[Real World • Jiang Commerce Firm, Officially Established]
Jiang Ci sat at his desk under the warm yellow light, staring at the latest confirmation email from the system:
✅ "Jiang Commerce Firm" has been registered as a sole proprietorship Tax ID: Pending... Entity Connection Status: Awaiting Bank Verification Members Linked: Six Core Members of the Herb Alliance Business Type: Virtual Goods Transaction Services (VGT-S)
He let out a long breath.
From a nobody mocked as a "scheming trader," he now held a legal business identity. Even if it started as a makeshift operation, Jiang Ci knew—this was a critical step forward.
This was also the first time the Herb Alliance—no, Jiang Commerce Firm now—had stepped out of the game and into the real world.
Mo Bai burst in from downstairs. "Jiang! Our leasing and revenue-sharing system just went live! Players can now rent items or sell gear through us and get a share of the profits!"
"We've really made it this far."
Jiang Ci nodded. "And we're just getting started."
[Game • Commerce Channel, Mushi Port]
On the first day of Jiang Commerce Firm's official listing, Jiang Ci made no flashy announcement.
He simply posted thirty common healing potions at 9 copper each in the port's low-priority market section.
The price was barely above cost.
Within two minutes, the market channel exploded.
[??? Who's gone crazy? Healing potions for 9 copper?] [Is this liquidation pricing? Cost is at least 10 copper!] [Money laundering? Bait? What is this?]
In less than an hour, Jiang Ci manipulated the price by repeatedly listing, canceling, and relisting potions. The average market price dropped from 13 copper to under 10.
Panic selling ensued.
Three mid-tier guild merchants—Silverwave Commerce, Raider Apothecary, and Sunlight Port Division—began investigating the identity of this pricing disruptor.
Result: an unknown business entity named "Jiang Commerce Firm."
[Sunlight Trading Co. • Lin Wanzhou Returns]
Lin Wanzhou stood at the top of the teleportation tower in Mushi Port, gazing out at the golden sea, wind teasing her silver-lined hair.
Someone behind her reported, "Jiang Commerce Firm is using ultra-low pricing to suppress potion circulation. Market prices have dropped 12%. The effect has spread to Luojing Town and Westgate Bazaar."
She raised an eyebrow.
"To ripple this far, he must control at least two tiers of logistics."
"Shall we initiate countermeasures?"
"No need," she said calmly. "Jiang Ci isn't just undercutting prices. He's asserting pricing power."
"Notify the Sunlight Port Division: no retaliation. Approach him under Observer Protocol."
[Jiang Ci • Commerce Strategy]
"Everyone thinks I'm selling at a loss, but actually..."
Jiang Ci held an internal meeting with his firm members in-game.
He wrote a few large characters on the chalkboard:
Price ≠ Cost. Price = Information Gap × Market Control × Player Sentiment
"The potions are listed at 9 copper, but in reality—"
All the materials were stockpiled earlier, so actual costs were under 6 copper; 90% of sales were bundled with other items; All potion buyers were required to join Jiang Commerce Firm's system, allowing for 20% profit recovery through user activity.
"We're not profiting from single sales. We're getting everyone used to our supply chain."
Mo Bai was stunned. "We're... selling a habit?"
"Exactly," Jiang Ci smiled. "Once everyone gets used to buying from us, even if we're one copper more expensive, they'll still come to us."
"That is the true essence of pricing."
[Real World • He Bought Everyone Dinner]
That evening, after logging off, Jiang Ci brought pizza and a bag of snacks to the shared kitchen downstairs.
"A month ago, I could only afford instant noodles," he said. "Now I can buy you all pizza."
Mo Bai, munching on chicken wings, said emotionally, "My real-world account got its first share payout! I made seven bucks yesterday! It's not much, but for the first time, I feel like gaming gives me hope."
Other members chimed in, saying they received $1 to $5 in withdrawals.
At that moment, there were no battles, no shiny gear—just a few ordinary people, in real life, feeling for the first time that: "We can survive through games."
[Ending • Jiang Commerce Firm Under Surveillance]
That same night, a quiet notification appeared in the system backend:
[Risk Alert] Player: Jiang Ci Your firm has affected over 10% of the regional market price curves. Current Impact Level: Tier 3 Suggested Interventions:
Technical throttling
Simulated economic fluctuation disruption
Triggering main storyline boss: Black Market Sanction Protocol
At the same time, Lin Wanzhou received a special mission:
[Contact Mission: Key to the Grey Layer] Target: Jiang Ci Reward: Temporary Access to ECHO Management Protocol Accept?
She smirked faintly.
"Finally... time to meet face-to-face, isn't it?"