Daniel was rich—at least in name. In reality, his bank account told a very different story.
Sighing deeply, Daniel walked through the bustling capital market, silently cursing his luck. The Academy was closed again today—no classes—and he had decided to make use of the free time by heading to the city. He carried with him a small pouch filled with mana crystals he had gathered from the depths of the sea. His plan: sell them and hopefully make enough money to survive the week.
He stopped in front of a shop with a weathered sign that read:
Stone's Weaponry and Armory
It was a fairly underrated store, not exactly crowded, not particularly flashy. But its gear? Surprisingly good. Justin, the Academy's golden boy, always bought his equipment here. The shop owner used to give him generous discounts even before he got famous. And once Justin's name exploded across the capital as a prodigy, students started pouring in—hoping to use the same weapons, wear the same armor, maybe borrow a bit of his luck.
With Justin's fame, the shop's popularity skyrocketed.
Daniel stepped toward the entrance just as Justin was walking out.
They missed each other by a hair's breadth.
Daniel, lost in his thoughts, didn't even notice.
But Justin did.
His eyes widened for a split second as he spotted Daniel walking into the shop.
"Daniel? What's he doing here?" he wondered silently.
He paused for a moment, visibly taken aback. But then, as if shaking off the thought, he turned away and walked down the street, disappearing into the crowd.
Daniel, oblivious to the encounter, pushed open the door and stepped inside.
---
With a faint smile, Daniel said politely, "Excuse me?"
On the other side of the counter, a young woman was crouched beneath, arranging some equipment. At the sound of his voice, she suddenly looked up and replied, "Yes sir, which kind of equip—"
But the words froze in her throat the moment her eyes met his.
As she looked at Daniel, something bloomed inside her—like a field of flowers in spring.
"He's… so handsome," she thought, heart fluttering. Her gaze swept over him from head to toe. He was wearing the Hero Academy uniform, neat and proud.
"Are all Hero Academy students this good-looking?" she wondered. "First it was Justin… and now this guy?"
Daniel cleared his throat gently to regain her attention. "Hello, miss?"
Snapping out of her daze, the girl stammered, flustered, "Oh! I'm sorry. What kind of equipment do you need? We have all types—swords, shields, staffs, catalysts—and if you want something custom, we can make that too. Anything you desire!"
She said it all in a single breath.
Her name was Reena Stone. Shy and clumsy by nature, but behind that awkward exterior hid a brilliant mind. She was smart, business-minded, and a gifted alchemist. She always wore loose, ill-fitting clothes and a pair of round spectacles perched on her nose. Her hair shimmered in yellowish green hues, matching the glow of her sharp eyes.
Although she was still at the beginning of her alchemy journey, mostly making low-grade items, her talent was undeniable. With no money to attend a formal academy or afford proper training, she worked at her family's shop. But once the store gained popularity—largely thanks to Justin's endorsements—Reena slowly started chasing her passion. Within a year, she'd earned the title of "genius alchemist."
Her only weakness?
Handsome guys.
One glimpse of a good-looking face, and all her logic circuits seemed to fry. That said—Reena was a strict professional. Just because she swooned over someone didn't mean she'd offer discounts. She was the type to keep personal and professional completely separate.
Justin got discounts not because of his looks, but because he brought the shop recognition and customers. He was good for business, plain and simple.
Daniel, unaware of the storm he'd just stirred in Reena's heart, smiled gently and said, "Can I speak to the owner? I'm here to sell some mana crystals."
---
Reena, visibly disappointed, said with a sigh, "Oh… I'm sorry. But we don't buy mana crystals."
Daniel arched an eyebrow. "Not even," he said, pulling something from his bag, "when they're S-quality?"
He held out a shimmering crystal that pulsed with an inner glow—blue at the core, fading into silver edges like moonlight on still water.
"I think Mister Stone is going to love this," Daniel added with a soft smile. "And don't worry—I won't ask for a single penny in return."
Reena stared at the crystal, stunned. "What? Then… what do you want?"
