[CEO's Cheat Sheet]
Return on Investment (ROI): A performance measure used to evaluate the efficiency or profitability of an investment.
Price War: A competitive exchange among businesses by lowering prices or drastically increasing quality to eliminate competitors.
Artificial Scarcity: The purposeful limitation of production of particular products in order to raise prices and/or demand.
The carved teak doors of the Veridia banquet hall swung open.
A group of noblewomen wearing thick silk gowns and luxurious fox-fur coats stepped inside with arrogant, expectant expressions. At the very front, Lady Persephone—the only daughter of Duke Ozymandias, known as a genius but notoriously picky—flicked her lace fan dismissively.
"I heard the banished daughter of the Vane family has gone mad from the cold," one of the noblewomen sneered behind her fan. "What does she want to show us? Symmetrical ice cubes?"
Mocking laughter echoed through the room. However, the laughter died instantly the moment they saw Stephanie sitting gracefully in the main velvet chair.
There was absolutely no trace of a starving, pathetic banished woman. Stephanie radiated the imposing, unshakable aura of a queen receiving her subjects. Behind her, Revista stood with his face obscured by the shadow of his coat's hood, emitting a dangerous but warm heat that made the freezing hall feel as comfortable as a spring palace.
"Welcome, Ladies," Stephanie greeted with an elegant, perfectly practiced smile. She pointed to a row of crystal bowls filled with warm water on a long table. "Before we begin our business, I invite you all to wash your hands. Traveling in the harsh winter must make your delicate skin dry and rough."
Lady Persephone frowned, feeling insulted yet deeply curious. She stepped forward, followed by the other socialites. Beside each crystal bowl was a small, open pine wood box, revealing a pale white bar of soap that looked incredibly smooth.
"Is this... soap?" Persephone picked it up hesitantly.
In this era, soap was made from a crude mixture of animal fat and coarse ash that irritated the skin and smelled rancid. Nobles usually preferred to douse their unwashed bodies in heavy perfume rather than bathe with such peasant items.
However, as the Winterhaven-made soap touched the water and was rubbed against her hands, a soft, incredibly rich lather appeared instantly. There was no rancid smell of animal fat. There was only a refreshing, clean scent of crushed lavender and an incredibly soft, moisturizing sensation on the skin.
"Oh my goddess!" one of the women shrieked in delight. "My hands don't sting! It feels like liquid silk!"
Persephone stared at her own hands with wide eyes. As a woman who cared deeply about beauty and prestige, she instantly recognized this as a miracle product.
"This is only the first product," Stephanie said casually, giving a slight nod.
Revista stepped forward and effortlessly opened a large, heavy wooden chest in the center of the room. A brilliant white glint reflected across the hall, nearly blinding the nobles' eyes.
"This is Winterhaven's Pure White Salt," Stephanie continued, her voice echoing smoothly in the silent hall. "No impurities. No bitter stony aftertaste. It is a hundred times purer than the murky, sand-filled salt currently monopolized by the Kingdom."
The hall instantly erupted into an uproar. Lady Persephone's private chef, who had joined the entourage, ran forward, tasted a single grain of the salt, and immediately wept with joy. "My Lady! This is white gold! My culinary masterpieces will be absolute perfection with this!"
Lady Persephone's eyes flashed with naked desire. "How much, Stephanie? I'll buy your entire stock."
The other noblewomen immediately protested, scrambling forward to buy it for their own estates.
Stephanie smiled, slowly crossing her legs. Hook, line, and sinker.
"One gold coin," Stephanie said flatly, her voice cutting through the commotion. "For one exclusive box of soap and one bag of salt."
A stunned silence followed. The price was absolutely insane! One gold coin was equivalent to a common family's living expenses for several months.
However, prestige and exclusivity immediately took over their rational minds. If Lady Persephone bought it and they didn't, they would be deemed poor and become the laughingstock of the next high-society tea party.
"I'll take ten boxes!"
"I'll take twenty! Move aside!"
"I'm buying half of that sled's contents! Here is my gold!"
In less than an hour, the entire stock brought by Vortigern was sold out. The once-empty wooden chests were now overflowing with shiny gold coins.
