The Verdant Merchant-Chapter 117: i will update

Rowen closed the front door and flipped the sign to "Closed." Then he sat down and counted the low-grade mana stones he had earned that day about one hundred and forty-five in total. Before that, he had around fifty-two stored away. Rowen had a total of one hundred and ninety-sevenRowen closed the front door and flipped the sign to "Closed." Then he sat down and counted the low-grade mana stones he had earned that day about one hundred and forty-five in total. Before that, he had around fifty-two stored away. Rowen had a total of one hundred and ninety-seven low-grade mana stones.

Just as Rowen finished counting, a faint shimmer lit up beside him. The fern appeared, fluttering his leafy wings.

Tomatoes

Produced: 48

Sold: [input]

Remaining Stock: [auto-calc]

Potatoes

Produced: 48

Sold: [input]

Remaining Stock: [auto-calc]

Income

Apples: [sold × 1]

Tomatoes: [(sold ÷ 3) × 2]

Potatoes: [(sold ÷ 3) × 2]

Total Sales Income: [auto-calc]

Total Sales Income: [auto-calc]

Net Profit: [Total Sales Income – 48]

Balance

Starting Mana Stones: [previous day’s balance]

Today’s Net Profit: [auto-calc]

Current Balance: [auto-update]

Note: Recharge cost (48 stones) will be subtracted automatically from profit.

Rowen carefully filled in every field on the blank blue screen; the fern had shown him production numbers, selling prices, daily recharge cost, and the leftover stock. It looked exactly like the sheets they had just discussed.

Once he was finished, the fern hovered closer, its leafy wings fluttering. "If you’re done, just press the last button, Save," it said. "After that, all of this will be automatically implemented in the space. You won’t need to rewrite it every day."

Rowen let out a small breath of relief. A single button to lock everything in place felt almost too convenient.

Rowen tapped the glowing Save button. The screen shimmered once, then settled and vanished into the empty space.

The fern gave a satisfied nod.

"From now on, you don’t need to calculate anything by hand," it said. "Just enter what you sold at the end of the day, and the system will handle the rest automatically."

Rowen leaned back, almost laughing at the thought. No more scratching numbers on scraps of paper or double-checking totals; everything was neatly organized for him now.

Rowen frowned at the screen. "Then... how do I calculate today’s sales? Do I need to input everything one by one?"

The fern shook its leafy body, a faint chime in its voice.

"No. For sales, you only need to enter the numbers at the end of the day after the shop is closed. The system will tally them up automatically. As for production, you don’t need to worry at all. The portal space now runs on its own time adjustment. When the clock strikes midnight, the first production cycle begins. From there, everything flows on schedule."

Rowen’s eyes widened a little. That meant the crops were no longer bound to his memory or effort; the system itself would track every harvest, day after day.

Rowen tapped the screen again. "So this will be implemented from tomorrow?"

"Yes," Fern replied without hesitation.

Rowen nodded, satisfied. A proper record system meant fewer mistakes.

Rowen then glanced at the pouch of one hundred ninety-seven low-grade mana stones. It was the first time he had seen such a solid income, and the sight made him smile. The apple sales had clearly boosted his profits, and the difference was undeniable.

Rowen considered what to do with the extra stones. For the first time, he could think about more than just daily survival. He wanted to buy materials for practicing magic casting and studying formulas, and maybe even treat himself to a meal at one of the restaurants in the upper town.

Rowen tucked the stones safely away, unable to hold back a grin. Today was different. He didn’t want to wait until tomorrow. With his pockets heavier than ever before, he decided to head straight to the upper district before the shops closed. It would be his first time going there with enough money to actually buy what he wanted, not just window-shop.

Rowen also thought about the Cornerstone. He had gone there yesterday for the second talent check, but the building’s size and the strange devices inside still lingered in his memory. A part of him wanted to see it again, this time with a calmer mind.

Rowen closed the shop door behind him and slid the lock into place. He packed the pouch of low-grade mana stones into his bag, making sure it sat secure at the bottom. Shade stretched out from his usual spot on the counter, tail flicking lazily, before trotting over. The cat meowed once, then rubbed against Rowen’s leg, clearly unwilling to be left alone in the empty shop.

