The system seemed to pause for a fraction of a second, as though taken aback by her directness. Its tone hardened slightly, tinged with something almost like exasperation.
[Host, I am not here to cater to petty curiosity. You will learn through action, not idle questioning. My purpose is to ensure your survival and growth. I am sufficient. Your intelligence, initiative, and decisions are the true drivers of success. Do not mistake blunt honesty for inadequacy.]
Zi'an listened quietly, her expression unchanged. When the last sentence fell, however, the corner of her lips twitched almost imperceptibly, as though she had been caught off guard for a brief moment. She blinked once, then let out a small breath that was half a laugh and half a sigh.
"That was a bit harsh," she said, sounding more amused than offended. "I was only asking. There's no need to sound like I insulted your ancestors."
The system paused. The light hovering before her flickered again, this time more noticeably.
[Blunt honesty is a feature, not a flaw. If you find it unpleasant, you may consider adjusting your expectations.]
Zi'an raised an eyebrow and shook her head lightly. "No, it's fine. At least you're not useless and polite about it. I can work with this."
She leaned back on the straw mat, one hand supporting her weight, her gaze drifting lazily over the bare wooden room. The tension from earlier eased slightly, replaced by a calmer, almost curious mood.
"So you detect, appraise, and help me make money," she continued. "That's good enough for now. But don't worry. I'm not fragile. Just don't try to scare me into obedience."
The system's glow steadied, though its reply still carried a trace of displeasure.
[Noted. As long as results are produced, your attitude is irrelevant.]
Zi'an smiled faintly at that. It was not a triumphant smile, nor a scheming one, but the relaxed expression of someone who had accepted the situation and was already thinking several steps ahead.
"Good," she said softly. "Then we won't waste time arguing. I'm starving, broke, and stuck in a story that doesn't care about me. Let's see what you can actually do."
The light pulsed once, controlled and precise.
[Very well, Host Zi'an. Initiating beginner guidance.]
Zi'an straightened slightly, interest finally surfacing in her eyes.
The light hovering before Zi'an's eyes shifted subtly, its glow condensing as though reorganizing itself. The air in the small room seemed to grow quieter, and even the dust motes drifting in the sunlight appeared to slow.
[Beginner Guidance Mode activated.]
Zi'an straightened a little, her attention fully focused now. She had dealt with contracts, clients, and negotiations in her previous life, and experience had taught her that the first terms were always the most important.
"Before we start," she said calmly, "explain your rules. I don't like surprises."
The system paused, as if assessing her request, before responding in its usual measured tone.
[The Merchant System operates under a task-based structure. Tasks are issued according to your current survival level, available resources, and long-term growth potential. Completing tasks will grant rewards. Failing tasks will result in penalties. Repeated violations may result in restriction of system functions.]
Zi'an frowned slightly. "That sounds inconvenient."
[It is designed to be effective.]
She let out a small breath through her nose, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, and motioned for it to continue.
[Rewards include currency, items, skill access, system functions, and reputation modifiers. Higher difficulty tasks yield proportionally higher rewards. Some rewards are fixed. Others are randomized.]
Zi'an nodded slowly, mentally cataloguing the information.
"And the rules?" she asked.
The system's light pulsed once, sharper than before.
[Rules are absolute.]
[Rule One: The system cannot directly interfere with the world. All actions must be carried out by the Host.]
[Rule Two: System functions may not be used to deliberately destroy trade order or fabricate false value on a large scale.]
[Rule Three: Tasks marked as mandatory must be completed within the allotted time.]
[Rule Four: Host actions that endanger long-term system viability will trigger penalties.]
Zi'an's lips curved faintly. "So no scamming entire markets or burning cities for profit. Pity."
[Your interpretation is crude but accurate.]
She chuckled quietly at that and leaned back again, resting her weight on her palms.
"And punishments?" she asked, her tone casual, as though she were asking about late fees rather than survival mechanics.
The system did not answer immediately. When it did, its voice was noticeably colder.
