"Ooof!" Graham couldn't help but grunt as he lifted the last 50-pound pack of water bottles he had bought from the general store, among other things.
Groaning in pain, he stacked the water among the many packs filling the small store before coming back outside to greet his ride.
"You got everything there, cutie?"
"Yes I do! Thanks, big sis!" Graham gave her a charming wink, causing the Granny to blush.
"Of course! Make sure you come by for my special lunch tomorrow. There's still a lot left over from the money you gave me, ohohoho."
"I wouldn't dare to miss it."
As the old Granny with the ugly neon colored apron waved and drove her truck away, Graham rubbed his aching back before entering the store.
Inside were several packs and jugs of water, several large bags of rice, flour, salt, and sugar, a crazy number of storage containers, miscellaneous items like tape, papers, and markers, and an old satellite laptop that the old woman had lent him.
After ensuring the Earth side door was locked, Ari pointed to everything except the two packs of water, storage containers, tape, and two large bags of flour.
"Please move everything but those items into the room, the stairs, and the hallways."
[Understood.]
The glowing golden light that represented IMES quickly zipped from item to item, and they promptly disappeared, decluttering the small space immediately.
Then Graham began the tedious work of filling the shelves with single water bottles, which were going to be his first sale item.
Then he separated the bags of flour into small storage containers, labeling them in the written language of the Onia continent at half the price that the vendors had quoted.
When he finished, his clothing was completely covered in flour, which he ignored for now.
"Send these away as well, and then pull up the store modification screen," Graham politely asked IMES as he took a seat on the stool.
A transparent hologram of the building appeared on the countertop in front of him, and Graham freely interacted with it as if it were a game, spinning the little building around all 360 degrees.
Then he began dictating as he pinched and prodded the hologram.
"Let's leave the Earth side alone for now. Shift this bookshelf to block the Earth door and add a sign on the Onia side that says hmm….Interstellar Merchant Company." Graham randomly dictated a name he planned on registering his merchant company as once he had enough money.
IMES used its basic authority to modify the store's external face, adding a simple wooden signboard above the door.
Graham observed it on the hologram, tweaking it a little bit before he was satisfied.
Then, opening up the laptop, he pulled up previously bookmarked tabs, including the store's land deed, which was registered in his name.
This store was actually located close to one of the first magic stone mines that had been discovered and was about a 12 hour road drive from the capital city where his father and their main family house was located.
Those magic stones were one of the pillars of humanity's ability to make huge strides in technology, explore other worlds, and even learn how to use magic.
His great-granduncle had started creating his wealth by taking ownership of the mine and selling the newly discovered mana-stones for a high price. The town grew rapidly, and many people came to try to make a fortune as well.
But when the mine began drying out, his great-grand-uncle sold it, and the town slowly deserted as fewer and fewer mana stones were discovered until it became what it is today.
Graham suspected that Mirytals and mana stones were the same thing, so he needed a way to verify that fact and a secretive way to exchange them for Earth cash since IMES was not currently offering exchange services at his level.
To do that, he would need to contact one of his friends who would be perfect for the job. Although his phone had been taken, he still had all the contact information of his friends online and quickly pulled up the profile of one of his friends Chubsy.
Since the guy was probably on some type of bender, he probably wouldn't see the message for a couple of days, which worked out. Hopefully, it would give Graham time to amass a good amount of Mirytals.
After sending a message to his friend, Graham checked the time.
[6:30 PM]
Which meant it was morning in Onia.
A perfect time to open up shop and get rid of some of his item stock.
Quickly closing his eyes. Graham imagined his outfit changing into a snazzy black suit jacket, with a blood red shirt and pants that matched his hair and eyes. He imagined white gloves on his hands and then opened his eyes.
Looking down, he nodded in approval as he saw his outfit.
Clean, sharp, with a bit of personality.
They say look the part of the role you want, and he wanted the role of being the richest merchant to exist.
For now, he was selling bottled water, but who knew what it would be in the future?
After rubbing his gloved fingers together and clapping, Graham double-checked his mana to make sure it was full enough that he could use his disguise skill.
Then he went and opened the door to Planet Onia, carefully propping the door open with a door stop.
The unique stench of filth battled with the air fresheners he had spread inside before the lemon scented air fresheners barely won.
Outside, the sun was rising high in the sky, and the blue moon had been replaced by a red one.
Rather than stepping outside, Graham came back in and made himself comfortable on his stool.
And less than 5 minutes later, a familiar face angrily entered the door.
Ring-
The chime hung on the door rang happily, and Graham smiled at his first customer.
"Welcome to the Interstellar Merchant Shop. Will you be buying anything today, or are you just looking around?