To his considerable relief, Jeremiah discovered that all he needed to do was assign a product to a shelf, and the System would stock it automatically. The new items blinked into existence with a shimmer of light, settling into neat rows. A prompt informed him this convenience only applied to newly purchased goods and only up to the shelf's maximum capacity. Any overflow or bulk orders would be transported directly to the Maddock storage room. From there, he'd need to restock by hand — but that was still a far cry from hauling every crate himself.

There were other options in the shop, of course. Some of the shelves he had skimmed through could auto-restock from his inventory or even order replacements the moment a sale went through. But those upgrades didn't come cheap. Even the most basic, just big enough for a few packages, cost nearly 5,000 marks. They might be worth the cost if he ever found a product that he just couldn't keep on the shelves, but for now, that was a price Jeremiah couldn't even dream about.

With the shelves filled and the animals all napping — Tish and Tosh tangled in a blanket fort, Milo snoring on his enchanted cushion, and even Billy slumped in his bowl — Jeremiah finally allowed himself a pause. He took a slow breath and let his gaze drift around the shop, drinking in the rows of fresh stock, the subtle gleam of the polished floor, and the cozy clutter that was starting to feel like home.

Mero drifted over, wings glimmering, and perched himself on Jeremiah's shoulder. The fairy guide gave a satisfied nod. "Lookin' good, kid. It's all startin' to come together, ain't it?"

Jeremiah grinned back. "Yeah… Hard to believe it's only been a couple of days."

Mero chuckled, voice warm with mischief. "Time flies when ya got something to work toward. So, what's next?"

Jeremiah paused and considered. What did come next? He pulled up the System screen, looked it over, and blinked. A new icon had appeared on his HUD — a bronze trophy labeled [Achievements] with three golden stars sitting under it.

He frowned. "Huh. That's new."

Mero laughed. "Not as new as ya think. Ya got yer first achievement the other night, after hiring Lewis."

Jeremiah tried to recall. Had he? Vague memories flickered — a congratulatory System message, half-lost in the exhaustion and chaos of that night.

"I think I saw another one after making that sale to Sam as well," Jeremiah added, more to himself than Mero.

Mero rolled his eyes. "Ya gotta start checkin' those, Jerry. Or you'll miss something important."

Jeremiah flushed, sheepish. "Hey, I'm still getting used to this. I barely remember to use the [System Scan] half the time."

The fairy only grinned wider. "I know, I know. Just keepin' ya on your toes. But I mean it — if ya don't check in on these things, you'll miss something ya wish ya hadn't."

Jeremiah let out a resigned sigh. He knew Mero was right. Building new habits was part of this new life — one he'd have to commit to if he wanted to make it work.

Steeling himself, he turned his focus back to his HUD and tapped the new icon.

Immediately, the Achievement screen sprang open, golden stars sparkling at the top.

——————✴——————

—♛————♛—

The Potential of the Sapient mind is limitless. if it an be conceived, it can be accomplished. All it takes to fight back Stagnation is for one person to realize their Potential… then go beyond.

Tutorial Prompt: Achievements are rewarded by the System for a variety of actions, from meeting certain Iteration milestones, performing actions above and beyond expectation, and even from System Administration for handling special problems.

—♛————♛—

〖Achievement Board〗

—✦—

[Open For Business!] - NEW!

Type: Milestone

Description: Make your first sale - It took sweat, sacrifice and a whole lot of elbow grease , but you did it! You made your first official sale in your shop. You will remember this day for years to come.

Reward: The Quantum Shopper's Catalogue [CLAIM!]

—✦—

[A Helping Hand] - NEW!

Type: Milestone

Description: Hire your first worker - A good Shopkeeper knows that he can't do everything himself. Sometime it takes a helping hand to ensure your store can meet the community's needs.

Reward: Adaptive Staff Break Room [CLAIM!]

——————✴——————

Jeremiah stared at the Achievement Board, letting the words sink in. It was strange — seeing his struggles and triumphs summarized in neat little lines, like the System itself was keeping a scrapbook of his new life. Each achievement felt both small and monumental, carrying weight beyond the simple rewards.

