Merchant From Earth in the Magical World

Yan Xing, riding a Ferghana horse, traveled the streets of Nuta City, admiring the city with great interest.

This was Yan Xing's first time touring Nuta City.

His impression of the city, to be honest, wasn't very good; it shattered many of his preconceived notions about Western Fantasy Cities.

Although the city's main roads were paved with well-polished bluestone, they were narrow, only allowing two carriages to pass abreast. The stone houses, built close against the roads, made the area feel very crowded and oppressive.

Moreover, there were few trees and green spaces, just houses packed tightly next to each other.

Thumbs down!

But upon reflection, Yan Xing could understand such urban planning. After all, once a city's walls were built, the usable space inside was limited. Naturally, it would be utilized to the maximum to accommodate more people.

Comfort was a luxury only nobles could afford; they could build large gardens within their homes and construct numerous houses.

As for environmental protection... What even *is* environmental protection?

Thinking about environmental protection, Yan Xing couldn't ignore the strange smell wafting throughout the city. Especially when passing some narrow alleys, the assaulting odors were truly overwhelming.

Yan Xing glanced into a passing narrow alley; it was incredibly filthy. These alleys were mostly very narrow, impassable for carriages, and likely never cleaned. The stench of excrement mixed with rotting refuse, further fermented...

For Yan Xing, it felt like being assaulted by a biological weapon.

Yan Xing had heard strange tales about ancient Western European cities before, but he never expected Nuta City to provide such a vivid reenactment.

This also served as a reminder for the development of my own Eternal Domain. Toilets, drainage, and waste management systems must be established; they need to be planned and implemented from the very beginning. Otherwise, once these problems arise, they won't be so easy to solve. If the domain's sanitation is handled well, its people will fall ill less often. If the farmers' lifespans increase, living a few more years means a net gain in tax revenue.

Riding his horse, Yan Xing made his own calculations, occasionally instructing his accompanying Werewolves to distribute candies to the commoners who stepped aside and bowed respectfully.

The commoners who received the candy exclaimed, "Lord Yan Xing, so generous and kind!"

They learned without any teaching!

Yan Xing was very pleased.

When Miss Hibel saw Yan Xing distributing candy ever since leaving the Lord's Mansion, she couldn't help but ask curiously, "Uncle Yan Xing, does the Thunderous Swamp have so much sugar that you can afford to give it away as charity?"

Yan Xing rode alongside Hibel.

He grabbed a handful of candies, passed them to Hibel, and said, "How can this be called charity? Look how happy those who receive the candy are. This is about seeing everyone happy, and their happiness makes me happy.

Miss Hibel, please try our Thunderous Swamp's specialty: milk candy.

I'm thinking of opening a chamber of commerce in Nuta City to sell our unique products from the Thunderous Swamp.

These milk candies can serve as little treats for guests at our chamber of commerce."

Hibel, seeing the joyful expressions of the commoners as they savored the candy, already felt her mouth watering. So when Yan Xing offered her the candies, she eagerly unwrapped one and popped it into her mouth.

"Mmm, it really is delicious! Milk and sugar mixed to make candy—it's surprisingly delicious! How did you even think of this? The idea is brilliant!

Huh? Did you just say... you want to open a chamber of commerce in Nuta City?

Actually, I would advise you to cultivate a good relationship with the Golden Oak Chamber of Commerce.

The Golden Oak Chamber of Commerce is immensely powerful. In Nuta City, since you're a friend of my father, Chairman Gale wouldn't dare to act against you openly, but he'll definitely resort to some underhanded tactics.

Outside Nuta City, the Golden Oak Chamber of Commerce is even more brazen."

Regarding Hibel's concerns, Yan Xing replied with ease, "Competitors are natural rivals. I plan to open a chamber of commerce in Nuta City and then expand my operations to other places. Sooner or later, I'm bound to cross paths with the Golden Oak Chamber of Commerce.

But no matter what schemes the Golden Oak Chamber of Commerce employs against me, product quality will ultimately be the deciding factor.

All products from our Eternal Domain are of the highest quality. Even making these little candies involves many complex processes.

Each candy is made from premium milk sources, and we use only fine white granulated sugar. The resulting candies have no residue, no impurities, and no unpleasant aftertaste.

The principle we in the Eternal Domain tirelessly uphold and take as our honor is 'Quality Above All, the Spirit of Craftsmanship'."

Hibel savored the milk candy in her mouth.

Just as Yan Xing had said, there was no residue or any foreign sensation.

The milk and sugar were blended perfectly, allowing one to sense the confectioner's precision and scrupulous care.

"I believe you'll succeed, just like the Goblin alchemy shops. No chamber of commerce in this world dares to view Goblin shops as its rival.

We're here."

Hibel reined in her warhorse, stopping before an unremarkable building.

Yan Xing looked at the plain stone house fronting the street with some surprise and said, "Aren't we going to the Goblin Alchemy Factory? This doesn't look like it."

Hibel hopped down from her horse and said to Yan Xing, "The Goblin Alchemy Factory is built underground, but Goblins never allow any outsiders to tour their factory. We can only purchase their alchemical products or place orders at the Goblin shops.

Let's go. Goblins are notoriously eccentric. It's best to be somewhat humble when dealing with them."

Yan Xing dismounted from his horse.

The building before them wasn't imposing; its door was low and narrow, and the interior was dark and gloomy, like the entrance to some forgotten den.

Hibel walked in, and Yan Xing also bent over to squeeze through the doorway.

The interior was dim.

These Goblins clearly don't understand the first thing about business. A shop open to the public should, first of all, be located in the best spot on a city's busiest commercial street. The entrance must be large and inviting. If conditions permit, the facing wall should be opened up and fitted with transparent floor-to-ceiling glass windows. The interior lights should be kept on day and night, so that every passerby would feel an urge to step inside and browse. You also need attractive sales assistants, and a couple of powerful speakers at the entrance blasting the most popular songs on repeat. Business would surely boom. Look at this Goblin shop, what a state! A proper shop, and they've made it look like a burrow. The shopping experience is terrible. Thumbs down!

However, the fact that such a shop can even stay in business implies that the Goblins' alchemical goods have no competitors. That's the only reason they dare to operate like this!

Yan Xing felt a flicker of anticipation for the Goblins' alchemical products.

Huh? Could this be considered a form of reverse psychology in marketing? Hmm, I've learned another trick.

It took Yan Xing a good while to somewhat adjust to the dim lighting. Then a Magic Light Sphere illuminated the space, finally allowing him to see the Goblin shop's interior.

The Goblin alchemy shop wasn't very large, about a hundred square meters.

Wooden, lattice-like shelves, resembling bookcases, lined the four walls. They held various finished alchemical potions, small alchemical trinkets, and some items that looked like mere display models.

In the center of the room was a circular opening leading underground, from which the sound of something ascending could be heard.

Soon, a circular platform rose from below, fitting perfectly to seal the opening. In the middle of the platform sat a Goblin with short brown fur. He was small and frail, seated in an alchemical chair.

The alchemical chair, possessing two legs, smoothly walked off the platform under the Goblin's control.

"Beautiful Miss Hibel! Welcome to the Goblin's alchemy shop! The war in the Wildwind Highlands is about to begin. My associates among the Orcs and Elves tell me... your enemies have purchased a considerable number of Alchemical Weapons from them. You should also stock up."