Jaune had some free time after classes, so he went to take care of his Beacon shop branch, eager to check the sales figures personally.
Velvet, Fox, and Yatsuhashi were diligently working there.
Velvet was polishing the counter, Fox was restocking Copper Rank healing vials, and Yatsuhashi was subtly checking the corners of the cavernous room, ensuring security.
"I didn't think students had so much money,"
Jaune murmured to himself, observing the sparse shelves.
He had worried his unique items, despite their low prices in Multi-Coins, might be too expensive in Lien for the average student.
But what was happening was entirely different from what he had thought.
Many students, like Coco, came from incredibly rich families—minor nobility, corporate heirs, or successful mercenary backgrounds—who considered 1,000 to 10,000 Lien a negligible cost for guaranteed power.
Many weapons and, especially, miracle potions sold quickly.
They were crucial for surviving combat classes and missions. Jaune even saw a review thread open on a student's Scroll:
"How could such miracle potions exist! I healed my fractured arm in thirty seconds! Worth every Lien!"
"I don't have to be afraid of running out of Aura anymore. The 'Lesser Aura Restore Potion' is literally a lifesaver. No more fatigue!"
"There are even potions that let me go berserk but keep my mind clear. My attack speed increases more than 20%!"
The word of mouth was explosive.
"Boss! We ran out of potions again! Can you please restock it?"
Velvet spoke to Jaune, her tone eager.
She worked hard, handling the sales with meticulous care.
She felt genuinely grateful to Jaune. He didn't discriminate against Faunus and gave her a fantastic wage that allowed her to help her family back on Menagerie while still having plenty of money left over for her own needs.
"Alright, I will restock right away."
Jaune walked to the back, where the Teleportation Circle linked to his main shop.
He just had to will the system, and with a flash of light only he could see, the shelves were instantly full again.
"This should be enough for today,"
Jaune thought, feeling a tremendous sense of satisfaction.
His money counter was glowing brightly. He had almost 20 Silver Coins now.
"Hey Ciel, I want to know. If I save enough to have a Gold Coin, what items could I get?"
Jaune asked. Silver Rank items were already incredibly strong; he needed to know what power lay in the tier above.
[Here is a partial list of items available at the Gold Rank. Please be patient and save enough coins. Note: Gold Rank Items are typically one-of-a-kind artifacts of immense, world-shaping power.]
Item—Excalibur
Origin—Fate World
Rank—Gold
Price—5 mgc
Lien—50,000,000
Item—Spear of Longinus
Origin—Dragon X Dragon World
Rank—Gold
Price—10 mgc
Lien—100,000,000
Item—Rinnegan (Paired Eyes)
Origin—Ninja World
Rank—Gold
Price—10 mgc
Lien—100,000,000
The list of items went on, showcasing ancient weapons and legendary powers that defied the laws of Remnant.
Jaune felt a rush of both excitement and disappointment.
He had 20 Silver Coins. He was only one-fifth of the way to the cheapest Gold Rank item.
He felt impossibly poor again.
As Jaune was momentarily feeling down, he heard a loud, violent commotion near the front of the shop.
"What is happening?"
Jaune rushed out from the back, his heart instantly seizing in his chest. Cardin Winchester, the thick-necked, arrogant bully, was standing over Velvet.
Fox and Yatsuhashi were nowhere in sight; they must have been doing their perimeter check when the customer lull hit.
Cardin was laughing cruelly as he grabbed Velvet's sensitive bunny ears, wrenching them upward, making her cry out in sharp, excruciating pain.
Jaune saw that sight, and something primal, something ancient, snapped inside him.
[WARNING! The Host's Flood Dragon God Physical Body is experiencing a rapid surge in anger and stress. Dormant Authority is reaching critical levels. Please, control your anger.]
Ciel's warning was clear, but the pain and humiliation inflicted on his innocent employee, who was under his protection, bypassed Jaune's reason.
He didn't think about his cover, his power, or the consequences.
His eyes flashed a brilliant, impossible gold.
"NO ONE TOUCH MY EMPLOYEE!"
Jaune's voice wasn't just loud; it was a guttural, terrifying roar, amplified by the sudden, uncontrolled release of his Dragon's Aura.
The shop's windows rattled, and the very air seemed to thicken with overwhelming, predatory energy.
Cardin instantly froze, terrified, his hand still clamped on Velvet's ear.
In the next moment, Jaune was a blur of gold and lightning.
His mind, now operating with hyper-clarity granted by his newly awakened nature, saw only the threat.
Kaminari No Kokyu: Yon No Kata (Fourth Form): Tōro Kaminari (Distant Thunder)
He didn't need his sword.
Jaune delivered a lightning-fast chop to the inside of Cardin's forearm, the spot where he gripped Velvet's ear.
The blow was so precise and fast that Cardin felt no pain, only a sudden, complete loss of motor control.
Cardin's hand sprang open, and he stumbled back, clutching his limp arm, his face pale with pure fear.
Velvet, released, stumbled away, clutching her throbbing ear, tears streaming down her face.
Jaune stood between Velvet and the bully, his golden eyes blazing, his Dragon's Aura pushing Cardin against the wall.