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Monday, September 26th, 2253 - 7:05 am

Market Street - The Mystical Menagerie

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Jeremiah pushed open the shop's door and breathed in deeply.

The scent of old wood, stone, and dust settled into his lungs, but this time, he welcomed it. There was a subtle peace in the familiarity. A quiet recognition deep in his bones that this space belonged to him. It wasn't quite the comfort of home, yet something about standing within these walls grounded him.

His body still throbbed from yesterday's exertions, and a storm of questions lingered at the edge of his thoughts, but here, in what would soon be his shop, Jeremiah finally felt as though he'd taken a real step toward reclaiming his life. For the first time in months, he sensed forward momentum, however modest.

A flutter of movement passed his shoulder. Jeremiah turned to see Mero sweep by, the fairy guide gliding into the center of the storefront before perching atop the bronze plaque as he had the day before. Mero fixed Jeremiah with a questioning look and raised an eyebrow.

"Why'd ya bring the kid?" he asked.

Jeremiah glanced down at the fishbowl cradled in his arms. Billy, perched proudly atop his miniature castle, was busy scanning every new detail with bright, curious eyes.

"Because apparently, I can't leave someone home alone," Jeremiah said.

Sensing he was the topic of conversation, Billy perked up, twisting to face Jeremiah and waving several tentacles in greeting.

Jeremiah sighed.

Mero gave a short, amused laugh and shrugged. "Hey, your call, kid." He leaned in, voice dropping with anticipation. "So, Jerry-Boy… What do ya say? Ready to get this show on the road?"

Jeremiah took a last, lingering look around the empty shop. He let out a long breath. "Yeah. I guess we should… even if I'm not looking forward to the next part."

The prospect of dragging out heaps of broken, rotted furniture to the neighborhood dump was already making his muscles ache.

Mero's grin turned sly. "We'll see. But before you get to that, you've still got one more thing to do."

Jeremiah blinked. "What now?"

With a snap of his fingers, Mero conjured a glowing circle in the center of the floor. Slowly, something pushed its way upward through the light. When the glow faded, Jeremiah found himself staring down in disbelief.

Dragging his free hand over his face, he shook his head. "Sarah… what the hell."

Yet even as he spoke, a smile crept onto his lips.

Sitting in front of him was an antique-looking treasure chest.

But not just any chest — the small trunk was an exact replica of the treasure chests from one of his favorite childhood games, Legend of Sidequests 3. The game had already been old when he was a kid, a relic compared to modern VR epics, but it had once belonged to his father and was one of the few things that had survived the fire. Jeremiah had played through it more times than he could count, desperate for even the faintest connection to a father he barely remembered.

Years later, when the cartridge had finally failed, Sarah had spent nearly three months building a full VR remake as his birthday present. That year marked his fifth birthday without their parents, and the first when the weight of loss had truly hit him. Jeremiah had all but vanished into the game to cope.

"Oh wow… You remembered," he whispered as the memory flooded back, his small smile blooming into something brighter. He stepped forward, drawn to the chest as nostalgia washed over him.

Jeremiah bent down and set Billy's bowl gently on the shop's hardwood floor. Billy shuffled to the rim and peered over, his eyes wide with curiosity, while Jeremiah ran a hand along the smooth, polished wood of the chest.

As his fingers brushed the surface, a translucent window flickered to life on his HUD.

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'Welcome to the System!' Gift Box.

Rank: B

Quality: System Treasure

Description: A treasure chest filled with starter goodies to help you make the most of your personal Iteration! Your above-average performance during your Tutorial mission has improved its contents. Well Done!

System Note: OpenIt!OpenIt!Openit!Openit!

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Jeremiah blinked. "Right… the mission rewards mentioned something about a gift box." He'd nearly forgotten about it under the weight of last night's revelations.

Mero let out a sharp laugh. "Well? What are ya waiting for, kid? Open it."

Rolling his eyes, Jeremiah straightened. He flipped the latch, grasped the lid with both hands, and took a steadying breath. Then, he lifted.

Golden light poured out, washing the room in radiance just like in Legend of Sidequest. Jeremiah had to pause and chuckle, shaking his head as his smile grew wider. As the lid rose, the light only intensified until he had to squint and turn his face away.

When he looked back, blinking away the last spots from his vision, the chest had vanished.

In its place stood four small stone pedestals, the kind you might see in a museum display. Each pedestal held a different item.

Carefully, Jeremiah approached the first.

