Chapter 296: The Release

Chapter 296: The Release

A few days after addressing most of the potentially impactful issues, the completed version of the Trading Module was officially launched on the Magic Weapon Summoning Book. Thankfully, back when the Magic Weapon Summoning Book was being created, the Soul Material provided by Loris was sufficiently advanced. While it wasn’t the incredibly rare, near-impossible-to-find Holy Spirit-grade Soul Material, it was still a top-tier Soul Material that exceeded the high-quality category.

A core forged from Soul Material of this caliber possessed enormous ‘memory capacity’, whether in terms of calculation or other aspects. It managed to handle the massive influx of data and processing demands brought by this significant new Module. As for the future burdens that might arise, Zheng Yichen had a solution. It simply involved finding power ful individuals who were truly desperate and extracting high-grade Soul Material from them. Then, he would compress it relentlessly to forge a new, sufficiently advanced material.

After all, a core forged from Soul Material could be adjusted in size. Even if it couldn’t be fully integrated into the original core, it could still function as an auxiliary computational system.

The arrival of the full Trading Module allowed the merchants who had placed their bets early to breathe a collective sigh of relief. This time, they had truly backed a winner. Questioning the potential profitability of this Trading Module? Their business acumen was far sharper than that. The growth speed of the Magic Weapon Summoning Book was phenomenal. Starting with combat Professionals, its diverse development had gradually expanded to cover non-combatant groups like merchants. This transition itself was remarkable, especially since the process lacked any deliberate steering from the Creator.

Merchants seeking Magic Weapon Contracts had acted entirely on their own initiative. Under the subtle guidance of someone’s alias, they glimpsed new business opportunities and even the future trajectory of certain business models under development!

Given these conditions, how could they not scramble desperately to get in?

And now, with the actual Trading Module launched, the proportion of merchant among current Magic Weapon Summoners was still small. But after this release, the merchants who were still hesitating would undoubtedly stop waiting. A significant portion would likely feel intense regret for missing the prime moment to seize this great opportunity!

The merchants who had previously secured advertising slots were ecstatic. They could already foresee the future ‘price’ of these advertising spaces in the Magic Weapon Forum likely increasing again. These slots weren’t just linked to Forum transactions anymore; they covered other aspects too. For instance, some powerful individuals could use them to post requests for material collections. Even though the Trading Module was brand new, based on these merchants’ sharp judgment, they didn’t feel they were at a loss. In commerce, seizing the initiative was paramount. Grabbing that head start meant becoming a leader in that particular field. With established achievements later on, whenever that business sector was mentioned, people would always think of that pioneer figure, not those who came later… of course, one had to perform exceptionally well.

But as merchants, having secured this earliest opportunity, which of them lacked the confidence to do so?

Therefore, within three minutes of the Trading Module’s appearance, merchants possessing Magic Weapon Contracts eagerly studied the accompanying set of rules released with it. Some were overjoyed, others anxious, but all merchants unanimously saw one thing: the business landscape for certain models was about to undergo a significant shift…

Moreover, these publicly synchronized rules governing the Trading Module were incredibly thorough, leaving zero room for any underhanded tactics. The penalty clauses for such actions were particularly daunting, effectively discouraging anyone from attempting them easily. These penalties were ruthless. After all, a Contract offered far more precise and unique identification than a mere ID number. If something went seriously wrong, it meant a permanent ban from ever entering this circle again.

Unless a completely new, similar Magic Weapon Summoning Book appeared. But even then, who would jump ship first? Currently, the Magic Weapon Summoning Book, while perhaps not yet universally ingrained, already held significant importance for many. Any new alternative couldn’t possibly match its all-in-one nature and its robust anti-fraud measures!

Think about it: even those possessing Personal Spaces couldn’t claim absolute confidence against cracking attempts. They lacked Zheng Yichen’s specific ability traits.

Therefore, after reviewing the rules, most merchants completely abandoned any thoughts of skirting them. Instead, they prepared to gather and discuss strategies to weather the initial impact of taxes and market changes brought by this new business model. While most had sober judgment, a small minority would inevitably disbelieve the warnings and seek a risky windfall opportunity amidst the new situation.

