Episode 8: Scam the Shop? Bad Idea.
The day began like any other for Rhea. Birds chirped outside her small window, the digital sun in her virtual training realm slowly rising. Fizz floated around her head in lazy circles, chewing on a data biscuit shaped like a star.
"Another beautiful day for being mysterious and powerful," Fizz hummed.
Rhea smiled, sipping a cup of shimmering tea made from one of the rarest leaves she had acquired through the market. Her system panel blinked softly with new requests.
> New Orders: 12
Rating: 5.0 Stars
Popular Tags: Reliable, Fast, Untraceable
Untraceable. That was the most important part.
No one could locate her shop, and no one knew who she was. It was a skill only she had—the Multidimensional Hidden Shop. Even if someone used tracking spells, hacker programs, or ancient locator crystals, they'd only see static.
Fizz scrolled through the request list. "Ooh! Look at this one. Someone wants a Flamecore Heart Crystal for half price."
Rhea raised an eyebrow. "Half price?"
Fizz giggled. "Yep. And they claim to be a 'Royal Client' with the 'Authority of the Sky Tower.' Sounds like a spoiled brat."
Rhea tapped the screen, opening the request.
> [System Notice]: This buyer has activated 'Royal Discount Protocol.'
Detected: Forceful Override Attempt – Rank S Access Code.
Rhea's eyes narrowed.
"Someone's trying to override my pricing system?"
Fizz blinked. "That's illegal. Like, super illegal."
Rhea smiled slowly. "Then it's time they learn a little shopkeeper lesson."
She didn't reject the order. Not yet.
Instead, she customized the package.
> Item: Flamecore Heart Crystal (Modified)
Hidden Effect: Karma Reversal Curse – Active Upon Greed Activation
Fizz blinked in awe. "Wait… you're sending them a cursed version?"
"No," Rhea said with a sly grin. "I'm sending exactly what they asked for. The curse only activates if they try to misuse the item or lie about the price."
Fizz whistled. "Boss, remind me never to try and scam you."
The package was sent.
---
Meanwhile, in Sky Tower—one of the most powerful guilds in the world…
Inside a palace-sized chamber, a young man lounged on a throne made of floating crystals. Prince Kai, heir to the Sky Tower Empire, smirked at the glowing shop panel before him.
"Heh. That stupid hidden shop actually accepted my request. These noobs will do anything for a fancy title."
He snatched the item as it arrived in his inventory and held it up.
"The Flamecore Heart Crystal. This baby sells for a fortune… and I got it for peanuts."
He activated the crystal.
BOOM.
A wave of dark smoke exploded in his face, and ancient words appeared in golden letters across the ceiling:
> Greed Has Consequences.
Prince Kai screamed and fell backward as the cursed flames swirled around him—not harming his body, but burning his ego, sapping his fake buffs, and crashing his reputation in the royal shop market.
---
Back in Rhea's shop…
Fizz was dying of laughter. "Oh my stars… the forums are going wild! 'Prince Kai's Flame Face Fiasco!' Look at the memes!"
Rhea giggled quietly. "He'll recover in a few days. Maybe with a lesson."
> System Update: Reputation Among Elite Buyers +10
Secret Title Unlocked: [Justice Merchant] – You punish greed with grace.
Fizz floated closer. "You're gaining power, fame, respect… all while sipping tea in a hidden corner of existence."
Rhea leaned back, sighing in satisfaction. "Exactly. And that's how I like it."
But deep down, even she didn't know that today's incident had drawn the attention of someone far greater than a spoiled prince.
Someone watching the market closely.
Someone who had once seen that rare skill: Multidimensional Shop.
And they were getting curious.
---
To be continued…