A small crate sat atop the stand, adorned with a cartoon pirate shrimp, tricorn hat, eyepatch, and all. It looked so out of place that Jeremiah almost laughed, but as he neared, a faint, briny scent like the seaside drifted up from the box.

He focused, issuing a mental command.

[System Scan]

A new panel unfolded before his eyes.

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Crate of Krackers

Rank: F

Quality: Fine

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Keywords: Treat

Description: Salty, shrimpy, and oh so very crunchy. These special formula crackers are made with everything a growing Kraken needs to grow big and strong. They stay nice and crunchy even when fully submerged in water. Each cracker grants 1 bond point and is enough to meet a young G-Grade Kraken's nutritional needs for one day.

This crate contains 6 boxes of 25 Krackers.

System Notes: These treats are suitable for consumption by most aquatic beasts, but are particularly favored by krakens and related cephalopods.

The System recommends no more than one treat of any type per day for optimal development. Ignore the puppy dog eyes.

[System Update!] Salty Sally's Krackers (assorted flavors) have been unlocked in the System Store.

—

Salty Sally's Shrimp-flavored Seaside Snacking Stackers! The favorite snack of cephalopods everywhere! Our patented Crunch! ™ technology guarantees that shell-cracking, oyster-crunching satisfaction with every bite! Nothing quite says camaraderie between many-legged pals like sharing one of these crunchy bits of heaven.

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"Huh…" was all Jeremiah managed. That certainly wasn't what he'd expected.

Then again, maybe what amounted to a box of dog treats fit the whole "beast" theme the System seemed to be playing with. In fact, the more Jeremiah read the description, the less it seemed like a booby prize.

With another mental command, he pulled up Billy's bond stats.

—✦—

《ACTIVE Contracts》 [1/1]

Billy Bridge (Polaris Kraken)

[Status]

Bond State: Active {Primary} - Awake - Excited - Curious [✚]

Bond Level: [Tier I] - ☆

Bond Points: 29/50

Beast Skills - <1/1>: N/A [✚]

—✦—

Billy's bond points had barely budged since the last time he had checked them back in the Testing Grounds. Granted that it had only been the other day, even if it felt like weeks ago.

If these 'krackers' can really give bond points, that's one hundred and fifty points for the whole crate. That's weeks of progress at the current rate. Jeremiah thought to himself.

Billy seemed to notice the crate as well. Or had he perhaps caught the subtle scent coming off it? Either way, he stared up at the crate from his bowl in excitement.

Jeremiah chuckled and lifted the lid from the crate. It came off easily, revealing six smaller boxes inside, each adorned with the same grinning cartoon shrimp. He picked one up and turned it over in his hands.

The labels and product info were written in perfect Nexus Common, as familiar as anything on a market shelf — except none of the regulatory marks or manufacturer names meant anything to him. Jeremiah's frown deepened as he scanned the box.

Pretty sure this address isn't even on Nexus… he mused, eyebrow arching.

Noticing Jeremiah's expression, Mero piped up from his perch on the nearby counter. "Don't overthink it, kid. Anything the System gives ya directly has already been tested and quality assured."

Jeremiah shot him a sideways look. "That's not the first time you've hinted there's more going on with the System behind the scenes than you're letting on."

Mero flashed a sly, lopsided grin. "Of course there is, kid. Thought we've been over this?"

"And you can't tell me anything else," Jeremiah said, more statement than question.

Mero shrugged and spread his hands. "And what would it change if I did? You want to know the name of the part-timer who boxed up that crate? It's Jim."

Jeremiah sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. Maybe Mero was right. Maybe knowing every tiny detail about how the System operated wouldn't make a difference in the end. Still, every small piece of information felt like a fragment of the greater puzzle.

Mero might have his reasons for keeping secrets, but that didn't mean Jeremiah would stop looking for answers on his own.

Letting the subject drop, Jeremiah opened the box of krackers. Inside, five foil packets were neatly stacked. He tore one open and withdrew a single kracker.

It was the size and shape of a regular saltine, with a faint dusting of salt across the surface. Unlike a plain, beige cracker, though, this one shimmered with a vibrant rainbow of colors, from fiery reds and oranges to cool purples and sea greens. The effect reminded Jeremiah, oddly, of a living coral reef, alive with hidden color.

Just as he was about to examine it further, he felt something wet and cool on his pant leg. Glancing down, Jeremiah saw Billy had clambered out of his bowl and was now making his way up Jeremiah's leg, eyes fixed with an unwavering focus on the kracker in his hand.

