There were many ways Marco had imagined meeting a god. None of them involved standing in sweatpants, with anticucho sauce on his face, and a half-eaten empanada still in his hand.
Loki watched him with that calculating gaze he had likely perfected over millennia of plotting against everything that moved. His eyes—so green they seemed to glow—scanned Marco from head to toe, and the amused smile on his face widened.
" Well?" said the god, taking another step toward the shop and looking around with genuine fascination. "Aren't you going to introduce yourself? According to my extensive knowledge of business protocol—which I assure you—the salesperson should speak first."
Marco swallowed hard. Then, in a moment of pure inspiration (or desperation, he wasn't sure yet), he decided to do what he always did when he was nervous: act as if he had everything under control.
"Sure, sure." He placed the empanada on the plate with all the dignity he could muster and wiped his mouth with a napkin that conveniently appeared in his hand. "Excuse my manners, I was just having dinner. Well, lunch. Or... what time is it? Never mind. Welcome to the Multiversal Store , where we literally sell everything. And when I say everything, I mean EVERYTHING. My name is Marco Antonio Durán, but you can call me Marco. And you are...?"
He stopped there, waiting to see if Loki would confirm his identity. He didn't want to reveal that he knew who he was if it turned out this was a Loki from some strange timeline where things were different.
Loki bowed his head, studying him with renewed interest.
— Loki . Of Asgard . —He paused—. Though I suspect you already knew that.
"I had my suspicions," Marco admitted, deciding that partial honesty was the best policy when dealing with the God of Deception. "Let's just say your reputation precedes you."
" Oh?" Loki walked slowly between the nearest shelves, his fingers skimming the air near the objects without actually touching them. "And what exactly does my reputation say?"
Marco felt sweat running down his back. This was like walking through a minefield where the mines could turn you into a frog.
—That you're the smartest guy in Asgard . A master of magic. And that... well, that you don't like to follow the rules.
Loki stopped and looked at him over his shoulder, a genuine smile—not the calculated one from before—appearing briefly on his face.
"Clever choice of words. Most people would call me a traitor, a liar, a villain..." He shrugged gracefully. "But 'someone who doesn't follow the rules' has a more... diplomatic ring to it."
"Well, I'm not a fan of rules either," Marco said, relaxing a little. "And in my experience, the best clients are the ones who think outside the box."
[TIP: ESTABLISH RAPPORT WITH THE CLIENT]
[LOKI RESPONDS WELL TO INTELLIGENT FLATTERY AND WIT]
The screen appeared in the corner of Marco's vision, visible only to him. It was like having a cheat code. sheet during an exam, except the exam was to sell something to a Norse god.
multiversal store ,'" Loki repeated , turning his attention back to the shelves. "That means you have access to multiple realities. Parallel universes. Alternate timelines."
"Exactly." Marco started walking beside him, taking on the role of a salesman. "Everything that exists, has existed, or will exist in any universe is available here. Weapons, magical artifacts, knowledge, technology... even food, if you're interested. The salteñas are delicious."
Loki glanced at him out of the corner of his eye.
— Salteñas?
—Bolivian food. They're like empanadas but better. Don't look at me like that, I'm being objective.
For the first time since he arrived, Loki laughed. It was a short, almost surprised laugh, as if he hadn't expected to find humor here.
"You are... peculiar," said the god. "You are unlike any merchant I have ever met."
"That's because I'm new to the business," Marco admitted with a smile. "You're literally my first customer. So if this goes wrong, at least I don't have a reputation to ruin yet."
[WARNING: TOO MUCH HONESTY CAN BE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE]
But to Marco's (and apparently the System's) surprise, Loki seemed to find this charming rather than daunting.
"Your first client. What an honor." The god stopped in front of a shelf containing several ancient books that glowed with magical power. "So, tell me, Marco Antonio Durán, how exactly does this work? What should I offer you in exchange for your merchandise?"
That was the million-dollar question.
