Early in the morning, I head out to hear the news and speculate on market fluctuations; This is how I start my day.
I'm a simple merchant of middling status, so I need to go early to see the market prices.
It was already noon when I woke up. I do not have time to eat breakfast as it's nearing adjustments, and I have overslept once again.
I head over to the market, feelings of excitement welling within me since the price of my oshi is expected to crash, giving me an excellent opportunity to buy her.
I see other merchants around me, staring at the board of prices with eyes full of anticipation and hearts full of greed. Yes, that also includes me.
...
...
What's that smell? I smell something foul.
...
I look at the guy beside me, noticing his pantaloons dripping with a brown-colored liquid.
I feel disgusted.
Yes, the guy beside me has soiled himself. Again.
It happens to someone every single day.
I'll put some distance between us.
I try to ignore the smell and instead look at the prices board.
Boy, oh boy.
Everything is red across the board.
It seems the brap cycle has started once again.
I'll buy some brap coin along with my oshi for a while...
I go to the trading floor and compare my holdings with the other merchants.
I've lost 50 million, and some of my fellow traders have passed me on "ye olde Board O' Most Richest & Avaricious Merchants."
I feel frustrated, but it's not a big deal.
I ask advice from the other merchants to improve my own business. What they tell me are either clear proof of their diminished mental abilities or lies made to mislead me. I assume the former.
I leave the floor and go to the lounge, where I find a table and sort through my trades.
A waitress brings me my usual, a strong ale.
As I'm pondering the profitability of investing in the expansion of Onigiriyaa plantations, another merchant sits beside me at the table - a Kronie, wearing a black and gold signet ring bearing the mark of a notorious consortium.
What does a rich-pampered merchant want to do with me? Does he intend to drink with me in broad daylight?
He asks me to show him my notes and ledgers.
I was intimidated by his stature, so I complied.
He takes out his own, and we start discussing our business.
Time flies as we compare our trades late into the afternoon, slowly getting drunk from cheap wine and strong ale.
The entire time a tall deadbeat wearing a suit keeps glancing at us over his mahjong book.
...is he blushing? No, it can't be. It must be just my imagination.
No doubt he's trying to steal our ideas to improve his trades.
After sunset, I stumble towards the mahjong parlor.
I recently started learning mahjong, and I want to improve my gambling skills for money.
I walk through the brass doors into the game hall and greet the other two merchants playing with me.
An excellent starting hand if I say so myself, I'm going to win it big this time!
...
Fucking nyaggers keeps giving me shit tiles when I'm one tile away from a tenpai.
I was building a yakuman too.
Another day, another losing streak.
Such is the way of mahjong.
Frustrated, I leave the parlor and move towards the marketplace once again.
The litany of the nineteenth hour is being recited.
Check the time.
It's exactly 19:00:00
The heralds of the nineteenth hour are just right on time!
Today will be a bountiful day!
The crowd celebrates, words of praise are shouted over the venue.
Ah! I'm feeling very fortunate! I'll check the board of prices to predict the market fluctuations for tomorrow.
As I skipped my way into the board of prices, I noticed something amiss.
...
Every number is wrong! It's all zeroes!
The damned messenger is late again!
And I pray, of Great Goddess Mumei, overseer of civilizations. Please guide this little one on what to do!