That’s a till, or shop register, cash register, with an NFC attachment. That over there is a laser copy machine with an NFC attachment as well. There’s reams of paper, and toner cartridges. Huff. Phew, this, this is insane. Grr Fakeworld, why? Still, still I think this might do it. The other names might not be necessary, at least not for all shops. Perhaps certain individual shops. I hastily wave Lu and Lucky and Leezahna out as I begin setting up. I levitate Leezahna’s chair out to her, and remind her to be kind to Luni and Lucky as she has them making a home for her.
I hear Leeza start, “I’d, I’d like a big open floor plan for the main area, and a private bedroom, with a walk-in closet, and maybe marble columns, and—. I, I, Schism said, I—. I guess I can earn the columns, and maybe get some help with them, maybe, sometime? Then over there—.”
She trails off, describing what might be her little dream home cave to Lu and Lucky. While they’re busy with that, Vyela offers me her usual, “Hmn,” while Te helps me make room for the copying machine, and I utilize a bit of stone elemental magic to do some reshaping to make more room in the dugout, so that I can bring the big battery banks down in here, so that I can plug in all these machines.
I’m giddy, I’m almost ecstatic. If, if any of the shops have the magical equipment to reproduce the shop stalls, or, or, or shop stalls themselves, or, I don’t even know what, there’s so many possibilities. Possibilities that might be able to save the Can’Z’aasian aura even if someone destroys this stall, or generate a new one, or, or so many things. Hooking things up, I begin booting up all the devices, but now I’m a bit struck. How are the *devices* going to know who’s behind the sho—.
I flip through the notes in the phone, and there’s one with nine digit codes assigned to hundreds, maybe thousands of names. I rush to the copier to try to figure out how to get it to print that specific note. It’s rather intuitive, just leave the phone on the NFC hotspot, and use the touch-screen interface to find the file-name of what you’d like to print out. I’m vibrating with anticipation. The names are all alphabetical, and I’m pretty sure it’s everyone we could possibly have gotten to run the shop for us, since it includes people who’ve perished like Aymeshtu. I hesitate to leave the sheet with her name on it in the stack, but—. Te offers me a sad frown and nods. In case some of these other names are people who live in Mount Solace, who might want to utilize the system, I’d better leave the sheet in the stack.
Either I, or Nala, will get this printout bound, and we’ll put in tabs to indicate the letter cutoffs, so people can flip to their letter more easily. I’m pretty sure binders and binder tabs are easy enough to get out of the shop system at this point. Thankfully, there’s an option for three-hole-punching the printouts as they occur, and I selected that one, as well as double-siding, though maybe I shouldn’t have chosen that, since it makes the sheets busier, and a little harder to parse quickly and easily.
Still, with this—, oh wow. I think I don’t even need to have all of these people show up. I think—. I think with Lu, or Kinzul behind the counter, if we plug in their nine digit code, we can drum up anyone’s shop inventory. Or, or maybe even without them? Just, just let’s just see mine first. I hunt down my code in the Rs. Of effing course it is. I start laughing, cackling even. It’s nine zeroes. Hahahah. Teuila giggles along with me, and even Vyela snorts once as she notices, and easily puts two and two together. The Void Dragon Honoris Causa is all null digits.
Oh my gosh, oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh. My heart rate is so frantic, I feel like I’m going to pass out. Teuila nudges me playfully, bopping me softly on the head, slugging me gently in the shoulder, and slapping me ever so lightly on my cheek. I try to calm myself, to breathe deeply. Te smiles proudly at me, not entirely sure what everything is, but trusting that my excitement means we’ve succeeded at something important. I—. I need to commemorate this. Maybe a selfie with Teuila. Te—. She’s at my side, and posing towards where I’ll hold the phone.
How do you know what a selfie is? Whatever, it’s fine. I ask Vyela, “Would you want to be in a commemorative photo of this partial success of our endeavor? Ah, erm, no problem.”
