100\% DROP RATE : Why is My Inventory Always so Full? Chapter 523 - Rich

As the first full day drew to a close, Lucien found himself in exceptionally high spirits.

'Exceptionally' barely scratched the surface of his elation.

After reviewing the financial projections, he had to suppress a booming laugh.

Lootwell was thriving.

Indeed, it was flourishing beyond measure.

What brought him even greater satisfaction, however, was the widespread prosperity extending beyond himself to encompass all of Lootwell's inhabitants. The citizens were experiencing a surge in earnings; their district specialties found eager buyers, their services were in high demand, their inns pulsed with activity, and a newfound confidence blossomed alongside their burgeoning profits.

Their collective earnings for a single day had approached a staggering one billion in value.

This was not hyperbole; it was the simple consequence of an entire continent discovering, simultaneously, that opportunity had finally manifested a tangible location.

Leaning back in his chair, Lucien exuded an air of profound contentment.

Vivian, standing nearby and poring over the same financial reports, couldn't mask her own astonishment.

"We actually earned that much in just one day?" she exclaimed, her voice filled with disbelief.

Lucien steepled his fingers, a smile gracing his lips—the very picture of a charismatic antagonist who'd just been informed the royal treasury had fallen hopelessly in love with him.

"Precisely," he confirmed.

Vivian gazed at him, a mixture of awe and slight exasperation on her face.

"You appear insufferably pleased with yourself, Brother."

"And why shouldn't I be? I am, quite thoroughly, insufferably happy."

Seeing him radiate such joy brought Vivian immense happiness as well.

..

Among the many things Lucien felt relieved about was the safety system he had implemented within the Ascension Spire.

Without such precautions, the initial days would have undoubtedly descended into chaos, marked by an alarming number of fatalities among the overconfident novices.

As it stood, when participants pushed their limits and reached a critical, life-threatening threshold, the Spire would safely escort them back to the ground floor.

And should they wish to brave its challenges again—

they would be required to pay anew.

This pay-to-re-enter system proved immensely popular with the thrill-seekers and battle aficionados.

They emerged battered, yet exhilarated; somewhat offended by the monstrous encounters, but disturbingly eager to plunge back into peril for another attempt. Even those who grumbled about the expenditure still rejoined the queue, their expressions betraying a clear internal struggle, the unmistakable look of individuals who had already lost the argument with their own impetuous decisions.

Lucien had set the entry fee for external participants at ten high-grade spirit crystals.

For the larger, established factions, this was a mere inconvenience. However, for independent cultivators and smaller groups, the cost represented a significant investment, enough to ensure their attempts were meaningful.

This precise balance was exactly what he aimed for.

The price was not so low as to encourage recklessness, nor so high that only the most powerful factions could afford the opportunity.

He intended for ambition to have access, and for that ambition to be adequately compensated.

To maintain order and manage the flow within the Spire, an upper limit of fifty thousand daily entries for external participants was imposed.

Citizens of Lootwell, naturally, continued to enter under the city's internal guidelines. The Spire's immense scale ensured that even with such substantial numbers, it never felt overly crowded. Teams could still ascend without hindrance, warriors could test their mettle, and the aspiring fools among them could still learn firsthand that the phrase "I think I can handle one more floor" remained one of the most perilous utterances ever conceived.

The Skill Doors proved to be an even more astonishing revenue stream.

Skillpedia had transformed into a remarkably efficient mechanism for exchanging wealth for power.

One-Star Skill Door: 100 high-grade spirit crystals

Two-Star Skill Door: 1,000 high-grade spirit crystals

Three-Star Skill Door: 10,000 high-grade spirit crystals

Four-Star Skill Door: 100,000 high-grade spirit crystals

Five-Star Skill Door: 1,000,000 high-grade spirit crystals

The Magic Book catalog was no less generous:

Basic Magic: 10 high-grade spirit crystals

Intermediate Magic: 100 high-grade spirit crystals

Advanced Magic: 1,000 high-grade spirit crystals

Runes and Magic Circles: 10,000 high-grade spirit crystals

Ancient Spells: 100,000 high-grade spirit crystals

And the Monsterdex, arguably the most deceptively voracious of the three services, levied a fee of ten high-grade spirit crystals per hour of access.

This latter fee initially seemed quite modest to many visitors.

However, upon stepping inside and confronting the sheer immensity of information available, they rapidly lost all track of time, their personal finances, and any semblance of future budgeting.

Lucien observed one particularly studious individual emerge from the Monsterdex hall resembling a man who had just grasped the profound meaning of existence, only to be financially penalized for his enlightenment.

The scholar clutched his forehead, his gaze directed skyward, and whispered with a mixture of awe and despair, "I have learned too much, and yet, not nearly enough."

His companion inquired, "How much did you spend?"

The scholar's bloodshot eyes fixed on him blankly.

"Everything that truly mattered."

Moments later, he turned and re-entered the hall.

Lucien found this turn of events exceptionally pleasing.

Nevertheless, the most consistently profitable venture within Lootwell remained the communication devices.

This aspect of the economy had only intensified once individuals could procure these devices directly from their source.

Factions were acquiring them in considerable batches. Merchant guilds made purchases in enormous quantities. Some sects demonstrated their commitment by buying such vast numbers that even the usually unflappable Kael was momentarily silenced.

In a single transaction, one sect representative procured one hundred thousand communication devices.

