Jeremiah studied the coupon pinched between his fingers, still faintly amused by the winking cartoon chicken emblazoned across the glossy paper. He flipped it over. No terms, no expiration date, not even fine print. Just a bold, cheery font proclaiming:

REDEEM FOR ONE (1) FREE E-RANK SHOP FIXTURE!

He glanced at Mero, who hovered a few feet away, arms folded behind his head, wings humming with obvious satisfaction. Billy clung to the edge of his bowl, one tentacle tapping the glass in a steady rhythm. Jeremiah couldn't tell if the little kraken was actually following their conversation or was simply mimicking Mero's mood.

"So," Jeremiah ventured, his voice careful but curious, "how does this… System Shop work? Is there some sketchy back room I'm supposed to go through?" He flashed a crooked grin, waving the coupon like a stage prop.

Mero burst out laughing. "Nah, kid. Just open your HUD. Ya should see a new selection."

Jeremiah arched an eyebrow. "Online shopping, huh? Fancy."

Mero shot him a sly look. "Only the best for System users."

Suppressing a sigh, Jeremiah rolled his eyes and willed his HUD to life.

Sure enough, a new icon caught his attention. A stylized metal grocery cart, the sort you'd see in any Nexus market. Only this one brimmed with oddities: lamps, glass tanks, bags of pet food, and even a set of armor topped with a comically oversized sword.

With a silent command, he tapped the icon.

For a split second, nothing changed. Then the edges of his vision rippled, a wave of pixelated light sweeping across his HUD. A jaunty jingle played, equal parts retro arcade and luxury boutique, while the icon spun in place, flinging digital confetti like a game show prize.

A tiny animated shopping basket pushed itself across a loading bar, gradually filling with glowing, impossible items. Cartoon mascots appeared on the screen from weird angles: A couple of flamboyant chickens, a familiar pirate shrimp, and even a chibi dragon, all waving banners proclaiming "Great Deals!" and "Shop Smart!"

A moment later, the jingle faded, and the HUD resolved into a crisp, modern storefront: sharp lines, colorful icons, and a playful charm that made it feel both polished and delightfully whimsical.

As the app finished booting, a floating message box burst into view, rimmed with digital sparkle and confetti.

——————❇——————

Welcome to The System Store, Jeremiah Bridge!

Your store rank: E

Balance: 2534 Quantum Marks

34 Free Marks

2500 Restricted Marks

Special: 1x FREE E-Rank Fixture Coupon Available

Please select a category to begin browsing:

——————

【Personal Equipment】

Uniforms, Tools, Enchantments, Accessories

Outfit yourself for success — shopkeeper attire, enchanted tools, and special gear for personal use.

【Beast Care & Habitat】

Creature Comforts, Food & Treats, Grooming Supplies, Habitat Modules

Everything you need to nurture, bond with, and manage magical beasts and familiars.

【Merchandise & Consumables】

Shop Stock, Treats, Toys, Potions, Curios

Curated goods to stock your shelves and attract every sort of customer — from the mundane to the magical.

【Store Supplies】

Registers, Cleaning Tools, Sundries and other such good.

Efficient, enchanted, and reliable gear for every corner of your shop.

【Store Fixtures】

Shelving, Lighting, Counters, Decor, Furniture and more!

Shape your shop's space with adaptive, magical, and customizable fixtures.

【Store Upgrades】

Security Systems, Staff Hiring, Space Expansion, Custom Features

Upgrade your business — protect, expand, and enhance your shop for new challenges.

【Special Offers & Featured Items】

Limited-time deals, staff picks, and system bundles — updated regularly!

——————❇——————

"Huh…" Jeremiah murmured, eyes scanning the playful storefront. He'd only been half-joking about the 'online shopping' bit, but maybe he hadn't been far off. The interface felt uncannily familiar, complete with banner ads, highlighted deals, and rotating carousels of featured items — just like the top shopping sites. He could almost picture Sarah at her desk, designing every detail to put users at ease, wrapping even the most alien System tools in something comfortingly mundane.

And he had to admit… it worked.