His fingers hovered over the [CLAIM!] buttons. He could only imagine what those might mean for the Menagerie, or how they might change the day-to-day rhythm of his fledgling shop.

Behind him, Mero watched with a knowing smile. "Well, Jerry-boy? Gonna see what you've won?"

Jeremiah hesitated just a moment longer, anticipation fluttering in his chest. Whatever came next, it was one more step forward — one more piece of potential, waiting to be unlocked.

He reached out toward the first shimmering prompt and tapped it.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

A new screen appeared.

——————❇——————

The Quantum Shopper's Catalogue

Rank: F (Growth)

Quality: Fine

Keywords: Store Fixture, Growth

Description: No shopkeeper can anticipate every need, but this enchanted catalogue ensures you never miss an opportunity. Whether your customers are browsing in-store or online, the Quantum Shopper's Catalogue brings your full range to their fingertips.

Features:

Window Shopping: Customers can freely browse any item previously purchased from the [Merchandise & Consumables] category.

Bookkeeper: The catalogue automatically logs all purchases made in your shop, generating easy-to-read sales reports and intelligent suggestions for restocking, based on real-time trends and customer favorites.

Preview Portal: Expand your offerings with the Preview Portal! For a one-time fee equal to 1/100 of an item's cost (rounded up to the nearest whole mark), you may add any item from the [Merchandise & Consumables] selection — whether you've stocked it before or not — to a special "Preview" section. Customers can see what's possible, even if it's not on your shelves (yet).

Now Online!: Link the catalogue to any appropriate website or commerce platform, enabling customers to browse and place orders remotely. Perfect for expanding your reach beyond the shop floor.

System Note: This fixture's capabilities will grow as your shop's rank increases, always providing access to one rank below your current store access. Let your catalogue evolve alongside your business!

——————❇——————

A gentle pulse ran through his hand, and suddenly, there was weight. Real, solid weight. He looked down to find a thick, hard-cover book resting in his palms, its surface embossed with swirling runes and the words "Quantum Shopper's Catalogue" gleaming across the front in shifting silver ink.

He turned it over, half-expecting it to vanish like so many other System projections. But the catalogue was as real as anything else in his shop. Warm from the light, smooth beneath his fingertips. Curious, Jeremiah cracked open the cover.

Immediately, soft holographic light flickered to life above the front page. A neat, floating search bar hovering in the air, just begging to be used. The catalogue's pages were filled with crisp, color-printed entries: each item he'd stocked was listed with a name, image, price, and a brief description.

He flipped through the pages, and kept flipping. Dozens, then hundreds. Strangely, the catalogue never seemed to thin out; even after what felt like half a novel's worth of products, there was no end in sight. Eventually, the entries began to repeat — circling back to the start, as if the book was reminding him that it could hold far more than he had yet imagined.

Jeremiah glanced up, the possibilities spinning through his mind. He thumbed through the features again, reading about the Preview Portal and the Bookkeeper logs. Real-time suggestions? Automated sales tracking? The sheer potential made his head spin.

He couldn't help but grin, the weight of uncertainty shifting to something warmer.

Jeremiah turned the catalogue over in his hands, weighing where to place it. At first, the front counter seemed obvious — a beacon for curious customers. But as he scanned the shop, his gaze landed on the café corner, where soft morning light filtered through the windows and the aroma of fresh coffee lingered in the air. An idea sparked in his mind.

He set the Quantum Shopper's Catalogue on a polished table by the window, arranging it so its cover caught the light. Already, he could picture customers settling in with a cup of Sally's coffee, thumbing through pages, discovering something they never knew they needed.

To sweeten the experience, Jeremiah spent another thirty marks, quickly adding a selection of new items to the preview section. He chose alternative brands for everyday supplies — giving his future customers more options — but also sprinkled in a handful of premium products that might one day catch someone's eye.

With the catalogue in place, he stood back and admired the little tableau. It felt right. Like the Menagerie was becoming more than a shop.

