Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Initiating the First Trade
[Scanning successful.]
The notification faded almost as soon as it appeared, revealing a vast transparent marketplace stretching endlessly before Volcano’s eyes.
Unlike the Universal Chat, where countless messages buried one another every second, everything here was neatly organized into distinct categories.
[Ore & Minerals]
[Plants & Herbs]
[Liquids]
[Monster Materials]
[Building Materials]
[Rare World Resources]
[Divine Materials]
Thousands upon thousands of listings filled each category, creating a bustling marketplace where gods from countless worlds continuously bought, sold, and exchanged resources.
---
Seller: FrostQueen
Item: Froststeel Ore ×20 kg
Price: 20 Faith Points / kg
---
Seller: HeavenlyBee
Item: Royal Honey ×5
Price: Fire Attribute Materials
---
Seller: DragonHeart
Item: Fire Essence ×3
Status: Auction
---
Seller: SeaKing
Item: Leviathan Scale ×1
Price: Equivalent Trade Only
---
Seller: Calamity
Item Wanted: Stellar Iron
Reward: 200 Faith Points
---
Volcano’s eyes widened.
He had expected the search function to display only the resources belonging to Volcan. Instead, it had opened an enormous marketplace spanning the worlds of countless gods, and the sheer scale of it left him momentarily speechless.
"So... this is where everyone has been trading."
His gaze wandered from one listing to another. There were ores he had never heard of, plants unlike anything that existed on Volcan, magical liquids, monster materials, crystals, seeds, and countless other treasures beyond his imagination. It was as though every god’s world contributed a small piece of itself, together creating a marketplace so vast that it seemed almost limitless.
"I might not be the brightest of the bunch... but even I can tell how beneficial something like this could become."
Murmuring to himself, Volcano slowly scrolled through page after page, quietly immersing himself in the endless sea of items available for trade. The more he looked, the more fascinated he became, until a notification from his private chat abruptly pulled him back to reality.
Nova: Are you there? Which type of materials do you want from my world? You can choose.
Volcano blinked before hurriedly replying.
Volcano: Sorry... I got a little engrossed exploring the marketplace after seeing so many rare items.
Nova: Haha! It happens to everyone.
Nova: Just don’t forget about me.
A sheepish smile spread across Volcano’s face.
Volcano: I-I won’t... Just let me see what resources my world actually has.
Closing the private chat, he returned to the Trade Platform and immediately focused on the search bar positioned near the top of the interface.
[Search World Resources]
"...This must be it."
Without any hesitation, he reached forward and tapped the button.
A new notification immediately appeared before him.
[Please wait...]
[Scanning World Resources...]
For several seconds, nothing happened.Then, one notification after another rapidly appeared before his eyes.
[Scan Complete.]
[Analyzing Planetary Resources...]
[Classifying Tradable Materials...]
[Resource Database Updated.]
The transparent interface flickered for a brief moment before a neatly organized list gradually appeared before Volcano’s eyes.
Resources Available on Volcan for Trade:
• Basalt Stone
• Obsidian
• Volcanic Glass
• Magma
• Lava Rock
• Sulfur Crystal
• Fire Quartz
• Ember Crystal
• Fire Essence
• Ashwood Timber
• Blazebloom Flower
• Molten Iron Ore
• Volcanic Clay
Volcano carefully scanned the list from top to bottom, his brows slowly knitting together.
"Judging by the quantity alone... my world seems to have more natural resources than Nova’s."
His eyes lingered on the names for a few moments before he quietly shook his head.
"...Though that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re more valuable."
Another possibility soon crossed his mind.
"...Or perhaps she’s simply choosing not to show me everything.if I be honest with myself, then I’d do the same."
The thought surfaced almost instinctively before disappearing just as quickly. After all, if he had valuable resources, there was no reason another god wouldn’t keep some of theirs hidden as well.
Still, that wasn’t what truly captured his attention.
His gaze slowly drifted back toward the list, reading each resource one after another until it eventually stopped on a familiar name.
Magma.
The very material Nova had asked to trade for.
"Hmm..."
Without another thought, he reopened their private conversation.
