The following morning, with a renewed sense of purpose, Aureon returned to the bustling textile stall in the market. The merchant, his neatly trimmed beard even more prominent today, was busy attending to a customer examining a bolt of vibrant silk. Aureon waited patiently, trying to appear like a serious young businessman.
Once the customer had moved on, Aureon approached the stall. "Good morning, sir," he said, offering a respectful nod. "I'm Aureon, from yesterday. You were kind enough to let me have the fabric scraps in exchange for helping you sort your rolls."
The merchant's eyes twinkled with recognition. "Ah, yes, the industrious young lad. You're back bright and early. What can I do for you today?"
Aureon took a deep breath, trying to remember the points he had mentally rehearsed. "Sir, my… my partner and I were able to make some bags from the scraps you gave us, and they sold quite well. We're hoping to expand our little venture, and I was wondering if it might be possible to buy larger pieces of fabric from you on a regular basis? Perhaps at a… a wholesale price?" He stumbled slightly over the unfamiliar term but managed to get it out.
The merchant stroked his beard again, his gaze thoughtful. "Wholesale, eh? You're thinking big for such a young age. I admire that. Tell me, how often would you be looking to buy, and what quantities are we talking about?"
Aureon explained their current production capacity and their hopes to increase it with a more consistent supply of materials. He mentioned the kind of sturdy but inexpensive fabrics they were primarily interested in for their simple bags.
The merchant listened intently, occasionally interjecting with clarifying questions. After Aureon had finished, he leaned back against a stack of colorful cloths, a shrewd look in his eyes. "Well, young man, I'll tell you what. I like your initiative. And those little bags you made were surprisingly well-stitched for a beginner. I do have some slightly lower-grade cotton and linen that I sell in bulk to some of the other smaller vendors. It's not the finest quality, mind you, but it's perfectly serviceable for sturdy bags. I could offer you a price slightly above my wholesale cost, considering the small quantities you'd likely be starting with. How does that sound?"
Aureon's heart leaped with excitement. It wasn't the rock-bottom wholesale price he had vaguely hoped for, but it was a significant step up from buying small pieces at retail cost. "That sounds fantastic, sir! Thank you so much!"
"Now," the merchant continued, his tone becoming a bit more businesslike, "I'll need a commitment from you. Regular purchases. I can't be bothered with one-off small orders. How often and how much are we talking about?"
Aureon, recalling the system quest and its emphasis on a "stable" supply chain, thought quickly. "We could aim to purchase a certain amount of fabric at least once a week, sir. We'll need to see how quickly we can sell our bags to determine the exact quantity, but we're motivated to grow."
The merchant nodded, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Alright, lad. I like your spirit. Come back to me at the end of the week, tell me how many bags you sold, and we can discuss the specifics of a regular order. In the meantime," he reached under the counter and pulled out a small roll of slightly coarser but still usable cotton fabric, "take this to get you started. Consider it a sample. If your bags keep selling, we can talk about a proper deal."
Aureon's face broke into a wide grin. This was a huge step forward. "Thank you, sir! You won't regret this!" He carefully took the roll of fabric, feeling the rough texture between his fingers, already imagining the bags they could create with it.
"See that I don't," the merchant chuckled, already turning his attention to another approaching customer.
Aureon hurried back to their rented room, his mind buzzing with possibilities. He couldn't wait to tell Elleaner the good news. They had secured a potential source of fabric, a crucial step towards establishing a stable supply chain and completing the system quest. The blueprint for the basic sewing machine felt closer than ...
Back in their small rented room, the roll of slightly coarser cotton fabric felt like a treasure. Aureon eagerly spread it out on their floor, the muted earthy tone a welcome change from the random scraps they had been using before. Elleaner watched with anticipation, her fingers itching to help.
With a more substantial piece of material, Aureon was able to plan their cuts more efficiently. He remembered the basic patterns the "Artisan Crafting Fundamentals" module had shown him and began to cut out larger pieces, envisioning sturdier, more uniform bags. Elleaner helped by smoothing out the fabric and organizing the cut pieces into stacks.
The stitching process was still done entirely by hand, but Aureon's movements were becoming more practiced. The muscle memory was starting to develop, and he could feel a tangible improvement in the speed and neatness of his stitches. Elleaner, though her sewing skills were less developed, diligently helped with the simpler tasks, threading needles and tying off loose ends. Their teamwork flowed smoothly, years of relying on each other evident in their unspoken coordination.
They worked late into the evening, their small oil lamp casting long shadows on the walls as they transformed the roll of fabric into a growing pile of finished bags. They made a variety of sizes, remembering the requests from customers in the market. Some were small pouches for carrying coins or small trinkets, while others were larger and more robust, capable of holding fruits, vegetables, or even small books.