Even without knowing what to expect, Jeremiah found himself navigating the storefront with surprising ease. Compared to the sterile, utilitarian boards he'd seen elsewhere in the System, this interface felt almost welcoming. Intuitive in a way that made everything else seem cold by comparison.

Sarah definitely had fun with this, he mused, a faint smile tugging at his lips. Her touch was unmistakable in every detail.

He glanced over at Mero. "Why does this 'System Store' look so much more…" He trailed off, searching for the word.

"Polished?" Mero supplied.

Jeremiah nodded.

Mero's lips twitched in amusement. "The System Store was one of the first features your sister designed. It's also one of the few things that's shared between every Iteration. She was under a lot of pressure to make sure it was, well, appealing."

Jeremiah arched an eyebrow. "And remind me — how exactly does shopping help fight existential stagnation and universal decay?"

Mero grinned, unrepentant. "Nice try, kid. Don't think I ever actually told you that in the first place."

Jeremiah let out a long sigh. "More things you 'can't tell me,' huh?"

Mero shrugged, not denying it.

Jeremiah turned back to the glowing display. Most of the category options were greyed out, with only three — Beast Care & Habitat, Store Equipment, and Store Fixtures — gleaming faintly at the edges. He tapped a greyed-out selection. Instantly, a pop-up appeared:

——❇——

Please spend all restricted quantum marks before proceeding.

——❇——

He frowned. The mission had mentioned the marks he received were "restricted," but hadn't really explained what that meant. Fortunately, he had someone nearby who almost certainly would know.

"Mero, what are restricted quantum marks? Why can't I open the other menus?"

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Mero brightened. "Now that's something I can actually tell you. When the System puts a restriction on a mark reward, it's nudging you to make certain purchases. Usually to help you get set up the right way. In this case, it wants you to spend those marks on things to get the Mystical Menagerie up and running. Not, say, on some fancy tech."

Jeremiah eyed the crate of krackers on the pedestal, recalling how the scan had mentioned he'd 'unlocked' them in the store. "Or snacks?" he guessed, raising a brow.

Mero chuckled. "Or snacks. Right."

Jeremiah pursed his lips. "If that's the case, why not just give me the stuff it wants me to have, instead of making me shop for it?"

Mero shook his head. "Come on, Jerry. You should know the System by now. It doesn't just hand things over. Your choices matter to the System. If it did everything for you, you wouldn't learn. It wouldn't learn."

"Hmmm." Jeremiah turned back to the shop window, gears turning in his mind.

So the System wants me to pick what I need. Not just be told. No… it 'needs' me to choose. Jeremiah realized. He tucked that thought away for later, sensing it was another piece to the much larger puzzle.

"So I have 2,500 marks I need to burn before I can even look at anything else. Might as well get this over with."

The only question was, what did he actually need? Jeremiah had some minor experience running a business back when Sarah opened that animal shelter for him, but that was different. With Sarah's support, the shelter had never struggled for funds or cheap equipment. Even most of the bookkeeping was handled by Sarah's accountant.

He knew what a dozen different categories of beasts needed to be healthy and happy, but how did that translate to running a pet store?

I think I just need to see what's available first and go from there, he thought.

Jeremiah reached up and clicked the first menu. It instantly blossomed open, revealing an extensive list of items, each with its own gleaming icon and a brief description.

——————❇——————

——♛——

System Tip!

The quality of an item represents its durability, reliability, and overall effectiveness. In the System Store, the minimum quality is Fine. Items of lower quality might be found elsewhere or crafted, but everything here starts at a cut above. Items can be bought at higher quality for an increased price, sometimes unlocking new features.

A wise shopkeeper knows how to balance quality with a price their customers — and their own ledgers— can stomach.

Poor → Low → Standard → Fine → Exquisite → Luxury → Epic → Legendary → Mythical

——♛——

FEATURED ITEMS

—✴—

VitaSun UVB Lamps: Full-spectrum bulbs for creatures who need extra sunlight — reptiles, fae, and houseplants all flourish under these rays.

