The sun hangs low in the sky as Vincent's carriage crests the final hill overlooking his new domain. His fingers drum idly against his knee, his expression unreadable as the land of Juras Barony unfolds before him.
What he sees is…
Desolation.
The rumors were not an exaggeration.
The land was dry and barren, and the soil cracked as if thirsting for rain that hadn't fallen in years. Sparse, twisted trees stand like skeletons against the wind, their brittle branches barely clinging to life.
There are no people—not a single sign of civilization, no villages, no farmers, no homes.
But standing at the heart of this forsaken land is a castle.
Vincent leans forward, eyes narrowing.
It is old—that much is clear. Vines creep along its cracked stone walls, and the once-grand towers are weathered by time. A few windows are shattered, and the iron gate stands half-rusted, but the foundation remains strong.
Even in ruin, the castle still exudes authority, like an ancient beast refusing to die.
Vincent smirks. It's fitting.
"Welcome to Juras Castle, my lord."
Alfred, his steward, announces from the front of the carriage. Vincent can hear pity and tired notes in his voice.
Vincent doesn't need pity. He will also change the tired note into happiness. He will not disappoint the people that come with him.
He steps out of the carriage, boots crunching against the dry earth. He tilts his head, examining the structure before him. The main hall remains intact, and the stone walls are thick enough to withstand centuries. With repairs, this place could become a true fortress.
"Yes. This will do."
Vincent strides forward, pushing open the massive doors. They groan under their own weight, the sound echoing through the hollow halls. Dust swirls in the dim light, disturbed by his presence.
His [Appraisal Eyes] activate, scanning the castle in front of him.
Structural Integrity: 78% (Still sturdy, but weakened in some sections.)
Defensive Capability: 60% (Walls intact, but gates and outer barriers need repair.)
Livability: 30% (No working plumbing, destroyed furniture, and zero supplies.)
Value: 2,500,000 Gold Coins
Vincent exhales, rolling his shoulders.
"I have a lot of work to do."
== Line Break ==
Sitting on his bed, Vincent begins forming a mental checklist.
He needs to gather food and water. They have some that will last them for a month, but it is not enough to feed them more than that. He needs to think of a way to gather more food. Lucky for him, his [Merchant Pocket Dimension] will put all the goods in stasis, allowing him to store food and perishable goods indefinitely without spoilage.
The second problem is castle repair. He must repair his castle and ensure it will last for generations. To do that, he needs a lot of material. Lucky for him, his [Merchant Pocket Dimension] has an infinite amount of room so that he can buy a lot of construction material.
The third problem, which is something that he needs for long-term survival, is restoring the land. He needs to restore the land and make sure it can produce food for him to survive. To do that, he needs something that lets him produce water indefinitely so he doesn't need to worry when his territory does not get rain.
He walks to the balcony of his room and looks at the night of his territory. He is lucky the monsters are not going into a frenzy at the moment. That means he doesn't need to worry about dying tonight.
For now, he needs to do something.
His first priority is clear: Food, water, and seeds. He needs to stockpile enough supplies to survive, not just for himself but for any people sent from the capital—whether as spies, exiles, or reluctant settlers.
With his decision made, he takes a deep breath and activates [Multiverse Merchant]. He already knows which world he will visit first. It is familiar because it is the world of his previous life. It is a Modern World.
A ripple of energy erupts from his core—and in the blink of an eye, he vanishes.
The moment his feet touch solid ground, Vincent's senses sharpen.
Bright neon signs flicker above him, the hum of engines and distant chatter filling the night air. The cool breeze carries the scent of urban life—smoke, food, metal, and distant rain.
He's back.
Modern Earth.
Unlike before, there's no hesitation. He knows exactly what he needs and where to get it. His noble attire might stand out, but no one gives him a second glance in a world filled with eccentric styles.
He knows this world because he was born in this city. He doesn't know if this is an alternate universe of his previous world, but it is similar enough to him that he is confident he knows the black market, where he can sell his gold. After all, he doesn't want to be under the government's radar. He can visit an alternate universe. However, he doesn't want to bother gathering that world's currency.
Navigating through dimly lit backstreets, he arrives at a modest-looking pawn shop with a flickering neon sign. To anyone else, it's just a rundown store. But to those in the know, it's a front for something much bigger.
Vincent steps inside.
The air smells of old metal and stale cigarettes. Behind the counter, a burly man with graying hair, a scarred face, and a cigarette between his fingers watches him carefully.
Vincent smirks. Some things never change.
The man, known as Karl, doesn't react immediately. He just exhales a puff of smoke and gestures toward the counter.
"Are you here to buy or sell?"
Vincent reaches into his [Merchant Pocket Dimension] and retrieves five gold coins, placing them on the counter. The solid weight of 12 grams per coin makes a distinct clinking sound.
Karl's eyes narrow. He picks up one coin, running it through his metal tester. After a minute of waiting, he returns and says.
"Real gold. But these… ain't modern coins. Where'd you get 'em?"
Vincent shrugs.
"An old stash."
Karl stares at him for a few more seconds, clearly debating whether to push further. But it's better not to ask too many questions in this business.
"Fine. I'll take 'em."
Karl says, tossing the coins into a weighted tray. Vincent watches as Karl calculates the price.
"Alright. Gold's about 70 dollars per gram today. At five coins, 12 grams each, that's 4,200 dollars. I'll give you $3,500. The black market takes a cut, you know, the deal."
Vincent expected this. It's lower than market value but keeps him off the radar.
"Deal."
Karl slides an envelope across the counter filled with dollar bills.
Vincent pockets it without counting—he trusts his appraisal more than Karl's honesty.
With cash in hand, he leaves the shop, blending into the city streets. The first place he decides to visit is a wholesale supermarket—a warehouse-sized supermarket that sells in bulk. He moves quickly and efficiently, filling carts with Grains, Preserved meats & canned goods, Flour & sugar, and bottled water.
He ignores the people looking at him with how much goods he is buying. When he is done, he pushes the carts to the cashier, who looks at him and says.
"Are you running a restaurant or stocking up for an apocalypse?"
"Something like that. My family owns farmland in a remote area. It's hard to get supplies out there."
The cashier nods, accepting the explanation.
After paying in cash, he takes the carts to the back of the store where no CCTV can see him and stores them inside his pocket dimension. He walks to the next store with all of them stored in his pocket dimension.
His next stop is a specialty agricultural supplier, selling drought-resistant seeds and advanced fertilizers. Like before, he pays in cash and secretly stores them inside his pocket.
The last shop is the farming store. He buys all the tools he needs for farming from this place, like hoes and shovels. He also buys seed spreaders and sickles. Lastly, he is buying portable water storage containers.
With that, his shopping trip is complete.
With everything secured, Vincent steps into a quiet alleyway and activates [Multiverse Merchant].
The air shimmers, reality-bending—
And in an instant, he's back in his room. Only the cold wind and endless silence greet him. But this time, he is not empty-handed.
Vincent smirks.
Juras Barony will no longer be a wasteland. This is just the beginning.