The Hunter Association's Commerce Division occupied the eastern wing of the central administration building. Unlike the combat divisions with their gleaming displays of monster trophies and achievement banners, Commerce embraced an atmosphere of calculated restraint. Muted gray walls, polished stone floors, and endless rows of administrative terminals created an environment where excitement went to die.
Frank adjusted his collar as the clerk processed his application. The woman's face betrayed nothing—neither approval nor suspicion—as her fingers tapped through his documentation with practiced efficiency. Her badge identified her as "L. Mercer, Registration Specialist," though her expression suggested she might prefer "Dream Crusher."
"Your inventory categorization is... unusual," she finally said, eyes never leaving the screen. "Most new merchants specialize in a single product line."
Frank maintained a neutral expression. "Market research suggested diversification would be more viable."
"Research." She said the word like it was theoretical rather than practical. "And your suppliers?"
"Private network. Confidentiality agreements prevent disclosure."
Her fingers paused momentarily before resuming their rhythm. "That's permitted, though it will require quarterly quality verification rather than semi-annual."
Frank nodded. The additional inspections were a small price for secrecy. "Understood."
The terminal chimed as she completed the final entry. "Golden Road Trading Company," she read aloud. "Pretentious."
A statement, not a question. Frank kept his face carefully blank.
She tapped a final sequence and the printer behind her whirred to life. "Your provisional license is approved for ninety days. During that period, you'll need to establish a fixed location or obtain a mobile vending permit, complete product safety certification, and submit your initial quarterly tax documentation."
The license emerged from the printer—a simple card embossed with the Association's seal and a QR code for verification. She slid it across the desk along with a thick folder of additional paperwork.
"The guidebook covers all compliance requirements. Violations result in immediate suspension." Her eyes finally met his. "Questions?"
Frank pocketed the license. "No. Thank you for your assistance."
As he turned to leave, she added, "Mr. Hagan?"
He paused.
"Those potions at Breakwater Sink. My brother was on that E-rank team last week." Her expression hadn't changed, but something in her voice had shifted. "Said your stock kept them alive when their healer went down."
Frank waited, unsure where this was going.
"The Commerce Division maintains a vendor wall for new businesses." She nodded toward the eastern hallway. "Premium spots cost two thousand credits monthly. Corner visibility, high traffic. But there's an opening in section four next week. Eight hundred."
He understood immediately. Not charity—a transaction. Information for opportunity.
"I appreciate the insight," he said carefully. "Golden Road would be interested in section four."
She nodded once and returned to her terminal, the brief moment of humanity sealed away again. "Application form is in the packet. Page sixteen."
Frank left with the folder tucked under his arm, heading straight for the vendor wall to assess the placement. Section four wasn't prime positioning, but it offered decent visibility to Hunters entering from the training grounds. Strategic placement on a limited budget—a fair exchange.
The apartment transformed into a makeshift studio by mid-afternoon. Frank cleared the small table, replacing the clutter with a clean white sheet that draped down to create a neutral background. His tablet propped against a stack of books served as a makeshift monitor while he arranged his inventory for photography.
Each item received the same treatment: clean presentation, clear lighting, and multiple angles. The Shieldcloth suits were first, arranged to highlight both their flexibility and reinforced sections. Next came the Stoneheart blades, positioned to catch the light along their precision edges. Potions, scrolls, and supplementary gear followed in careful succession.
As he worked, Frank maintained detailed notes on each item's capabilities and limitations. Unlike typical merchants who exaggerated effects, he documented exact specifications. The Vital Surge potions restored 15% stamina over three minutes—not 20%, not instantly. The Shieldcloth provided 15% impact resistance with standard temperature regulation—not impenetrable protection against all elements.
Accuracy would build reputation. Reputation would build loyalty. Loyalty would build profit.
By evening, he had compiled a comprehensive product catalog with standardized descriptions and pricing. The website framework took shape on his tablet—clean layout, intuitive navigation, and secure payment processing. No flashy animations or deceptive marketing, just straightforward information that respected Hunters' intelligence.