Nest Builder Kits: Modular habitat supplies; add tunnels, platforms, or self-warming perches with a single click.

HydraFilter Water Fountain: Triple-filtered, self-cleaning drinking fountain for the pet with refined tastes.

Patchy Healing Pads: Medical-grade bandages, infused with minor healing magic and calming chamomile.

Mirthberry Crunch Treats: Enchanted snacks guaranteed to coax even the grumpiest gremlin from its hideaway.

Cloudsilk Brushes: Grooming brushes woven from cloudspider thread, for pelts that gleam and scales that shine.

Everclean Moss Bedding: Self-refreshing, temperature-regulating moss for lairs, nests, and terrariums.

Omni-Crate Habitat Modules: Rune-etched enclosures that expand or contract to fit any creature's needs.

…

…

——————❇——————

The category list seemed endless, ranging from basic beast feed to intricate — and horrifyingly expensive — habitat modules for every imaginable type of creature.

Even after what felt like several minutes of scrolling, the list didn't let up.

Maybe this was a bad idea, he thought to himself, slightly overwhelmed. There has to be a… here it is!

Jeremiah quickly found the expected search filter options and started tinkering with them. It didn't take long before he spotted an item he recognized.

——————❇——————

Kaleidoscopic Shrimp (Frozen) (1/5/10/kg)

Rank: G

Quality: Exquisite

Keywords: Aquatic Feeder

Description: First discovered in the icy waters of one of the oldest known worlds, these shrimp are famed for their dazzling variety. Even the slightest change in their diet can produce a stunning range of colors, patterns, and flavors. When gathered in schools, kaleidoscopic shrimp flash wild hues, dart with erratic energy, and emit faint pulses of mana to bewilder predators. This remarkable defense has allowed them to thrive to the point of becoming a troublesome oceanic pest on many worlds, despite their reputation as a heavily fished delicacy.

System Note: From the legendary seas of seven worlds to your table! Calypso Brand Kaleidoscopic Shrimp bring unmatched color, flavor, and magical freshness to every meal. Taste the kaleidoscope! — order today!

Cost: 10 Marks per lb

——————❇——————

Jeremiah raised an eyebrow and glanced over at Billy.

Who knew the little guy had such refined tastes?

Perhaps sensing his amusement through their link, Billy, who had been grown bored and started playing in his bowl, paused and turned to Jeremiah, waving several tentacles in encouragement.

Jeremiah chuckled and turned back to the store menu, filtering out items wildly beyond his budget or needs. Where would he even put a dragon rider landing pad? The list shrank to something far more manageable and much less daunting.

Not that it was small by any means, but as Jeremiah browsed, he began to get a sense of what he'd actually need to get up and running.

Over the next half hour, Jeremiah steadily filled his cart. A dozen Creature Comfort Fleece Bedding — the same brand they used in Sarah's shelter. Enclosure starter modules, drawn in by their promise of comfort and durability for any G-grade creature. There were drink and feeding stations, waste removal kits, universal treats, and a dozen other practical supplies — everything he could think of to cover the needs of any beast he might encounter in the near future.

He didn't actually have any beasts to care for yet — other than Billy, that was — but he knew it was wiser to prepare while he still had funds. Experience had taught him how quickly things could change.

When he finally added the last item to his cart, Jeremiah blinked at the screen.

The total price was… surprisingly low.

"Only 105 Marks for all of that?" Jeremiah muttered. The kaleidoscopic shrimp alone had been ten marks a pound, but the rest of the equipment — supplies that would have easily cost over a thousand credits back in Central — barely amounted to a hundred marks. That was nearly a 1:10 ratio.

He turned to Mero, frowning. "Why does the value of Marks seem so all over the place?"

Mero just shrugged, wings fluttering with nonchalance. "That's hard to explain, kid. The first thing ya gotta know is that 'value' is always subjective, whether it's marks or credits. Second, most of what you're buying is unranked. That makes them dirt cheap by default."

Jeremiah raised an eyebrow and scrolled back through his purchases. Sure enough, nearly every item had a "—" next to its rank. The only other thing he remembered seeing that lacked a rank was his switchblade — though he suspected that was for entirely different reasons.