Ready to see what came next, Jeremiah returned to the System menu and pressed "claim" on his next achievement and a new screen appeared.

——————❇——————

Adaptive Staff Break Room

Rank: E

Quality: Exquisite

Keywords: Adaptive • Room • Modular • Addition

Description: A fully furnished, modular 15x15 room designed to provide comfort and convenience for staff wherever it is placed. The room's furnishings and decor automatically adapt to match its location, whether installed indoors or outdoors, ensuring a seamless fit with the surrounding environment. Features plush seating, climate control, refreshments, and customizable amenities to suit any team's needs.

System Note: No matter where your staff works, this room offers a welcoming, restorative space — perfect for breaks, meetings, or a moment of peace. Place it anywhere and let the System handle the details. This is an addition and does not take up a Room Slot. However, you must have an appropriate piece of land to place it on.

——————❇——————

Jeremiah frowned.

"Mero, how is a room a reward? I could understand if it was some appliances to set up a breakroom, but this reads like it's an actual room," he asked.

Mero chuckled. "You're jumping ahead a bit with this one, kid. I don't think the System really expected you to hire, or even need, an employee yet. Just think of it as another feature of your iteration. But not one you'll really have to worry about for a while. Shop upgrades and expansions are expensive. Way out of your budget right now."

Jeremiah nodded.

He mulled over the new reward as he paced the front of the shop. Mero's words echoed in his mind. If shop upgrades and rooms like this would be rare — and costly — it made sense not to waste the opportunity. But if the System had gifted it as a reward for hiring Lewis, then it ought to be used for him. He pictured Lewis spending long afternoons working in the courtyard, with nowhere to rest but a patch of shade or a rickety bench. It felt right to give something back.

Decision made, Jeremiah headed outside. The afternoon was growing darker as the fall sun began to slip over the roofs of the nearby buildings. He found Lewis finishing up, hauling the last bag of weeds and twigs into a tidy pile. The man's brow was damp with sweat, but he still managed a smile as Jeremiah approached.

"Morning, Lewis. Got a surprise for you," Jeremiah called out, trying to hide his excitement.

Lewis tilted his head, curiosity written all over his face. "A surprise? What sort?"

"You'll see," Jeremiah said. He reached into the System's temporary storage with a mental nudge. Instantly, a translucent projection appeared in his vision — a neat 15x15 square traced in soft blue light, invisible to anyone but him. He paced the edges of the courtyard, weighing possibilities, then stopped along the northern wall near the apartments, where a bit of open space caught the morning sun.

"This'll do," he murmured. He finalized the placement in the System menu.

Reality warped. A hush fell over the courtyard as bricks and mortar sprang into existence from thin air, stacking and sliding into place one after another. The air shimmered as glass filled in windows, doors swung into being, and a tidy stone cottage rose along the northern wall. The process took less than a minute, but left both men staring, slack-jawed.

Lewis gawked at the cottage, his mouth working silently. "Did… did you do that?"

Jeremiah felt just as stunned, though he managed to turn and grin. "Come on. Let's check it out."

They approached the cottage together, shoes crunching softly on the flagstones. The front door opened at a touch, revealing a bright, airy room. Plush armchairs and a low table sat before a window overlooking the courtyard. A kitchenette with a steaming kettle and rows of tea and coffee waited in one corner, while a rack of fresh towels and a compact shower stood ready beside a narrow door leading to a private half-bath. There was even a large doggy door built into the entrance, just big enough for Maddie to squeeze through.

Overall, the decor was simple but inviting — soft colors, sunlight, and the gentle hum of climate control. The space wasn't massive by any means, but it was comfortable.

Lewis stared around, eyes shining. "I… don't know what to say. Is this… is this for me?"

Jeremiah smiled, feeling the last of his uncertainty melt away. "And for anyone who might join us later. Think of it like a break room, though you're free to use it however you want for now."

He clapped Lewis on the shoulder. "Go ahead — take a break. You've earned it."

As sunlight poured through the windows and the shop's courtyard buzzed with quiet, hopeful life, Jeremiah let himself imagine what could come next.

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