"Multiversal Credits," Marco explained. "They're the universal currency of the shop. You can get them by trading things of value. And when I say things of value, I mean anything: magic items, important memories, unique knowledge, skills... even parts of your power if you're really desperate, though I don't recommend it."
Loki raised an eyebrow.
— Souvenirs? Can you trade in souvenirs?
—According to the System, yes. Although I suppose it depends on how important they are to you. A memory of what you had for breakfast three Tuesdays ago probably isn't worth much. But a memory of, I don't know, your first kiss or something...
"It would be worth considerably more," Loki finished, nodding thoughtfully. "Fascinating. It's almost like Fae contracts , but more... quantifiable."
[LOKI SHOWS INTEREST IN THE MECHANICS OF THE SYSTEM]
[SUGGESTION: OFFER A FREE EVALUATION OF YOUR POSSESSIONS]
"Hey," Marco said, following the System's advice. "How about we do a quick evaluation? No strings attached. Just so you can see how much you could earn if you decide to trade something."
Loki looked at him with suspicion, but also with curiosity.
—No strings attached?
"No strings attached. Look, I'm new to this, and you're my first client. We're basically learning together." Marco offered him his most genuine smile. "Besides, what can I do for you? You're a god. I'm just a guy who was playing soccer in Iztapalapa three hours ago."
That brought another smile to Loki 's face .
—Iztapalapa. That name is not familiar to me.
—It's a place in my world. Mexico City, Earth, you know. The place where people eat tacos and the traffic is so bad that walking is faster.
—It sounds... quaint.
"It's a beautiful nightmare." Marco gestured to Loki . "So, what do you say? Do we let the System evaluate what you bring?"
Loki considered this for a long moment. Marco could almost see the gears turning in the god's head, calculating risks, benefits, possible betrayals. Finally, he bowed his head.
—Very well. But only out of curiosity.
[STARTING CUSTOMER SCANNING]
[ANALYZING POSSESSIONS AND ATTRIBUTES...]
A faint blue light briefly surrounded Loki . The god tensed, his hand instinctively moving toward where he likely kept some kind of weapon or spell, but the light vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
[COMPLETE SCAN]
A new screen appeared, this time visible to both of them. It was like an RPG character sheet, but much more detailed .
[CLIENT: LOKI LAUFEYSON]
ORIGIN: Asgard (MCU Universe-199999)
RACE: Jotun (disguised as an Asgardian )
TITLES: Prince of Asgard , God of Deception
EVALUABLE POSSESSIONS:
Scepter with Mind Gem - VALUE: 75,000,000 CM 2. Knowledge of
Advanced Asgardian Magic - VALUE: 500,000 CM
3. Memory: "The Truth About Your Lineage" - VALUE: 85,000 CM
4. Memory: "Your First Conversation with Thor" - VALUE: 45,000 CM
5. Skill: Master-Level Illusions - VALUE: 250,000 CM
TOTAL EVALUATED VALUE: 75,880,000 CM
Marco whistled softly. Seventy-five million. This guy was carrying a walking fortune.
Loki , on the other hand, remained completely still, staring at the screen with an expression Marco couldn't quite decipher. There was surprise there, yes, but also something more. Discomfort? Pain?
"The truth about your lineage," Loki read aloud. "How... specific."
Shit. Marco realized too late that he'd just stumbled on something personal. Very personal. According to the movies, the subject of Loki 's lineage —the fact that he was adopted, that he was a Jotun —was a super sensitive topic.
"Hey, look," Marco said quickly. "You don't have to trade anything you don't want. The System only shows what has value, but you decide what to offer. And between you and me," he lowered his voice as if telling him a secret, "personal memories are worth a lot, but they're also the ones that hurt the most to lose. I would never trade, I don't know, my first soccer game or the day my grandmother taught me how to make salteñas. There are some things that are priceless, you know?"
Loki stared at him for a long moment, studying him with those piercing eyes that seemed to look straight into Marco's soul.
" You're really new to this, aren't you?" he finally asked.
—Like a chick that just hatched from its egg—Marco confirmed. —Why?
"Because no experienced merchant would have said that." Loki pointed at the list. "You just told me not to sell my most valuable possessions."
