Omar stepped out of the hidden shop, the heavy wooden door vanishing behind him as if it were made of smoke. The blinding sun of Marrakech hit his face, but something was different. The world didn't look the same anymore.
As he walked back toward the main market, a glowing haze began to hover over everything and everyone.
[Skill Activated: Merchant's Eye.]
He looked at an old man selling spices. Above the man's head, a floating translucent window appeared:
Name: Uncle Hassan.
Hidden Desire: Wants to pay for his daughter's wedding.
True Value: A hidden recipe for a spice blend that could cure respiratory issues (Value: 50 Cosmic Credits).
Omar gasped. "It's like I can see the secrets of their souls," he whispered.
Suddenly, a harsh voice broke his trance. "Omar! You useless brat! Where is my merchandise?"
It was Brahim, the greedy warehouse owner Omar worked for. Brahim was a mountain of a man with a grease-stained shirt and a reputation for cheating his workers. He stomped toward Omar, his face red with rage.
Omar looked at him, and the 'Merchant's Eye' flickered to life:
Name: Brahim.
Status: Corrupt.
Hidden Secret: Has been embezzling money from the Merchant's Guild for years. Hidden stash under the third floorboard of his office.
Current Desire: To humiliate Omar to avoid paying his daily wage.
A cold, confident smile spread across Omar's face. The old Omar would have bowed his head and apologized. The new Omar just stood his ground.
"The merchandise is in the alley, Brahim. Go get it yourself," Omar said, his voice cold and steady.
The crowd in the market went silent. Nobody spoke to Brahim like that.
"What did you say?" Brahim roared, raising a massive hand to strike Omar. "I'll break your bones, you ungrateful thief!"
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Omar said, stepping closer until he was inches from Brahim's face. He leaned in and whispered, "The Merchant's Guild wouldn't be very happy if they found out what's hidden under the third floorboard of your office, would they?"
Brahim froze. The color drained from his face, turning from deep red to a sickly gray. His hand stayed trembling in mid-air. "How... how do you know about that?"
"I know everything, Brahim. I am a merchant now. And in my world, secrets are the most expensive currency."
Omar reached into Brahim's pocket, took out a handful of high-denomination bills—ten times his daily wage—and tucked them into his own pocket.
"Consider this a 'silence fee'. I quit," Omar said, turning his back on the stunned bully.
As he walked away, the System chimed in his ear:
[Sub-Quest Completed: Stand your ground.]
[Reward: 20 Cosmic Credits.]
[New Item available in Shop: 'The Contract of Bound Loyalty'.]
Omar ignored the whispers of the crowd. He had a small fortune in his pocket and a power that could bring kings to their knees. But he knew this was just the beginning. To level up the shop, he needed more than just secrets—he needed to find items from the other realms.
He looked up at the sky. Somewhere, in another dimension, a gate was opening. And he was the only one with the key.