Chapter 27: The Profiteering of Arms

The primary trading market was housed in a very simple building, containing a warehouse alongside a counter. On the counter rested a delicate virtual panel, through which market information could be accessed.

Lin Mu needed to operate through this panel, allowing the system to transfer weapons from his inventory into the trading market.

For native players, the process was simpler: they just placed their items directly into the warehouse, and when sold, the system would automatically handle the transfer.

When purchasing items from the market, goods were generally placed directly into the player’s inventory; if the inventory was full, the items would be sent to the warehouse instead.

At the counter, Lin Mu opened the virtual panel and priced the ordinary iron spears at 200 copper coins each. The yellow-tier weapons, being more valuable, were priced at 2,500 copper coins apiece.

He did not list all his weapons at once but uploaded an initial batch of nine—three of each type—as a test.

Within the county towns of the Great Han Dynasty, trading markets also existed. To players, these were akin to the much-dreaded system shops found in all games.

The official trading markets connected various player territories, contingent on the level of the market within each player’s domain. A primary trading market could link to its county town; a mid-level market extended connectivity throughout the entire prefecture, including all county markets and player markets at the same tier; an advanced market operated at the state level, providing great convenience. The highest-level market connected nationwide, but players could not upgrade to this level independently. Lin Mu had heard that such an upgrade required government approval, payment to have imperial craftsmen perform the work, and strict conditions to be met.

However, the taxes at these markets were fierce, like ravenous tigers exploiting the players: 10% at the primary level, 20% at mid-level, 30% at the advanced level. Lin Mu did not know the rate for the highest level, and no player had ever achieved it in his previous life.

Lin Mu recalled that in the official system shop, ordinary weapons sold for 300 copper coins each, so his price of 200 copper coins was quite cheap. As for yellow-tier weapons, the official shop also sold them at 2,500 copper coins, making his pricing competitive. Although his weapons were mass-produced and not as powerful as custom-made ones, they were crafted from third-grade black tungsten iron ore, granting them outstanding attributes. Buying his yellow-tier weapons was more economical than purchasing from the system shop.

...

Longzhou Studio was a mid-tier studio within the Huaxia region. "Longzhou Hunter" was a support-type merchant player stationed at the trading market east of Dongye County, specifically tasked with monitoring rare item appearances. Upon spotting precious resources, he would immediately inform higher-ups to decide on purchasing, an efficient system enabled by advanced communications.

Many studios operated similarly, assigning players to guard trading markets.

As usual, after completing his daily tasks, Longzhou Hunter checked the market. He initially saw no changes from before—only common weapons like wooden and iron clubs. Unexpectedly, he then spotted a batch of ten gleaming black weapons: Black Iron Steel Spear, Black Iron Steel Knife, and Black Iron Steel Sword, each priced uniformly at 2,500 copper coins.

He was shocked—how could such powerful weapons appear? Examining their stats, he yearned fiercely to acquire them.

Name: Black Iron Steel Spear
Rank: Yellow Tier
Type: Weapon
Attributes: Combat Power +600, Sharpness +10, Durability 200/200
Description: Forged through hundreds of heat treatments transforming tungsten iron ore into steel, then further tempered into refined steel. These weapons shimmer with a black sheen, are exceptionally sharp and durable, hence named Black Iron Steel Spear.

==================

Name: Black Iron Steel Sword
Rank: Yellow Tier
Type: Weapon
Attributes: Combat Power +600, Sharpness +10, Durability 200/200
Description: Forged through the same extensive tempering process, these swords exhibit a swirling black luster, exceptional sharpness, and great durability, earning their name as Black Iron Steel Sword.

==================

Name: Black Iron Steel Knife
Rank: Yellow Tier
Type: Weapon
Attributes: Combat Power +600, Sharpness +10, Durability 200/200
Description: Similarly forged from tungsten iron ore through hundreds of heat treatments, these knives possess a black gleam, unparalleled sharpness, and high durability, hence the name Black Iron Steel Knife.

Recalling his leader’s orders to report any valuable weaponry, Longzhou Hunter immediately contacted his superior via the communication system: “Boss, huge discovery! The Dongye County trading market has yellow-tier weapons with excellent stats—Combat Power +600, Sharpness +10, Durability 200. Priced at 2,500 copper coins. Should I buy them?”

“What!? Such weapons exist? Buy them all immediately!” The boss on the other end was equally astonished.

Currently, weapon sources for players were scarce. Official government shops sold only ordinary weapons. Entry-level weapons demanded a reputation requirement and were exorbitantly priced. Most players had low reputations and could not qualify, left only with longing.

Even ordinary weapons cost 300 copper coins each, forcing non-wealthy players to save for over ten days just to afford one, a harsh reality.

Now, to see players selling yellow-tier premium weapons in the market was a golden opportunity—a chance to rise.

The boss envisioned many possibilities: if the studio’s players could be equipped with such weapons, conquering rival strongholds would become much easier. The thought stirred a grand ambition within him, as if he could dominate the world.

“But boss, I don’t have that many copper coins right now...” Longzhou Hunter whispered, fearing he had made a mistake.

“Uh, I’ll have finance send you funds immediately! Keep an eye on them,” the boss replied, his face darkening as though aware of his own fault.

The studio’s leadership had secretly withheld some copper coins allocated from above, trading them on the black market for soft currency, pocketing the profits for personal gain.

At the game’s launch, game currency held high value.

After ending the call, Longzhou Hunter watched the weapons, but soon players began buying. The nine weapons sold out swiftly.

He panicked, wondering if he had failed in his duty.

He felt frustrated. Despite being an experienced procurement officer for the studio, he lacked even a little copper coin. He suspected his leader was embezzling funds. Early in the game, if no good equipment was available, studios rarely spent their funds but hoarded them instead. This led the leader to act selfishly.

Since the funds were idle, the leader sold some on the black market where the exchange rate was 1:1.5 for the soft currency, a profitable trade. The plan was to later buy back the coins when the rate dropped, a tactic the leader had employed in other games without incident.

But this time, a problem arose: premium yellow-tier weapons appeared, and he had no funds to buy them. If this opportunity were lost and the boss found out, the greedy leader might be fired—and the underling would not escape punishment either.

Concealing information was a crime; reporting beyond one’s level was also a crime. Ha...

Elsewhere, the leader’s expression was anxious. After careful thought, he rushed to buy copper coins on the black market, hoping to cover the mistake.

...

Meanwhile, Lin Mu, after listing his weapons, waited a moment and was astonished to see them all sold. Yellow-tier weapons truly had a strong market, and wealthy patrons in Huaxia were abundant.

This time Lin Mu had listed 100 of each weapon type—three hundred in total—in a bold move.

Like sharks sensing blood, these three hundred weapons were snapped up instantly.

Lin Mu was stunned; he had not expected such a hot market for weapons early on. His plan was clearly working.

Having established a village in the second world, secured a black tungsten iron ore vein, and obtained the smithing talent, his territory would not lack funds in its early stages.

Now aware of the market’s hungry demand, and as the seller holding the advantage, Lin Mu decided to raise prices.

He relisted the same 300 weapons, this time priced at 3,000 copper coins each.

...

“Damn! The price’s gone up to 3,000 copper coins!” Longzhou Hunter had assumed all hope was lost, yet the player still had weapons, and even 300 of them. It seemed he could complete his mission today.

However, what suffocated him was how those 300 weapons vanished like wild dogs fighting over food—gone in an instant, leaving him helpless.

After a while, the player listed more weapons, but the price had climbed to 3,500 copper coins. After two price hikes, it had risen a full 1,000 copper coins. Was this robbery? Even robbers didn’t charge this much!

Longzhou Hunter was both depressed and envious. If he had such weapons to sell, he’d be CEO by now, marrying a rich and beautiful woman, reaching the pinnacle of life!

He roughly calculated that at this price, selling 300 weapons would net over 300,000 copper coins—more than 300,000 in soft currency. Instant wealth beyond imagination.

Longzhou Hunter sighed, wishing he were the one selling those weapons.

The market seemed momentarily stunned, but soon wealthy buyers swept through, selling all 300 weapons quickly.

“Boss, hurry up! Not sure if there’ll be more weapons!” Longzhou Hunter prayed.

...

Lin Mu’s mood was ecstatic—ecstatic!

After raising the price once and seeing the market frenzy, he boldly increased it another 500 copper coins. As a seller in a seller’s market with unique goods, raising prices was only fair.

Raising was a must—ha ha!

Watching the countless successful transaction notifications, Lin Mu felt a cool thrill, like enjoying ice cream on a scorching summer day—refreshing all day long!

In a short time, he earned 2,239,900 copper coins. After deducting the 10% tax, he pocketed 2,134,900 copper coins—over two million copper coins.

He instantly transformed from a penniless beggar into a wealthy magnate, a joy beyond words.

Other players, holding only 89 copper coins, would be shocked. Many could roughly calculate Lin Mu’s windfall.

Suppressing his overwhelming joy, Lin Mu remained composed and confidently listed the remaining 1,891 weapons at 3,500 copper coins each.

“I’m a shrewd merchant—I admit it,” Lin Mu chuckled, feeling utterly satisfied.