Chapter 33: Choosing a Profession Part 2
With regards to buying a slave, there's no specific profession required to have permission. Whether one is a warrior, a mage, or a merchant, anyone could buy except for those without a profession. The reason for this is that the black market operates at a higher level than the ordinary surface stores. Meaning, they are selling resources that only those with a profession could supposedly access, so having a profession is like an entry card.
However, if they wanted to hit two birds with one stone, Kael proceeded to the Merchant Union to register as a merchant.
Elandor previously mentioned that if they keep on bringing more and more materials into the Sylvaris Kingdom in the future, they would eventually reach the limit allowed for non-merchant individuals to pass through the gate.
Since they are choosing a profession today, they might as well take care of that problem at the same time.
Not long after, Kael, Lawrence, and Jayem finally reached the entrance of the Merchant Union.
Looking in front, a huge building that seemed to be more like a palace than a store stood imposingly high while integrating its building with four huge trees with leaves that covered the entire sky above it.
"Isn't this more like a castle than a store?" Lawrence was in awe as he stared with wide eyes at the Merchant Union.
"Yeah," Jayem couldn't say anything more.
"Let's get in!" Kael invited the duo inside.
As they walked through the entrance, the guard simply checked their faces and let them through.
It wasn't because the guard wasn't doing his job correctly. He was simply confident enough that even if anyone dared to bring harm to their organization, the powerful guards inside would prevent any of that from taking place. They're just too powerful to the point that even the Royal Family would occasionally try recruiting some of them now and then. Sometimes they'll succeed, but with how much the Merchant Union could offer to these powerful individuals, they find themselves failing the majority of the time.
As the trio stepped inside, they were instantly greeted by a lively environment.
Surveying around, they could see countless people chattering everywhere, coins clattering on different desks after completing a transaction, and various magical devices at work.
The building's interior has five floors and was built like an open-concept mall, with wide walkways and an open hall at the center that stretched up to the canopy of the four great trees supporting the entire structure.
Natural light from the sun above acted as the main source of light, filtered and spread through by leaves, mixed with soft illumination from floating crystal lanterns.
At the heart of the hall, a large spiralling staircase made of polished stone and enchanted roots rose its way up to the fifth floor, with at least four bridges connected on every floor, allowing guests to reach the floor they want.
Taking a closer look, the first floor was bustling with noise and business with ordinary folks. It was modestly decorated with wooden stalls, stone-tiled floors, and hanging banners to attract customers and to represent their business. Each stall has its marketing strategy that completely contrasts with the other, making the entire place chaotic and unorganized. But regardless, it was what made this floor beautiful and a favorite among many.
The merchants on this floor sold everyday necessities like basic tools, common potions, simple gear and armor, and ingredients that adventurers or civilians needed and frequently required.
As they started climbing the stairs, they were able to slowly get a view of the rest of the floors and understand their respective purposes.
On the second floor, it caters to the more seasoned buyers. Stone floors were now lined with thin carpets, and the merchant booths had evolved into semi-permanent shops. Each store has shelves that glimmer with no ordinary items, like weapons and armor made with no ordinary materials, and carefully bottled potions, which include the famous Health Potion that the Royal Family of the Sylvaris Kingdom manufactured.
When they reached the third floor, they were greeted by a more refined environment. The original stone floor had now become a marbled floor with a delicate surface. Flowing silk curtains section off private shop spaces, and magical signs glow softly above doorways, attracting the eyes of the people nearby. This floor was quieter, filled with skilled customers and sharp-eyed vendors offering rare crafting materials, high-grade weapons, gear, and armor, enchanted accessories, and exotic produce.
By the time they reached the fourth floor, the ambience had turned aristocratic. Bright and deep violet, and gold-toned colors colored the environment. Fine rugs covered every inch of the floor, and the air smelled faintly of high-quality mana that seemed to have completely washed away any impurities that remained in their body. They even believed that if they stayed here for an extended period of time, they would be able to prolong their lives.
Unbeknownst to the majority of the new customers, every store on the fourth floor is protected by its own guards or a powerful protective magic spell for extra protection. Some were openly shown at the entrance, while others were hidden in secret, blending in with the environment.
The products sold on this floor were all top-tier and exquisite items, made by well-known and influential craftsmen throughout the entire Avalon. Some of these individuals could barely even produce items every year, just because of how difficult the process of crafting these items is. More importantly, a higher quality and more potent Health Potion is being sold on this floor, including other powerful and effective potions.
Most of the customers on the fourth floor wear robes, powerful armor, with some wearing a cloth that only a member of the nobility wears or an insignia that belonged to a powerful organization.
At the top of the building, on the fifth floor, the noise, as if someone had died, became almost non-existent.
This floor barely had any shops, and they're spaced far away, but there were countless guards spread everywhere. Nevertheless, nobody made a noise, and even their breathing was silent as if afraid of attracting unwanted attention.
On this floor, only when one enters a shop can they tell what product they're selling since their entrance are covered with a black veil that protects against any type of sight or detection from seeing through inside. However, one thing was certain and guaranteed for all the shops on this floor. Unlike the fourth floor, the fifth floor only sells products where only a few exist or are one of a kind throughout the entire Avalon.
In Kael's first life, he owned a property on this floor. But at that time, this floor was already filled with stores of successful merchant players from Noverra. Not only in this branch, but in all branches of the Merchant Union.
To make matters more challenging, there are already other player-owned establishments that rival or even surpass the Merchant Union in influence. Albeit that matter is only for the future.
At this moment, almost every wealthiest, most powerful, or most important individual in Avalon conducted business here. And they're similarly visited by people of the same status.
Now, the question is, why exactly did they come to this level?
That's because, located at an inconspicuous corner on the fifth floor, was a modest counter manned by a beautiful female elf. And on both sides of this counter are a flight of stairs made out of unknown materials that emit oppressive mana, leading to the sixth floor, which is a floor that housed a single unadorned office. It might be simple, but this office is actually where one could find the President of the Merchant Union.
However, that wasn't their intention for coming to this floor. They came here for that counter, as that counter is where one could register to become a merchant.
"Quite strange, isn't it?" Kael suddenly muttered.
"Well, yeah. I wonder. Why exactly did they put the registration counter on the fifth floor?" Lawrence also wanted to know.
Kael didn't explain the reason for this in his guide.
"That's because they wanted those who aimed to become a merchant to see the different levels of the profession," Kael explained. "And as you've obviously noticed, there are barely any stores on the fifth. In this way, every up-and-coming merchant will become motivated to one day become one of the merchants to fill up the open spaces on this floor."
Lawrence and Jayem could somewhat understand. But they didn't bother thinking deeply about it since they weren't interested in becoming a merchant anyway.
To explain Kael's words more accurately, the Merchant Union's purpose is to light the fire inside the hearts of every aspiring merchant, as those empty spaces represent a spot they could potentially make their own someday in the future. And as they've noticed from the first floor to the fourth floor, which are filled with countless businesses, this was done purposely to affect the merchants psychologically to strive hard and compete intensely with their counterparts to secure the spot.
"Anyways, let's proceed with our registration!" Kael started approaching the counter.