I probably should have expected the confused brow and the eyeroll from Vyela. Still, I snag a selfie with Teuila, and I’m blown away, both by the quality, and just, just the ability to capture a moment. I have a picture with my beloved Wings. She looks so happy, and excited for me to be as excited as I am. My eyes wet with tears as I hug the phone to my chest. Te rolls her eyes and shoulder bashes me playfully, reminding me that she’s still right next to me.
I’m beginning to pant a bit exhaustedly, hyperventilating from the excitement. Okay Reggie, calm down. Get it together. Punch in my code, stand behind the shop. Hand the phone to Te so she can hold it near the NFC attachment. Alright, let’s see what shows up on the phone. I—. I don’t recognize that filetype. I mean, why would I? But still—. I frown and furrow my brow. I can’t open that type of file on my phone as far as I’m aware. Do I need a PC, and conversion software? I wonder if the copier knows that filetype.
Let’s see, is there some sort of note detailing—. Okay, here we go. Non-keyed sequential file. Something something AS400, RPG, COBOL, printable! Okay, okay, okay, calm down. Phew, huff, phew. NFC up to the copier, select the—. Huh. Print source, or result? Well, I guess the source would be just like, code and formatting, and the result would be the actual catalog, or database. Huh. I’m curious about the source, but it says it’s something like a thousand seventy one pages. Or wait, there’s like a line space between the digits that looks like it could hide an entire extra digit, is that ten thousand seventy one? Jeebez. The results are only a few pages. As curious as I am about the source code, I really don’t want to waste ten thousand pages and that much toner.
Okay, okay, okay. Results it is. What’s this? Standard plus the following, plus unlock—able? I, I definitely didn’t expect this, and I don’t even know what the standard is. Is that just the stuff that everyone was able to sell infinite of back home on Can’Z’aas more or less? Produce mostly, as well as wooden goods, and so on. The really general items that almost every shop seemed to carry an infinite supply of. Perhaps every shop.
So these are my expanded inventory beyond the standard eh? Huh.
Mermaid''s Tear
Crystal Ball with Stand
Mechanical Gauntlet
Potions and Brews Recipe Book
Vintage Diving Helmet
Spellbound Tarot Deck
Ancient Egyptian Ankh
Dragon Claw Letter Opener
Victorian Phantom Masks
Time-Traveler''s Pocket Watch
Werewolf Fur Rug
Egyptian Hieroglyphics Decoder
Mechanical Music Box
Wishing Well Coin Collection
Enchanted Forest Canvas Art
Vintage Spyglass Telescope
Phoenix Feather Quill Pen
Timeless Hourglass
Gilded Renaissance Mirror
Dragon Claw Bookends
Atlantean Crystal Orb
Alchemist''s Mortar and Pestle
Magical Grimoire
Goggles with Gears
Potion of Invisibility
Viking Rune Stones Set
Victorian Cameo Brooch
Enchanted Snow Globe
Elven Leaf Fragment
Rustic Pirate Treasure Chest
Time Traveler''s Top Hat
Vintage World Map
Crystal Healing Wand
Antique Brass Compass
Faerie Wing Hair Clip
Egyptian Scarab Amulet
Mechanical Pocket Watch Necklace
Leprechaun''s Lucky Coin
Renaissance Knight Chess Set
Celtic Knot Leather Journal
Fairy Garden Miniature Set
Vintage Phonograph Gramophone
Unicorn Horn Pendant
Ancient Sumerian Cuneiform Tablet
Egyptian Cat Statue
Fortune Teller''s Crystal Ball
Aztec Sun Stone Calendar
Mechanical Clockwork Bird
Werewolf Moon Phase Calendar
Enchanted Forest Incense Burner
Potion of Love Elixir
Samurai Warrior Armor Miniature
Rustic Celtic Knot Wall Art
Airship Model
Greek Mythology Tarot Cards
Magical Fairy Dust Bottles
Viking Ship Figurine
Phoenix Rising Tapestry
Egyptian Pyramid Puzzle Box
Astral Projection Guidebook
Enchanted Crystal Pendant
Antique Skeleton Key Set
Pocket Watch Stand
Haunted House Candle Holder
Celtic Druid''s Staff
