48 No Such Thing as a Free Lunch

'It's already been four days, huh?'

For the fourth time in his life, he woke up from the uncomfortable make-shift bed.

Sai stood up and headed for a morning jog. He enjoyed watching the city and remembering the fun he had when exploring it in the game. For better or worse, the city now had much more to explore, and that is what he did.

The young man made his way through several of the city's inner streets, passing through the commercial district and completing the route through the wharf zone. He took the chance to analyze the market and the people, looking for opportunities like a hawk looking for prey.

However, he had yet to think of a perfect idea.

Sai then proceeded to the communal cleaning rooms to take a bath. Although it wasn't too bad, the communal houses were all pretty dirty, and Sai wasn't very comfortable with showing his little brother to strangers. He had no other option, though.

After that, he went to check on Chen, who would probably be awakening right about now.

"Mr. Chen! You there? Let's go, we have to get there before those old men!"

"Ah, yes! Wait a second!"

"Hurry up! I'll take the wares first!"

"N-no!! Don't! I'm coming with you!"

…

"See that guy?"

"Uh… Old Han? What about him?"

"Look at his behavior. Do you see anything wrong?"

"Hmmm… No?"

"Exactly Mr. Chen! He is too relaxed." Sai grinned. "He will not be able to attract any customers that way."

Chen was dumbfounded. "But he still has more customers than I do… Besides, he probably can't afford to be energetic at his old age. I heard his older brother died recently, too…"

"Ugh, at least you can question things…" He nodded grudgingly. "The point is that he isn't a good seller! If he still has more clients, it must mean that he has a regular and loyal customer base. Look at his buyers, you can see they are his old friends just from looking!"

"U-huh…" Chen pretended to understand.

"Out of all the vendors at this portion of the street, no one has a young customer base. Meaning, we have the potential to reach the younger public. We must innovate! Youngsters love innovation and revolts." Sai once heard his father say something similar.

"And how will we do that, exactly?"

"Remember when I told you about brand positioning?"

…

'I can't believe he did it. Not only did he sell all of my goods yesterday, but the different products he bought from the caravan are actually selling well!'

"You young man! Come and check it out! You must get this new hat, they are trending among the academics right now! They fit your refined and noble look perfectly! They are at a huge discount!"

"So that's why he spent the night tinkering with them…" Chen thought.

The hats had been almost left behind on the caravan, but Sai saw their true value. "These Snezhnayans do know how to embroider and stitch" was what he said at the time.

"Check this hairpin out beautiful lady! It's only 500 mora! You can get one of these new versions of hairpins for just 1000 mora! Of course, you must buy at least 10 together, but the offer remains! 2000 mora!"

Chen had told Sai that hairpins were the most used accessories for women in Liyue, and now the latter was giving it his all to sell them.

"Hey, my intelligent friend! Look at this hat, I think you would have a whole new charisma once you wear it! Try it! Man, I have never seen it fit someone so well! It's a new model that's been trending recently, yeah. And better yet, it is at a discount, available for just 10,000 mora!"

"10,000?? B-but wasn't it the 100 Mora Shop?"

"Oh, yes. If you buy 2 of these the discount increases to 100 mora. Isn't it amazing? I promise you, you won't regret buying this hat. There's more. This red hairpin is said to increase a woman's beauty by two-fold in the eyes of men. A pretty girl like your fiancé deserves to try it out, at the least! Oh, she isn't your fiancé? So she doesn't deserve it, you think? No, no, it must be fate that…"

"A-alright… I get it, I'll buy it!"

"Of course, my friend. I'll give you another discount since I feel like we bonded like true brothers. Sister, you must come here again with brother to update me on the relationship, okay? Alright, with the new 10 mora discount, the total comes to 22,890 mora."

'These guys had no choice from the moment they were targeted…'

Chen was baffled, wondering where all that thick skin and relentlessness was coming from. But most of all, he was glad that his trust was somewhat paying off.

…

Sai laid down on his bed later that day, feeling pain all over from working through the whole day.

"If I keep working like this I won't have energy to even work out anymore…"

The truth was that he hated that kind of work, he found it too tiring and annoying. Unfortunately for him, he had a knack for making people trust him (at least until he met Lisa, he thought).

"*Sigh.* If only Chen had more money… We could hire a lawyer for the next phase, or invest into some other assets… Hiring a salesperson would work well, too. It would increase the revenue by a big chunk. I guess it will have to wait until next week's caravan arrives. Hmmm… where should I take his brand image next?"

He was having such thoughts when, suddenly, his body hit sand.

"Ouch! What the h-"

It was night, but he would never be unable to see the forebearer of his fears. Aether, in flesh and bone, was standing but a few meters from him.

"There's no way-!"

"Hahahah this guy is back! Okay, I command you to attack those dudes over there! Let's go, my lovely Beidou!"

Some hundred meters ahead, under the light of torches, Sai discerned a camp of Treasure Hoarders.

'Wait, hold up. Did he say Beidou?'

*Whoosh!* Someone dashed beside Sai.

Her black hair fluttered and disappeared against the cover of the night. Besides the shadow of a greatsword, Sai couldn't see her very well. And yet, he felt nostalgic.

Soon, she began flailing that huge thing around, sending grown men flying like they were nothing.

And eventually, bright purple lightning illuminated the beach.

"Back at ya!"

*Crackle!*

The Debate Club swung in all its glory, destroying everything on its path.

*Boooooom!"

"Hahahah!" The night echoed with Fatty's laughter.