[Failure to complete tasks will result in penalties proportional to task importance. Penalties may include deduction of currency, temporary locking of system functions, increased task difficulty, or forced task issuance.]
[Deliberate violation of rules will result in harsher consequences.]
Zi'an's smile faded slightly, not out of fear, but out of seriousness. She had always understood that profitable systems did not tolerate irresponsibility.
"Fair enough," she said after a moment. "At least you're honest."
The system's glow steadied.
[Beginner Guidance is limited. Its purpose is to ensure initial survival and establish correct usage habits. Once completed, guidance will deactivate.]
Zi'an lifted her gaze. "So this is training."
[You may call it that.]
A brief silence followed. Then the light expanded again, and new text appeared.
[Beginner Task Issued.]
Zi'an felt a subtle tightening in her chest, the familiar sensation of being evaluated.
[Task Name: First Transaction.]
[Task Objective: Obtain your first tradable item with recognized value.]
[Requirements: The item must be acquired through lawful means and appraised by the system.]
[Time Limit: Three days.]
[Reward: Basic Currency x10, Appraisal Function Level 1 unlocked.]
[Failure Penalty: Temporary suspension of resource detection for seven days.]
Zi'an stared at the task description for a long moment.
Then she laughed softly.
"Three days," she said, shaking her head. "And you start by threatening to blind me if I fail. You're not gentle at all."
[Merchant systems do not coddle their Hosts.]
Her eyes gleamed with interest as she rose to her feet, the hunger in her stomach suddenly feeling far less oppressive.
"One item," she murmured. "Recognized value. Lawful means."
She glanced toward the door, already thinking of markets, scraps, overlooked corners, and discarded materials that others would ignore.
"That's manageable."
The system pulsed faintly, as though acknowledging her confidence.
[Begin when ready, Host Zi'an.]
Zi'an reached for the door, her hand resting on the worn wood for a brief moment.
"Don't worry," she said lightly. "I've built fortunes from less."
Zi'an stepped out of the narrow room and into the street, the sound of footsteps and low conversation washing over her senses at once. The town was not large, but it was lively enough, with wooden stalls lining the roadside, cloth canopies fluttering gently in the breeze, and merchants calling out their wares with practiced familiarity. The ground beneath her feet was uneven, packed dirt mixed with stone, and the air carried the mingled scents of cooked food, raw herbs, and sun-warmed wood.
As she walked, Zi'an kept her head slightly lowered, neither hurried nor hesitant, her posture relaxed and unremarkable. She caught glimpses of her reflection in shop windows and shallow basins of water and noted with quiet satisfaction that her appearance was exactly as she remembered from the novel. Plain features, delicate but not striking, dressed in simple, faded clothing that blended easily into the crowd. She was the kind of person people glanced at once and immediately forgot.
Good.
That was how it was supposed to be.
Her thoughts drifted, unbidden, to the female lead of the story. The gentle, warm-hearted girl who was destined to revolve around the male lead, offering comfort, understanding, and unwavering emotional support. As the second female lead, Zi'an's original role had been to hover at the edges of that relationship, offering unneeded kindness to the male lead and unintentionally pushing the plot forward with her misplaced affection.
Zi'an had no intention of doing any of that.
Romantic entanglements drove stories. Stories drove trouble. Trouble shortened lifespans. If she wanted to survive, then the female lead was someone she needed to avoid at all costs. As long as she remained distant, unremarkable, and uninvolved, the plot would have no reason to notice her existence.
She exhaled softly and shifted her attention back to the present.
The real problem stood before her, far more pressing than any fictional romance.
She was broke.
Completely, utterly broke.
Zi'an slowed her steps, her gaze sweeping across the market stalls with renewed focus. Weapons, fabric, dried meat, clay pots, cheap trinkets. Everything had a price, and she had nothing to offer in exchange. The system's task required her to obtain an item of recognized value, but no matter how she looked at it, purchasing anything was impossible. Even the cheapest item required copper coins she did not possess.