I am a Tycoon!

A crisp morning breeze swept through the forested outskirts of the central village. Lee-oh stood beside Daey-ib at the wooden gate, his inventory bag slung over his back, heavy with potions. The sun filtered through the trees, casting golden streaks on the dirt path ahead.

"Are you ready?" Daey-ib asked, adjusting the hilt of his beginner's sword. His eyes scanned the trees like a seasoned traveler, though Lee-oh could sense the underlying nervousness in his voice.

Lee-oh nodded. "I am. We've spent a month preparing for this. It's time to test if all of it was worth it."

After a month of rigorous gathering, mixing, and brewing in the village, Lee-oh had produced a full inventory of beginner-level potions. With 30/30 storage filled and 500 points saved, he had unlocked the ability to use the system's shop. Recipes had become available, ingredients priced with clarity, and his knowledge of herbal properties had grown tenfold.

The potion economy, however, was untested outside the village.

The journey to East City was expected to take three days on foot. East City was known for being a hub of activity—traders, adventurers, and beginners seeking fortune gathered there. Lee-oh hoped the potions would fetch a fair price, especially now that the system informed him the base multiplier had increased to x2 due to leveling up.

As they walked, Daey-ib shared stories from his past. "I wasn't always just a sword beginner. I used to be part of a small clan in East City. We weren't big, but we protected our own. A raid destroyed everything... that's when I fled and stumbled on the village. They saved me."

Lee-oh listened closely. Their bond had deepened since the poisoning incident. Daey-ib had carried him, cared for him, and now accompanied him back to the East.

They camped that night beneath a rock outcrop. Lee-oh crafted a small fire while Daey-ib kept watch. As they ate roasted root vegetables from the village, Lee-oh's system pinged.

System Notification:

Passive skill "Merchant's Intuition" unlocked. Price evaluation for potions improved.

He raised his brow. This was unexpected.

"Looks like the system is evolving the more I interact with the economy," he mused.

Daey-ib tilted his head. "That's rare. Usually systems only grow through combat. Yours might be special."

The next day, they encountered minor threats—wild boars and roaming wolves. Daey-ib handled most of the danger while Lee-oh used minor support potions to assist. It became apparent: they were a team.

As they crested a hill, the East City's outer wall came into view. Guard towers loomed, and smoke rose from chimneys. It was bustling, noisy, and alive.