Rowen sighed but couldn’t help a small smile. "Fine, you can come," he said, giving Shade a light scratch on the head. The cat purred, as if he had been waiting for that answer all along, and leapt up to perch on Rowen’s shoulder.

Rowen only inclined his head politely, as though this outcome had been inevitable.

Alric clicked his tongue, glaring at Cedric. "You must be imagining things. A tomato isn’t supposed to do that."

He reached forward and snatched another one off the shelf before Cedric could protest.

Rowen’s gaze flicked to him briefly, but he said nothing.

Alric turned the tomato over in his hand as if inspecting it for hidden tricks. Then, without warning, he bit down hard.

Crunch.

Juice spilled over his lips and slid down his throat. He grimaced at the sourness, ready to scoff

but his words caught in his mouth.

A strange silence filled his head. The usual impatience buzzing in his thoughts quieted, like a roaring crowd suddenly silenced. His shoulders eased without him realizing, and his sharp gaze steadied. For a brief moment, his whole body felt lighter, as though the constant tension of vigilance had loosened.

Alric froze, tomato in hand, his eyes flicking from Cedric to Rowen.

Cedric gave him a knowing look, still chewing slowly. "Told you."

Marn’s brows rose, impressed, while Talia’s arms remained crossed, though a trace of satisfaction touched her expression.

Rowen just stood behind the counter, calm, offering no gloating word, only watching as Alric struggled to swallow both the tomato and his pride.

Alric lowered the half-eaten tomato slowly, his jaw tight. For a moment, no words came. He glanced at Cedric, who was still holding his own fruit, chewing with a reluctant frown that couldn’t hide the focus in his eyes.

The two exchanged a look half disbelief, half shame.

They had walked in ready to tear down a boy, only to be silenced by a tomato.

Alric cleared his throat, his voice rough. "...If he’s charging only two low-grade mana stones for three of these, then..." He hesitated, swallowing his pride along with the lingering taste of tomato. "...That’s cheap. Dirt cheap compared to a potion that can grant this level of focus."

Cedric’s face darkened with embarrassment, but he gave a small, curt nod. "A potion with even half this effect costs more than ten times that. And lasts shorter."

Marn exhaled softly, his expression caught somewhere between amusement and respect. Talia, meanwhile, allowed herself the faintest smirk, her eyes sliding toward Rowen like she already knew how this would play out.

Rowen said nothing. He simply wiped the counter with a rag, calm and steady, as though their realization was nothing more than the natural course of events.

The silence that followed wasn’t hostile anymore; it was heavy with their embarrassment.

Talia stepped closer to the shelf, her sharp eyes catching on a cluster of tomatoes that looked noticeably different. Their skin was deeper in shade, almost glowing faintly under the lamplight, and the faint pulse of mana in them was stronger than what Cedric had just eaten.

She tilted her head, then glanced at Rowen.

"This one..." she said, pointing lightly toward the darker tomato. "It’s new, isn’t it?"

Rowen looked up, meeting her gaze. For the first time in the entire exchange, there was a small shift in his expression not pride, not arrogance, but something quieter. "Yes. It’s from a newer batch. Stronger than the last one you had purchased."

Talia finally reached out and lifted the rare tomato from the shelf. Its skin was smooth and warm from the mana within, the deeper red color.

Without hesitation, she bit into it.

Moments later, her breathing slowed. Her shoulders relaxed, yet her presence grew sharper, more controlled.

"...Stronger," she finally said, her voice calm but edged with certainty. "Much stronger. Comparable to last time."

Marn, who had been silent until now, stepped forward. He hesitated, his eyes darting to Rowen. "May I?"

Rowen gave a small nod.

Marn picked one of the regular tomatoes, still skeptical despite what he’d just seen. He took a bite.

For a moment, his expression stayed doubtful, but then his eyes widened slightly. His posture straightened, and he gave a low exhale.

"This... this level of clarity of mind..." His voice was quiet, almost reverent. "I’ve never had my thoughts settle so quickly. Not even with high-grade potions."

Cedric and Alric exchanged glances, both silent, their earlier mockery completely stripped away.