“Alright. Shall we start the preparations in earnest?”
I spread out the checklist I had drafted quickly and began the preparation work step by step.
[Ceres Branch Opening Preparation]
â–¶ Establish cooperation with the Order of Goddess Ceres (Complete)
â–¶ Sign regular supply contract for Ceres specialties (Complete)
â–¶ Prepare initial operating funds of 1,000,000 coins (In progress)
â–¶ Select and secure initial inventory (In progress)
â–¶ Set branch operation range (In progress)
[Initial Operating Capital: 1,000,000 coins required]
‘I should start with the initial operating funds.’
With the Rocket Store currently on an upward trend, 1,000,000 coins wasn’t a huge problem. I deposited the amount immediately.
[Initial operating funds have been deposited. The branch will open once detailed items are set.]
“Guardian, what should we do first now?”
“We need to create a product list. But before that, there’s something I need to check.”
I called up the branch system settings window. It was similar to the original Rocket Store, yet there were differences. The most notable part was the trade restriction section.
“Let’s check these trade list restrictions first.”
[Please check the trade restriction settings before opening the Ceres branch.]
The description stated that when opening a branch, trade restrictions would be automatically set according to the characteristics of that world.
‘I suppose other worlds will be automatically analyzed like this in the future, too.’
As I scrolled down the screen, a detailed list appeared. As expected, the undead race as a whole was set as a hostile force, and restrictions were placed on exchange items.
[Ceres Branch Trade Restriction System]
â–¶ Dominant power of the world: Order of Goddess Althemia
â–¶ Hostile forces: Demons, Undead, Vampires, Dark Elves…
â–¶ Forbidden matters: Blasphemy, Black Magic, Curses, Corruption
“So it completely blocks specific hostile races.”
However, one thing among the hostile forces caught my eye. While it made sense for Vampires or Dark Elves to be listed as potential trading partners under certain conditions…
‘Demons? Is that even possible?’
‘It might not be a good idea even if it’s possible.’
I decided to move on, as it wasn’t an important issue right now, though I didn’t know what the future might hold.
[Restricted Items]
â–¶ Total Proliferation: Items related to blasphemy, items related to black magic…
â–¶ Conditional Restricted Items: Cursed items, poisons…
“Even if they aren’t hostile forces, certain items are restricted from sale.”
“Of course! If you sell those kinds of things to the Paladins, there will be an uproar!”
“That’s true. Fortunately, none of the races we currently trade with are hostile to Ceres. If we trade with Dark Elves or Vampires later, their access to the Ceres branch will be automatically blocked.”
After confirming the trade restrictions, I opened the next setting.
[Ceres Branch System Settings]
Operation Method: Automatic system operation
Access Method: Automatic connection when focusing mentally within the influence range
Current Influence Range: Agnes Holy City and a radius of 30
Range Expansion Condition: Automatic expansion when influence within Ceres increases
“There’s a constraint called influence range, too.”
Reading the detailed explanation, the branch was a system that could only be accessed within the range where influence reached, rather than being a physical space.
“If this were Earth, it would be impossible to cover all of Korea. Since our influence is still minimal, it can only be used in specific areas.”
Aria tilted her head. “What does that mean?”
“To put it simply, for now, only members near the Agnes Holy City can access the Rocket Store.”
“Does that mean even members can’t use it if they go far away from the Holy City?”
“Well, it seems that way. Our range will widen as our influence grows, though.”
“I see.”
It seemed the branch had several constraints, unlike the main store.
“Then we have to be more active in Ceres to expand it to other places?”
“I suppose so.”
While continuing to check the settings, I discovered another restriction.
[Branch Product Registration Restrictions]
Caution: Not all items can be registered in the branch like the main store. (Branch expansion and influence growth required)
– Number of registrable items: Maximum 20
– Coin consumption when changing registered inventory:
– Addition of items outside the list: 10,000 coins
– Item change or deletion: 5,000 coins
– Trial sales operation possible.
“What? Only up to twenty items?”
It was much more restrictive than I expected. Furthermore, it cost coins every time I changed the registration.
‘This is much trickier than I thought. If I pick the wrong things, I’ll just waste coins and won’t be able to sell anything properly.’
“Then we really have to choose carefully!”
“Yeah. Even if an item isn’t restricted, it’s better to leave it out from the start if it doesn’t seem like it will sell.”
I began drafting the product list carefully.
[Ceres Branch Product Lineup – First Draft]
– Lamia’s Healing Potion, War Paint, Living Armor Rental Ticket, Combat Rations, Lunch Boxes…
“I should take out things that might not sell, even if they aren’t restricted. It costs coins every time I change them.”
I reviewed the list again.
“Let’s take out the Living Armor.”
Currently, the supply of Living Armor was barely enough to meet the demand from Korean hunters. Moreover, the essence of Living Armor was armor possessed by spirits. It might get caught in the restricted item filter right away, and it was certain the Paladins wouldn’t prefer it.
“Instead of this, they might want silver, which was lacking during the Holy City defense battle.”
“Couldn’t we ask Kajlak?”
“Kajlak? Will that guy give away shiny minerals so easily?”
“He might if I give him Mago’s magic gems!”
“That’s true.”
I added a note to the memo. I needed to see if I could obtain silver in large quantities from the Association, the Gnomes, or the Dwarves.
“Let’s also check if we can increase the volume of lunch boxes and combat rations from the Halfling village and Mr. Lee Jun-ho.”
What else could be added? I thought back to the Holy City defense battle and the recovery work I saw through the hologram. Among the many scenes, I remembered the Paladins and priests walking around healing the injured. There was a difference from what emergency responders did on Earth.
‘If it’s not my imagination… since Ceres is a world where holy power and healing magic are developed, ordinary medical technology might be less developed.’