Wizard''s Potion Cauldron
Victorian Opera Glasses
Mythical Creature Wood Carvings
Pirate Ship in a Bottle
Fairy Tale Pop-Up Book
Dreamcatcher Amulet Necklace
Egyptian Papyrus Scroll
Gear Bracelet
Crystal Energy Charging Plate
Vintage Compass Watch
Antique Vampire Hunter Kit
Fairy Tale Storybook Collection
Dragon''s Eye Gemstone
Fortune Teller''s Crystal Ball Stand
Pirate Treasure Map Puzzle
Time Traveler''s Journal
Vintage Crystal Decanter Set
Magical Firefly Jar
Airship Blueprint
Egyptian Scarab Bracelet
Unicorn Tapestry Throw Blanket
Mermaid Song Music Box
Antique World Globe
Mystic Tarot Cloth
Viking Drinking Horn
Mechanical Cogwheel Wall Clock
Sorcerer''s Crystal Ball Stand
Renaissance Court Jester Doll
Egyptian Ankh Keychain
Fairy Tale Pop-Up Card Set
Astronomical Pocket Watch
Aviator Goggles
Celtic Knot Amulet
Unicorn Enamel Pin
Alchemist''s Elixir Crafting Set
A—. A time traveler’s journal!? I shout though Te is right next to me, “Teuila, quick, quick buy from my shop, a time traveler’s journal!”
Teuila starts to chide me for shouting, but her eyes fly wide in realization. There’s also a time traveler’s top-hat, and time traveler’s pocket watch, but I’m not exactly a top-hat kind of person, and I don’t see a pocket watch being as helpful as information. My heart skips beats as I rush back to the other side of the stall to greet Teuila, “Hello my utterly beloved, ultra wonderful customer, please, let me serve you today. How may I be of service?”
Te looses a Shellcracker Family Squee at my over-the-top’ness of my shopkeep introduction, but after a short laugh, she simply responds, “One time traveler’s journal please.”
I gulp, waiting with bated breath as the money on the counter derezzes out, while a journal rezzes in. If, if anything could contain a clue on how to save Kinzul, it would be this. Right? This has to be it. Right? Please. Please be it. I can’t grab it, so Te has to grab it for me, and she’s tantalizingly teasingly keeping it out of my reach. I’m tempted to telekinetically grab it from her, but I don’t want to spoil her fun, or hurt her feelings. I shouldn’t be in quite so much of a rush anyway. Plus, she could read it herself.
Checking out the journal, Teuila mutters, “Erm, actually, no I can’t. It’s some kinda mooney runies. Bah. When did you learn to write like this? They aren’t even Rayileklian runes.”
I gulp, apprehensive, because I didn’t, I’ve never seen them before. My translation enchantment gets to work though. Wait, are these Hiragana? Or maybe Katakana? Or traditional Chinese? What the everliving—. Okay, okay, calm down, let’s read, hm, hm—. I, I don’t think this is about me, or by me. It, it seems like a piece of fiction. I mean, not like it’s unbelievable or out there or wild or anything, it’s just written more like a story rather than an actual journal. Like, seriously, time traveler’s log, star date yada yada. Plus, it’s mostly about planets in some galactic quadrant or something or other. What the hell?
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
My heart plummets into my stomach, my excitement suddenly abated. Huff. I sigh slowly, and breathe deeply, weeping at the loss of the possibility to save Kinzul. I, I shouldn’t have gotten my hopes up. This does however also end up making me doubt that anything else in here that happens to sound marvelous, actually is marvelous. Like a phoenix-feather quill pen? It’s probably just colored orange or something. A magical grimoire? It’s probably just a fake or empty spellbook. Still, I guess maybe it’s worth snagging them to check them out. Some things are ridiculously high-priced, which leads me to believe that they might actually be magic items. I’m not even sure we can afford to be buying the ones with prices like that. There’s so many zeroes. We’ve got tons of cash, sure, but we’re not infinitillionaires.
