The man on the floor was trembling. His gasps were becoming shallower, his eyes rolling back. Omar recognized him from the news—Mansour Al-Hadi, the real estate tycoon who owned half the skyscrapers in the new city.
A billionaire was dying in a dusty shop that didn't exist five minutes ago.
[System Alert: Potential Customer in Critical Condition.]
[Item Suggestion: Low-Grade Soul Ruby.]
[Warning: A merchant never gives for free. Secure a payment or the Host will face a penalty.]
Omar's heart hammered against his ribs. He grabbed the glowing red stone from the counter. It felt warm, vibrating with a life of its own.
"You said... everything?" Omar's voice was surprisingly steady.
"Anything! Just... make the pain stop!" Mansour wheezed, clutching Omar's worn-out sandals.
Omar looked at the blue screen. 'Required Trade Price: An item of high emotional value.' He looked at the man's wrist. A Patek Philippe watch? No, that was just money. Then he saw it—a small, old leather cord around the man's neck with a rusted iron key.
"I want that key," Omar pointed.
Mansour hesitated for a fraction of a second. That key was the only thing left from his father's first workshop. But death was closer. "Take it! Just give me the cure!"
As Omar took the key, the System chimed:
[Transaction Confirmed. Emotional Value: High (Sacrifice of Heritage).]
[Soul Ruby unlocked for transfer.]
Omar pressed the stone against Mansour's chest. The ruby liquefied, turning into a mist of pure crimson light that dived into the man's skin.
The change was instant. The gray tint left Mansour's face. His breathing deepened, and the agonizing grip on his chest vanished. He sat up, gasping, looking like a man who had just been reborn. He wasn't just healed; he looked five years younger.
"What... what was that?" Mansour whispered, touching his chest. He looked around the shop, noticing for the first time the impossible shelves and the strange runes. "Who are you? Is this... magic?"
Omar stood up, crossing his arms. The humble porter was gone; in his place stood the owner of the Emporium.
"I am a Merchant, Mr. Mansour," Omar said, his voice echoing with a power he didn't know he possessed. "And you've just made the best deal of your life. But remember... the shop chooses its guests. You found your way in today, but don't try to follow me. I'll find you when I have something else to sell."
As Mansour was about to speak, a golden light blinded him. When he opened his eyes, he was lying in the middle of the crowded alleyway. People were staring at him.
"Sir! Are you okay?" a passerby asked.
Mansour stood up, feeling a surge of energy he hadn't felt in decades. He reached for his neck. The key was gone. He looked at the wall where the door should be—there was nothing but solid, sun-bleached stone.
Back inside the shop, Omar was staring at the new notification:
[First Quest Completed!]
[Rewards: 100 Cosmic Credits, Shop Level Up (Level 2), Personal Skill: 'Merchant's Eye'.]
[Merchant's Eye: Allows the Host to see the true value and hidden desires of any living being.]
Omar smiled. For the first time in his life, he wasn't carrying the world's weight. He was the one who was going to price it.