[Quest]
[Sell at least 5 Beast Food... 5/5]
[Reward: Water Converter(Ordinary) x1]
[Quest(New)]
[Sell at least 100 Beast Food... 0/100]
A small box appeared on the cashier. From the outside, the box was looking normal and only after Max unboxed it, it was not normal. As expected from the System. It knows how to make him speechless with how unusual the design was.
"I thought the reward is a Water Purifier Set not this water tap looking device with an odd block attached for whatever ominous reason it was put there." It was better to call it a water tap that many could find at home. "Also, a repeating quest?"
"The reward is indeed one Water Purifier Set. And to answer host question, why not? Host is currently a newcomer in opening a store. For a store, steady income is necessary to operate a store. Unified currency host is using is just an outside world currency. But to purchase features from System or upgrading Store Owner level, Point System is needed and is the main currency for future uses. For example, host's current Beast Food Channel(Ordinary). Maximum free draw(@70G once) for a day is 100. Afterwards, it requires 1.2PS per draw."
"So expensive." Max grimaced at the price. Once he hit 100, the price was multifold more expensive. "Wait... Would it result me in losing PS?"
"Of course not, host. One premium draw yields 5 Beast Foods(Ordinary)."
Premium draw equals to 5 Beast Foods(Ordinary) which was 1.2PS and equals to 1200G. If all of them were sold and would yield 1.295PS pure profits. Meaning, his income was 0.259PS per pack and losing 0.240PS per pack in the process compared to free draw.
"Why premium draw yields less income?"
"It is premium because it has no threshold to draw and set which element to draw."
"You cheated my PS." He was once cheated by System for not telling him that one pack of Beast Food could last longer than generic Beast Food. He was not going to be cheated for the second time and so on by System.
"System doesn't think so. With high-spec products without cutting corners to produce them, where else do you think anyone could get a product like that with a very cheap price?"
Make sense but... "Then why don't put a high price?"
"System can't do business if the price is high. Affordable price will allow System to make business instead of localized to certain group. As a hardworking System, idleness is against System's work ethic unlike certain host who only knows whining to System on every turn."
Max's face was black at the insult uttered by System. He was a hardworking guy and certainly not whining without clear reason. "Then why did you choose me? You can have more powerful and talented guy out there."
"System doesn't need the powerful or the talented people. System only needs a good Store Owner."
Max was taken aback. "I'm a good Store Owner?"
"System did say that the strongest doesn't mean a good Store Owner. System is a business related System. System's products are to make money and not something that should be coveted by certain group. As for host, host only has the potential to be a good Store Owner. Nothing more nothing less."
"Fuck! You are still insulting me!" Although System said he had the potential and was very happy about it, Max wouldn't change his attitude and go soft because of it.
[Ding!]
[The System you are trying to call is unreachable]
"You-"
[Ding!]
[The System you are trying to call is unreachable]
"F-"
[Ding!]
[The System you are trying to call is unreachable]
"Aaaaaaaaa-"
[Ding!]
[The System you are trying to call is unreachable]
[Ding!]
[The System you are trying to call is unreachable]
[...]
----------Break----------
Adam Young was a former slave and now a butler of Borom Family, the owner of Borom Pharmaceutical. His main duty was to protect Henry Borom, the second child of Drua Borom and Dahlia Borom, and taking care of him because of his body constitution.
"Amazing! To think there is a product like this. Let alone thousands even if it was sold at ten to hundreds of thousands, I'll gladly spending my money to buy it. I think the seller is selling at lost. Tsk, tsk, tsk." Young master Henry loudly exclaimed before eating another pellet that Adam bought from that weird store.
Young master Henry was diagnosed with body type similar to a Beast, a very rare body condition. Although he could live by eating normal food like most Humans, if not supplied with resources like a Beast, he became weaker and weaker. However, young master was still a Human in the end. He couldn't absorb natural resources like a Beast without feeling excessive repulsiveness and the need to puke. Refining such natural resources lessened the impact but the repulsiveness and the urge to puke were still strong.
Then there was an incident with Laura Bell whose family dabbled in Beast Training.
Laura Bell was someone that many could call as a late bloomer Beastmaster. Her talent as a Beastmaster was very high but unlike most Beastmasters, she needed to contract specific type of Beast and was compatible with her. Imagine what she was feeling knowing she was a talented Beastmaster but unable to contract a Beast. If not for her stubborn personality, she probably would have committed suicide already.
Her family exhausted their connections and spent so many Gs to search for said Beast. Countless years searching and came up with nothing, her family had almost given up. Hope then arrived. Her childhood and best friend brought back a small egg.
From what Adam could gather through his associates in Bell Family, this egg was obtained from Category S(Threat Level) Space Crack in one of the Deadly Zones. According to the rumors, there was a Crowned Overlord Level Beast made a nest inside. Every ten decades, the Beast would lay several eggs but in the process temporarily weakening the Beast.
