C25 Chapter 24 – The Wandering Merchant
The morning after the harvest was unusually peaceful.
Aiden woke to the smell of fresh bread.
The loaf he had baked the previous evening was still soft inside.
He cut it into small pieces with his Iron Knife and ate it together with roasted meat.
It wasn't a grand meal.
But compared to his first day on the island...
It felt like a feast.
After breakfast, he watered the newly planted wheat and potato fields.
The tiny potato sprouts had not yet appeared, but the soil remained moist.
Satisfied, Aiden returned to the camp and began sharpening his Bone Spear.
Just then...
Ding!
A golden System notification appeared before him.
---
World Notice
The Wandering Merchant has arrived.
Duration:
24 Hours
The merchant will randomly visit one location on every player's island.
Trading Currency:
- Survival Points
- Coins (Locked)
The merchant cannot be attacked or robbed.
---
Aiden immediately stood up.
"A merchant?"
He looked around the camp.
Nothing.
The forest remained quiet.
Then...
A soft bell echoed from the beach.
Cling... Cling...
The sound repeated three times.
Curious, Aiden picked up his Stone Axe and walked toward the shore.
---
Waiting near the water was an old wooden cart.
It shouldn't have been possible.
There was no road.
No bridge.
No boat.
Yet the cart stood there as if it had always belonged.
A gray donkey quietly chewed grass beside it.
Behind the cart stood an old man wearing a long brown robe.
His white beard reached his chest.
His eyes sparkled with wisdom.
He smiled warmly as Aiden approached.
"Welcome, young survivor."
"I've been waiting for you."
Aiden remained cautious.
"Who are you?"
The old man chuckled.
"I am only a Wandering Merchant."
"I travel where the System allows."
"You may call me... Rowan."
---
The merchant waved his hand.
A blue trading window appeared.
---
Wandering Merchant's Shop
Common Items
- Bread ×2 — 10 Survival Points
- Plant Fiber Rope ×5 — 15 Survival Points
- Clay Water Bottle — 20 Survival Points
- Iron Ore ×3 — 35 Survival Points
Uncommon Items
- Basic Fishing Rod Blueprint — 80 Survival Points
- Copper Ore ×5 — 90 Survival Points
- Monster Bait — 100 Survival Points
Rare Item
- Basic Skill Book Chest — 200 Survival Points
Stock Remaining: 1
---
Aiden carefully examined every item.
His eyes immediately stopped on the Fishing Rod Blueprint.
"I haven't explored the sea yet."
Fishing could become another food source.
Then he looked at the Skill Book Chest.
It was tempting.
Very tempting.
But spending almost all of his Survival Points on a random reward felt risky.
Instead...
He chose carefully.
"I'll buy the Fishing Rod Blueprint."
"And three Iron Ore."
The merchant nodded.
"A wise choice."
The items disappeared from the shop and appeared inside Aiden's inventory.
His Survival Points decreased accordingly.
---
Before leaving, Aiden asked,
"Can I ask you something?"
The old merchant smiled.
"You may ask one question."
Aiden thought for a moment.
"What is this world?"
The old man's smile slowly faded.
For the first time...
His expression became serious.
"This world..."
"...is humanity's final chance."
Before Aiden could ask another question, Rowan shook his head.
"One question."
"No more."
He climbed onto the wooden cart.
The donkey took a single step.
A strange white mist surrounded them.
Within seconds...
The merchant, the cart, and even the footprints on the sand disappeared completely.
Only the sound of a small bell remained.
Cling...
Then...
Silence.
---
Aiden stood on the beach for several minutes.
"Humanity's final chance..."
Those words echoed in his mind.
What had happened on Earth?
Why had billions of people been brought here?
The answers felt farther away than ever.
---
Back at the camp, Aiden immediately studied the Fishing Rod Blueprint.
A new recipe appeared.
Basic Fishing Rod
Requirements:
- Strong Branch ×1
- Plant Fiber Rope ×2
- Iron Hook ×1
Difficulty:
Easy
He smiled.
"I already have everything except the hook."
Using one of his Iron Ingots, he carefully forged a small curved hook.
It wasn't perfect.
But it was sharp.
After attaching it to a long branch with strong rope, the fishing rod was complete.
---
Craft Complete!
Basic Fishing Rod
Rank: F
Durability: 100/100
Effect:
Slightly increases the chance of catching Common Fish.
Blacksmith EXP +15
---
The sun was still high.
Without wasting time, Aiden walked to the beach.
He tied a small worm onto the hook and cast the line into the calm sea.
The waves gently carried the float.
Minutes passed.
Nothing happened.
Then...
The float suddenly disappeared beneath the water.
Aiden quickly pulled the rod upward.
Splash!
A silver fish flew through the air before landing on the sand.
The System chimed.
---
New Creature Discovered
Silver Scale Fish
Level: 2
Rank: Common
Description:
A common coastal fish with tender meat.
Collection Book Updated.
Fishing EXP +10
---
Aiden laughed.
"So it works!"
Now...
His island offered food from the forest...
The fields...
And the sea.
His chances of survival had increased once again.
---
That evening, he grilled the fresh fish over the campfire.
Its rich aroma filled the camp.
Even the Forest Hopper wandered over, sniffing the air curiously.
Aiden shared a tiny piece.
The little creature happily accepted it.
As the sun disappeared below the horizon, Aiden opened his Survival Journal.
Survival Journal – Day 18
- Never spend all your resources at once.
- A good merchant can save months of work.
- The sea holds another source of life.
- Every answer leads to more questions.
- Hope Island is becoming self-sufficient.
He closed the journal.
Far away...
At the center of the endless ocean...
A gigantic golden clock floating in the sky moved forward by one mark.
A deep voice echoed across the world.
"...Fifty-three days remain until the First World Event..."
The countdown had begun.
