Chapter 68: Opening the Player Mall

In Liu Yuan's opinion, Natsuki Subaru bringing people in marked the start of a positive cycle.

When Emilia visited for the first time, Natsuki Subaru didn't introduce her to difficult games but instead played Minecraft with her. She didn't quite understand his behavior, but everyone at the internet cafe saw it clearly.

No one pointed it out because it was evident that Emilia had a bit of a crush on Natsuki Subaru as well.

"Tsk, it's a shame," Liu Yuan muttered quietly to Kisara once everyone started playing their games, ensuring no one outside could hear them.

"Pity what?" Kisara asked, a bit confused as she wiped a cup. "Could it be that you also think it's a pity that such a beautiful girl matches him, boss? Hmm! I agree with you, I feel that she is just right for you."

Liu Yuan clenched his right fist and lightly knocked Kisara's head.

"Ouch ouch ouch!"

"There's no such thing as appropriate or inappropriate feelings. What I'm saying is that it's a pity for the blue-haired one. Natsuki Subaru's heart is entirely on Emilia, and this blue-haired one seems to be all on Natsuki Subaru. Tsk, we'll have plenty of gossip in the future."

"Boss, do you have melons?"

"Watermelon is enough."

Liu Yuan took out a large watermelon, and they ate while watching the show.

The influx of newcomers prompted Liu Yuan to think about new games.

The Red Alert series was suitable for everyone to play during leisure time. According to the desire to buy expressed by internet cafe members, newcomers considered this game a must-buy. It didn't waste time, had a certain degree of competitiveness, and allowed players to relax. Regardless of technological prowess or operational strength, the uncertainty of the game made it popular.

However, the problem arose that, except for Elden Ring's in-game purchases, no other games offered internal purchase options. Games like Minecraft could incorporate in-game purchases, but it wasn't necessary since it was a game of absolute freedom.

Wait?

Liu Yuan suddenly realized that since the game was about creation, he could add a mall.

"System, is it possible to create a mall within the internet cafe for players to trade the items they obtain?"

After a long silence, the system replied affirmatively, "Except for some bound items, a mall can be constructed to facilitate player trading. The handling fee can be adjusted by the boss."

"Great, another way to make money," Liu Yuan thought. Based on the average game level, he decided to set a handling fee at three percent. According to the system, this trading mall used the system template and required no additional resources, ensuring Liu Yuan wasn't running a charity.

Charity? That was out of the question. Liu Yuan's goal was to earn money steadily while keeping customers satisfied. In life-threatening situations, he'd help because living customers could spend more.

The player mall could trade two types of items: in-game items, usable only within games, and real-world items like clothing and props. Players set their prices, and the system took a three percent handling fee. Concerns about malicious price manipulation or hoarding were moot since the system would penalize such actions. The mall warned that malicious hoarding, which disrupted normal player experiences, would result in blacklisting and permanent bans.

Once everything was set up, Liu Yuan launched the mall immediately. Combined with TT, the cross-world chat software, it could handle the growing number of internet cafe users, even if it increased tenfold.

"Mall?"

"Three percent handling fee? You can sell things? Can I sell these big Runes of mine?"

Kaede tried trading her useless items but was prompted that bound goods couldn't be traded. Despite the headache, she quickly threw up some food and materials she had obtained at the Singularity. These could be traded.

Curious, everyone paused their games to check out the new mall. Those who couldn't pause found safe spots to hide and explore its functionality. They began communicating on the store's TT.

"Boss! How does this thing work?"

Liu Yuan: "Other than the things you can't sell, you can sell everything else through this."

"..."

"..."

"..."

The crowd fell silent, convinced of Liu Yuan's resourcefulness for making money

Liu Yuan added, "If you have any needs, you can post commissions here and trade directly through the mall after detailed exchanges. Tangible, intangible, as long as it belongs to you and can be used by others, you can bring it in for trade."

Fujimaruka returned excitedly, "All my apples were bought?"

Tina: "I bought them... they were cheap. Fujimaruka-san, I can make up the difference if you don't have enough money."

Fujimaruka: "Enough, I grabbed them anyway; it didn't cost me a dime. This is convenient. I can grab more stuff and use the mall as system storage, eh hey!"

Fujimaruka realized the mall's potential. Though she hadn't found another Singularity, she had accumulated valuable items from pseudo-Sigularities. Knowing Tina needed food, she planned to sell food and clothes for a profit.

Reflecting on the fruit forest she encountered initially, if she had had the system then, she could've made thousands of dollars. Now, she enjoyed luxuries daily, drinking coke, eating sushi, and enjoying sashimi despite her world's near-apocalyptic state.

Everyone began studying the mall seriously. Many had special needs. Tina needed food, and Riku needed supplies. His situation was worse, with nothing but Schwi and a suit.

Riku looked at the same items uploaded by everyone in the system mall and made up his mind.

"Schwi..."

"In!"

"Your promise."

"I will obey Riku's orders forever..."

Looking down at the tearful Schwi, Riku's heart raced. He knew it was a personality simulated by the Ex Machina, but he couldn't help it! It was just too cute!

"Schwi, let's make money! By then..."

A smile unconsciously crept onto Riku's face. Through the Internet Café Acquisition System, he knew many materials and minerals could be sold to Liu Yuan. Items not worth much could be sold through the Trading Mall to those in need.

Finding items worth around thirteen thousand dollars would allow someone to come to the internet cafe to learn and improve their strength without worries.

This was a chance for humans to survive in a chaotic world and possibly change the course of the race war.