Jeremiah rolled his eyes, reached down, and plucked Billy from his pant leg. The tiny kraken's tentacles stretched desperately toward the kracker, as if sheer longing alone might bridge the gap.

With a smirk, Jeremiah dangled the treat just out of reach, enjoying the anticipation. Billy bounced on his palm, his whole body quivering with excitement, until he almost vibrated. Jeremiah must have drawn out the moment a little too long, because in the next instant, a sudden splash of cold water hit him square in the face.

Mero burst out laughing, his wings flickering as he doubled over on his perch. Jeremiah sputtered, wiping his cheek, while Billy waved his tentacles with a fierce determination.

"Alright, alright! I surrender!" Jeremiah laughed, unable to keep the amusement out of his voice. "No more teasing. Here you go."

He gently lowered Billy back into his bowl and offered the kracker. Billy immediately latched onto the treat, almost as big as himself, and slipped beneath the water, clutching it triumphantly. Within seconds, faint, enthusiastic crunching sounds rose from the bowl as Billy tore into the snack.

Watching the little kraken's joy, Jeremiah felt his doubts about the "booby prize" slip away. Whatever else these treats were, Billy was clearly a fan.

Still, as Jeremiah reread the System scan, a detail caught his attention. "'System Store?'" he asked, glancing at Mero.

"We'll get to that later. Keep going," Mero replied, waving a hand at the remaining pedestals.

Jeremiah shook his head but let it go for now, curiosity flickering behind his eyes. He turned his focus to the next display.

On the second pedestal sat a neatly folded set of clothes: a crisp white dress shirt, an elegant black vest, matching slacks, and a pair of formal yet comfortable-looking shoes. Jeremiah raised an eyebrow and ran a System scan. To his surprise, the outfit registered as a single item.

And the results left his jaw on the floor.

His heart raced faster with each line he read, and a single word echoed through his head.

Jackpot!

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Shopkeeper's Regalia

Rank: B - (Growth)

Quality: Epic

Keywords: Soulbound - Growth - Paired - Faewear - Self-Repair

Description: A masterfully tailored ensemble crafted from enchanted Faewear, this uniform radiates quiet confidence and authority. The crisp white shirt, fitted black vest, matching slacks, and elegantly comfortable shoes adjust perfectly to the wearer's form, remaining immaculate through dust, spills, and magical mishaps alike. When worn, the Shopkeeper's Regalia infuse you with an aura of refined professionalism. Customers instinctively sense his competence and are subtly encouraged to trust his guidance.

Set Bonus:

While in the Mystical Menagerie, or any place recognized as your 'Domain':

Presence of the Proprietor: All visitors feel a heightened sense of security and hospitality when you are present. Your ability to negotiate, persuade, or defuse conflict with customers is greatly enhanced. Remain clear-minded under pressure; your body gives away nothing, and you reveal no tells. You're immune to all forms of mental or emotional manipulation under A-rank, and you can sense when a similar B-rank effect targets you.

Shopkeeper's Insight: Grants the wearer total awareness of everyone and everything within the shop's boundaries. This includes subtle cues about intent (friend, foe, or uncertain) and alerts the wearer to theft, magical tampering, or concealed threats.

Guiding Word: Once per hour, you can deliver a short phrase or suggestion that lingers in a customer's mind, nudging them to act with honesty or fairness, or to consider the shop's best interests.

Merchandise Attunement: While wearing the vestments, you intuitively know the inventory, status, and general worth of every item in the shop, and can detect when anything is disturbed or goes missing. [System Scan] is greatly enhanced when making a transaction.

Polished Demeanor: Automatically cleans and refreshes itself and the wearer, ensuring a presentable and inviting appearance at all times. Reduces fatigue while interacting with customers or during long shop hours. Damage to this uniform will repair itself overnight.

Protect What's Yours: Within your shop, you radiate calm, focused authority. While defending your shop, +5 Physical and Mental to your current grade (G). Once per week you can gain an additional +5 Physical and Mental of this uniform's rank (B) for 1 hour. If your current grade is lower than this uniform's rank, you will suffer from a period of extreme exhaustion equal to the difference (5 Hours).

Growth (Paired):

This is one-half of a matched set. As two sides of the same coin, "Shopkeeper's Regalia" and "Caretaker's Vestments" may be worn together, allowing you to swap between them at will, though only one set's effects can be active at a time.

System Note:

First impressions linger — dress the part, and the world will meet you as its equal. A proper welcome is the first step toward trust… and business.

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