My eyes gloss over as I try to read my shop’s inventory again and again. I beg Vyela to find her number, and punch it in, and Teuila to try hers, to snag the files onto the phone while I’m reading. I’m pretty sure I could just enter them myselves. Erm, myself, bluh, I’m discombobulated from the let-down. Anyway, I might be wrong about being able to enter them myself. It may be more like a sort of combined digital-biological password lock thing that unlocks a certain file when the person whose passcode is punched in, stands behind the counter.
Still, this information about unlockables leads me to believe we might be able to find people whose shops can contain entire smartphones, fully constructed and charged, or something like that. We’d just have to do whatever task happens to unlock them. What are the conditions on my unlockables? Something something, a thousand sales over fifty dollars. Bluh. It sounds like it’ll produce a new file after I perform some very videogamey achievement style things, and that file will be my unlocked additional inventory. Oy vey. Friggin’ hell. Genre senses are going wild about all this. That one might even have another set of achievements for even more unlocks. Hah. Ugh.
So much of this stuff sounds like basically cosplay or maybe just intricate costume jewelry or nonsense patterned in ways or named in ways to sound impressive. Hm, Te’s list? Similar. Hell it even has another time traveler’s journal, for a different price. Ugh. Should we even bother? Still—. If there’s any chance, that one of them might be my own, we should take it, right? It’s eight minutes, and we could just snag a bunch of the affordable stuff at once. What all does Te have?
Moonlit Enchantress Perfume
Enchanted Evergreen Wreath
Celestial Crystal Pendant
Dragon''s Eye Gemstone
Starlight Elixir
Timeless Hourglass
Gilded Fantasy Mirror
Faerie Whisper Candles
Ocean''s Song Seashell Necklace
Ancient Rune Stones
Mystical Moonstone Ring
Vintage Locket of Secrets
Crystal Healing Wand
Mermaid Tear Fragment
Enchanted Forest Incense
Astral Projection Guidebook
Phoenix Feather Quill
Serenity Seraph Figurine
Enchanted Unicorn Figurine
Time Traveler''s Journal
Dragonfire Amber Bracelet
Celestial Zodiac Tapestry
Sorcerer''s Spellbook
Crystal Ball with Stand
Starfall Amulet
Whimsical Music Box
Elemental Potion Vials
Dreamcatcher Wall Art
Enchanted Oak Wand
Mystic Moon Phases Wall Hanging
Vintage Zodiac Constellation Map
Enchanted Forest Canvas Art
Celestial Telescope
Magic Broomstick
Wishing Well Coin Collection
Alchemist''s Mortar and Pestle
Mystical Tarot Deck
Rustic Dreamcatcher
Crystal Energy Charging Plate
Enchanted Crystal Skull
Moonlit Garden Lanterns
Mermaid''s Lagoon Perfume
Dragonfly Wing Fragment
Celestial Star Fragment
Ancient Egyptian Scarab Bracelet
Timekeeper''s Pocket Watch
Enchanted Sapphire Ring
Starry Night Sky Projection
Ocean Waves Sound Machine
Serpent Serenade Bracelet
Moonstone Amulet
Enchanted Serpent Ring
Vintage Treasure Map
Crystal Dragon Figurine
Celestial Moon Mirror
Mystic Amethyst Cluster
Enchanted Crystal Key
Faerie Wings Hairpin
Dragon Claw Necklace
Timeless Pocket Watch Necklace
Mermaid Song Music Box
Celestial Moon Phase Wall Art
Astral Traveler''s Guidebook
Enchanted Moonflower Crown
Mystical Moon Phase Mirror
Dreamweaver Quilted Blanket
Crystal Lotus Incense Holder
Phoenix Rising Tapestry
Ocean Tides Seashell Set
Serenity Bath Salts
Moonstone Crystal Ball Stand
Enchanted Rose Amulet
Dragon Claw Letter Opener
Celestial Stargazer Globe
Starry Night Constellation Globe
Crystal Faerie Figurine
Timekeeper''s Desk Clock
Serpent Serenade Gambeson
Ocean Breeze Scented Oil
Moonlit Forest Wall Hanging
Mystic Moonlight Candle Holders
Enchanted Star Bracelet
Celestial Moon Phase Journal
Dragonfire Elixir Flask
Ancient Egyptian Ankh Necklace
Timeless Steampunk Pocket Watch
Enchanted Oak Tree Figurine
Faerie Dust Sparkler Wand
Starfall Crystal Chandelier
Ocean Mist Reed Diffuser
Moonlit Serenity Oil Burner
Celestial Zodiac Bracelet
Dragonfly Dance Wall Art
Enchanted Crystal Skull Necklace
Timeless Hourglass Pendant
Serpent Serenade Ring
Ocean Treasure Chest Box
Celestial Crescent Moon Fragment
Dragon''s Breath Potion
Crystal Vortex Amulet
Huh. Te’s does have a Dragon’s Breath Potion though, and I know those exist, and that she has used one in the past. During—. During our last fight against Olashax in The Gap. I bite my lips, and scrunch my eyes to fight back my tears. Gulp. I fight my sadness and gulp back my emotions so as not to burden Teuila with the memories of that period of our Rayileklian journey.