"Well, yeah, but..." Marco scratched the back of his neck. "Look, dude, I don't know about you, but I couldn't live with myself if I convinced you to sell your personal memories just to get rich. That's messed up. There are other things on the list. Your magic, your skills, even that scepter you're carrying..."
"I no longer have the scepter," Loki interrupted . "That's outdated information."
[UPDATING DATABASE...]
[SCERECTION WITH MENTAL GEM - NOT AVAILABLE]
[TOTAL UPDATED VALUE: 880,000 CM]
"Well, that's still almost a million credits," Marco said. "That's... a ton of money. You could buy a lot of stuff with that."
Loki walked back to the shelves, his hands behind his back, clearly deep in thought. Marco let him process his thoughts, taking the opportunity to finish his empanada. There was no point in wasting good food while the customer deliberated.
"Tell me something, Marco," Loki said without turning around. "What kind of things do you sell exactly? Give me specific examples."
Marco swallowed the last bite of empanada and wiped his hands.
"Well, there's everything. Magic weapons from every mythology. Technology from advanced civilizations. Spellbooks from literally every magic system that exists. Unique artifacts. Video game items that grant you special abilities." He approached Loki . "What are you specifically seeking? Power? Knowledge? Revenge? I'm not judging you; I just need to know which direction to take."
Loki stopped in front of a shelf that contained several shiny books.
"Knowledge," she said finally. "Always knowledge. The magic I know is powerful, yes, but it's limited by the teachings of Asgard . My mother…" She paused, her voice softening almost imperceptibly. "My mother taught me all she could, but even she had her limits."
[EMOTIONAL CONNECTION DETECTED: MOTHER]
[SUGGESTION: OFFER SOMETHING RELATED TO ADVANCED MAGICAL LEARNING]
Marco thought quickly. Books of magic, knowledge, something that would impress a god who was already a master of the subject...
"System," he murmured softly. "Search: books of advanced magic, systems other than Asgardian , power level: high, price: less than one million credits."
[SHOWING RESULTS...]
A list appeared before Marco, invisible to Loki . There were hundreds of options, but one in particular caught his attention.
[GRIMORY OF AGAMOTTO]
ORIGIN: Earth-616 ( Marvel Comics)
DESCRIPTION: Spellbook of the first Sorcerer Supreme, containing knowledge of dark elven magic , dimensional spells, and forbidden time enchantments.
PRICE: 750,000 CM
OWNER DISCOUNT PRICE: 150,000 CM
Perfect. It was expensive but not impossible for Loki , and the contents were exactly the kind of thing that would make a god of mischief drool.
—I have something that might interest you—Marco said, and with a gesture, he made the book appear to float between them.
It was beautiful and terrifying at the same time. The cover was made of a material that seemed to absorb light, with golden runes that constantly shifted and changed. The book practically vibrated with power.
Loki 's eyes lit up. They literally lit up with a green glow.
" What is that?" he asked, his voice barely a reverent whisper.
"The Grimoire of Agamotto . From the first Sorcerer Supreme of another version of Earth. It contains knowledge of magic that goes beyond what is taught in Asgard . Dark elven magic , dimensional manipulation, time enchantments..." Marco paused dramatically. "Things that not even Odin knows."
Loki reached out for the book, but stopped just before touching it, remembering the warning about the merchandise.
" How much?" he asked without taking his eyes off the grimoire.
—Seven hundred and fifty thousand credits.
Loki finally looked up from the book to look at Marco.
—That's pretty much all I have available.
"I know." Marco shrugged. "But look at him, dude. That book has knowledge that could put you on par with the most powerful sorcerers in the multiverse . Maybe even above them. Think about what you could do with that power."
[WARNING: CLIENT SHOWS SIGNS OF EXTREME INTEREST]
[BE CAREFUL NOT TO PRESS TOO HARD]
Loki 's eyes that the god was already sold out. It was only a matter of time before his pride caught up with him.
" What else do you have?" Loki asked , trying to sound casual. "Just curious."
Marco smiled. Ah, the classic "let me see what else is out there before I commit." I'd seen it a thousand times at the flea market.
"Sure, sure. I can show you other things. But let's be honest," he said, gesturing to the grimoire. "None of the other options in your price range are making you look like this. This book is what you came here for, even if you didn't know it before you got here."
Loki opened his mouth to protest, then closed it. Finally, he laughed, a genuine laugh that filled the shop.
"You're dangerously perceptive for a 'newborn chick,'" he said. "Very well. You're right. I want that book." His expression turned serious. "But I have an important question before we proceed."
—Shoot.
—If I trade my knowledge of Asgardian magic for credits, will I lose that knowledge? Will it leave my mind?
Excellent question. Marco looked at the system screen.
—System, what happens to knowledge when it is traded?
[THE TRADED KNOWLEDGE IS TRANSFERRED TO THE STORE'S INVENTORY]
[THE CLIENT RETAINS THE KNOWLEDGE BUT LOSES THE ABILITY TO MAGICALLY TEACH OR TRANSMIT IT]
[IT'S LIKE HAVING A BOOK YOU CAN READ BUT NOT COPY]
Marco passed the information on to Loki , who considered it carefully.
—So I can continue using my magic, but I couldn't teach it to anyone else.
—Exactly. Knowledge becomes... personal. Non-transferable.
Loki nodded slowly.
"That's acceptable. I have no intention of opening a magic school anyway." He extended his hand. "Deal. My knowledge of Asgardian magic for that grimoire."
[WARNING: THE VALUE DOES NOT MATCH]
[KNOWLEDGE OF ASGARDIAN MAGIC: 500,000 CM]
[AGAMOTTO'S GRIMORIUM: 750,000 CM]
[DEFICIT: 250,000 CM]
Shit. Marco had been so excited about the sale that he'd forgotten to do the math.
"Uh, there's a small problem," he said. "Your knowledge is worth five hundred thousand. The book is worth seven hundred and fifty thousand. We're two hundred and fifty thousand credits short."
Loki 's expression darkened for a moment, but then his eyes fell on another item on the evaluation list.
—My illusion ability. Would that cover the difference?
[SKILL: MASTER LEVEL ILLUSIONS - 250,000 CM]
[THIS WOULD COMPLETE THE TRANSACTION EXACTLY]
Marco hesitated. Loki without his illusions would be like... well, like Loki without his most powerful weapon.
— Dude , those are your illusions. Your specialty. Are you sure you want to trade that?
Loki looked at him with a smile that was half amused, half sad.
"How curious. You're trying to dissuade me from a sale that would benefit you again." He crossed his arms. "Just so you know, my illusions, while useful, are also what most people expect of me." "Ah, it's just one of Loki 's illusions . It's not real." I'd like to be unpredictable for once. And with the knowledge of that grimoire..." His eyes gleamed. "I can be much more than the god of cheap tricks."
There was a determination in her voice that made Marco nod.
"Okay. If you're sure, let's do this." He extended his hand. "Deal."
Loki shook her hand, and the world exploded in golden light.
[STARTING TRANSACTION]
[EXTRACTING: KNOWLEDGE OF ASGARDIAN MAGIC]
[EXTRACTING: MASTER-LEVEL ILLUSION SKILL]
[TRANSFERRING: GRIMOIRE OF AGAMOTTO]
Light enveloped them both, and Marco felt something incredible. It was as if he could see knowledge flowing out of Loki , crystallizing into pure energy, transforming into data that the System processed and stored. At the same time, the grimoire began to glow, and slowly, very slowly, it materialized in Loki 's outstretched hands .
When the light faded, Loki held the book to his chest, his eyes closed, an expression of pure satisfaction on his face. When he opened them, he looked directly at Marco.
"Extraordinary," he murmured. "I can feel the power of this book. It's... it's more than I expected."
[TRANSACTION COMPLETED]
[+375,000 CM ADDED TO YOUR ACCOUNT]
[TOTAL CREDITS: 1,294,000 CM]
[FIRST SALE COMPLETED]
[UNLOCKING BONUSES...]