8 years ago, young miss Laura's friend and her team were sent on a mission. It was not clear what was the content of the mission but 40 Elite Beastmasters that were sent including young miss Laura's friend, only twelve came back plus one egg.
When this egg was displayed for the first time, young miss Laura felt a pull. She had finally found her match. After spending astronomical amount of money and long years to incubate the egg, approximately two months ago the egg hatched.
The specific name of the Beast was unknown. It was probably because it was not a Beast that had been registered or simply mutated further from the original Beast that laid the egg, maybe both.
But there was a problem with the newly hatched Beast. It was a very picky eater and would only eat after it couldn't stand the hunger for so long. Its favorite food types were Beast General Level meat and Fire and Wind natural resources that only could be found in extreme places and Category A and above Space Cracks. Supporting this kind of Beast could make a Family like Bell Family to bankrupt.
One day, young miss Laura came back from one of her mini adventure, trying to get the feel how it feels to be a fully pledged Beastmaster. She didn't come back empty. During her mini adventure, she found a weird store with its eccentric Store Owner and bought seemingly the impossible Beast Foods. The Store Owner claimed that his wares were boutique quality and had to undergo strict selection progress. As a result, even young miss Laura's picky eater for a Beast discarding its pride and begging to be fed. It even trying to sell cute just to get extra.
True enough, after a deep investigation, the products sold at the store came from an unknown company yet each product possessing the terrifying SSS Qualifications in all aspects.
What Adam couldn't understand, why such company was left buried and unknown to the mass. Producing such quality alone was impossible in every sense and would be sought out by many people publicly. However, every attempt to contact the company was turned down by the Customer Service. Yet this company's products appeared inside a store that barely qualified as one and were sold at extremely cheap price. If this company products hit Auction Houses, just one of them(Beast Foods) alone could reach millions per item.
Faster maturity without Mental Breakdown, stronger Beast after hitting Mature Stage with the same Beast Level and last longer than similar but bulkier products making it a very attractive and must to have product.
Adam speculated that it required an insider to make one able to get their hands on the products. Young miss Laura also clarified this matter as she said that the Store Owner had a friend in that company. She called him a lucky bastard because he could get his hands on that company's products where as everyone would feel despair because failing to do it. Unsurprisingly, he was at the same mind as young miss Laura.
Knowing all the hard facts and proofs, it didn't mean Adam would go there instantly. As a butler and the caretaker of his young master, ensuring the safety of his young master was number one priority. In his line of work, eccentric people were the sort of people that were hard to handle normally. With such weird personality, it wouldn't be a surprise if eccentric person like the Store Owner to stab you for no reason or simply unreasonable because he was thinking it matched with the theme he portrayed at that time.
Adam went on undercover investigation by pulling strings behind the scene. Blackmailing his friend who was working at Telecompany, cashing in a debt his friend owed him who was an influential person to use his influence to the local army, bribing several stores around the Store Owner's store to look up their CCTV recordings, sending agents to the orphanage the Store Owner used to live before moving out, threatening the landlord where the Store Owner currently lived, going through every record the Store Owner hoping he would get an insight which friend who worked in that company so he could contact the friend for the sake of his young master.
Adam only moved when his friend at Telecompany notified him an unusual activity. The Store Owner was registering an account to many online tradings platforms, Auction Houses and Blackmarket. The numbers would make one's scalp to numb with the sheer of ridiculous action the Store Owner did and it happened at the same time globally. His friend told him that if he was not 'asked' by him to do things, this kind of record would come out to light when the store gained enough popularity or he offended upper management both ordinary and Beastmaster or some rich children.
The Store Owner set up an online store over the night. The rules were simple. The set up online store was a way to promote his products and if someone wanted to buy, they must come to the Beast Store's address. The Store Owner listed the wares he was selling along the description, the stock numbers and benefits one could get from buying his wares.
Surprised was the right word to describe Adam's shock seeing the list. It covered many types of elements even the rare ones. He chose Dark Element because it was the most compatible element with his young master's body constitution before bringing it to his young master after trying it to a Dark-Type Beast. One should take necessary preparation especially when your young master was Henry Borom.
"Indeed." Adam said, replying to his young master's words. He was glad the Beast Dark Food was working on his young master. It made him wanting to send a gift to the Store Owner as a thank you. After thinking about it for quite sometime, he dismissed the idea in fear the Store Owner's weird personality acting up and making troubles for his young master. "SSS Quality is perfect young master's appetite. This old butler is now glad that young master can lead a normal life from now on."
"Don't get sappy one me, Adam. It doesn't suit your perfect image." Young master Henry popped another pellet into his mouth. "Hmm... So tasty. Wish the store has a version for Mature Stage."