This single sale generated enough profit to inspire several market supervisors to stand a little taller for the remainder of the day, buoyed by sheer patriotic pride.

And it wasn't solely the communication hubs contributing to this economic boom.

The entire marketplace experienced a wave of prosperity.

Everywhere, Lootwell's enterprises peddled wares the world hadn't grasped its need for until they were presented expertly. Inns, in particular, reaped extraordinary profits.

These establishments filled rapidly, starting with the larger ones, progressing to medium-sized halls, then the premium district lodgings, followed by rooms with scenic views, and finally, the high-class suites.

Each accommodation featured its own meditation area, with the quality of the room directly correlating to the quality of the meditation space.

Lucien had also integrated energy-gathering arrays within every chamber, enhancing them with modifications that boosted comprehension.

It was hardly surprising that patrons found the entire experience utterly captivating.

Lucien made a mental note to discuss further expansion with Lilith soon.

They required more multi-story structures and additional avenues for affluent individuals to comfortably deplete their fortunes.

• • •

Over the ensuing days, a steady rhythm became firmly established.

Visitors continued to pour in.

Lootwell, expansive in its nature, absorbed this influx without faltering, a feat that unnerved many of the newcomers. A less substantial establishment would have crumbled under such initial demand. Lootwell, conversely, made their arrival seem as predictable as the changing of the seasons.

Numerous individuals also departed.

Some left after gathering sufficient information to relay back home.

Others departed having acquired everything they had set out to purchase.

And a significant number left due to a far more straightforward reason.

They were completely penniless.

Devoid of funds, spirit, and financial means.

Some departed with ecstatic grins, having gained invaluable knowledge. Others wept, realizing the harsh truth of their financial limitations. Some left equipped with newly honed skills but with empty storage rings. Still others departed with communication devices, depleted finances, and a solemn vow to return better resourced.

One merchant from a mid-tier clan departed, muttering, "This place is magnificent. This place is wretched. I shall return in ten days."

His steward offered a weary sigh and entered this statement into his ledger, presumably for record-keeping.

Nevertheless, no one could genuinely lodge a complaint.

Lootwell had delivered precisely as promised.

It presented legitimate opportunities for advancement.

Provided one possessed the necessary resources, individuals could depart stronger, wiser, better connected, more skilled, or at the very least, acutely aware of their deficiencies.

An establishment like that required no enticement for repeat visits.

Patrons would return of their own accord.

Subsequently, Lucien refined the establishment's mechanisms further.

A few days into the initial opening period, he assigned a new function to the chapel.

Lucien directed the chapel to institute a formal questing system.

Initially, many external visitors found the concept rather quaint.

However, upon witnessing the actual tasks involved, they quickly ceased underestimating Lootwell.

The initial category of quests focused on energy contribution.

Visitors were encouraged to voluntarily channel their personal energy into designated Covenant Items and support structures under the chapel's guidance. Their contributions were rewarded accordingly.

The remuneration was determined by the energy's purity, stability, density, and compatibility. Haphazardly released energy yielded less, while refined energy commanded a higher value.

To many cultivators, this arrangement appeared almost unreasonably advantageous.

They were compensated merely for meditating within a controlled sacred environment and channeling their power into unfamiliar artifacts they didn't fully comprehend.

In the words of one jovial spear cultivator, it sounded like "a divine blessing for a free meal."

Clara, meanwhile, was leveraging the increasing chapel visitors for another critical objective.

Lucien had secretly entrusted her with the vital task of identifying additional allied sects and potential future supply partners. While the Lunareth Sect and Dawnbinder represented a solid foundation, they were insufficient for the monumental scale that Lootwell was destined to achieve. Their need for more suppliers was paramount – a constant demand for ores, specialized woods, potent herbs, rare minerals, formidable monster materials, and other hard-to-acquire ingredients.

And Clara? She remained the supreme judge for such an important undertaking.

Her methods involved attentive listening, keen observation, rigorous testing, and a charming smile. When circumstances demanded it, she could instill a potent fear, coaxing honesty with such subtle gentleness that many only realized later they had been spiritually dissected.

Lucien had long ago abandoned any desire to understand the mechanisms of her unique approach.

If her methods yielded results, then reality was welcome to retain its enigmatic secrets.

•••

The days marched on.

Wealth flowed in continuously.

The influx of visitors never ceased.

The people of Lootwell prospered, their wealth growing. Lootwell’s stores expanded, their capacity deepening. Its material reserves swelled significantly. Its influence steadily broadened.

And most crucially, the territory no longer felt like a hidden jewel being cautiously explored by the outside world.

It felt profoundly established.

Lootwell had effectively integrated itself into the world’s routines.

Individuals now meticulously planned their schedules around it, saved their currency for it, made dedicated returns to it, and even adjusted their travel routes because of it. The prestige of a sect was now measured against the access granted to it. Opportunities were evaluated based on whether they might eventually lead back to this coveted place.

Observing all of this from the serene Stillness Palace, Lucien couldn't contain his immense satisfaction, a broad smile gracing his features.

The territory was flourishing. Its resources were augmenting. Its populace was thriving. Its intricate systems were functioning flawlessly. And the outsiders, whether they readily confessed it or not, were already undergoing a subtle transformation through their interactions with it.

Lootwell had firmly embedded its roots into the world.

And roots, once they had burrowed deep enough, proved exceptionally difficult to dislodge.