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. Holy power isn’t infinite, either. I saw Leon healing people while he was walking around for relief work during the recovery. Since it was right after the battle, even Leon couldn’t use healing once his holy power was depleted. At those times, it seemed they lacked basic first aid tools.”
While the Paladins were certainly useful for healing with holy power, the problem was that there were too many injured people right now. It was a situation where they didn’t even have enough holy power to focus on the critically ill. The Saintess seemed to be doing her best in her own way, but no matter how much of a Saintess she was, she only had one body.
“Because there are so many patients. Normally it might be fine, but in the current situation, they can’t afford to waste holy power on minor injuries.”
I wrote down additional items.
– Disinfectant, bandages, gauze, hemostatic agents, and emergency first aid kits…
“But I’m not sure if these will really be needed. It’ll be a loss if I register them blindly and they don’t sell at all.”
Just then, a new notification popped up.
[Branch Trial Sales System]
: Before registering as a formal item, you can grasp demand by conducting trial sales of small quantities.
– Trial item registration: Free (Up to ten items)
– Sales period: Seven days
– After the period ends, items can be converted to formal items based on popularity.
“Oh! The branch has a system like this?”
“Guardian, is that a good thing?”
“It’s great. We can test it with this first, and then register it formally if it sells well.”
I decided to set the medical tool list as trial items immediately.
“I’ll start with this much, and if more is needed, I’ll ask Leon directly later.”
I checked the final organized list.
[Ceres Branch Product Lineup – Final Draft]
“Perfect!”
For the rest, I just needed to ask the other races if they could supply the items I had listed through direct consultation.
“Now all that’s left is to open the branch!”
“Yeah. Good job, Aria!”
Right then, a new notification appeared.
[Horror Creator Han Seo-yeon’s broadcast will start soon.]
“Oh? It’s Han Seo-yeon’s broadcast.”
I checked the clock. It was 8:00 PM. It was earlier than usual. I checked the broadcast notice.
[Today’s Exploration Preview]
I have collected information by traveling around the village based on the clues I found last time! I finally identified the list of items needed to defeat the Vice-director Anomaly. Today, we are going down to the basement in earnest! Please tune in!
“Oh, she’s proceeding in earnest now.”
I sat on the sofa and brought up the hologram. “Aria, want to watch together?”
“Of course!”
Aria sat on my shoulder. Soon, the screen turned on, and Han Seo-yeon appeared.
[Hello, subscribers. Since the last broadcast, I’ve been traveling around the village to collect information. After tracking the testimonies of residents and the whereabouts of hospital staff at the time, I discovered a shocking fact.]
Han Seo-yeon showed the materials she had collected to the camera.
[I have secured evidence that the Vice-director, Kwak Jun-su, performed illegal lobotomy experiments on patients. It seems the Director, his older brother Kwak Jun-ho, discovered this and tried to stop him, but was eventually murdered by his younger brother.]
Han Seo-yeon’s voice gradually dropped.
[The place where the Vice-director conducted his experiments is Basement Level 2. Today, I will go down there.]
Han Seo-yeon began descending the stairs leading to the basement. In the darkness, only the flashlight beam illuminated the path.
[Passing through Basement Level 1, I see the entrance to Basement Level 2. The atmosphere is definitely different from here.]
As she descended to Basement Level 2, iron doors lined both sides of the hallway. Each door had a number written on it.
[It’s a laboratory. It seems they forcibly performed lobotomy surgeries on patients here.]
When Han Seo-yeon opened the first door, an old operating table and various medical instruments were visible. However, every instrument was stained with dark red blotches.
“Ugh…”
Aria hid behind me.
[Quest Update: Discover the Vice-director’s Laboratory (1/3)]
Han Seo-yeon continued to explore the other rooms. The second room was piled with patient records.
[Looking at the records here, it seems at least ten people became victims of this experiment. They were all severe patients, and it’s recorded that most of them improved or were discharged after surgery. But now we know this is a lie.]
[Quest Update: Discover the Victim List (2/3)]
When she stood before the third room, Han Seo-yeon’s expression hardened.
[This room is double-locked, unlike the other rooms. It seems there’s something important inside.]
When Han Seo-yeon used the key she had found in the Director’s office, the door slowly opened. At ê·¸ moment…
“!!!”
The screen shook violently. A figure wearing surgical scrubs was standing inside the room. His face was covered by a surgical mask and cap, and he held surgical tools in his hands. It was the target of this final goal, the Vice-director Anomaly.
[…Another patient has arrived….]
A distorted voice echoed out.
“Guardian!”
Aria cried out in surprise. I stared at the screen tensely.
“Is it starting in earnest now?”
Han Seo-yeon stepped back and took out talismans and tools she had brought from the altar from her bag.
[I’m ready. But because it’s a powerful anomaly, I don’t know what variables might arise. My mental contamination level has gone up. I’ll try to handle it as quickly as possible.]
Han Seo-yeon’s hand was shaking slightly.
‘If things go south, she might need the Saintess’s Blessing Scroll.’
I opened my inventory and checked the Saintess’s Blessing Scroll.
[Saintess’s Blessing Scroll]
Grade: Hero
Effect: Removes all negative status effects from nearby allies upon use; weakens undead and evil spirits.
Special Ability: Divine Debt – Immediate annihilation effect when used on undead-type targets.
‘Wouldn’t an anomaly from the Otherworld also be a type of undead? If it’s really an emergency, sending this should handle it somehow.’
However, since it was a single-use item, I had to use it carefully.
‘Let’s try with what Han Seo-yeon prepared first, and send it if things get truly dangerous.’
On the screen, the Vice-director Anomaly began to slowly approach Han Seo-yeon.
[Next surgery… will begin….]