This time, those risk-takers were doomed. None would escape. The publicly released rules by the Creator clearly stated that reports against offenders would have permanent validity. Any verified report yielding results carried a substantial reward system. For merchants, this offered a tangible chance at profit!

This reporting system specifically targeted situations where banned individuals sought proxies to continue causing trouble. With the reward scale being substantial enough, it could fully motivate Merchants Guilds into action. They simply couldn’t overlook such incentives. Imagine: with small and large Guilds cracking down simultaneously, those troublemakers would find nowhere to hide. Furthermore, the reporting mechanism included options for anonymity. Even if the target of the report was someone of high status, the whistleblower needn’t fear retribution, as their identity remained confidential. Only if someone managed to breach the Magic Weapon Summoning Book itself could their information leak, yet former attempts failed. Now, with the Magic Weapon Summoning Book accumulating massive Mana reserves, its very quality significantly enhanced by this nourishing energy, such opportunists stood even less chance.

Their current efforts would only invite a far more forceful backlash.

Another deterrent for would-be schemers was the news they had gleaned. In their eyes, that incredibly capable Creator had somehow gained the cooperation of a Sorceress – and specifically Dan Marina, known to the informed few as a truly troublesome one. The rules stated that individuals reported for misconduct would attract her extra scrutiny… and this scrutiny would persist even if they tried further schemes later. What did this signify? Those hired to cause trouble could potentially be exposed, their true identities uncovered and publicly shamed on the Magic Weapon Summoning Book, regardless of initial concealment. Given the nature of this world, many possessed the capability to truly follow “the network line” to the culprit’s location and, effectively, “deal with them”. Once identities were known, the major Merchants Guilds, aiming to uphold their newly stabilized order, would likely find methods to remove those troublemakers, setting an example for others.

No doubt existed: any large, successful Merchants Guild possessed hidden methods. When facing malicious individuals who posed troublesome threats beyond legal resolution, they wouldn’t hesitate to act decisively. Who had time for pointless babble? This world lacked superpowers like those on Earth meticulously enforcing vast legal frameworks. While laws here were comprehensive, the omnipresent influence of supernatural power meant countless entities capable of trampling them underfoot. Strict enforcement paled compared to Earth. On Earth, weapons like the Nuclear Bomb rested in the hands of dominant nations. Here? Human Form equivalents abounded, many operating beyond national control. Regulate them? How could any state attempting regulation guarantee that one such individual couldn’t single-handedly topple the entire regime?

Therefore, Earth’s legal models didn’t easily apply here. Compounding this, the deeply intertwined powers of various kingdoms further weakened the overall binding force of law. Though unpleasant to admit, one undeniable truth stood: Otherworld’s laws primarily constrained civilians, those lacking strength, or individuals with transparent identities. They were rarely applied rigorously against the powerful! Consequently, entities with sufficient backing behaving decisively was utterly commonplace. Crucially, Dan Marina’s fame was too immense. Her very name joining forces with the system alone sufficed to instill trepidation in most. Questioning it was futile; Dan Marina commanded that level of awe.

Counterfeiting proof or rules? The actual involved party (meaning Dan Marina) had already subtly appended an extra declaration within her own ‘con-artist-rumors’ thread on the Forum. She even explicitly mentioned she would open an Online Store herself, occasionally listing intriguing items she acquired. Undoubtedly, there were extremely significant, utterly secretive reasons behind this collaboration!

What weighed more heavily on others’ minds was the possibility that Dan Marina might be involved in more than just tracking down troublemakers… Could there be… other facets? Hope for luck? What if it were true? This wasn’t Earth, where simply switching user IDs solved problems. This implicated one’s entire life’s prospects! Worse, attracting Dan Marina’s attention might abruptly terminate that prospect entirely. Who would dare provoke her needlessly?

Thus, without absolute necessity, attempting to challenge the rules governing the Magic Weapon Summoning Book’s new Trading Module was unwise. Besides, the only significant merchant concern regarding these rules centered on the newly introduced transaction fees. Calculating carefully in other aspects, merchants realized that properly utilizing the Trading Module’s delivery function within the Magic Weapon Summoning Book could entirely bypass the impact of Tariffs.

