After the first sale, it didn’t take long for more students to arrive.
Two came together, one asking for two grains, the other for three.
“Thank you for doing business with us.” Isaac waved them off with a smile.
Then came a larger group with eleven students in total, chattering as they approached.
Each of them asked for four or five grains, and Isaac got to work serving them.
The line hadn’t even cleared when two smaller groups showed up. One with three students, the other with two.
Another lone student followed soon after, looking a little hesitant but clearly curious.
Emily handled the sales with them.
By the time the large group was halfway done, more students had already started trickling in.
And they didn’t stop.
Within the next half hour, the number doubled.
Isaac had to pause for a moment when one student, after swallowing his first bite, teared up and mumbled, “Finally… finally some good food.”
He didn’t think much of it until he saw more students reacting the same way. A few held back tears, some didn’t. Many were simply muttering words of thanks to him and Emily.
“…Is the food really that bad at the cafeteria?” Isaac asked one of them.
“You wouldn’t believe it, dude. But to be fair, it’s not the university’s fault. During long exploration trips, good food is rare. Most of us survive on raw monster meat or whatever fruit we can find in the wild. The cafeteria’s food is just to help us adjust to that reality.” One student answered with a tired smile.
Another voice rose from the crowd, this one louder and angry. “That’s a damn excuse! This stronghold is still new, and they can’t distribute supplies properly yet. That’s why we’re stuck with trash food while paying sky-high tuition! It’s the management’s fault!”
The grumbles from others made it clear that not everyone agreed with the adjustment philosophy.
Isaac didn’t mind it, since the problem with cafeteria food worked in his favour.
Over the next two hours, the crowd only grew. A proper line formed outside the shop, stretching beyond the entrance and around the block.
Isaac watched the line build with a quiet smile. “This is more than I expected.”
Emily nodded, a slight smile on her lips. “It thanks to Vax and the others. Tirra’s sending me visual telepathy from the border. They are promoting us out there.”
Isaac nodded slowly. He hadn’t asked them for help. But they did it anyway.
“Professor Catherine was right about making friends with them,” he muttered. “We should invite them to eat with us later.”
Leora shot him a stare, which he could only avoid. He wondered how Professor Catherine was able to ignore that hawk-like stare.
By eight, the shelves were nearly empty. Almost every grain had been sold. Isaac looked at the crates, then at Emily.
She smiled back at him, tired but clearly pleased.
Then came a sudden wave of whispers outside. There was a commotion.
Isaac stepped outside and saw General Magnus was standing in the line.
Students instinctively stepped aside, making space for him to walk through. But the General raised a hand and shook his head.
“I’m here as a buyer,” he said in a calm and firm voice calm. “Not as General Magnus. No need to give up your place.”
Everyone fell quiet.
They looked at each other, and stayed their place.
When General Magus’ turn finally came, he stepped up to the counter. Isaac met his gaze calmly.
“I’d like to buy Tier 1 Vitality Grains,” General Magnus said.
Isaac had been waiting for this. He knew someone from Stronghold would come to buy his Tier 1 grains and that’s how he planned to prove it’s effects to the students.
He reached under the counter and brought out the product. The Tier 1 grain was smaller than the others, with a darker hue and a deeper scent.
He placed it gently on the table and began speaking.
“This grain passively restores two mana per minute for seventy-two hours. It detoxifies low-tier poisons, can be used with potions without issues. It also keeps you full for seventy-two hours, and restores fatigue equivalent to deep sleep.”
A gasp came from somewhere in the student crowd.
They started whispering.
“…Is that true?”
“No way it is.”
“Idiot, why would he lie to General Magnus?”
“He’s an SSS-Rank Farmer. Something like this is completely possible.”
“Damn it, I wish I had a farming talent instead of combat…”
Magnus didn’t react to the noise. He looked at the grain, then nodded. “Alright. I’ll take your entire stock.”
Isaac shook his head. “Please don’t monopolize it, General. This is a shop. The reason I opened it wasn’t to make money, but to make sure students and others who usually don’t get access to high-quality resources can have them.”
It was a lie. A clean, practiced one. But the students did not need to know that.
One student in the crowd teared up again. “Damn… so that’s why he’s not supplying to the Master of Sanctum directly… Vax was right. He’s a good guy.”
Magnus chuckled, clearly amused. “Alright, how many can I take?”
“Fifty,” Isaac replied. “They will be 61,000 Obols each.”
Magnus didn’t even blink. He paid instantly and stored the grains in his spatial ring before nodding and walking away.
The next student in line hesitated. He didn’t ask for the grains right away. Instead, he bowed slightly.
“…Thank you.”
Isaac frowned. “For what?”
“That Tier 1 grain you just described? In the market, something like that would cost seventy to seventy-five thousand Obols each. Most of us mage students would still buy them, even at that price. But you’re selling them for so much less. You even stood firm against General Magnus, even though it doesn’t benefit you, since you’d get the money either way.”
Isaac smiled faintly. “Don’t mind that. You’re all working hard for the city by exploring ruins. It’s the least I can do.”
The student thanked him again and bought two grains.
From that moment, Tier 1 grains sold faster than anything else. In less than half an hour, both Tier 0 and Tier 1 grains were completely sold out.
Even then, a few students remained in line, clearly hoping.
Isaac looked at them and spoke gently, “That’s all for today. But if you come tomorrow, you can skip the line.”
Their faces lit up. They thanked him and left, still empty-handed, but visibly happy. After all, even though they couldn’t buy anything, Isaac still allowed them to skip-lines, which had no benefit for him.
Later, Isaac finally sat down and checked his account.
[Money Credited (Today): 277,000,000 Obols]
It was a staggering amount. Far beyond what he’d expected for the first day.
But it was not enough.
To beat Chairman Lucius’ bet, he needed to earn at least 1.4 billion every single day. Only then he could earn 10 billion by the end of the week.
Isaac closed the screen, leaned back in his seat, and stared at the empty shelves.
“Is there a problem, Isaac? I thought we had good sales today,” Emily said, sitting next to him.
“Nope, there is no problem. I was just wondering how much land I need to buy to win the bet with Chairman Lucius,” Isaac said. “And thanks for today, Emily. Without you, it would’ve tough to manage the shop alone.”
“Hehe, don’t mind it.”
Her cute smile recharged Isaac. He stood up and turned to others.
“Do you guys want to come at my house for dinner?”