Some of these items almost sound like, well, like set items from a massively multiplayer roleplaying game. Like, they might seem like cheap costumes or accessories upon purchase, but what if we find all the items in a set, and wearing them actually does confer magic? Ugh, some of them are so friggin’ expensive, I’m not sure it’s worth it to try until we start getting our own wealth generation going on. I’d prefer to get some extra shop stalls, and maybe see if we can automate them without needing someone standing behind them. Then possibly start a bit of an assembly line that takes some resources, turns them into goods, and automatically sells them. Snag that wealth to get more resources, or just wait for them to respawn, or whatever.
I don’t want to accidentally blow all our wealth before we find out something like the magical tools that could help us make more shop stalls end up costing like umpteen quintillion gold pieces or something. Deep breaths Reggie, keep at it. It’s still progress. I don’t know when we’ll ever have time to do a thousand transactions of over fifty dollars in value, unless we get like five hundred people here at once, to each do two transactions. Y’know. Because doing them one at a time would be eight thousand minutes or so, and that’s, that’s just far too long to invest during the war. I know Reggie, I know. It’s okay, we’ll get through this, we’ll secure things.
I guess this is one of the reasons Lu said I might not get what I want or need though. The Time Traveler’s Journal was a bust. Definitely not what I need to be able to save Kinzul. Alright, alright, let’s see what Vyela’s inventory is while we’re here, then try to pick out what’s worth purchasing. My eyes are hurting as I try to take in all of these items and lists. So far all of them have said standard plus the following, with like a hundred item list or so, plus a mystery file of unlockables after a list of achievements. Here’s Vyela’s.
Royal Scepter of Eternity
Moonlit Palace Tapestry
Enchanted Crystal Tiara
Dragon''s Tear Gemstone
Celestial Starfire Necklace
Timeless Royal Hourglass
Gilded Royal Mirror
Serenity of the Crown Candles
Ocean''s Embrace Opalescent Shell Necklace
Royal Elixir of Youth
Mystical Moonlit Chalice
Vintage Royal Locket
Crystal Heart of the Queen
Mermaid''s Lagoon Perfume
Enchanted Palace Incense
Astral Crown Jewel
Phoenix Feather Quill Pen
Serpent''s Serenade Bracelet
Ocean Breeze Scented Oil
Royal Timekeeper''s Pocket Watch
Dragonfire Amber Fragment
Celestial Crested Tapestry
Regal Queen''s Robes
Crystal Ball of Prophecy
Starfall Crown Amulet
Whispers of the Throne Music Box
Elemental Harmony Fragment
Royal Dragon Figurine
Enchanted Orchid Crown
Mystical Queen''s Journal
Vintage Regal Map
Enchanted Royal Forest Art
Celestial Observatory Telescope
Majestic Regal Scepter
Ancient Royal Crown Jewels
Timeless Queen''s Pocket Watch
Mystic Sapphire Amulet
Whimsical Royal Mask
Crystal Chalice of Wisdom
Enchanted Crystal Crest
Moonlit Queen''s Lanterns
Regal Lavender Perfume
Dragon Crested Tapestry
Celestial Star Bracelet
Royal Phoenix Figurine
Timeless Crowned Hourglass
Enchanted Sapphire Ring
Serpent Serenade Fragment
Regal Crested Key
Ocean Starlight Fragment
Moonstone Queen''s Mirror
Enchanted Rose Scepter
Vintage Royal Scroll
Crystal Dragonfly Brooch
Celestial Moonlit Crown
Whispers of the Throne Candle Holders
