I let myself into the villa, bags in hand, and just stood in the foyer for a moment.
My house.
My space.
No landlord, no neighbors, no one who could kick me out or raise the rent or complain about noise.
Mine.
I carried everything up to the master bedroom, which was ridiculously large and came furnished with a bed that probably cost more than my old apartment's yearly rent. Spent the next hour organizing, putting clothes away, setting up my phone and laptop.
My phone buzzed with app notifications, social media updates from people I barely knew. A few old friends from school, some former coworkers, people from the orphanage. None of them knew what had changed. To them, I was still just Alex, still struggling, still barely making it.
I was setting up my laptop when the system notification flashed across my vision.
Connection established with prospective client.
Silver Ring of Connection has successfully bound to target: Chen Xuan, merchant of the Eastern Empire, Blue Light Planet.
Communication channel now open.
My heart jumped. This was it. My first real interdimensional trade connection.
I sat on my new bed, took a deep breath, and mentally reached for the connection.
The sensation was strange, like speaking into a void and somehow knowing someone was listening on the other end. I could feel a presence, another consciousness connected to mine through whatever impossible mechanism the system used.
"Greetings, Chen Xuan," I said, or thought, or somehow communicated. This whole mental communication thing was still weird. "I am the Merchant of Realms. You have been chosen to receive my blessing."
There was a long pause. Then, hesitantly:
"My lord?" The voice was older, male, tinged with shock and something like reverence. "This... this humble merchant hears you. Are you truly... an immortal?"
Well, that was one way to put it. I went with it.
"I am a god of merchants, a traveler between worlds. I have come to offer you an opportunity, Chen Xuan. Trade with me, and you will have access to goods from the immortal realms. Items beyond your world's understanding."
"This servant is honored beyond measure!" Chen Xuan's mental voice shook with what sounded like genuine awe. "I... I thought the ring was merely some strange object. But to hear the voice of an immortal..."
"This connection must remain secret," I said firmly.
"No one can know of our arrangement. The goods I provide must be sold without my name. If you expose this connection, I will sever it and take abc my blessing immediately. Do you understand?"
"Yes! Yes, my lord. This servant understands completely. I swear on my family's honor, I will tell no one of this blessing."
I could feel his sincerity through the connection. Guy was either genuinely convinced I was some kind of god, or he was the world's best actor. Given that magic didn't exist on Blue Light Planet, I was betting on genuine belief.
"Good. Tell me about your business, Chen Xuan. What do you trade?"
"This humble merchant operates caravans throughout the Eastern Empire, my lord. I deal primarily in silks, spices, and fine goods. My reputation is solid, my connections extensive. I have trading posts in five major cities and relationships with numerous noble houses."
Perfect. Exactly what I'd hoped for. Established, connected, and trusted enough to sell unusual goods without immediately being accused of witchcraft.
"I will provide goods from the immortal realm," I said. "Wonders that your world has never seen. In return, you will pay in gold and silver."
"Yes, my lord! My family has accumulated significant wealth over three generations. I can arrange substantial payment."
"Then we have an accord. Prepare your first payment. When you are ready, the goods will appear. Remember, discretion above all else. Sell these items carefully, wisely. Build your wealth, and I will bless you with more."
"Thank you, my lord! Thank you! This servant will not disappoint you!"
I ended the connection, letting the mental link fade. Sat there on my bed, staring at nothing.
That just happened. I just convinced a medieval merchant that I was a god so I could sell him modern Earth products for gold and silver.
"System," I said aloud, "this is either genius or the worst idea I've ever had."
Merchant Level 1 privileges include interdimensional trade establishment. First transaction is recommended to be small scale to test logistics and establish trust.
Right. Start small. Don't flood a medieval market with obviously impossible goods. Build slowly, and carefully.
I pulled up my research notes on my new laptop. Dyes, fabric, basic medicines, simple tools. Things that would be valuable but not so incredible that they'd cause immediate suspicion. Maybe even mirrors. Chen Xuan could introduce them gradually, claim they were from distant lands, rare imports.
Tomorrow I'll start buying supplies. Tonight, I'd plan.
I looked around my new bedroom, at my bags of new clothes and electronics, at the villa that was mine. Twenty four hours ago, this would have been a fantasy.
Now it was just the beginning.
My phone buzzed. Text from Anna, checking if I'd settled in okay and reminding me she'd deliver the official papers within a week.
Another text from the bank manager, confirming my credit card was being processed, and he has received my address from Anna and will have it delivered to me as soon as it is done.
A notification from the driving test center, reminding me about my appointment.
Normal life stuff, mixed with interdimensional trading schemes. That was my reality now.
I lay back on the bed, which was absurdly comfortable. Stared at the ceiling, which didn't have any water stains shaped like depressed animals.
"One step at a time," I told myself. "Build the business. Make the trades. Advance the merchant level. Eventually, maybe figure out if there's actual magic in higher level worlds."
The system didn't respond, but I hadn't really expected it to.
I pulled up my status screen one more time before trying to sleep.
Name: Alex Sinclair
Age: 20
Lifespan Remaining: 64 years
Merchant Level: 1
Progress to Level 2: 2/500 points
Current Points: 2
Active Connections: Chen Xuan (Blue Light Planet)
One connection established. Hundreds more to go.
But for tonight, in my new house with a full stomach and a plan forming in my mind, I let myself just exist. Let myself feel the change in my circumstances without immediately planning the next move.
Tomorrow, the real work starts. Tonight, I could just be a twenty year old orphan who'd somehow stumbled into the opportunity of a lifetime and was determined not to waste it.
Even if that opportunity involved pretending to be a merchant god to medieval traders and selling salt for gold.
Stranger things had probably happened. Though I couldn't think of any examples right now.
I fell asleep smiling, dreaming of trade routes that crossed dimensions and possibilities that didn't have limits.
The system pinged once before I fully drifted off.
First connection established. Awaiting first transaction to generate advancement points.
Recommendation: Begin with trust building exchange. Small quantity, high value items are optimal.
"Tomorrow," I mumbled. "Tomorrow I become an interdimensional merchant for real."
The system, mercifully, let me sleep.