Austin arrived at the bustling Onitsha Main Market. The energy was electric, with traders shouting and the smell of spices and rain in the air. For the first time, he wasn't there to beg for a job—he was there as a buyer with millions in his pocket.
[SKILL ACTIVATED: EYES OF TRUTH (LEVEL 1)]
Suddenly, the market changed. Above the stalls, floating prices and quality ratings appeared. Most of the "luxury" skincare oils were glowing red—[Quality: 15% - Diluted].
"Everyone is selling fake products," Austin muttered to himself. He needed pure ingredients to create his first medical-grade skincare line.
He walked deeper into the corners of the market, past the shiny shops, until he found a small, dusty stall run by an old woman. In the back, he spotted a jar of dark, unrefined shea butter and a small bottle of herbal extract.
The System flared gold:
[ITEM: ANCIENT MORINGA ESSENCE]
[QUALITY: 99% - PURE]
[VALUE: UNKNOWN - POTENTIAL FOR LEVEL 3 MEDICINE]
The old woman looked up. "That old oil? It's been sitting there for years. Nobody wants it. I'll give it to you for ₦2,000."
Austin's heart hammered. According to his Eyes of Truth, that bottle was worth millions if used correctly. "I'll take it," he said, handing her the cash.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: RARE INGREDIENT ACQUIRED!]
[NEW RECIPE UNLOCKED: DIVINE GLOW SERUM (HEALS SCARS & AGING)]
As he turned to leave, three men in expensive suits blocked his path. He recognized one of them—it was the son of the clinic manager who had gotten him fired.
"Look who it is," the manager's son sneered, looking at Austin's dusty bag. "The failure is buying trash from the dirt. Austin, did you think stepping into Okoro Plaza yesterday made you a big man? You're still a nobody."
Austin looked at the man's face. The System highlighted a dark spot on the man's neck.
[DIAGNOSIS: MALIGNANT SKIN GROWTH - STAGE 1]
"You should worry less about my bag and more about that mark on your neck," Austin said calmly. "In three months, you'll be the one begging me for a miracle."
He walked past them, leaving them confused and angry. Austin had the ingredients, he had the space, and he had the System. It was time to create his first product