Chapitre 7: Damn Capitalists
This is, in part, Bai Yi's bad taste. After all, the game is called *[Rise of Dawn]*, and once the public beta starts, this place will surely be flooded with players.
Bai Yi stepped into the pharmacy, where the layout was quite simple. The shop, about 300 square meters in size, was filled with various mechanical models. Each model was enclosed in a glass case with a name and price displayed in front.
In the center of the store stood a metal and glass counter, stacked with a colorful array of potions.
On a nearby sci-fi screen, several images played in a continuous loop, showcasing the finished products of the models on display, along with the functions and effects of the potions.
For example, the current display featured an electromagnetic gun. When the gun fired, a flash of lightning burst forth, and all the fish in a nearby pond floated belly-up.
This was one of Bai Yi's test products. At the current bronze-level of his knowledge, it was only powerful enough to electrocute fish. The gun looked stunning, with impressive special effects, but it was incapable of killing people with electricity.
In this world, such a firearm was of little use. Even law enforcement wouldn't bother with it because, at ten gold coins apiece, it was far too expensive for a weapon that didn't offer much in terms of utility.
And with players still over a year away from the public beta, Bai Yi suspected that the price might even rise to twenty gold coins by the time the game launched—and maybe then, it would sell out.
Below the large screen, a dreamy-looking elf girl with silver hair and pointed ears appeared on the screen. Her identity was obvious.
The most amusing part was that she was dressed in an OL outfit, like a female secretary from some Blue Star game, giving the store a high-end feel.
"Erin, store this thing," Bai Yi said, placing the large metal shield, over one meter in diameter, beside the counter.
"Of course, boss," Erin replied respectfully. "We're out of healing potions and transformation potions. We made 1,613 gold coins in the last two days while you were away."
Although Erin's beauty helped attract customers, Bai Yi hadn't given her any time off, and he had occasionally docked her pay.
Thinking about it, the respectful expression on the beautiful elf's face suddenly turned to a look of quiet resentment. "Boss, after I started working here, sales increased by 10%. I'd like to apply for a raise."
Bai Yi froze, momentarily deaf to her words. Ignoring the elf's request, he quickly walked toward a metal door, pressed a mechanism, and the door slid open automatically.
Once inside, the door clicked shut behind him, and Bai Yi let out a sigh of relief.
It was hard to imagine that hiring a mid-level bronze elf like Erin cost 100 gold coins a month—more than fifty times a farmer's annual salary. And yet, she still wanted a raise?
So much for the legends about elves being wise and noble. Erin's greed was just as evident as any other mortal's.
The soft yellow light illuminated the corridor, about thirty meters long. Bai Yi quickened his pace and entered a small courtyard, where the light from above illuminated the scene.
In the right corner were piles of twisted mechanical parts—scrap materials that Bai Yi intended to repurpose.
On the left side was a set of stone tables and chairs, but nothing else.
From the rooms on either side, Bai Yi could hear the sounds of gears turning and the subtle clinking of metal—work was being done.
He opened the door on the left to find two perfect assembly lines. Skeletons were stationed at each workstation, mechanically performing their tasks.
Whether it was assembling gears or grinding materials into powder, their precision was unparalleled. And best of all, they didn't require any wages—an ideal workforce.
But Bai Yi quickly realized that the one he was looking for wasn't here. He closed the door, walked across the hall, and opened the door to the right.
Inside, a figure cloaked in a wizard's robe stood before him, its face hidden in shadows.
Bai Yi's eyes brightened. "Or, we have a new order. We need to prepare."
The figure, Ordon, paused. The fire of his soul burned brightly in his eyes as he stared at Bai Yi. "My summons have been working for 720 straight hours," he rasped. "I demand the wages I'm owed."
Bai Yi let out a helpless sigh. Why did everyone want a raise?
He spread his hands. "Mr. Orr, we signed a contract. In exchange for your help in staying here on Xia Continent, you agreed to work for me for ten years."
"Ten years of unpaid labor?" Ordon snarled. "I never agreed to that!"
Bai Yi remained calm. "The contract was clear. I even folded the paper for you to feel that it took effect."
Ordon's fiery eyes flared with rage, and for a moment, it seemed like he might lash out.
The goddess of death, Hela, had vanished long ago, and the world of the dead now drifted through space's cracks. Without divine intervention, the undead had become restless, eager for the souls of the living and the rich resources of the Xia Continent.
It was during one such summoning six months ago that Ordon, a powerful lich, had signed a contract with Bai Yi.
Now, Ordon, once a feared necromancer, was reduced to managing Bai Yi's workshop.
The absence of the God of Justice had allowed Ordon to rise to the position of "Monarch of the Abyss"—a silver-level lich who was reluctant to breach his contract.
A sudden crash sounded behind them. A skeleton fell apart, its bones rattling and the faint blue flame in its skull flickering.
Ordon's fury exploded. "Damn you, exploitative capitalist! You will pay for this!"
The necromancer's magic surged as he restored the shattered skeleton, reactivating its mechanical functions to join the assembly line once more.
Bai Yi watched with satisfaction. In five years, he would replace Ordon with a stronger undead—preferably a necromancer. That would give him the chance to expand his workshop.
But for now, Bai Yi had business to attend to. "Mr. Orr, I'll need 500 energy guns made. The materials will arrive tonight, and I'll leave the polishing to you."
Ordon's anger subsided, though his soul fire still burned hot. "Fine," he muttered through clenched teeth. "But you'll pay for this. Mark my words."
Bai Yi, unbothered, turned to leave. "And one last thing—complete all the parts within three days. No excuses."
As he closed the door behind him, Ordon's roar echoed in the hall.
"You damn capitalist! I curse you to hell!"
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone