That’s a till, or shop register, cash register, with an NFC attachment. That over there is a laser copy machine with an NFC attachment as well. There’s reams of paper, and toner cartridges. Huff. Phew, this, this is insane. Grr Fakeworld, why? Still, still I think this might do it. The other names might not be necessary, at least not for all shops. Perhaps certain individual shops. I hastily wave Lu and Lucky and Leezahna out as I begin setting up. I levitate Leezahna’s chair out to her, and remind her to be kind to Luni and Lucky as she has them making a home for her.

  I hear Leeza start, “I’d, I’d like a big open floor plan for the main area, and a private bedroom, with a walk-in closet, and maybe marble columns, and—. I, I, Schism said, I—. I guess I can earn the columns, and maybe get some help with them, maybe, sometime? Then over there—.”

  She trails off, describing what might be her little dream home cave to Lu and Lucky. While they’re busy with that, Vyela offers me her usual, “Hmn,” while Te helps me make room for the copying machine, and I utilize a bit of stone elemental magic to do some reshaping to make more room in the dugout, so that I can bring the big battery banks down in here, so that I can plug in all these machines.

  I’m giddy, I’m almost ecstatic. If, if any of the shops have the magical equipment to reproduce the shop stalls, or, or, or shop stalls themselves, or, I don’t even know what, there’s so many possibilities. Possibilities that might be able to save the Can’Z’aasian aura even if someone destroys this stall, or generate a new one, or, or so many things. Hooking things up, I begin booting up all the devices, but now I’m a bit struck. How are the *devices* going to know who’s behind the sho—.

  I flip through the notes in the phone, and there’s one with nine digit codes assigned to hundreds, maybe thousands of names. I rush to the copier to try to figure out how to get it to print that specific note. It’s rather intuitive, just leave the phone on the NFC hotspot, and use the touch-screen interface to find the file-name of what you’d like to print out. I’m vibrating with anticipation. The names are all alphabetical, and I’m pretty sure it’s everyone we could possibly have gotten to run the shop for us, since it includes people who’ve perished like Aymeshtu. I hesitate to leave the sheet with her name on it in the stack, but—. Te offers me a sad frown and nods. In case some of these other names are people who live in Mount Solace, who might want to utilize the system, I’d better leave the sheet in the stack.

  Either I, or Nala, will get this printout bound, and we’ll put in tabs to indicate the letter cutoffs, so people can flip to their letter more easily. I’m pretty sure binders and binder tabs are easy enough to get out of the shop system at this point. Thankfully, there’s an option for three-hole-punching the printouts as they occur, and I selected that one, as well as double-siding, though maybe I shouldn’t have chosen that, since it makes the sheets busier, and a little harder to parse quickly and easily.

  Still, with this—, oh wow. I think I don’t even need to have all of these people show up. I think—. I think with Lu, or Kinzul behind the counter, if we plug in their nine digit code, we can drum up anyone’s shop inventory. Or, or maybe even without them? Just, just let’s just see mine first. I hunt down my code in the Rs. Of effing course it is. I start laughing, cackling even. It’s nine zeroes. Hahahah. Teuila giggles along with me, and even Vyela snorts once as she notices, and easily puts two and two together. The Void Dragon Honoris Causa is all null digits.

  Oh my gosh, oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh. My heart rate is so frantic, I feel like I’m going to pass out. Teuila nudges me playfully, bopping me softly on the head, slugging me gently in the shoulder, and slapping me ever so lightly on my cheek. I try to calm myself, to breathe deeply. Te smiles proudly at me, not entirely sure what everything is, but trusting that my excitement means we’ve succeeded at something important. I—. I need to commemorate this. Maybe a selfie with Teuila. Te—. She’s at my side, and posing towards where I’ll hold the phone.

  How do you know what a selfie is? Whatever, it’s fine. I ask Vyela, “Would you want to be in a commemorative photo of this partial success of our endeavor? Ah, erm, no problem.”

  I probably should have expected the confused brow and the eyeroll from Vyela. Still, I snag a selfie with Teuila, and I’m blown away, both by the quality, and just, just the ability to capture a moment. I have a picture with my beloved Wings. She looks so happy, and excited for me to be as excited as I am. My eyes wet with tears as I hug the phone to my chest. Te rolls her eyes and shoulder bashes me playfully, reminding me that she’s still right next to me.

  I’m beginning to pant a bit exhaustedly, hyperventilating from the excitement. Okay Reggie, calm down. Get it together. Punch in my code, stand behind the shop. Hand the phone to Te so she can hold it near the NFC attachment. Alright, let’s see what shows up on the phone. I—. I don’t recognize that filetype. I mean, why would I? But still—. I frown and furrow my brow. I can’t open that type of file on my phone as far as I’m aware. Do I need a PC, and conversion software? I wonder if the copier knows that filetype.

  Let’s see, is there some sort of note detailing—. Okay, here we go. Non-keyed sequential file. Something something AS400, RPG, COBOL, printable! Okay, okay, okay, calm down. Phew, huff, phew. NFC up to the copier, select the—. Huh. Print source, or result? Well, I guess the source would be just like, code and formatting, and the result would be the actual catalog, or database. Huh. I’m curious about the source, but it says it’s something like a thousand seventy one pages. Or wait, there’s like a line space between the digits that looks like it could hide an entire extra digit, is that ten thousand seventy one? Jeebez. The results are only a few pages. As curious as I am about the source code, I really don’t want to waste ten thousand pages and that much toner.

  Okay, okay, okay. Results it is. What’s this? Standard plus the following, plus unlock—able? I, I definitely didn’t expect this, and I don’t even know what the standard is. Is that just the stuff that everyone was able to sell infinite of back home on Can’Z’aas more or less? Produce mostly, as well as wooden goods, and so on. The really general items that almost every shop seemed to carry an infinite supply of. Perhaps every shop.

  So these are my expanded inventory beyond the standard eh? Huh.

  Mermaid's Tear

  Crystal Ball with Stand

  Mechanical Gauntlet

  Potions and Brews Recipe Book

  Vintage Diving Helmet

  Spellbound Tarot Deck

  Ancient Egyptian Ankh

  Dragon Claw Letter Opener

  Victorian Phantom Masks

  Time-Traveler's Pocket Watch

  Werewolf Fur Rug

  Egyptian Hieroglyphics Decoder

  Mechanical Music Box

  Wishing Well Coin Collection

  Enchanted Forest Canvas Art

  Vintage Spyglass Telescope

  Phoenix Feather Quill Pen

  Timeless Hourglass

  Gilded Renaissance Mirror

  Dragon Claw Bookends

  Atlantean Crystal Orb

  Alchemist's Mortar and Pestle

  Magical Grimoire

  Goggles with Gears

  Potion of Invisibility

  Viking Rune Stones Set

  Victorian Cameo Brooch

  Enchanted Snow Globe

  Elven Leaf Fragment

  Rustic Pirate Treasure Chest

  Time Traveler's Top Hat

  Vintage World Map

  Crystal Healing Wand

  Antique Brass Compass

  Faerie Wing Hair Clip

  Egyptian Scarab Amulet

  Mechanical Pocket Watch Necklace

  Leprechaun's Lucky Coin

  Renaissance Knight Chess Set

  Celtic Knot Leather Journal

  Fairy Garden Miniature Set

  Vintage Phonograph Gramophone

  Unicorn Horn Pendant

  Ancient Sumerian Cuneiform Tablet

  Egyptian Cat Statue

  Fortune Teller's Crystal Ball

  Aztec Sun Stone Calendar

  Mechanical Clockwork Bird

  Werewolf Moon Phase Calendar

  Enchanted Forest Incense Burner

  Potion of Love Elixir

  Samurai Warrior Armor Miniature

  Rustic Celtic Knot Wall Art

  Airship Model

  Greek Mythology Tarot Cards

  Magical Fairy Dust Bottles

  Viking Ship Figurine

  Phoenix Rising Tapestry

  Egyptian Pyramid Puzzle Box

  Astral Projection Guidebook

  Enchanted Crystal Pendant

  Antique Skeleton Key Set

  Pocket Watch Stand

  Haunted House Candle Holder

  Celtic Druid's Staff

  Wizard's Potion Cauldron

  Victorian Opera Glasses

  Mythical Creature Wood Carvings

  Pirate Ship in a Bottle

  Fairy Tale Pop-Up Book

  Dreamcatcher Amulet Necklace

  Egyptian Papyrus Scroll

  Gear Bracelet

  Crystal Energy Charging Plate

  Vintage Compass Watch

  Antique Vampire Hunter Kit

  Fairy Tale Storybook Collection

  Dragon's Eye Gemstone

  Fortune Teller's Crystal Ball Stand

  Pirate Treasure Map Puzzle

  Time Traveler's Journal

  Vintage Crystal Decanter Set

  Magical Firefly Jar

  Airship Blueprint

  Egyptian Scarab Bracelet

  Unicorn Tapestry Throw Blanket

  Mermaid Song Music Box

  Antique World Globe

  Mystic Tarot Cloth

  Viking Drinking Horn

  Mechanical Cogwheel Wall Clock

  Sorcerer's Crystal Ball Stand

  Renaissance Court Jester Doll

  Egyptian Ankh Keychain

  Fairy Tale Pop-Up Card Set

  Astronomical Pocket Watch

  Aviator Goggles

  Celtic Knot Amulet

  Unicorn Enamel Pin

  Alchemist's Elixir Crafting Set

  A—. A time traveler’s journal!? I shout though Te is right next to me, “Teuila, quick, quick buy from my shop, a time traveler’s journal!”

  Teuila starts to chide me for shouting, but her eyes fly wide in realization. There’s also a time traveler’s top-hat, and time traveler’s pocket watch, but I’m not exactly a top-hat kind of person, and I don’t see a pocket watch being as helpful as information. My heart skips beats as I rush back to the other side of the stall to greet Teuila, “Hello my utterly beloved, ultra wonderful customer, please, let me serve you today. How may I be of service?”

  Te looses a Shellcracker Family Squee at my over-the-top’ness of my shopkeep introduction, but after a short laugh, she simply responds, “One time traveler’s journal please.”

  I gulp, waiting with bated breath as the money on the counter derezzes out, while a journal rezzes in. If, if anything could contain a clue on how to save Kinzul, it would be this. Right? This has to be it. Right? Please. Please be it. I can’t grab it, so Te has to grab it for me, and she’s tantalizingly teasingly keeping it out of my reach. I’m tempted to telekinetically grab it from her, but I don’t want to spoil her fun, or hurt her feelings. I shouldn’t be in quite so much of a rush anyway. Plus, she could read it herself.

  Checking out the journal, Teuila mutters, “Erm, actually, no I can’t. It’s some kinda mooney runies. Bah. When did you learn to write like this? They aren’t even Rayileklian runes.”

  I gulp, apprehensive, because I didn’t, I’ve never seen them before. My translation enchantment gets to work though. Wait, are these Hiragana? Or maybe Katakana? Or traditional Chinese? What the everliving—. Okay, okay, calm down, let’s read, hm, hm—. I, I don’t think this is about me, or by me. It, it seems like a piece of fiction. I mean, not like it’s unbelievable or out there or wild or anything, it’s just written more like a story rather than an actual journal. Like, seriously, time traveler’s log, star date yada yada. Plus, it’s mostly about planets in some galactic quadrant or something or other. What the hell?

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  My heart plummets into my stomach, my excitement suddenly abated. Huff. I sigh slowly, and breathe deeply, weeping at the loss of the possibility to save Kinzul. I, I shouldn’t have gotten my hopes up. This does however also end up making me doubt that anything else in here that happens to sound marvelous, actually is marvelous. Like a phoenix-feather quill pen? It’s probably just colored orange or something. A magical grimoire? It’s probably just a fake or empty spellbook. Still, I guess maybe it’s worth snagging them to check them out. Some things are ridiculously high-priced, which leads me to believe that they might actually be magic items. I’m not even sure we can afford to be buying the ones with prices like that. There’s so many zeroes. We’ve got tons of cash, sure, but we’re not infinitillionaires.

  My eyes gloss over as I try to read my shop’s inventory again and again. I beg Vyela to find her number, and punch it in, and Teuila to try hers, to snag the files onto the phone while I’m reading. I’m pretty sure I could just enter them myselves. Erm, myself, bluh, I’m discombobulated from the let-down. Anyway, I might be wrong about being able to enter them myself. It may be more like a sort of combined digital-biological password lock thing that unlocks a certain file when the person whose passcode is punched in, stands behind the counter.

  Still, this information about unlockables leads me to believe we might be able to find people whose shops can contain entire smartphones, fully constructed and charged, or something like that. We’d just have to do whatever task happens to unlock them. What are the conditions on my unlockables? Something something, a thousand sales over fifty dollars. Bluh. It sounds like it’ll produce a new file after I perform some very videogamey achievement style things, and that file will be my unlocked additional inventory. Oy vey. Friggin’ hell. Genre senses are going wild about all this. That one might even have another set of achievements for even more unlocks. Hah. Ugh.

  So much of this stuff sounds like basically cosplay or maybe just intricate costume jewelry or nonsense patterned in ways or named in ways to sound impressive. Hm, Te’s list? Similar. Hell it even has another time traveler’s journal, for a different price. Ugh. Should we even bother? Still—. If there’s any chance, that one of them might be my own, we should take it, right? It’s eight minutes, and we could just snag a bunch of the affordable stuff at once. What all does Te have?