Daniel gave a half-smile, his voice calm and confident. "First, let him see this. If he agrees to meet me… we'll talk then."
Still a little dazed, Reena called over a shop assistant—a lanky boy with soot on his sleeves—and handed him the crystal. "Take this to Mister Stone," she said. "He's in the workshop upstairs."
The boy nodded and rushed off.
Upstairs, Rudrick Stone sat near the forge, flames flickering beside him. He was a middle-aged man—broad-shouldered, his hands calloused from years of forging weapons. Despite his exceptional talent as a blacksmith, his business had never flourished. Poor financial decisions, a complete lack of marketing skills, and above all, the constant burden of his wife's medical condition had drained both his wealth and his spirit.
Reena, his daughter, had stepped into alchemy not just out of passion—but out of necessity. To ease the burden on her father. To keep their home afloat.
As Rudrick held the crystal the boy brought him, his weary eyes widened. He turned it over in his hands, examining every angle. The longer he stared, the more astonished he became. A moment later, without a word, he leapt up and rushed down the stairs.
Meanwhile, in the store's small meeting room, Daniel and Reena sat facing each other across a low wooden table. The room smelled faintly of iron, oil, and old parchment. Daniel sat comfortably, his demeanor relaxed. Reena, on the other hand, kept stealing glances at him, still trying to piece him together.
The sound of quick footsteps echoed.
And then, Rudrick entered the room, breathless, eyes gleaming with curiosity and excitement.
Daniel smiled the moment he saw him—a warm, knowing smile that caught Reena's attention. Her brows knit slightly. She didn't like that smile… or rather, she didn't like the fact that she did like it.
Rudrick walked straight over to Reena and asked, voice urgent, "Reena… where did you get this crystal? Who does it belong to?"
---
Reena was just about to respond when Daniel leaned back slightly, a calm smile on his lips, and said with a polite nod, "Pleasure to meet you, Sir Rudrick Stone."
Rudrick turned toward him, eyes narrowing with curiosity. He scanned Daniel's youthful face, trying to place him, but the name didn't ring any bells.
Without a word, Daniel reached for his bag and, with a casual flick, overturned it.
One by one, more than thirty crystal stones spilled onto the table in a shimmering cascade—each one glowing faintly, their magical resonance humming through the wooden surface. The room was instantly filled with a radiant energy. Reena's eyes widened. Even Rudrick took a step back, as if the sheer power emanating from the stones had caught him off guard.
Daniel, still smiling, said smoothly, "My name is Daniel… Daniel Johnson."
Rudrick raised an eyebrow. "Johnson…" he muttered, thinking. The name clearly meant something—but the young man didn't seem to be anyone he'd heard of.
Daniel chuckled softly. "Yes, my surname is just 'Johnson'. But as for my pocket—well, that's quite empty at the moment."
That dry humor earned a half-laugh from Rudrick, who said with some confusion, "You show up with a pile of S-tier mana crystals… and still claim to be broke? I can't tell if you're being humble or mocking me."
Daniel only gave a small smile, then shrugged, as if brushing away the question. "Let's not beat around the bush," he said. "I have an offer. In exchange for these mana stones… I want fifty percent ownership of this shop. What do you think?"
His tone was still light, but there was weight behind the words—a quiet confidence that made it clear he wasn't joking.
Rudrick paused, visibly startled. He glanced once more at the glittering stones on the table—their value unquestionably far beyond anything his shop was worth. Then, with a cautious breath, he said, "These mana stones… they're worth ten times the actual value of my entire shop. But the truth is… I've already handed the business over to my daughter. So now… it's her decision."
Daniel turned his eyes to Reena.
She sat elegantly, her back resting against the sofa, her hands folded, a calm but regal air about her. The soft golden light from the crystals made her eyes seem even sharper, like molten bronze. Her expression betrayed nothing, but her presence filled the room.
Daniel smiled at her, unshaken.
Now the ball was in her court. And both men waited for the girl on the throne to speak.