Chương 95: It’s Not Personal, It’s Just Buisness 1
(Shout Out To Champion_Collector For The Idea)
(Keeper POV)
Money makes the world go round. If you have enough of it, you can buy almost anything.
The only thing it couldn't buy me were more years to live, it seems.
Sitting in my chair with my ventilator helping me breathe, I looked out the window at the skyline of the world spread before me.
I always liked looking out onto the world, especially from higher places—it feeds the ego, you see. But self-confidence can't return my youth, and honestly, I wouldn't want to go back to those times.
I buried everyone I ever knew, but I wouldn't change a thing. Business partners who eventually tried to warm up to me—gone. Business rivals who thought trying to take me out was a good idea—I put them in the ground faster than they could call in the hits.
Yeah, even as I stared out at the world, I couldn't help but feel unfulfilled. I've sold almost anything I could get my hands on—from jewels to guns to drugs. The legal ones, that is, at least most of the time. Who knew that fentanyl could kill so quickly?
Though, I would have to say that the best time in my life was when I punched that prick Martin Shkreli in the face. Even I wouldn't stoop that low because, what's the point in making medicine more expensive? Eventually, you'll run out of people to buy it.
Honestly, reading the local newspapers and seeing the number of people dying due to not having access to insulin even made me feel bad. But now I'm just muttering to myself.
As an alarm goes off next to me, I look to the door and see my nurse coming in. Giving her a slight smile, she places some of my meds near my bed, and as I get up to take them, I give her a nod of thanks as well as a generous tip. As she takes the money, she looks at me with a grateful look in her eyes, even though I feel like I don't deserve it most of the time.
I hired her from a local hospital that went out of business a couple of years ago because it seems like allowing AI to proliferate among other businesses did not help the little guy.
She then left after handing me my lunch, but honestly, I wasn't feeling too hungry. As I lay on my bed, my eyes felt so heavy, and I didn't have the strength to keep them open anymore.
So I closed my eyes, almost knowing that I wouldn't open them again, but even with that slight feeling of dissatisfaction, I knew I was at the top of my game.
And so I closed them, and I felt my heartbeat begin to slow. I laid my head on my pillow and smiled. I didn't believe in heaven, but I believed there were places that people went when they didn't live good lives. I hope they had some good food down there.
I could almost hear the computer showing my vitals flatline, and I knew no more.
---
"You know, I didn't expect to meet someone so soon, in an office of all places." My statement is met with an almost amused silence as I sit across from something.
It definitely wasn't human. It had too much age to it.
"As much as I enjoy you trying to figure out what I am, I believe we should get down to business, yes?" I almost chuckled, counting the number of times I could remember hearing that phrase.
"Yes, I believe we should. So what's going to happen to me? It's very rare that I'm not holding all the cards, so I'm not exactly sure what to do." The being chuckled to himself.
"Well, unlike what you think, this is more of an interview than the beginning of eternal damnation. I have watched your entire life from beginning to end. I have seen every injustice laid upon you and everyone you laid low in the future. You did it without remorse."
"Of course I did. They would've done the same to me. I've lived by one rule in my life: if I'm going to make money, I'm going to make money being myself and no one else." Honestly, I didn't know where this fire came from. I hadn't felt so alive in a long time.
The entire room began to shake, yet I simply stared at this being. I could tell what type of person this being was—he respected gumption. So as the room continued to crack and crumble at the seams, I simply sat in the chair and stared dead into his eyes.
After a few more minutes, the shaking ceased, and the being sat back in his chair and chuckled, which then became almost manic laughter.
"Yes, yes, you are perfect for what I need. My friend, I am in need of a person of your talents. I have lived a long life, and in this life, I have come across many things, from people to items to worlds you couldn't even imagine. And I realized something." My questioning look seemingly signaled for him to keep going.
"You see, I have had a bit of trouble deciding what to do with all of my stuff. I could technically create an infinite amount of anything, but it feels less real. You know what I mean?"
"That's basic supply and demand—the more you have of something, the less precious it feels, and thus the less it seems to cost, at least personally, if not financially. So you essentially want me to work as a yard salesman?"
"No, not at all. I'm not so petty to put you in such a position. I am here to offer you a job. I want you to sell as much as you can from what we create."
"We?"
"Yes, we. You aren't the only one I've given various offers to. The only one you're not gonna be able to sell is the one from a certain lazy dragon, but he is a hoarder of the highest acclaim." My disbelief must've been obvious, as the area around us then changed to show what was seemingly endless amounts of gold and jewels, similar to Erebor from The Hobbit.