Tariff rates levied by nations establishing such checkpoints varied, but one thing was certain: the rates were never low. Eliminating this expense? Well… those nations wouldn’t remain passive. The financial losses wouldn’t be trivial. Seek out the Creator directly? Currently, the Creator’s identity remained a complete mystery. How?

Resist? The sheer usefulness of the integrated delivery function rendered any comprehensive national resistance impractical. Therefore, the inevitable outcome involved pressure being applied to Merchants Guilds by these nations, demanding jointly established new regulations. Of course, this also presented a fresh opportunity for merchants and Guilds to shed the burden of those higher Tariffs. They would naturally push hard for rules favoring their interests.

Ultimately, restoring Tariffs to their former level was highly doubtful. Achieving that required nations to either eliminate the Creator entirely or enact a total ban on the Magic Weapon Summoning Book. The consequences of such actions, however, transcended national impact, affecting vast numbers of Professionals and merchants!

Therefore, the most probable scenario involved mutual compromise between nations and Guilds. Combine this with the stringent penalty rules for misconduct publicly available on the Magic Weapon Forum, and as long as no major incidents occurred, the market’s transition period during the new business model’s adoption could proceed smoothly, weathering any storm without major disruption. This stabilization directly served the merchants’ tangible interests.

Zheng Yichen had established the rules – rules that were acceptable and profitable for them, while also effectively preventing disruptions. Subsequently, he didn’t need to intervene heavily. The powerful Merchants Guilds backing the merchants would devote their efforts to strategic discussions, wrangling fiercely with the various kingdoms to carve out mutually acceptable new trade parameters. Crucially, these negotiated terms had to operate entirely within the foundational framework of the Trading Module’s rules Zheng Yichen had created!

On this point, Zheng Yichen truly needed to thank Dan Marina. Her understanding and manipulation of human nature were terrifyingly precise. She had revised numerous parts of his draft rules that were incompatible, yet this revision wasn’t about lowering the strictness. While some aspects were slightly relaxed, Zheng Yichen calculated that the overall outcome hadn’t caused him additional losses. Instead, his potential revenue increased by over thirty percent!

Perversely, these precisely tuned rules guaranteed the enthusiastic support of both merchants and their Guilds for the system. They contrasted starkly with his earlier draft, which yielded less profit and harbored significantly more friction, preventing the smooth, almost seamless acceptance – even by the kingdoms – that he was witnessing now. Those powers might not even realize the difference, perhaps even feeling they’d gained an advantage.

Knowing the reality, Zheng Yichen felt a peculiar sensation: watching others eagerly “counted money” for him after being thoroughly “sold” on the system by Dan Marina – effectively throwing profits his way! Thinking about this woman’s methods left him chilled. Thankfully, she was currently his ally. Having such capabilities aligned against him… she could likely eliminate opponents subtly and devastatingly.

Regardless, the Trading Module launched successfully. However, it had only been open for half a day and remained in its ‘fermentation’ period. Many ripple effects were still unfolding. Despite this, since Zheng Yichen had updated the Module, the entire Magic Weapon Forum had been buzzing with unprecedented activity. He browsed some threads. Notably, many Mercenary Corps and adventurer groups had begun posting advertisements. While not traditional merchants, it didn’t prevent them from opening Online Stores…

After all, every completed Quest usually brought extra spoils needing suitable buyers. Finding the right buyer was often difficult, sometimes involving significant underpayment. How could that compare to the convenience of an Online Store? They could simply list their goods and wait for sellers to approach them! Prices felt too low? Room for negotiation existed.

Undercutting attempts? Easy – wait for a new seller. The highest offer wins! Currently, Forum sentiment regarding the Trading Module was largely positive after all, a large majority among the Magic Weapon Summoners were independent operators. As for the dissatisfied minority? It didn’t matter. Zheng Yichen didn’t need to intervene. A host of users employing aliots weren’t their real names would happily take it upon themselves to argue against these critics.