Regal Serpent Crown
Royal Moon Phase Necklace
Enchanted Royal Rose
Mystical Crowned Crystal Ball Stand
Serenity of the Crown Bath Salts
Moonlit Queen''s Perfume
Dragonfire Crested Bracelet
Celestial Star Pendant
Timeless Queen''s Desk Clock
Enchanted Orchid Fragment
Royal Timekeeper''s Pendant
Serpent''s Serenade Necklace
Ocean''s Embrace Seashell Necklace
Moonstone Crowned Amulet
Regal Phoenix Bracelet
Crystal Crested Bookends
Celestial Moon Phase Journal
Enchanted Rose Necklace
Timeless Crowned Pocket Watch
Royal Moonlit Wall Art
Mystic Queen''s Tarot Deck
Whimsical Royal Tea Set
Ocean''s Embrace Opalescent Shell Fragment
Serpent Serenade Ring
Moonlit Queen''s Oil Burner
Regal Crystal Hairpin
Dragon''s Tear Fragment
Celestial Crown Jewel Box
Enchanted Rose Amulet
Timeless Queen''s Ring
Royal Moonlit Chalice
Serenity of the Crown Keychain
Ocean Starlight Wall Hanging
Mystic Queen''s Crystal Ball
Serpent''s Serenade Bracelet
Moonlit Palace Wall Mirror
Enchanted Sapphire Necklace
Regal Crown Crested Comb
Celestial Moon Phase Wall Art
Timeless Queen''s Necklace
Royal Dragon Crest
Ocean''s Embrace Perfume
Whispers of the Throne Incense
Enchanted Royal Gemstone
Hm, let’s do an experiment, and try to print out someone that we know. Let’s just try Burshis, early enough in the alphabet. It seems to be working. So apparently anyone with a smartphone who has access to the codes can at least get the list. I wonder if the individual even needs to stand behind the counter to purchase from them. Maybe they won’t get achievement progress towards their unlocks, if people purchase while they aren’t attending the shop? Or what if when we purchase select limited items from their shop without them here, that if they would have had enchantments, they don’t have the enchantment? That would be awful. Gnawing at my lip once more, I lean over the counter from the customer side, and punch in my own code. Or worse, what if like, I punch in my own code, and because I’m the seller, and the buyer, the items will rez in, and permanently sit here forever, uninteractable by anyone?
Gulping, a bit apprehensive to even learn what happens, I call out to no one, “Hello, um, shop system? Me? I would like to purchase an alchemist’s elixir crafting kit, as well as the crystal healing wand, from Reggie Shellcracker, code 000000000’s shop please.”
Hm, there’s a pleasant tingle in my—. I’m leveling up my shopkeep skill or something. Somehow. I start to hyperventilate as my eyes fly wide. Can’Z’aas, it’s, it’s here somehow, parts of it! The crafting kit rezzes in along with the wand as another wad of hundred dollar bills derezzes. I, I don’t know what this means. We don’t even need the people to be at the shop? Well, I was technically here when I bought from myself. Whew, I can at least grab the items.
The crystal healing wand has an aura, and it—. Haha. Of course. It heals crystals. It’s even less effective than my mending spell. It only works on absolutely tiny abrasions in crystals, or a few small cracks can be repaired by it. But it is mana-free, and limitless. I guess it could help if someone screws up when gem-cutting if they’re doing enchanted jewelrycrafting.
I should try someone who isn’t here. Let’s look at Burshis’s printout. Heck, let’s print out her partner Nietru DeValor’s as well. What’s in Nietru—! Holy crap! Holy crap holy crap holy crap holy crap!!