“Ding-dong, the system is binding.”
“Progress 0%… 46%… 100%.”
“Binding successful, the dimensional retail store is at your service.”
Stepping on the filthy dirt, he looked around at the dim, cold environment, devoid of people, the silence overwhelming.
Lu Sian pinched the dust between his fingers; everything felt too real to believe. In an instant, he had arrived in this unfamiliar place.
“This is the first world you mentioned?” he spoke up.
“Master, detection indicates that spatial leap has occurred without error,” a cold mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
Lu Sian clapped his hands, brushing off the dirt lingering on his fingertips.
“Weren’t we supposed to open a small store? There’s nothing here to sell!”
“Confirm the establishment of a retail store.”
“Confirm/Reject.”
“Confirm.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, wooden boards and stones suddenly appeared in the air, rapidly assembling a foundation. In just a few minutes, a three-story building rose up before him.
Lu Sian regarded the miraculous power with interest, finding it truly astonishing.
He lifted his foot and pushed open the wooden door.
It didn’t resemble a typical supermarket; upon entering, he found a front desk with numerous cabinets inside, yet it felt eerily strange.
Despite the exterior reflecting a modern vibe, the interior was uniquely arranged. There were no shelves, only various luminescent orbs floating in the air, walls embroidered with mysterious patterns, and a dim light hanging from the ceiling, struggling to illuminate the space.
The room wasn’t large, but due to the dim lighting, he couldn’t see what lay ahead clearly.
As Lu Sian maneuvered around the orbs, he discovered a set of chairs and a table tucked into a corner, designed in a peculiar medieval aristocratic style that had a touch of fancifulness.
“System, are you sure this is a retail store?”
“To fit this dimension, ‘Gothic style’ skin was specifically chosen.”
“The orbs can act as shelves, where you can place items for sale, along with a standard cash register; the earned currency will be stored in the counter, counting into the system’s account.”
“For this task, earn one million energy coins, unlock at least ten products, and open the next space-time leap.”
Lu Sian reached out, and indeed found a round button on the side of the counter.
Pressing it lightly, a square space popped open, revealing that this was where the currency would be stored.
“This building is three stories: the first floor is the store, the second is the main resting room, and the third has not yet been unlocked.”
“Would you like to open the beginner’s gift package?”
“Yes/No.”
Lu Sian temporarily ignored the voice in his ear, sitting down in the chair. He lightly tapped the table, and after a pause, said, “Yes.”
“Congratulations, master! You have received ten bottles of cola, ten bags of chips, a small bag of fruit candies, and a box of band-aids.”
“You have also received five hundred energy coins as a newcomer. They have been credited; you can summon the task panel for specific information.”
A jingling sound echoed; whether it was his imagination or not, he felt a hint of cheerfulness in the cold mechanical voice.
Opening the task panel, the top displayed an energy value, the recently credited five hundred, along with backpack space and a system mall.
He first opened the backpack.
“Cola (Price: 100 energy coins): A bottle of ordinary sparkling water; perhaps it may have some unusual effects.”
“Chips (Price: 100 energy coins): Cucumber flavor; it might be tasty, but who knows?”
“Fruit candies (Price: 60 energy coins): Durian flavor; the taste is hard to describe, those who buy it will regret it; only a scammer would sell such a thing.”
“Band-aids (Price: 100 energy coins): Very small; it might be useful if bitten by mosquitoes.”
“…” Lu Sian fell silent.
No matter how he looked at these products, they didn’t seem very marketable; he felt cheated.
Just then, the system’s prompt sounded again, almost as if trying to justify itself.