Curious, Jeremiah set the menu to filter items by rank.

He immediately recoiled.

While most Fine-quality G-rank items were fairly affordable — ranging anywhere from one to fifty marks — the prices jumped dramatically for even the lowest F-ranked goods. The cheapest Fine F-rank item he could find started at 150 marks, and the most expensive — a Luxury-quality chew toy advertised as "indestructible under E-grade conditions" — sold for a staggering 1,250 marks.

E-rank, the highest tier available to him at the moment, was another level entirely. Even the most basic Fine-grade items cost at least a thousand marks, and some of the pricier options soared into the multiple thousands. A few Exquisite-quality items even edged into the tens of thousands.

Jeremiah had always heard that supplies for higher grades could get expensive, but he had never truly appreciated just how fast the costs scale. After all, he'd always been a G-grade. Just another "normal" human, not someone who needed to worry about these kinds of prices. Sure, Sarah was B-grade, but that was a world Jeremiah rarely interacted with past the surface level.

Seeing the numbers laid out in front of him, he couldn't help but wonder what kind of fortune was needed to shop at the truly high-end stores.

I guess I finally see how Sarah managed to make all her money… The thought sparked a reluctant smirk, a dry chuckle escaping before he could stop himself.

As he scrolled through the F-rank listings, one item in particular caught his eye.

—✴—

Gentlebond's Morphic Grooming Table

Rank: F

Quality: Exquisite

Keywords: Creature Care, Utility

Description: A state-of-the-art magical grooming station designed for Gifted creatures and discerning shopkeepers alike. The Gentlebond's Morphic Grooming Table automatically configures its restraints, brushes, and tools to suit the anatomy and temperament of any beast placed atop it. Subtle enchantments soothe nerves, promote trust, and speed up the healing of minor nicks or messes. Each successful grooming session grants +1 bond point if the creature is receptive, strengthening both trust and cooperation. Includes a self-service mode for independent pets or busy customers on the go.

Exquisite Bonus - This table comes with a membership to Gentlebond's Furtastic Groomer's Club!: receive 25% off all future Gentlebond-brand grooming supplies and a license to retail Gentlebond products in any Nexus-registered storefront. Enhance every grooming session to a new level with premium shampoos, scale polishes, and energy cleansers from Gentlebond!

System Note: "Every brush and trim is an opportunity to build trust and make your wildest customers feel at home."

Cost: 400 Marks [On Sale!]

—✴—

If Jeremiah understood the System correctly, that bonus bond point was huge. If it stacked with the krackers, Billy could reach the next bond rank within a week — maybe less! The time he'd save bonding with future creatures could be even more valuable.

Of course, it wasn't just about his own progression. Jeremiah remembered well how difficult grooming could be at the shelter: every animal had its quirks, its anxieties, its physical oddities. No matter how hard they tried, there was never a perfect "one-size-fits-all" solution for every species.

Until now, apparently, Jeremiah chuckled to himself.

There was only one problem…

Four hundred Marks. Ouch. And that was the sale price. Jeremiah winced, calculating the cost — nearly a fifth of his total funds gone in a single purchase. Was it worth it?

What finally tipped the balance was the so-called 'Exquisite Bonus.' Jeremiah was more than familiar with the Gentlebond brand from college; their products stocked the clinic's shelves, and even there, they weren't cheap. A quick check of the store confirmed his memory — Gentlebond's basic supplies were pricey, even by System standards.

But with the club discount, those same items now undercut several upper-midrange brands he recognized. Add in a license to sell Gentlebond's goods from his own shop, and it was a deal too good to ignore.

Expensive, yes. But between the time, money, and hassle he'd save — now and in the future — Jeremiah would be a fool to pass it up. He sighed, steeling himself, and added the table to his cart alongside the other essentials.

Jeremiah's cart balance instantly shot up to 505, and like that, a fifth of his marks were gone.

He sighed and turned his attention to the next section, 'Store Supplies.'

"2,000 marks to go… let's hope they're enough."

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