"It is impressive, isn't it? And to think this isn't even a percent of what he owns. But for now, I think it's time for us to leave this place." Before I could say anything, we returned to the normal office, and as I shook my head, trying to regain my bearings, I saw the being offer me a drink, but it definitely looked different than anything I'd seen.
"I'm not offering for you to be a salesman. No, I want you to be the figurehead of the greatest market the Multiverse has ever seen, at least this one. And what I offer you is not only power and wealth, but the chance to be on top of your game."
"If I were to refuse?" I could almost feel the smugness radiating off of this indistinguishable being.
"Well, most commonly, your soul would be sent back to your universe, and depending on what type of afterlife is present and what religion you believe in, you would go there. But since I'm being nice, I'd most likely send you to a nicer place. I'm not a dick like most omnipotent beings. And trust me, I've met a lot of people that have ticked me off. So the choice is yours." I almost chuckled as he had me by the balls.
And he knew it too. So as I took the cup, I chugged it in a couple of seconds, and as I drank it, it tasted like the most beautiful thing—better than any wine I've ever tasted.
"I wish you luck, Keeper, and welcome to our little guild." My eyes then shut once more as I felt pure euphoria fill my veins.
But as quickly as I felt it, it vanished, and I found myself somewhere else. I was behind the counter in what honestly looked to be like a fantasy shop.
As I rubbed my hand along the wood, it honestly felt surreal, as it was a higher quality than anything I had ever seen, and I could almost feel how much this wood alone is worth.
But it was not only that I was focusing on—I felt different, and as I raised my hand to my face, I noticed that my skin had become something else.
It was as if I was made out of some type of mist, like I didn't have a physical form, yet I could feel everything. Before I even realized it, I had summoned a mirror in front of me.
And before my eyes, I saw something foreign yet familiar. I was dressed in a long, blue flowing robe with what looked to be some type of classical wizard hat. But that wasn't what had my attention—the formless face of myself did.
I didn't have a face anymore. All that was there was an unfathomable darkness and white eyes. I should feel angry about this, but a small part of me felt like that would be hypocritical, at least in this instance. I had taken the deal of my own free will. I knew there were going to be caveats, even if I admit I was rash in accepting the deal so quickly.
As I managed to tear my attention away from my new visage, I looked out onto the shop, and soon enough, a holographic screen appeared in front of me.
[Welcome, user, to the Multiverse shop (name pending). Here, you can buy and sell nearly anything, other than sentient beings, that is. From here, you shall sell and give information...]
"All right, where exactly am I starting?" My question was then met with another display.
[It's good that you already want to start, user, but take a moment to breathe. The Multiverse is a very large place. You can't go in half-cocked, I believe it's called.]
Deciding to take the screen's advice, I took a breath and began to look around the shop. Yet as I began to walk around, I felt as if I was almost wasting time, so I spread my senses, and holy moly, it was huge.
It felt as if the shop itself went on endlessly.
[I see you are beginning to understand, user. This is not your average shop, and you are not the average salesman. You are a God now. A minor God, but a God nonetheless.]
"So how exactly does this work? Do I need to gain followers? Have women tending to my every whim?"
[You could do that, but you and I both know that would be inefficient. No, the boss has created a method for you to grow in strength. The more things you sell from the shop, the stronger you can become, not to mention the ability to make deals and grow for every deal you make. And you can't take advantage of this by summoning a homunculus to make deals with.]
"I assume someone already tried that and failed?" The silence I was met with answered the question.
[For now, your starting world has already been chosen. But do know this, shopkeeper: you are not limited by anything anymore—not by laws, not by morals, not even by yourself. You can do and sell anything. How does that make you feel?]
As I formed a small fist and felt the strength that it held, I smiled.
"Honestly, I feel great. Now, when do we get started?"
[That is up to you. For now, your world has been chosen. You, new user, are heading to... drum roll!]
[High School DXD!]
"Am I allowed to refuse?"
[No… Have fun, and may the gods of fortune and finance bless your journey.]
The shop then began to shake, and I reappeared behind the counter once more, and honestly, I felt quite excited.
(Meta-Essences Used: Bazaar God King, Multiversal Shopkeeper, Blank)
Initial Godly Domain: Dealmaking
(If any of you are confused about why he doesn't have all 11 of his godly domains, he's going to have to unlock them by making more deals and sales. The shop itself is virtually endless, but he can only access what the customers require of him, so he can't just pull out an infinity gauntlet with all the infinity stones and use it on himself.)
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