By the time they finally laid down to rest, exhausted but satisfied, they had nearly doubled their inventory. The room felt different, filled with the tangible evidence of their burgeoning enterprise. The air even seemed to smell faintly of fresh cotton.
The next morning, with their expanded collection of bags neatly arranged in their small satchel, they returned to the market. Aureon made a point of stopping by the textile merchant's stall first.
"Good morning, sir," Aureon said, holding up a few of their newly made bags. "We used the fabric you gave us. What do you think?"
The merchant picked up one of the bags, examining the stitching and the overall construction. A small smile touched his lips. "Not bad, lad. Not bad at all. You've got a good eye for it. Did they sell well yesterday?"
"We sold all the ones we had from the scraps, sir," Aureon replied, his voice filled with enthusiasm. "And we've made even more now with this new fabric."
The merchant nodded, pleased. "Alright, Aureon. I think we can work something out. Come back to me at the end of the day, tell me how many of these new bags you sell, and we'll talk about a regular supply and a price that works for both of us."
Armed with the merchant's positive feedback, Aureon and Elleaner set about their day in the market. The new bags, made from more uniform fabric, seemed to attract more attention. People appreciated their simple, sturdy design and the slightly more professional look compared to the bags made from mismatched scraps.
Throughout the day, they diligently approached potential customers, their confidence bolstered by their previous success and the improved quality of their product. Elleaner's ability to gauge people's needs and Aureon's developing bartering skills proved to be a winning combination. By late afternoon, their satchel was significantly lighter, and their pockets were considerably heavier with the earnings from their sales.
As promised, at the end of the day, Aureon returned to the textile merchant, a hopeful expression on his face. "We sold nearly all the bags we made with your fabric, sir," he reported, recounting their successful day.
The merchant listened with a satisfied nod. "Alright, Aureon. It seems you're serious about this. I can offer you a regular supply of this cotton fabric at a price that's a fair bit lower than what I charge for smaller retail pieces. How does buying a larger roll once a week sound?"
Aureon's heart leaped. "That sounds perfect, sir! Thank you!" He had done it. He had established a stable supply chain, just as the system quest had directed. He couldn't wait to see the reward he would receive.
As soon as Aureon was a safe distance from the textile stall, his fingers instinctively twitched towards where he knew the system interface would appear. He focused his intent, and the familiar shimmering screen materialized before his eyes. His gaze immediately went to the "Active Quests" tab. The "Secure a Stable Supply Chain" quest was now marked as "Completed!"
A wave of satisfaction washed over him. He had set a goal, worked towards it, and achieved it, all thanks to the guidance of the system and their combined efforts. He quickly checked the quest rewards. His Galactic Credits balance had increased by a significant 50, and a new blueprint was listed in his inventory: [Blueprint: Basic Sewing Machine].
Aureon's heart leaped with excitement. A sewing machine! He focused on the blueprint, and a detailed schematic of the device appeared in his mind, along with a list of required materials. It looked surprisingly complex, involving various gears, levers, and a foot pedal mechanism. The list of materials included things like metal scraps, sturdy wood, and specialized needles – some of which they currently didn't possess.
He couldn't wait to tell Elleaner. He hurried back to their usual meeting spot in the market, his mind already racing with ideas about how they could acquire the necessary components to build the sewing machine.
"Elleaner!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with triumph as he approached her. "We did it! The quest is complete! We got 50 more Galactic Credits, and… and we got the blueprint for a sewing machine!"
Elleaner's eyes widened with delight. "A sewing machine? Really, Aureon? That's amazing!" She could already envision the bags being stitched together much faster and with greater precision.
They found a quiet corner in the market to discuss their next steps. The stable fabric supply was a huge breakthrough, allowing them to increase their production. And the sewing machine blueprint offered the potential for even greater efficiency and higher quality products.
"We need to figure out how to get the materials to build it," Aureon said, studying the blueprint in his mind. "Some of it looks like it might be tricky to find."
Elleaner nodded thoughtfully. "Maybe we can ask some of the other vendors in the market? Someone might know where we can find metal scraps or old tools we can repurpose." Her observational skills, honed from years on the streets, often led to unexpected discoveries.
They decided that their immediate priority would be to increase their bag production with the newly secured fabric supply, earning more local currency and potentially more Galactic Credits through other system quests. This would give them the resources they needed to start gathering the materials for the sewing machine.
As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the bustling market, Aureon and Elleaner packed up their remaining bags, a sense of optimism filling their hearts. They had started with nothing, facing a bleak and uncertain future. But now, armed with their resilience, their unwavering loyalty to each other, and the extraordinary gift of the "Absolute God Tycoon System," they were not just surviving – they were building. The small fabric bags they crafted were more than just a means to an end; they were tangible symbols of their growing independence and the first steps on their journey towards a future filled with possibility. The whispers of a wider world and the promise of becoming tycoons no longer felt like a distant fantasy, but a tangible goal within their reach.