Outside the hall, in Veridia's bustling town square, a stout merchant sent by Duke Malakor was shouting, trying to offer his wares.
"Vane Salt! The best salt from the capital! Winter discount!" the merchant yelled until his throat was sore.
Several noble servants passed right in front of him, carefully carrying premium pine wood boxes stamped with the elegant 'Winterhaven' seal.
"Hey! Gentlemen, care to buy some salt?" the Duke's envoy offered desperately.
"That murky salt that smells like dirt? Hmph," one of the noble servants spat in disgust. "Our mistress just bought out Winterhaven's Pure White Salt. From now on, the Ozymandias estate is boycotting the capital's trash salt. Take your salty pebbles back home, peasant!"
The capital's merchant gaped, his face turning deathly pale as he realized a terrifying truth: Duke Malakor's absolute monopoly in the Eastern territory had just been utterly pulverized in a single afternoon.
Inside the now-quiet banquet hall, Stephanie let out a long sigh of relief.
The red timer on her System screen showed [00:15:00]. Fifteen minutes left before the Abyssal Curse detonated to Phase 2.
Revista had already slumped heavily to the floor behind her chair. His breathing was ragged, and pitch-black veins were creeping up his neck and face again. The heat radiating from his body was no longer warm; it was starting to singe the expensive carpet beneath him.
[Ding! 50 Gold Coins detected. Would you like to convert them?]
Convert everything, Stephanie commanded her System without a second of hesitation.
[Conversion Successful: Balance +50,000 WP!]
[Purchased: Abyssal Suppressant (Phase 2 Dose) - 1,500 WP.]
A silver vial materialized in her hand. Stephanie immediately dropped to her knees, cupped Revista's burning jaw with her cool hands, forced his mouth open, and poured the liquid down to the very last drop.
Revista coughed violently. The murderous, suffocating heat extinguished almost instantly. His erratic breathing gradually returned to normal. With his remaining strength, he rested his heavy head completely on Stephanie's shoulder, his large arms reflexively wrapping tightly around her waist, burying his face in her neck.
"Just in time," Revista growled hoarsely, rubbing his nose against her skin like a large, exhausted wolf seeking shelter. "I almost destroyed this entire city... and everyone in it."
"I wouldn't let that happen," Stephanie whispered, her fingers gently stroking the man's sweat-drenched silver hair.
I couldn't possibly let my most valuable asset explode, she thought pragmatically, though she allowed herself a genuine smile as she looked at her fantastic remaining balance.
48,500 WP. Her struggling startup had just secured its Series A funding.
[Ding! Achievement Unlocked: Market Disruptor!]
[Accumulated Wealth has crossed the threshold. Winterhaven Territory leveled up to Level 2 (Trade Outpost)!]
[Feature Unlocked: Magic Wall Defense System.]
[Feature Unlocked: S-Class Employee Gacha (Price: 1,000 WP/pull).]
Meanwhile, hundreds of kilometers to the South, in the heart of the Capital, Aethelgard.
Duke Malakor Vane crushed his merchant's urgent bankruptcy report until it turned into fine paper dust. A vein of pure, unadulterated rage throbbed on his forehead.
"That wretched, useless daughter..." Malakor hissed, his eyes burning with malice. "How dare she destroy my market?! Prepare the covert assassins. If she wants to play merchant, I'll show her the price of crossing the Vane family."
In another room, hidden deep inside the Holy Cathedral of the Church of Light, a man in pristine white robes suddenly opened his eyes. His irises were as white as blind snow. Inquisitor Zephyr gripped the hilt of his holy sword, which had just vibrated.
"That dense, sickening Abyssal aura... it flared up and vanished again in the North," Inquisitor Zephyr muttered, his voice echoing with terrifying, blind fanaticism. "The Cursed Prince is still alive. Prepare the Paladin Vanguard. We will perform a holy cleansing in Winterhaven."
[Nymphaearoot the Author]: Thousands of percent ROI! Stephanie is now super rich, but the threats coming her way are getting scarier too! Duke Malakor is fuming, and the Church of Light is planning an invasion! How will Winterhaven's Level 2 defenses hold up? Let me know in the comments!