  Moonlit Enchantress Perfume

  Enchanted Evergreen Wreath

  Celestial Crystal Pendant

  Dragon's Eye Gemstone

  Starlight Elixir

  Timeless Hourglass

  Gilded Fantasy Mirror

  Faerie Whisper Candles

  Ocean's Song Seashell Necklace

  Ancient Rune Stones

  Mystical Moonstone Ring

  Vintage Locket of Secrets

  Crystal Healing Wand

  Mermaid Tear Fragment

  Enchanted Forest Incense

  Astral Projection Guidebook

  Phoenix Feather Quill

  Serenity Seraph Figurine

  Enchanted Unicorn Figurine

  Time Traveler's Journal

  Dragonfire Amber Bracelet

  Celestial Zodiac Tapestry

  Sorcerer's Spellbook

  Crystal Ball with Stand

  Starfall Amulet

  Whimsical Music Box

  Elemental Potion Vials

  Dreamcatcher Wall Art

  Enchanted Oak Wand

  Mystic Moon Phases Wall Hanging

  Vintage Zodiac Constellation Map

  Enchanted Forest Canvas Art

  Celestial Telescope

  Magic Broomstick

  Wishing Well Coin Collection

  Alchemist's Mortar and Pestle

  Mystical Tarot Deck

  Rustic Dreamcatcher

  Crystal Energy Charging Plate

  Enchanted Crystal Skull

  Moonlit Garden Lanterns

  Mermaid's Lagoon Perfume

  Dragonfly Wing Fragment

  Celestial Star Fragment

  Ancient Egyptian Scarab Bracelet

  Timekeeper's Pocket Watch

  Enchanted Sapphire Ring

  Starry Night Sky Projection

  Ocean Waves Sound Machine

  Serpent Serenade Bracelet

  Moonstone Amulet

  Enchanted Serpent Ring

  Vintage Treasure Map

  Crystal Dragon Figurine

  Celestial Moon Mirror

  Mystic Amethyst Cluster

  Enchanted Crystal Key

  Faerie Wings Hairpin

  Dragon Claw Necklace

  Timeless Pocket Watch Necklace

  Mermaid Song Music Box

  Celestial Moon Phase Wall Art

  Astral Traveler's Guidebook

  Enchanted Moonflower Crown

  Mystical Moon Phase Mirror

  Dreamweaver Quilted Blanket

  Crystal Lotus Incense Holder

  Phoenix Rising Tapestry

  Ocean Tides Seashell Set

  Serenity Bath Salts

  Moonstone Crystal Ball Stand

  Enchanted Rose Amulet

  Dragon Claw Letter Opener

  Celestial Stargazer Globe

  Starry Night Constellation Globe

  Crystal Faerie Figurine

  Timekeeper's Desk Clock

  Serpent Serenade Gambeson

  Ocean Breeze Scented Oil

  Moonlit Forest Wall Hanging

  Mystic Moonlight Candle Holders

  Enchanted Star Bracelet

  Celestial Moon Phase Journal

  Dragonfire Elixir Flask

  Ancient Egyptian Ankh Necklace

  Timeless Steampunk Pocket Watch

  Enchanted Oak Tree Figurine

  Faerie Dust Sparkler Wand

  Starfall Crystal Chandelier

  Ocean Mist Reed Diffuser

  Moonlit Serenity Oil Burner

  Celestial Zodiac Bracelet

  Dragonfly Dance Wall Art

  Enchanted Crystal Skull Necklace

  Timeless Hourglass Pendant

  Serpent Serenade Ring

  Ocean Treasure Chest Box

  Celestial Crescent Moon Fragment

  Dragon's Breath Potion

  Crystal Vortex Amulet

  Huh. Te’s does have a Dragon’s Breath Potion though, and I know those exist, and that she has used one in the past. During—. During our last fight against Olashax in The Gap. I bite my lips, and scrunch my eyes to fight back my tears. Gulp. I fight my sadness and gulp back my emotions so as not to burden Teuila with the memories of that period of our Rayileklian journey.

  Some of these items almost sound like, well, like set items from a massively multiplayer roleplaying game. Like, they might seem like cheap costumes or accessories upon purchase, but what if we find all the items in a set, and wearing them actually does confer magic? Ugh, some of them are so friggin’ expensive, I’m not sure it’s worth it to try until we start getting our own wealth generation going on. I’d prefer to get some extra shop stalls, and maybe see if we can automate them without needing someone standing behind them. Then possibly start a bit of an assembly line that takes some resources, turns them into goods, and automatically sells them. Snag that wealth to get more resources, or just wait for them to respawn, or whatever.

  I don’t want to accidentally blow all our wealth before we find out something like the magical tools that could help us make more shop stalls end up costing like umpteen quintillion gold pieces or something. Deep breaths Reggie, keep at it. It’s still progress. I don’t know when we’ll ever have time to do a thousand transactions of over fifty dollars in value, unless we get like five hundred people here at once, to each do two transactions. Y’know. Because doing them one at a time would be eight thousand minutes or so, and that’s, that’s just far too long to invest during the war. I know Reggie, I know. It’s okay, we’ll get through this, we’ll secure things.

  I guess this is one of the reasons Lu said I might not get what I want or need though. The Time Traveler’s Journal was a bust. Definitely not what I need to be able to save Kinzul. Alright, alright, let’s see what Vyela’s inventory is while we’re here, then try to pick out what’s worth purchasing. My eyes are hurting as I try to take in all of these items and lists. So far all of them have said standard plus the following, with like a hundred item list or so, plus a mystery file of unlockables after a list of achievements. Here’s Vyela’s.

