The journey to Salia City took nearly half a day.
After crossing open grasslands, small rivers, and several regions inhabited by low-level Mostro, Reina's group finally caught sight of a city far busier than Belio City.
Its towering wooden gates stood wide open, revealing a main street lined with modest stalls, bustling merchants, craftsmen, and adventurers coming and going.
“So this is Salia City...” Hana murmured.
It was their first time visiting the city since waking up in the world of Cosmia. Until now, they had only known of Salia through the large map displayed in Belio City's town square.
Unlike Belio, which served as the royal city and primary training hub, Salia felt far more alive.
Nearly every corner was occupied by stalls run by NPCs or players.
Although there still weren't many of them, trade had already begun.
Reina carefully observed each stall they passed.
Some sold crafting materials.
Others specialized in weapons.
There were even stalls offering Pet Eggs, equipment, and various manuals.
Reina came to a stop.
“Interesting...”
Tanaka looked at her.
“What is it?”
Reina continued studying the merchandise.
“It looks like we're not the only ones.”
“What do you mean?”
“There are quite a few players who understand the value of items.”
Everyone looked around.
Reina pointed toward one of the stalls.
“Look at that.”
A small wooden sign displayed the following prices:
Crystal ×1 — 1,000 Coins
Ruby ×1 — 2,000 Coins
Weapon Manual Lv.120 — 10,000 Coins
“The person selling these knows which items will retain their value in the long run.”
She then walked to another stall.
This one displayed something completely different.
Bird Egg ×2 — 1,000 Coins
Chicken Egg ×1 — 500 Coins
Reina smiled faintly.
“On the other hand, this seller has no idea what they're actually worth.”
Rian finally understood.
“So... some players are experienced, while others are completely new?”
“Something like that.”
Reina didn't want to jump to conclusions.
Still, more and more things convinced her that not everyone trapped in Cosmia came from the modern gaming generation.
Perhaps there were still veterans from the old days of Cosmic Online.
Or...
Perhaps they were simply born traders.
Reina turned back toward her party.
“Sell everything we don't really need.”
“Huh?”
Rian looked confused.
“Right now?”
“Yes.”
“But why?”
“Do you trust me?”
The group exchanged glances.
Lisa was the first to nod.
“I do.”
“Then just do it.”
The party split up and headed toward the NPC merchants, selling various materials and equipment they weren't using.
A short while later, they regrouped.
“The total comes to...”
Tanaka counted their earnings.
“Fifty-four thousand eight hundred Coins.”
Reina nodded slowly.
“That'll do.”
Without another word, she began walking around Salia City alone.
She stopped at one stall.
Then moved to another.
Occasionally, she bought something.
Then continued walking.
The rest of the party could only watch from a distance.
“What do you think Ms. Reina is doing?” Hana whispered.
“Reading the market,” Lisa answered without hesitation.
“Was she always like this?”
Lisa smiled.
“She used to be even worse.”
Nearly an hour later, Reina returned.
“Hurry.”
She held out her hand.
“Give me all your Coins.”
Without asking any questions, Lisa was the first to hand over all of her money.
The others quickly followed.
Reina immediately disappeared into the marketplace once again.
This time, she was gone for only a few minutes.
When she returned, her inventory was filled with various items.
She immediately began distributing them.
“Lisa.”
Reina handed her a Bird Egg.
“Raise this one.”
Lisa accepted it with a puzzled expression.
“Rian.”
Another Bird Egg changed hands.
“Yukio.”
Reina took out four thick books.
Weapon Manual Lv.150
Yukio's eyes went wide.
“M-Ma'am... these are...”
“They were selling them far too cheaply.”
Reina smiled.
“The owner didn't know what they were worth.”
Yukio opened one of the manuals.
“Then...”
“Take good care of them.”
Reina pointed at the four books.
“One day, when your Craftman skills are high enough, I want you to forge four Level 150 weapons.”
“For who?”
“Tanaka.”
“Lisa.”
“Rian.”
“Hana.”
Yukio nodded enthusiastically.
“Yes, Ma'am!”
Rian raised his hand.
“What about you and Mina?”
Reina smiled.
“Don't worry.”
“Those were the only manuals being sold cheaply. The rest were overpriced. We'll obtain ours another way.”
She paused.
“I know where the Mostro that drop those manuals can be found.”
“Even so...”
She raised a finger.
“We'll need to reach at least Level 50 first.”
Everyone nodded.
There was no reason to rush.
Their journey had only just begun.
Before leaving Salia City, Yukio asked Reina for permission.
“Ma'am.”
“Hmm?”
“I'll be staying here from now on.”
Reina looked at him.
Yukio gazed across the rows of market stalls in the town square.
Among the neatly arranged wooden buildings were still many empty plots where players could open their own shops.
There was no rental fee.
No taxes.
All you had to do was choose an empty spot.
Yukio picked a location not far from the main road.
He began arranging the items he intended to sell.
Crystals.
Various crafting materials.
And several Level 30 to Level 50 weapons that the party could have used later.
Rian hesitated.
“Shouldn't we keep those weapons for ourselves?”
“We'll be using our starter equipment until Level 50,” Reina replied.
“Rather than letting them sit in storage, they're better off becoming capital.”
Yukio nodded.
“If I have more capital, I can buy more materials.”
“Exactly.”
Reina looked at the small stall Yukio had just opened.
It was simple.
It wasn't stocked with many items.
But it was a beginning.
While the rest of them hunted Mostro, every useful material they found would be sent to Yukio.
In return, Yukio would process those materials into equipment, accessories, potions, and various goods other players would need.
Little by little, their capital would continue to grow.
Reina looked at her status window once more.
Level 15.
Still far from the goal she wanted to reach.
But now, they had more than just a group that protected one another.
They had begun laying the foundation that would allow them to survive in the world of Cosmia for a very long time.