Chapter 20: The Trade of Power: Nexus City's Market building
Ash entirely agrees with Robin.
He doesn't tell him about the mana-tree that will grow in the future, believing that these things will become known later. Telling Robin now won't change anything. But revealing it could create uncertainty. Who knows what kinds of spells people in this world have?
If someone kidnaps or captures any of his people, and they can read or see their memories, they will risk everything to either acquire the mana-tree or sell this valuable information to another city owner. That could create unnecessary enemies for him, all because of a small, low-level mistake.
After a few moments, Ash focuses on the mana-tree's status.
A window pops up in front of him.
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Name: Mana Tree (specialty)
Status: Occupied
Ability: Able to produce mana at different levels of trees
Level: 0 (growable)
Production: Mist mana level 0 * 3 per day
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Seeing the status of the mana-tree, a small, almost imperceptible smile tugs at Ash's lips. It's barely noticeable to anyone else, but it's there.
Next, he checks Evan's status. He had given him some mana cores for refining.
A new window pops up in front of him.
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Name: Evan (altar subject)
Age: 18
Status: Healthy
Abilities: None
Level: 0 (60/100 mana mist level 0)
Weapon: Low-grade axe, low-grade shield
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Ash feels a quiet satisfaction with Evan's progress.
After a few more words between Ash and Robin, Ash turns to Evan and says, "You should meet with Ram in the altar room. Spend some time refining the mana-mist for your level growth. I'll look for a pill that can help with your breakthrough."
Evan bows his head slightly, his voice steady, "Thank you, my lord."
Ash nods in return, his eyes meeting Evan's. "Best of luck with your breakthrough."
Evan's lips curl into a smile, the first genuine expression Ash has seen from him. "Thank you, my lord."
With that, Evan leaves to find Ram, and Ash watches him go.
Moments later, Evan meets with Ash again, reporting what Ram has said. Ash doesn't respond at first, but then instructs, "Refine mana-mist from the mana-tree in the garden."
Ash and Robin head toward the market building. Ash asks Robin about it, and Robin shares some basic, public knowledge about the market. However, he doesn't know anything about the more sensitive details of the market-building. Ash, too, is aware of this, so he doesn't press him for any secret information.
Ash speaks mentally, "Status window."
A new window opens in front of him.
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City: Nexus City
Ability: Territory defense doubled
Description: In the event of a city defense, all attack and defense power of people and buildings becomes double.
Altar level: 0
Upgrade requirement: (Woods * 1000, Stone * 250, 50 mana core (level 0))
Production: Mist mana level 0 * 10 per day
Area: 625 square meters
Status: Very small village
Building: Guide mark * 1 (active), Market (5 free trades per day)
Blueprint: Low-grade house (Stones * 100, Woods * 25)
Warehouse: Wood * 39, Mana core level 0 * 33, Mana core level 1 * 0, Rabbit monster hide level 0 * 11, Rabbit monster hide level 1 * 1, Stone * 10
Population: 4
Specialty: Mana tree (produces level 0 mana * 3 per day)
Resource point: Stone Mountain level 1 (310 mined /1000, all stone mineable in new mine)
Attack power level: 0 (700/1000)
Description: City's power level to attack enemies
Defense power level: 0 (2000/10000)
Description: City's defense power level against enemies
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A few minutes later, Ash enters the market building. A window pops up in front of him.
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Would you enter the market building?
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Ash says, "Yes."
Another window appears in front of him.
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Would you like to allow your subject to enter the market-building?
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Ash says, "Yes."
Yet another pop-up window appears in front of him.
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List the names of subjects you want to allow in the market-building.
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Ash thinks for a moment, then decisively says, "Allow all people in the market building." He has considered this choice carefully. Robin had suggested a model where only important people are allowed to trade in the market, as a reward for the city's most trusted citizens. But Ash doesn't like that idea.
He believes that a free trade model, with a five percent sales tax (export tax) and a ten percent buying tax (import tax), will foster innovation and research in his city. This method will fill the city's treasury more than a restricted model would. And, crucially, it will make his new territory known and attract more people, making it famous in the area.
A few seconds later, a new pop-up appears in front of him.
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Would you like to put some taxes in the market building?
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Ash says, "Yes."
Another window pops up.
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Tell us how you want to tax people.
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Ash replies, "Put a five percent tax on items that sell from the market-building, and ten percent tax on buying from here."
A new window appears in front of him.
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Do you want to trade using the text feature of the market-building?
Or 2) Trade with both parties' physical presence (extra mana charge because physical presence costs mana from the market-building, and recovering mana is necessary)?
Or 3) Always ask people which feature they want to select.
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Ash says, "Select option 3."
A new pop-up appears in front of him.
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Welcome to the market, would you like to use text or physical features for trade?
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Ash says, "Go with text feature."
After that, Ash sees a new pop-up in front of him. The main page is displayed with a search bar where you can look for any treasure. The name of the seller, city, and even an anonymous seller offering higher-level practices and pills is listed. For a fee, the market can verify whether their product is genuine or fake. You can even identify higher-level treasures that you don't recognize due to your current level by paying a fee. The higher the level of the treasure, the more it costs to identify.
If you acquire a higher-level treasure or relic, the market can help identify it. You can also sell it using an anonymous identity. If the treasure is useful, you can keep it and use it, as the market will provide a description and manual on how to use it once you purchase the identification service.
Minutes later, Ash begins searching for a treasure suitable for Evan's breakthrough from level 0 to level 1.
After fifteen minutes of searching, Ash finds the perfect pill for Evan.
He checks the pill's status.
A few seconds later, a window pops up in front of him.
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Name: Red pill (consumable resource)
Status: Good (pill)
Ability: 99% breakthrough chance from level 0 to level 1
Level: 1
Description: Made by a level 2 alchemist for breakthroughs from level 0 to level 1, when he was teaching his student how to make pills.
Price: 50 * level 0 mana-core/mist
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Seeing the price, Ash thinks, "Status window."
A window pops up in front of him.
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City: Nexus City
Ability: Territory defense doubled
Description: In the event of city defense, all attack and defense power of people and buildings becomes double.
Altar level: 0
Upgrade requirement: (Woods * 1000, Stone * 250, 50 mana core (level 0))
Production: Mist mana level 0 * 10 per day
Area: 625 square meters
Status: Very small village
Tax (market): 0 * mana-mist level
Building: Guide mark * 1 (active), Market (5 free trades per day)
Blueprint: Low-grade house (Stones * 100, Woods * 25)
Warehouse: Wood * 39, Mana core level 0 * 33, Mana core level 1 * 0, Rabbit monster hide level 0 * 11, Rabbit monster hide level 1 * 1, Stone * 10
Population: 4
Specialty: Mana tree (produces level 0 mana * 3 per day)
Resource point: Stone Mountain level 1 (310 mined /1000, all stone mineable in new mine)
Attack power level: 0 (700/1000)
Description: City's power level to attack enemies
Defense power level: 0 (2000/10000)
Description: City's defense power level against enemies
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