claim will likely not believe me at first, but I have to make sure to hook them with results.
As for the payment structure, I will ask for the skill crystal they want implemented, plus a fee of 10 gold coins. In this market, that will likely be seen as extortionate, but the promise of returning the equipment safely, even in the case of failure, will be a massive advantage that no other enchanter can offer. To sweeten the deal, I will even offer to give back 5 gold coins of the fee if the implementation fails.
The main point of this payment system is that it will allow me to accumulate a vast stockpile of skill crystals from the "failed" attempts. Furthermore, people will likely start to theorize that my "secret method" involves using two of the same skill crystals to ensure the process remains safe for the equipment. They will think that the second crystal is used as a buffer, which will help me get rid of any suspicions regarding my actual abilities.
I have already laid the groundwork for this new area of business over the past few weeks. I asked Orzhan to start buying up any available skill crystals beforehand, and I have been visiting him from time to time whenever my trade money piled up. I have already collected several crystals from him, and I am now on my way to the auction house to pick up another batch of deliveries.
I am continuing my routine of buying and selling other goods, but since I have built up quite a pile of inventory at home—including the high-end jewelry Merkan sourced for me in Baymur—I am currently more focused on selling than buying. This shift has given me enough financial leeway to invest my profits heavily into skill crystals.
I have already sold most of the Baymur jewelry since I took the time to find customers in advance. I toured many high-end districts to advertise my coastal connection as soon as I returned from vacation, so it was relatively easy to find buyers. Even though there are still a few pieces of jewelry left in my storage, I have already doubled the amount I originally paid to Merkan. I have brought in around 8 platinum coins for them so far. That total could reach 10 platinum once I sell the final pieces, or I might just decide to gift the remaining ones to the girls as a reward.
Since the jewelry was not my only successful area of trade, the total amount I have saved up has reached nearly 15 platinum coins. I have already spent 5 platinum coins on buying initial skill crystals and gave Orzhan another 5 platinum as a front payment for his latest search. If I receive everything he has bought this time, my total investment in the skill crystal market will reach 10 platinum coins.
“Please wait for me to call him, Sir,” the man at the auction house reception desk said when I arrived and asked for Orzhan. He bowed politely and went to find him.
After waiting for dozens of seconds, Orzhan showed up carrying a sturdy sack in his hand. He greeted me and brought me to a small, private room similar to the ones we usually meet in. Once I entered and sat on the plush sofa, he ordered a cup of tea for both of us and took the seat across from me.
“It is nice to see you, Han. I have to tell you, because you’ve been looking for skill crystals so continuously, it has actually become harder for me to buy them at the usual rates. Even when I can find them, the prices have started to go up a bit because of the demand. But don’t worry, I managed to secure 10 of them for you this time. A little bit of the gold you gave me remained, so don’t worry about my commission for this batch—just leave the leftovers to me as my fee.”
He explained the situation as if he were talking about something obvious, finishing with a professional smile. He was the one doing the actual legwork, so I was not involved in the gritty details of the buying process. My role is simple: I give him the capital beforehand or afterward, and then I pay his commission when he delivers the items to me.
I had already received 11 skill crystals from him previously, and he has given me 10 more this time. Including the turtle skill crystal I acquired in the dungeon myself, I now have a total of 22 skill crystals in my possession. The total amount of coins I have spent on them is 10 platinum coins, which averages out to nearly 50 gold coins for each one.
“That is perfectly fine. You have done all the hard work of tracking them down anyway,” I agreed, letting him keep the remaining change for himself.
“Thanks. But honestly, what will you do with all these skill crystals anyway? I’ve heard rumors that even the prices of crystals sold in other auctions across the region have started to rise because of your aggressive purchases,” he said, putting his hand on his chin and looking at me inquisitively.
“... It is...” I started to speak, but I was interrupted by a servant coming in to deliver our tea. I waited for the man to set the cups down and leave the room. After the servant had departed and closed the door firmly, I took a slow sip from my cup and leaned back into my seat before starting again. “I am planning on hiring an enchanter to start a formal business.”
I had contemplated beforehand what to say if someone asked what I was doing or who I was using as an enchanter. Since I will eventually need a "front" for this work—or simply do it myself after acquiring the relevant skills—I could not risk saying that I would be the one performing the enchantments. That would risk revealing the secrets of my system.
“... I don't know why, but I suspected it might be something special like that,” Orzhan said, his tone turning serious. “Just so you know, many rich merchants and even high-ranking nobles have tried to do the same thing in the past. Some managed to gain a small foothold, but most of them ended up suffering serious financial losses. It is a very risky market... Are you absolutely sure about this, Han?”
“... Don't worry. I have a hidden agenda that would not disappoint you,” I said, looking him directly in the eyes with a confident expression.
He did not look completely convinced, but he must have seen something trustworthy in my demeanor during our previous successful deals. He chose not to pursue the topic any further. Since I have made such a bold claim to him, all that is left for me to do is prove that I don’t make baseless remarks.
[Edited]
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Heroes:
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