chapter 102 grand scheme

Malthor's smirk widened as he leaned against a wooden post, crossing his arms. "Alright, KAELITH, listen carefully. This plan isn't just about making money—it's about control."

KAELITH's eyes narrowed. "Control over what?"

Malthor chuckled. "Everything."

He gestured toward the bustling market. Players bartered with NPCs, sold loot, and restocked supplies. Some were discussing the recent 'peace' with the bandits, blissfully unaware that it had been bought with their own money.

Malthor's voice lowered. "We have five days before the bandits start attacking again. That means five days to tighten our grip on the players and the economy."

KAELITH listened intently, knowing Malthor wasn't a man who wasted words.

Malthor leaned back against the wooden railing of the inn's balcony, overlooking the bustling town square below. His expression was one of quiet amusement as he watched players running back and forth, buying potions, weapons, and supplies like eager little ants.

The marketplace was alive with activity—merchants shouting about their wares, adventurers haggling over prices, and blacksmiths hammering away at red-hot iron. To the average player, it was just another busy day in Eldoria. But to Malthor, this was the perfect moment to set his plan into motion.

He turned to KAELITH, who stood beside him with arms crossed, his sharp gaze scanning the crowd.

"In every war, those who control the supplies control the battlefield," Malthor murmured, his voice carrying the weight of experience.

KAELITH raised an eyebrow. "You're treating this like a war?"

Malthor smirked. "It is a war. A war of greed, desperation, and control. And we're about to win before anyone realizes they're fighting."

KAELITH stayed silent, waiting for him to continue.

Malthor gestured toward the merchants below. "Right now, the town thrives because supplies are flowing freely. Players can buy anything they need, prices are stable, and no one is desperate. But what happens when that changes?"

KAELITH's expression darkened. "Panic. Hoarding. People fighting over scraps."

Malthor snapped his fingers. "Exactly. And we will be the ones deciding who gets what."

KAELITH exhaled. "So how do we make that happen?"

Malthor grinned. "First, we tighten the supply chain. I've already bribed a few key merchants to delay their shipments. At first, nothing major—just a few 'lost' deliveries, a sudden 'shortage' of health potions, maybe a missing shipment of arrows."

KAELITH smirked. "Subtle. People will assume it's just bad luck."

Malthor nodded. "Yes, but bad luck that keeps happening. As time passes, more and more merchants will mysteriously 'run out' of stock. The alchemist will have no healing potions. The blacksmith will have no iron for weapons. The general store will have no food rations."

KAELITH rubbed his chin. "And when players start crafting their own?"

Malthor chuckled. "That's where the bandits come in."

KAELITH's eyes narrowed. "The same bandits we just paid off?"

Malthor shrugged. "They're businessmen, like us. They won't attack the town, but outside the walls? That's different. They'll start 'taxing' gatherers—demanding payment for safe passage. No gold? Then you get robbed. Either way, we control the flow of materials."

KAELITH let out a low laugh. "So players either pay the bandits or lose their gathered materials. And the merchants inside the town still have nothing to sell."

Malthor spread his arms. "Now you're thinking like me. With supplies drying up, players will panic. They'll start hoarding whatever they can, driving prices up. And that's when we step in."

KAELITH leaned forward. "By selling from our hidden stockpiles."

Malthor snapped his fingers. "Exactly. At first, we act like we're suffering too—complaining in chat, pretending to struggle. Then, when prices hit their peak, we start selling, but only in limited amounts. Just enough to keep the market desperate."

KAELITH's gaze gleamed with understanding. "A controlled famine. No one will suspect it's artificial."

Malthor laughed. "That's a bit dramatic, but yes. By the time players figure out what's happening, it'll be too late. We'll be the only real suppliers left."

KAELITH nodded. "And what happens when players start asking questions?"

Malthor smirked. "We give them an enemy."

KAELITH raised an eyebrow. "Who?"

Malthor turned back to the marketplace and gestured toward the merchants. "Them."

KAELITH's eyes widened. "The NPCs?"

Malthor nodded. "We start spreading rumors. Whisper in the right ears, hint that the merchants are hoarding supplies, refusing to sell to 'regular adventurers.' Make the players believe the NPCs are the problem, not us."

KAELITH chuckled. "And when the players get angry?"

Malthor grinned. "That's when we step in as the heroes. We'll tell them we'll 'negotiate' with the merchants to lower prices. Maybe even stage a fake protest. Keep them distracted while we control everything from the shadows."

KAELITH exhaled, looking down at the unsuspecting players below. In five days, they would be desperate, scrambling for potions and weapons, paying whatever price Malthor demanded.

KAELITH turned back to him. "And after that?"

Malthor's smirk widened. "After that, we bring them war."

Malthor leaned forward, his fingers tapping the table as he smirked. "The first step was restricting supply. Now comes the real fun—pushing the prices up so high that people start to panic."

KAELITH narrowed his eyes. "You're talking about a full-scale price surge."

Malthor chuckled. "Not just any surge. A carefully orchestrated one. Listen closely."

He took a sip of his drink before continuing. "Right now, we've created an artificial shortage by making sure the main suppliers are under our control. No one else is bringing in significant amounts of materials, and the few who do? They're either working for us or struggling to hold on. Players are already feeling the pinch, but it's not enough. They're still hoping it's temporary. We need to break that hope."

KAELITH crossed his arms. "And how exactly do we do that?"

Malthor leaned back, grinning. "We start spreading 'rumors'—subtle ones, through our controlled merchants and informants. Things like 'Bandits are getting more aggressive,' 'The Merchant's Guild is increasing taxes,' or 'A powerful guild is hoarding resources.' Something vague but believable. When people start hearing it from multiple sources, they'll assume it's true. The moment players believe the crisis is real and long-term, they'll start hoarding whatever resources they can get."

KAELITH smirked. "Which will drive prices even higher."

"Exactly," Malthor nodded. "Panic-buying is a powerful tool. Players will start overpaying just to secure basic supplies. Some will try to flip items themselves, creating a chain reaction where prices skyrocket overnight. That's when we step in with our 'generous' solution."

KAELITH raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess. We start 'selling' at an even higher price?"

Malthor laughed. "Close, but not quite. We introduce a tiered system. Normal players get to buy at outrageously high prices, but 'special' customers—those who have shown 'loyalty' to our organization—get 'discounted' rates. Of course, those discounts aren't really that generous, but compared to the skyrocketing market prices, they'll feel like a steal. This does two things: first, it makes players desperate to earn favor with us, and second, it makes them hate anyone outside our circle, further increasing our control."

KAELITH's grin widened. "That's diabolical. Even those who don't trust us will have no choice but to rely on us if they want to afford essentials."

Malthor nodded approvingly. "You're catching on. And just when they think they have a way to manage things, we introduce 'service fees.' Handling charges, guild membership fees, storage fees—you name it. Slowly, we milk them dry. By the end of this, players won't just be broke; they'll be so deep in our system that leaving won't be an option anymore."

KAELITH exhaled, shaking his head. "And when they finally realize they've been played?"

Malthor's grin turned sharp. "By then, they'll be too busy fighting each other to do anything about it."