The domain registration for GoldenRoadTrading.net processed while he finalized the last product entries. Tomorrow, the site would go live, accessible through both the public network and the Hunter-exclusive channels. Anyone could browse; only licensed Hunters could purchase.
Frank paused, fingers hovering over the final section: Delivery Options.
Conventional shipping wouldn't work for his operation. Standard courier services lacked the security clearances for Hunter equipment, and Association couriers charged extortionate rates for their monopoly. He needed an alternative—someone with the proper credentials but without institutional overhead.
He opened HunterNet on a separate tab and navigated to the independent contractors forum. Several delivery services advertised there, mostly retired Hunters who had pivoted to logistics after injuries ended their dungeon careers. Their rates varied wildly, as did their reputations.
One posting caught his attention:
『Swift Circuit Delivery - Former B-Rank Speed Hunter』
『Specialized in Secure Equipment Transport』
『Hunter Association Certified - Full Insurance Coverage』
『Reputation: 98.7% (783 Verified Deliveries)』
『Contact: Jin Kwon - 24hr Response Guaranteed』
Frank sent a brief message outlining his requirements, keeping specific inventory details vague until terms could be established. The response came faster than expected—fifteen minutes later, his tablet chimed with a notification.
Mr. Hagan,
Checked your provisional license. Congratulations on the registration.
My rates are 12% below Association standard, with volume discounts available at 20+ packages weekly. I handle sensitive deliveries exclusively—no questions asked beyond official verification.
Available for meeting tomorrow, 0800-1200, if you want to discuss specifics.
Jin Kwon
Frank reviewed the message twice. Professional, direct, and notably lacking the usual Hunter bravado. The implicit understanding regarding "sensitive deliveries" suggested experience with unusual merchandise—perfect for dimensional goods that might raise questions from traditional services.
He confirmed the meeting for 0900 at a neutral location—a common practice for initial business arrangements in Hunter circles. Trust came slowly in a profession where lives depended on equipment reliability.
As midnight approached, Frank finalized the website's back-end systems and security protocols. The inventory management system would sync automatically with his sales records, maintaining accurate stock levels without manual updates. The customer database included enhanced privacy features to protect Hunter identities—a small but significant advantage over guild shops that often tracked and shared purchase histories.
The last element was pricing strategy. Frank studied the market rates for comparable equipment, then positioned his products to undercut established vendors by 15-20% while maintaining healthy margins. The Shieldcloth suits, which had cost 400 tokens each (approximately 1,200 credits in Earth currency), would retail for 3,000 credits—a significant discount from the 4,500 that guild shops charged for inferior protection gear.
He uploaded the final version just after 1 AM, scheduling the site to activate at 0600. The product images arranged themselves across the homepage in clean rows, each with its precise specifications displayed beneath. No misleading claims or false promises—just quality goods at competitive prices.
A notification appeared on his system interface as he prepared for bed:
『Trade Offer: Lurevan (Frostglass Domain)』
『Request: 200 Tomatoes at 52 Tokens Each』
『Total Value: 10,400 Tokens』
『Expedited Delivery Requested』
Frank smiled slightly. The dimensional side of his business continued to thrive even as he expanded on Earth. He confirmed the trade offer and scheduled inventory acquisition for the following afternoon.
As he drifted toward sleep, the pieces of his operation aligned in his mind—dimensional suppliers feeding Earth sales, profits converting to new inventory, and his Trader class finally proving its worth. The system that had once marked him with shame now granted him exclusive access to a market no one else could touch.
Golden Road Trading Company wasn't just a business name. It was a bridge between worlds that only he could cross.
In the darkness of his apartment, the system interface pulsed once before dimming for the night. The screen showed one final notification:
『Unknown Merchant Has Added You To Watchlist』
『Origin: Unmarked Realm』
『Status: Monitoring』
The message faded before Frank could process it, disappearing into the system's notification history without a trace.