Volcano:Good news... I think I can trade Magma.
Nova’s reply arrived almost immediately.
Nova: Great!!
Nova: I’ll only need about one hundred cubic meters.
Volcano stared at the message for a moment before his fingers hesitantly moved across the interface.
Volcano: Umm...
Volcano: H-How do we trade?
The chat suddenly became silent.
A few seconds later, another message appeared.
Nova: ...
Nova: Sorry.
Nova: You just caught me off guard.
Nova: I honestly didn’t think there was anyone who hadn’t tried trading yet.
Embarrassment immediately crept onto Volcano’s face.
"...That’s a little embarrassing."
Fortunately, Nova didn’t tease him any further.
Instead, another message quickly appeared.
Nova: Don’t worry. It’s actually very simple.
Nova: First, click on the trade option. The system will show every tradable resource your world possesses. Just select the material you want to exchange.
Following her instructions, Volcano tapped on Magma.
The entry immediately expanded into a detailed information window.
---
[World Resource: Magma]
Quality: Standard
Quantity: Extremely Abundant
Renewability: Continuous
Trade Status: Tradable
Current Market Value: 20 Faith Points / m³
Suggested Trade Price: 2–4 Faith Points / m³
[Create Trade]
[Direct Transfer]
Volcano’s eyes lingered on the suggested market value.
"So it even estimates the current price?....That’s surprisingly convenient."
His curiosity quickly took over.
"...Or is this actually a system shop?"
"If we can sell materials directly to the system, then why would anyone bother trading with each other?"
He paused before quietly shaking his head.
"No...That doesn’t sound right."
"If selling to the system were possible, this marketplace wouldn’t have become so active."
"Then perhaps....the estimate only exists to help players negotiate fair trades."
The explanation seemed reasonable enough, and before he could think about it any further, Nova continued.
Nova: Since this is a private trade between us, you don’t need to create a public listing.
Nova: Just press Direct Transfer.
Volcano obediently followed her instructions.
The moment he selected the option, another interface appeared before him.
---
Select Recipient
Nova
Item: Magma
Quantity: ___ m³
Request in Return: _______
---
Volcano looked at the blank request field before tilting his head slightly.
"So... I really can choose whatever I want?"
Nova: Exactly.
Nova: As long as it’s something I can actually provide.
Nova: You can request Faith Points, a specific material, or even leave the request blank if you simply want to gift the resource.
She paused briefly before adding another explanation.
Nova: Once I accept, the System handles everything automatically.
Nova: There is one limitation, though.
Nova: Trades are evaluated through equivalent value. If the quality of two materials differs too much, the System compensates through quantity instead.
Nova: So don’t be surprised if you receive fewer items than the amount you send.
Volcano nodded to himself.
"I see..."
"That’s actually a pretty clever system."
"It prevents people from being scammed."
Still curious, another question naturally surfaced in his mind.
"So... do we have to physically measure the resources before sending them? Or somehow move them ourselves?"
Nova replied almost instantly.
Nova: Nope.
Nova: You don’t have to do anything manually.
Nova: The World Trade Platform transfers resources directly between worlds. Think of the System as a middleman.
Nova: It verifies both trades, removes the resource from one world, and deposits it into the other.
Nova: Completely automatic.
Nova: And, as you guessed...Completely scam-proof.
Volcano couldn’t help letting out a low whistle.
"...That’s incredibly convenient."
A laughing emoji appeared from Nova’s side of the chat.
Nova: Of course it is.
Nova: Imagine asking gods to haul one hundred cubic meters of magma across the universe themselves.
Volcano awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
"...Fair point."
"That was a pretty stupid question."
His attention gradually returned to the request window.
One hundred cubic meters of magma wasn’t much for Volcan. Rivers of the substance flowed freely across his world, making it one of its most abundant natural resources.
Even so...
This was his very first trade.
For some reason, the thought alone filled him with a quiet sense of excitement.
The only problem was...
He knew almost nothing about the resources produced by Nova’s world.
"I just hope the System explains the materials before I choose one..."
With that hope in mind, Volcano reached toward the trade list and tapped Eternal Ice Crystal.
