Marx stood on the balcony of the ancient manor at dawn on Sunday, watching the mist crawl over the Great Square—a place that, until yesterday, had been nothing more than a grazing field for stray sheep. The air was biting, but his heart beat with the rhythmic heat of a steam engine. He glanced at Hans, who stood behind him, rubbing his hands together from both the cold and sheer anxiety.
Marx adjusted his collar and asked:
"Hans, do you hear that?"
Hans replied, puzzled:
"I hear nothing, My Lord, save for the whistling wind."
Marx smiled broadly:
"That is the sound of incoming fortune... the scent of gold that will finally wash away the smell of this decay."
Sunday – The First Explosion
As the first sliver of sunlight broke through, the square began to vibrate. Fifty farmers from the "Old Guard" arrived, pulling rickety wooden wagons piled high with wheat and barley. They looked around suspiciously, fearing the Young Baron had set a trap for them.
Marx stood on the wooden platform and began distributing numbered wooden tags. He projected his voice:
"Gentlemen, today we do not sell wheat... today we sell Value! Each farmer places his harvest behind his tag, and the merchants will compete before your very eyes."
Ten local traders arrived, laughing dismissively, thinking they would buy everything at their usual low rates. But when they saw the organization, they fell silent. The auction began.
Marx shouted: "Lot Number 1! Golden Wheat from the Peter Family! Starting at 10 coins per sack!"
The traders began bidding, and for the first time in the Barony's history, the farmers saw the merchants begging to raise the price. The first day ended with 50 successful deals.
Total Sales: 37,500 Gold Coins.
Marx's Take: 750 (2% Commission) + 50 (Wagon Fees) = 800 Coins.
Monday and Tuesday – Testing the Waters
On Monday, the numbers dipped to 41 farmers. Rumors began to circulate that Count Balder was furious. Novice traders who arrived didn't know how to bid properly, making the atmosphere quiet. On Tuesday, the weather turned; wagons got stuck in the mud, and the count dropped to 34 farmers.
Hans said worriedly:
"Master, the square is emptying... has the plan failed?"
Marx recorded the numbers with icy coolness:
"On the contrary, Hans. We are in the 'Market Correction' phase. The traders who bought on Sunday are now selling at astronomical prices in neighboring cities. This will bring the 'Great Sharks' here tomorrow."
Marx's profits over these two days totaled 1,077 coins.
Wednesday and Thursday – Market Tremors
Marx's predictions were spot on. On Wednesday, 45 farmers returned, joined by farmers from beyond the Barony's borders! Traders who had made massive profits returned with even wealthier associates. By Thursday, the square was cramped with wagons. Sixty farmers!
Marx initiated his "Crop Protection" system.
He said to a merchant named Silas:
"Mr. Silas, if you fear bandits on the road, my professional youths will guard your caravan to the edge of the forest for a small fee."
Silas, seeing fifteen sturdy young men wearing Barony armbands and carrying clubs (hired by Marx for 10 coins each), agreed instantly. Thursday's profits alone exceeded 1,000 coins.
Friday and Saturday – The Absolute Peak
The square reached its maximum capacity. Friday saw 70 farmers, and Saturday saw 80 farmers from four different provinces! Rich merchants from the capital arrived in their finest silks, and gold flowed like a river. The average price of a sack hit 1,000 coins due to the cutthroat competition.
Marx stood on the platform, wearing a grin that had begun to terrify Hans. He was no longer just a boy trying to survive; he was the "Maestro" pulling the strings of the economy. On Saturday alone, he raked in total profits of 2,850 coins.
The Final Tally
On Saturday evening, Marx sat in his study under candlelight, totaling the figures:
Sales Commissions: 6,177 coins.
Wagon Fees: 350 coins.
Net Guarding Profit (after paying the youths): 900 coins.
Grand Total: 7,427 Gold Coins.
Marx calculated the debt: 5,000 to the Count.
Surplus: 2,427 coins. Marx shouted: "Hans! Get the chests! We're paying the Fat Count a visit!"
The Confrontation: The Count's Financial Collapse
Count Balder sat in his opulent dining hall, nervously devouring a roasted chicken while listening to reports about "Marx's Market." His face was red enough to explode. Suddenly, the doors burst open.
Marx entered, followed by Hans and four "Youth Guards" carrying heavy, clinking chests.
Marx said with a grin that reached his ears:
"Good evening, Your Excellency! My apologies for the intrusion, but I hate to sleep while owing a single penny... especially to someone as fat and boring as you!"
The Count stood up, dropping his chicken leg.
"How dare you?" he roared. "Where did you get this money? Did you forge the gold?"
Marx kicked open the first chest, letting the luster of gold fill the hall:
"Forging? Jih-he-he-ha! This is real gold, the gold of the farmers you used to rob! Take your 5,000, and sign the release form immediately!"
The Count gripped the papers, his hands trembling as he signed. He realized he had lost control of the Astor family—and more importantly, he had lost control of the market.
Marx said as he turned to leave:
"Oh, I forgot to mention... I've bought the guarding rights to the roads leading to your farms too. If you want your crops to pass, you'll have to pay me a transit fee. See you next season!"
Marx walked out laughing, his voice echoing through the Count's halls, while the Count screamed and smashed plates behind him.
System Reward and the Magic Counter
On the moonlit journey home, Marx felt an indescribable euphoria. Suddenly, the blue System screen flickered, but this time it glowed with a golden pulse.
The System wrote:
[Legendary Achievement: Debt Slayer.] [Points Earned from Trade and Profit: 5,600 Points!] [Evaluation: A financial genius with a touch of lovable villainy.]
Marx beamed with pride. "5,600 points? That makes every moment of terror worth it!"
The System wrote again:
[Limited Offer for Great Heirs: Would you like to summon (Rare Accounting Tool) for 4,599 points?]
Leo hesitated. "4,599? That'll leave me with very little... but, let's gamble! Confirm!"
Suddenly, particles of light gathered in his hands. Hans stumbled back in terror as his master clutched the "glowing void." A heavy, copper-colored machine materialized, covered in intricate magical engravings with tiny gears that moved on their own.
The System wrote:
[Obtained: Magic Coin Counter.] [Features: Counts up to a million coins per minute, detects fakes instantly, powered by ambient Mana, zero error margin.]
Marx dropped a handful of coins into the top slot.
Clink-clink-clink-tatata! In less than a second, the number (50) appeared on a small crystal screen.
Marx jumped for joy:
"Jih-he-he-ha! Goodbye to manual counting! Goodbye to human error! Hans, do you see this? This is the heart of our future bank!"
Hans touched the machine cautiously:
"Master... this machine swallows gold and spits out truth. Is it some kind of domesticated monster?"
Marx laughed:
"Better than a monster, Hans. It is Precision. And in this world, he who owns precision owns the truth... and he who owns the truth owns the gold."