Kai reviewed the latest MergeCore scan from his personal server chamber.
Grainleaf wasn't just a crop.
It was the keystone of nutrition—a Tier 5 genetic hybrid that improved muscle recovery, immune response, and digestion with zero processing.
And now, someone wanted to own it.
🏢 Offer from Luxvara
A luxury food conglomerate, Luxvara Global, submitted a sealed bid:
"$100,000,000 for full exclusive rights to Grainleaf for 5 years."
They framed it as a partnership.
Kai saw it for what it was: a power grab.
He didn't reject it.
He countered.
"$250,000,000 minimum, non-exclusive. MergeCore retains all control. Tier 5 signature scan required for every shipment."
Luxvara hesitated for 48 hours.
Then they blinked.
📈 The Deal
Terms Signed:
$100 million upfront
Kai retains all IP rights
Luxvara gets global distribution of "Grainleaf Prime" (Tier 5.2 sub-batch)
MergeMart branding on all packaging
MergeCore scans required on every product
Grainleaf entered luxury kitchens, astronaut meal kits, Olympic athlete meal plans, and high-end hospitals.
🌍 Public Response
The announcement exploded.
Forbes-style outlets declared Kai "The Ghost Farmer."
Food industry experts tried (and failed) to recreate Grainleaf using CRISPR tech.
Videos of people taste-testing it went viral — tears, shivers, one chef fainted from flavor overload.
MergeMart Prestige membership requests tripled.
🎯 Next: Merge Expansion Beyond Food
Kai tapped MergeCore's dormant modules.
A section blinked to life:
[MERGE CLASS: STRUCTURE]
He selected an old solar array and merged it with graphene-laced fiber walls.
The result:
MergeBarn V1 —
Self-healing material
Solar-efficient roof
Temperature-adaptive interiors
60% more energy-efficient
Built in 12 minutes
Kai stared at it in silence.
He'd just merged architecture.
🧩 Merge Domains
He mapped new paths:
MergeHousing
MergeDefense
MergeTransportation
MergeEnergy Systems
MergeMedical (pending Tier 6 unlock)
A farm empire wasn't enough.
Kai was building a new civilization.
Earnings
Grainleaf Deal (Luxvara): +$100,000,000
MergeMart Sales: +$1,200,000
MergeMilk, MergeEggs, MergePork: +$610,000
Cigarettes: +$180,000
Expenses
MergeCore Structural Module Unlock: –$7,000,000
MergeBarn Prototypes + Test Field: –$2,500,000
MergeMart PR & Supply Chain Expansion: –$3,200,000
Net Profit: +$89,290,000
Kai's Total Net Worth: $758,613,000