The smell of wine lingered on his coat as Klaus returned to his flat. Selene lounged on the sofa, her nine tails fanned like a throne, sipping what remained of the Elven Moonwine.
"You spent thousands of Credits tonight," she said lazily, "and walked away richer. Tell me, Klaus—how do you plan to do that every day?"
Klaus smiled faintly, pulling a shimmering ledger from his interface.
[DIMENSIONAL TRADE: Item Ledger Active.]
Alcohol Imports: Profit Margin (Earth → Elven Realm): +500%–900%.
Alcohol Exports: Profit Margin (Elven Realm → Earth Black Market): +400%–700%.
He set the ledger down and opened a small chest. Inside lay herbs, Dream-Seal ingredients, and enchanted ash retrieved from the Citadel.
"Buying and selling is easy," Klaus said. "But real power comes when I create something neither world has."
Selene's silver eyes narrowed. "Alchemy."
Brewing with Blood & Dreamfire
Klaus placed three ingredients on the table:
Dragonfruit wine (Earth, 500 Credits a bottle).
Shadow Ash (Dream-Weave residue, cost: 6 Hours lifespan).
Elven Moonvine petals (purchased with Gold from his last trade).
The Crown pulsed.
[SYSTEM: Alchemy Subsystem Detected.]You may combine items across worlds to create Dimensional Brews.Warning: Failed brews may waste materials or lifespan.
Klaus smirked. "Good. Then let's brew."
He poured the wine, crushed the petals, and scattered ash. His wings trembled, and his blood hissed into the mixture, glowing with shadowfire.
The liquid bubbled, shimmered, then settled into a glowing crimson bottle.
[ALCHEMY SUCCESS.]New Item Created: Bloodflame Vintage (Rare).
Earth Value: 5,000 Credits.
Elven Realm Value: 18,000 Gold.
Bonus Effect: Drinking restores 2% mana regeneration for 24h.
Selene's eyes widened slightly. "You just brewed profit."
Klaus swirled the crimson bottle, smiling coldly. "No. I brewed leverage."
First Alchemy Trade
He moved the bottle across his ledger.
[TRADE EXECUTED.]
Craft Cost: ~2,000 Credits equivalent.
Sale Price (Elven Realm): 18,000 Gold.Profit Margin: +800%.
Klaus laughed, a low sound that filled the room. "I could erase my debt in weeks at this rate."
[Lucifer]: "Ha! And you thought yourself a strategist of war. No, Crown-Bearer—you're a strategist of markets. Every brew, every trade, is a blade sharper than any sword."
The Fox's Test
Selene leaned forward, tails curling around him. "If you can brew empires from bottles, then brew me something."
Klaus raised an eyebrow. "And if I succeed?"
Her smile curved, sly and dangerous. "Then my loyalty increases. And my power… becomes yours."
The Crown pulsed with a new quest.
[QUEST TRIGGERED: Foxfire Vintage.]Objective: Brew an alcohol that can intoxicate a Nine-Tail Fox.Reward: Selene's Resonance Skill Upgrade.Penalty: -1 Year Lifespan if you fail.
Klaus's crimson eyes blazed. "Then let's see how much loyalty costs."
The Brewing Circle
He gathered ingredients again:
Abyssal Rum (Earth).
Phoenix Flame Herb (Elven Realm).
Shadow Essence (Dream-Weave residue).
The mixture fought against him, bubbles turning black, fire lashing the air. His lifespan ticked down as his veins glowed.
[DREAM-WEAVE: Lifespan Burn Detected. -3 Days.]
He snarled through gritted teeth. "Not enough."
He cut his palm, letting more blood into the brew. His wings flared, six white arcs edged in shadow. Selene watched, lips parted faintly, eyes burning with amusement.
The bottle settled. A silver flame licked inside the crimson liquid.
[ALCHEMY SUCCESS.]New Item Created: Foxfire Vintage (Epic).
Earth Value: 20,000 Credits.
Elven Realm Value: 65,000 Gold.
Special: Intoxicates spirit beasts, lowering resistances.
The Fox Drinks
Selene took the bottle, swirling it slowly. She drank. Her tails flared, flames igniting at their tips, before she laughed softly. "Delicious. Dangerous. You made a Nine-Tail drunk, Crown-Bearer."
[SIMP SYSTEM: Resonance with Selene — Breakthrough Achieved.][RES0NANCE SYNC UPGRADE] Skill Gained: Moonflame Domain (A-Rank → S-Rank).Creates a battlefield-wide illusion of foxfire, disorienting enemies and boosting allies' agility.
Klaus's veins burned with the new power. He exhaled slowly. "Now I control more than wealth. I control reality itself."
[Lucifer]: "And that, Crown-Bearer, is how empires fall—drunk on illusions you pour into their cups. Sell wine, sell power, sell lies. Let them drown in it."
New Horizons
Klaus leaned back, watching the bottle glow on the table. His mind raced with possibilities.
Earth nobles craving enchanted wine.
Elven kings paying fortunes for human vintages.
Shadow brokers killing for exclusive brews.
[SYSTEM QUEST UNLOCKED: Merchant of Vintage.]Objective: Establish exclusive alcohol alchemy and trade across three worlds.Reward: Dimensional Brewery Title + System Market Expansion.Penalty: Confiscation of Trade Rights for 14 days if failed.
Klaus's crimson eyes gleamed. "Coins never decrease… but bottles? Bottles multiply."
Selene's tails wrapped around his arm as she whispered, "Then let's drink to the empire you're about to build."
The wolf's shadow howled, the crow shrieked, and the city lights outside flickered like stars bowing to him.