The morning sun cast long shadows across the array of buildings in Sun City, its light filtering into Elias's room as he prepared for what would be a pivotal day in establishing his new life. In the privacy of his inn room, he donned attire that would be considered unusual in Sun City, but he deemed it necessary both to protect his identity and to introduce mystique to his future ventures.
The outfit consisted of a military-style black uniform, crisp and imposing, over which he draped a hooded black cape that concealed his features in shadow. The final touch was a black mask with a single white omega symbol engraved prominently across its surface.
—The transformation was striking.
Elias touched his face with gloved hands, concealing his pale skin that had yet to recover. His sickly, weak appearance was hidden, and in his place stood a figure shrouded in mystery and authority, someone who could command attention without revealing his identity.
Selina gasped in shock when she first saw him approaching in this attire. The next moment, however, Elias removed his mask, and she immediately calmed down upon recognizing his face.
"You look... different."
She said, her voice filled with awe and a hint of nervousness.
"That's the intention."
Elias replied, his voice sounding slightly muffled. He had intentionally altered it.
"In business, perception is often more important than reality. People are drawn to mystery, to the unknown. This appearance will make our shop memorable in the heart of our future customers."
He explained, sitting down to eat his meal.
Before committing to any specific venture, Elias knew he needed to understand Sun City's market landscape. Although he wanted to open a pastry shop, he needed to ensure there wasn't much competition that would diminish his returns.
With Selina at his side, he ventured into the bustling commercial district, moving through the maze of stalls, shops, and vendors that formed the city's economic heart.
The marketplace's hustle and bustle would assault the senses of any first-time visitor. There were the calls of merchants hawking their wares, the aroma of exotic spices and cooking food filling the air with rich aromas, the various colorful fabrics and gleaming metalwork creating a visual feast. Elias observed everything with the calculating eye of someone who had once commanded resources across multiple universes.
"Look at the variety they have here."
He murmured to Selina as they passed a spice merchant's stall.
"Exotic seasonings from distant lands, rare herbs with mystical properties. The people here have sophisticated tastes. I recognize some of them, but the rest are unfamiliar herbs and fruits."
Drawing from his inherited memories, Elias could identify some of the items being sold, but since the original Elias wasn't a culinary expert or a connoisseur of any kind, he only knew what most people in this world would recognize.
As for Drakas's memories, it wasn't helpful in the slightest. He only focused on his dark rituals and ate whatever he found edible.
They moved methodically through different market sections. Weaponsmiths displayed their finest blades, Thaumaturge Sigils glowing faintly as they infused their creations with mystical energy to showcase their effects and attract potential customers.
Alchemists sold potions and elixirs in bottles that sparkled with inner light. Elias found himself interested in the art of potion-making, wondering if the effects were similar to the medicinal tablets from Earth.
Textile merchants offered fabrics that seemed to shift color in the sunlight, but Elias found them completely unappealing. To him, they were just gimmicks with no practical use, though some people from his home planet would disagree with him.
As they explored, Elias noticed a significant market gap.
"Selina."
He called, pausing before a baker's stall that offered only basic bread and simple pastries.
"What do you see here among all the shops we've visited?"
The girl studied the modest selection, comparing it to other shops selling similar products, then offered her assessment.
"Bread, some sweet rolls... nothing very exciting. They're all the same products with different price tags."
"Exactly. Look around. Where are the confectioneries? The specialty pastries? The treats that make people's mouths water just from looking at them?"
Elias asked passionately, recalling his time as a salesman for a luxury food company before his awakening as a Quantum Seeker. He had long forgotten his occupational habits, but regaining a mortal body had rekindled his old instincts.
Selina looked puzzled by the sudden shift in his tone, making Elias realize he was acting out of character. He immediately regained his composure.
Damn it! Having a human body and mind affects my mental state more than I thought. I got so used to being a Quantum Seeker that I'd forgotten how hard it was to regulate certain emotions and habits. This is the second time I've nearly lost control. I need to be more careful until I can better regulate my emotions and instincts.
As they continued their survey, the pattern became clear. Sun City's food vendors focused primarily on practical sustenance, such as hearty meals, basic baked goods, and functional nutrition. There was a distinct lack of what Elias would call "comfort food" or luxury treats.
"This is perfect. I don't have to worry much about competition. We can create not only our own market but our own niche. That should attract plenty of customers."
Elias said with satisfaction, his eyes flashing with determination. This was the first step toward achieving financial freedom in this new world.
After completing their market research, Elias and Selina ventured toward the commercial district's outskirts, where property values dropped significantly. Here, gleaming storefronts gave way to modest establishments, and eventually to the slums' edge, a sprawling area of ramshackle buildings where Sun City's poorest residents eked out their existence.
"Why are we looking here?"
Selina asked, concern in her voice as they passed groups of malnourished children playing in dusty streets.
"To rent a cheap shop. Everyone else sees the slums as undesirable, with no foot traffic from wealthy customers, no prestige, no obvious profit potential. That makes property cheap to acquire and means we won't face immediate competition once we open our shop."
Elias explained. Selina nodded in understanding, taking his words to heart for her own betterment.
Not long after, they found what they were seeking. It was a small but well-constructed building that had previously housed a failed general goods store. The structure was sound, with large windows perfect for displaying wares and enough space for both retail and preparation areas.
The landlord, a portly man named Garrett who owned several properties in the area, was eager to make a deal. Few people came to rent from him, so when a customer finally appeared, he was genuinely pleased.
"How long has it been empty?"
Elias asked, examining the shop.
"Six months now. Previous tenant couldn't make a go of it. Not much coin to be made in this part of the city, if you catch my meaning."
Garrett admitted, to which Elias nodded calmly.
Coins?
Elias wondered, then suddenly remembered that some shops, particularly those selling household goods, accepted coins instead of Mystic Stones to make their products more affordable for ordinary people.
Moments later, Elias had negotiated a favorable lease agreement, paying several months in advance with Mystic Stones. Garrett's eyes widened at the sight of the currency. Very few tenants in this area could afford such prompt payment, let alone with Mystic Stones.
"You sure about this location, friend?"
Garrett asked, pocketing the stones swiftly like a hungry ghost.
"Might be better served closer to the main market, don't you think?"
Though it appeared as though he was discouraging Elias from renting his shop, it was quite the contrary. He wanted to ensure his new tenant wouldn't change his mind later and demand a refund.
There had been cases where his tenants returned asking for money back simply because their shops weren't making sustaintial profit. He wanted to prevent such a precedent from occurring, so he needed to confirm that Elias wasn't simply ignorant about the potential drawbacks of acquiring a shop near the slums.
"I'm confident in my product."
Elias replied simply, appreciating his newly acquired shop.
"If you say so."
Garrett said, handing him the keys to the shop.
The next few days were a whirlwind of preparation. Then came the time to prepare his products. As for how he was going to do that, the method was quite simple. He only needed to spend some Mystral Crystals obtained from Drakas's hidden chamber to exchange the recreations in his Mental Landscape for real-world items.
A few days earlier, he had tested his Mental Landscape's material exchange feature. It worked better and cost less than expected, unlike immaterial manifestations like Quantum Sight, which required exorbitant amounts of Mystic Crystal just to awaken the initial stage.
The military-style garment and its accessories he wore had also been manifested from his Mental Landscape. Now, employing this ability, Elias began exchanging his recreations for an inventory of pastries and confections that drew upon his memories of Earth's culinary achievements from the era after cosmic ablution, when food science had reached unprecedented heights.