  Royal Scepter of Eternity

  Moonlit Palace Tapestry

  Enchanted Crystal Tiara

  Dragon's Tear Gemstone

  Celestial Starfire Necklace

  Timeless Royal Hourglass

  Gilded Royal Mirror

  Serenity of the Crown Candles

  Ocean's Embrace Opalescent Shell Necklace

  Royal Elixir of Youth

  Mystical Moonlit Chalice

  Vintage Royal Locket

  Crystal Heart of the Queen

  Mermaid's Lagoon Perfume

  Enchanted Palace Incense

  Astral Crown Jewel

  Phoenix Feather Quill Pen

  Serpent's Serenade Bracelet

  Ocean Breeze Scented Oil

  Royal Timekeeper's Pocket Watch

  Dragonfire Amber Fragment

  Celestial Crested Tapestry

  Regal Queen's Robes

  Crystal Ball of Prophecy

  Starfall Crown Amulet

  Whispers of the Throne Music Box

  Elemental Harmony Fragment

  Royal Dragon Figurine

  Enchanted Orchid Crown

  Mystical Queen's Journal

  Vintage Regal Map

  Enchanted Royal Forest Art

  Celestial Observatory Telescope

  Majestic Regal Scepter

  Ancient Royal Crown Jewels

  Timeless Queen's Pocket Watch

  Mystic Sapphire Amulet

  Whimsical Royal Mask

  Crystal Chalice of Wisdom

  Enchanted Crystal Crest

  Moonlit Queen's Lanterns

  Regal Lavender Perfume

  Dragon Crested Tapestry

  Celestial Star Bracelet

  Royal Phoenix Figurine

  Timeless Crowned Hourglass

  Enchanted Sapphire Ring

  Serpent Serenade Fragment

  Regal Crested Key

  Ocean Starlight Fragment

  Moonstone Queen's Mirror

  Enchanted Rose Scepter

  Vintage Royal Scroll

  Crystal Dragonfly Brooch

  Celestial Moonlit Crown

  Whispers of the Throne Candle Holders

  Regal Serpent Crown

  Royal Moon Phase Necklace

  Enchanted Royal Rose

  Mystical Crowned Crystal Ball Stand

  Serenity of the Crown Bath Salts

  Moonlit Queen's Perfume

  Dragonfire Crested Bracelet

  Celestial Star Pendant

  Timeless Queen's Desk Clock

  Enchanted Orchid Fragment

  Royal Timekeeper's Pendant

  Serpent's Serenade Necklace

  Ocean's Embrace Seashell Necklace

  Moonstone Crowned Amulet

  Regal Phoenix Bracelet

  Crystal Crested Bookends

  Celestial Moon Phase Journal

  Enchanted Rose Necklace

  Timeless Crowned Pocket Watch

  Royal Moonlit Wall Art

  Mystic Queen's Tarot Deck

  Whimsical Royal Tea Set

  Ocean's Embrace Opalescent Shell Fragment

  Serpent Serenade Ring

  Moonlit Queen's Oil Burner

  Regal Crystal Hairpin

  Dragon's Tear Fragment

  Celestial Crown Jewel Box

  Enchanted Rose Amulet

  Timeless Queen's Ring

  Royal Moonlit Chalice

  Serenity of the Crown Keychain

  Ocean Starlight Wall Hanging

  Mystic Queen's Crystal Ball

  Serpent's Serenade Bracelet

  Moonlit Palace Wall Mirror

  Enchanted Sapphire Necklace

  Regal Crown Crested Comb

  Celestial Moon Phase Wall Art

  Timeless Queen's Necklace

  Royal Dragon Crest

  Ocean's Embrace Perfume

  Whispers of the Throne Incense

  Enchanted Royal Gemstone

  Hm, let’s do an experiment, and try to print out someone that we know. Let’s just try Burshis, early enough in the alphabet. It seems to be working. So apparently anyone with a smartphone who has access to the codes can at least get the list. I wonder if the individual even needs to stand behind the counter to purchase from them. Maybe they won’t get achievement progress towards their unlocks, if people purchase while they aren’t attending the shop? Or what if when we purchase select limited items from their shop without them here, that if they would have had enchantments, they don’t have the enchantment? That would be awful. Gnawing at my lip once more, I lean over the counter from the customer side, and punch in my own code. Or worse, what if like, I punch in my own code, and because I’m the seller, and the buyer, the items will rez in, and permanently sit here forever, uninteractable by anyone?

  Gulping, a bit apprehensive to even learn what happens, I call out to no one, “Hello, um, shop system? Me? I would like to purchase an alchemist’s elixir crafting kit, as well as the crystal healing wand, from Reggie Shellcracker, code 000000000’s shop please.”

  Hm, there’s a pleasant tingle in my—. I’m leveling up my shopkeep skill or something. Somehow. I start to hyperventilate as my eyes fly wide. Can’Z’aas, it’s, it’s here somehow, parts of it! The crafting kit rezzes in along with the wand as another wad of hundred dollar bills derezzes. I, I don’t know what this means. We don’t even need the people to be at the shop? Well, I was technically here when I bought from myself. Whew, I can at least grab the items.

  The crystal healing wand has an aura, and it—. Haha. Of course. It heals crystals. It’s even less effective than my mending spell. It only works on absolutely tiny abrasions in crystals, or a few small cracks can be repaired by it. But it is mana-free, and limitless. I guess it could help if someone screws up when gem-cutting if they’re doing enchanted jewelrycrafting.

  I should try someone who isn’t here. Let’s look at Burshis’s printout. Heck, let’s print out her partner Nietru DeValor’s as well. What’s in Nietru—! Holy crap! Holy crap holy crap holy crap holy crap!!