A new screen appeared, but Marco barely paid attention to it. He was too busy staring at Loki , who was now leafing through the grimoire with an expression that could only be described as intellectual hunger.
"This is... incredible," the god said, his fingers tracing the runes in motion. "There are spells here I didn't even know were possible. Manipulation of reality at the quantum level, travel between dimensions without the Bifrost ..." He looked up at Marco with a genuine smile. "You have given me a gift beyond my expectations, merchant."
"That's the goal," Marco said, returning the smile. "Satisfied customers are returning customers."
"Oh, I'll definitely be back." Loki carefully closed the book, holding it as if it were the most precious object in the universe. "Actually, I have a question. May I... recommend your shop to others?"
[REFERENCE SYSTEM ACTIVATED]
[FOR EACH REFERRED CUSTOMER WHO COMPLETES A PURCHASE, YOU RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL 10% COMMISSION]
"Of course," Marco said. "In fact, the System just informed me that if your referrals buy something, I get an extra bonus . So yes, please spread the word. Tell all your friends about the Multiversal Store ."
" Friends?" Loki laughed. "How optimistic. But yes, there are certain people who could benefit from your services." He paused. "Although I must warn you: not all of them will be as... civilized as I am."
—As long as they pay and don't try to steal, I do well with any type of customer.
—Famous last words. — Loki took a step back to where he had originally appeared, where the entrance portal still glowed faintly. —It has been a pleasure doing business with you, Marco Antonio Durán of Iztapalapa. I suspect our paths will cross again.
"You can count on it. And hey," Marco called after him just as Loki was about to step through the portal, "if you ever need more books, or anything else, you know where to find me. I have special prices for regular customers."
Loki gave her one last enigmatic smile.
"I'll keep that in mind. And Marco..." Her expression turned serious for a moment. "Thank you for not pressuring me to trade my memories. Not many would have shown that... humanity."
And with that, the God of Deception crossed the portal and disappeared in a flash of green light.
Marco stood there for a moment, processing everything that had just happened. Then, slowly, a huge smile spread across his face.
" I DID IT!" he yelled toward the store's ceiling. "I MADE MY FIRST SALE! AND IT WAS TO A FUCKING GOD!"
[CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR FIRST SUCCESSFUL SALE]
[UNLOCKING REWARDS...]
[MERCHANT LEVEL: NOVICE → APPRENTICE]
[NEW FEATURES UNLOCKED:]
- SKILL TREE (BASIC)
- MULTIVERSAL MARKETING SYSTEM
- PERSONAL STORAGE (10 SPACES)
[SPECIAL BONUS FOR FIRST SALE: +100,000 CM]
[TOTAL CREDITS: 1,394,000 CM]
Marco stared at the numbers, his eyes wide. Almost a million and a half credits. From a single client. And it hadn't even been a day since he arrived at this place.
Then another screen appeared, this one with a different tone.
[REMINDER: YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE STORE FOR 3 HOURS (INTERNAL TIME)]
[TIME ELAPSED IN MIDDLE-EARTH: 0 SECONDS]
[DO YOU WANT TO RETURN TO YOUR POINT OF ORIGIN?]
Marco glanced at his dining table, which still had several untouched plates. He looked at the endless shelves around him. He thought about Middle-earth waiting for him outside, a world full of elves, dwarves, and eventually, a Dark Lord to conquer.
And then he thought about all the credits he now had. About all the things he could buy. About how he had just sold Loki. freaking Laufeyson and had come out of the experience alive (and rich).
"System," he said with a smile. "I think I'll stay a while longer. I have almost 1.5 million credits to spend, and I want to see exactly what I can buy to survive in a world with dragons, balrogs , and a guy with an evil ring who wants to rule everything."
[UNDERSTOOD]
[SHOWN SURVIVAL CATALOG FOR MIDDLE-EARTH...]
Marco rubbed his hands together in anticipation. This was going to be fun.
Very funny.
To be continued...