"I can perhaps asking the Store Owner if he has it. If he doesn't, maybe a temporary solution such as buying other elemental Beast Foods." As a high ranking Beastmaster, Adam could see that the Beast Foods were not enough for his young master. His young master's body was starving of the necessary energy to repair his body. The temporary solution he said carried a risk yet could solve the needed alternative energy and he was confident in the personnels he selected to keep the risk at minimum level.
"Will it bother you too much? It takes one and half days to Amber City and another one and half days to go back. Besides, you are just arrived and haven't been resting yet." Young master Henry said.
Adam shook his head. "This butler isn't bothered. I can get my rest on the way there." Or so according to general knowledge.
His young master only thought him as an ordinary butler and would hire several teams of Beastmasters as bodyguards during his travels to other cities. What he didn't know, Adam was was actually a high ranking Beastmaster. He hid it because it was for his young master's sake.
As a seemingly ordinary and feeble butler, no one would expect that the one they were looking down was actually the real guardian for his young master. It allowed him to maneuver behind everyone's back and cleaned every threat that would harm his young master without actually exposing himself.
"No! You need to rest first. I want to follow you to this store. Maybe a new goods has arrived and I can't wait to know." Young master was a little excited when he said that. It was troublesome to hear his master wanted to go but it was within his expectation. His young master rarely going out and when he did, trying to tell him not to was useless.
"Understood." Adam bowed slightly before leaving.
----------Break----------
[Water Converter(Ordinary)]
[Water is very important to living beings. Having a water source that you can tap everywhere anytime is very convenient. It is easy to use and the water is very fresh and free of harmful substances]
"Okay... That is a weird intro, System."
[Ding!]
[The System you are calling is unreachable]
"I'm being serious, System."
[Ding!]
[System is now online]
Max deadpanned. "Really, System? Having fun already?"
"Correction, host. System is running Diagnostic Tool Program."
"Yeah, right. As if I can believe that." Did System treat him as a fool? Why would System need Diagnostic Tool Program? It was an omnipotent entity. "Now explain the weird intro."
"System doesn't think it is a weird intro. It is an undeniable fact that living beings need water but not every water is safe for consumption. Many water sources in the wild are contaminated by harmful substances, guarded by Beasts or simply inaccessible by normal standards. For Beastmasters and their Beasts, having their own water source is very important especially when going on exploration."
Max understood what System was saying. It just he didn't understand the principle. System said it was a water source but the name of the product was Water Converter(Ordinary). "Is it a thing to convert water from outside source or to conjure water out of nothing?"
"It is actually a little of both. To convert water from outside force and conjure water out of nowhere."
"Still doesn't get it." It was confusing as hell. If it was to convert water then why could conjure as well?
"It actually running on a special energy container, a battery if you'd like. The energy inside will be converted into water that it looks like conjuring water out of nowhere. Both device and battery are sold separately."
What an evil System! But he loved the planning.
"How to unlock such lovable product?" Just thinking the amount of money he could make was simply awesome. He made a considerable money with Beast Food but it was limited to Infant and Juvenile Stage.
[Ding!]
[Water Converter Channel(Ordinary)]
[How to unlock: Store Owner(Level 1), 20 PS]
[Ding!]
[Universal Battery Channel(Ordinary)]
[How to unlock: Store Owner(Level 1), 1000PS]
"Fuck! So expensive..." As much as he was glad it was within his current Store Owner level, PS needed to unlock it was simply to pricy for him. "That Universal Battery Channel(Ordinary) price is similar to Courier Service that needs Store Owner(Level 3)."
"It is natural. Universal Battery(Ordinary) can be used for every product System make and under (Ordinary) label."
"Damn... That means a better version of Universal Battery Channels will be pricier than opening other product channels or services of the same level." Considering how it was named by System, the important of this product was very high. "Wait... That also means I can't sell Water Converter without opening Universal Battery Channel!"
"Actually, host, you can. Beast Core of any Beast Levels can be used as a power source but the energy conversion rate is poor compared to the product System produces. The energy produced by Beast Core is a primal, very crude and shorten the life time the unit itself."
"So you were saying the more they use Beast Core as the main energy source the faster it breaks." With System's personality, trying to cheat it was very hard. If anything, it would subtly force you and create dependency on its products. After all, it was System and making a loss was unacceptable.
"Correct."
"What's the life expectancy of Water Converter?" There was nothing about life expectancy of the product in the intro.
"If using System's product, one Universal Battery could produce 5 thousand gallons and the Water Converter will be out of commission after 10 thousand gallons. Using a Beast Core, it varies depending on the level of the Beast Core."
Max thought it was a lot. For a single person like him and if you added his Beast in the equation, it would last two to three months with a fully charged Water Converter. That was assuming it was charged using Universal Battery.
"What is the price of the Universal Battery?" Since unlocking Universal Battery Channel(Ordinary) was around 100PS, its price in Gs should be high too.
"Host has yet to unlock the Purchase Channel so System will not tell. Please work hard to unlock."
This damnable System was teasing him... Goddammit...