Chapter 45: Azeroth's Specialty Shop

One day later.

After settling Robbie and Gab in their new home, Old Wang and Skye arrived at Old Wang's bachelor apartment.

"Wang, it's time we start striving for our future!" Skye plopped down on the sofa, her tone righteous and urgent. "We're out of money, really out! If we don’t start making some, we’ll go hungry, left to drink nothing but the wind!"

"Absorb the essence of heaven and earth, breathe in the sun and moon’s radiance, those who feed on air become divine and long-lived. Drinking the wind is fine; southeast wind is even better."

Old Wang pulled out a copy of Huainanzi and tossed it to Skye. "Take a good look—when the mind is calm, the belly is full."

"Get lost!"

Skye swatted Huainanzi away, then picked up a copy of The Three Character Classic and waved it. "I've only gotten this far—yours is way too advanced... Besides, can reading make money? Can reading fill the belly? Can reading help me find a husband? No! Stop joking. Seriously, we need to earn. You owe me a lot!"

"In books, there are mansions of gold, in books, there are grains by the thousand, in books, beauties as fair as jade... Spiritual nourishment, it’s delicious."

Seeing Skye about to throw another book at him, Old Wang quickly pleaded, "Alright, alright, we do need to make money... Haven't I been working hard? The Dark Grimoire Laboratory is set up, we're going to make big money! Listen, in less than two years I'll get you a new ride—forget those trendy apocalypse vehicles, how about a Quinjet? If that's not good, maybe I can get you S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Helicarrier, though I’m not sure if it’s finished yet."

Working a job was never an option—never in this lifetime.

So he could only be the boss.

The "Dark Grimoire Laboratory" was currently just a shell. New research was still theoretical, and Lucy and Eli were studying the knowledge within.

Of course, Old Wang hadn't left the actual Dark Grimoire with them. Instead, Skye transcribed the contents and sent them out.

On one hand, he worried they might get greedy and run off with the Grimoire; on the other, if Hydra ever found them, he’d lose both the book and the people.

Thankfully, Skye was also on the tech side—she saw the same content as Lucy and Eli, so there were no issues.

Back when Lucy and the others researched just a few pages, it took them a long time.

According to Lucy, the Dark Grimoire’s knowledge far surpassed current technology—it was beyond human comprehension. Even just a few pages could take months, even years, to understand. There was no rushing.

Stealing energy from Hell to create things out of nothing wasn’t impossible. But once contact with Hell was made, a rift could easily open between reality and Hell. If something like a Spirit of Vengeance escaped, it would be disastrous.

Besides, conjuring things from nothing wasn’t simple; making a chunk of carbon was easy, but creating a person was much harder.

The sorcerers of Kamar-Taj believed every spell came at a cost.

The Dark Grimoire was essentially a book of magic. Though many spells could be realized through science, they still came with risks and prices.

Some spells, though, weren’t so dangerous.

Old Wang was neither sorcerer nor scientist—he couldn’t understand the Dark Grimoire at all.

But he’d watched Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and knew for certain the Grimoire could accomplish a few things.

The original experiments had been terminated.

Old Wang’s first task for Lucy and Eli was to research the "Framework."

The so-called "Framework" was a vast virtual world, much like the Matrix, and if perfected, might be even more advanced.

Because it wasn’t really a tech-based virtual world.

It was more akin to a magical "super-large illusion," somewhat reminiscent of the Emerald Dream from World of Warcraft, though far less sophisticated.

What could a virtual world with near-perfect realism achieve?

Military training?

Virtual learning?

Entertainment and socializing?

Virtual gaming?

A groundbreaking spiritual world—a second world for all humankind?

Anything was possible.

The financial prospects were unimaginable.

Of course, for Old Wang—the man who'd once stood at the pinnacle of power and wealth (as a panda), money was like a passing cloud, insignificant.

At least it was interesting, wasn't it?

"...Heh." Skye had long since built up immunity to Old Wang, uninterested in mocking him, and instead mocked bluntly: "A lab that can only scam people out of money for rent? A lab with just a thousand-dollar startup fund? Wang, dreams are full, reality is lean. What we need to think about now is making money!"

"...Alright, what ideas do you have?" Old Wang changed into a more relaxed slouch and glanced at Skye.

"Your Essence Wine—let's sell it!"

Skye leaned in close to Old Wang's face. "I'll handle clients, and we split the profits fifty-fifty... No, seventy-thirty—you get seventy, I get thirty. How about it?"

"Your Chinese is pretty good!"

Old Wang laughed, thinking the idea wasn’t bad at all.

For those wealthy old folks on the brink of death, desperate for an extension of life, a million was nothing. Even ten million, a hundred million, a billion—if it could prolong their lives, money was no object.

Buying gold, trading for Essence of the Well of Eternity, and selling it at tenfold or even hundredfold profit was entirely possible.

And there was no need to worry about sales.

This world was overflowing with the rich, and even more desperate for longevity.

There was no concern about selling too much and being forced to cut prices.

Marvel didn’t just have Earth—there were countless planets and civilizations.

If it couldn’t be sold on Earth, there were the Nine Realms!

If they didn’t want it, there were the Three Great Empires, and all sorts of other wild civilizations. How many people were there in the Marvel Universe? No one could count.

Some races had long lifespans, but even so, they were limited. The Kree and Skrull weren’t immortal either.

The Asgardians lived longer, but at most five thousand years—there should be plenty nearing death. Though whether the Essence of the Well of Eternity worked for Asgardians was unknown.

Besides, why only sell Essence of the Well of Eternity?

Skye’s comment opened Old Wang’s mind.

World of Warcraft might not be more advanced than the Marvel world, but it had unique specialties that this world lacked. Rarity made value.

Essence of the Well of Eternity was just one.

Equipment could be sold;

Special metals, beast pelts, elemental materials could be sold;

Potions, elixirs, and concoctions could be sold;

Even knowledge itself could be sold.

Miss Azeroth would surely support it—mutual exchange benefits everyone.

So, was he about to become the legendary interdimensional merchant, known as the "King of Resale"?

"Skye, let’s open a shop?"

Old Wang rolled over and pinned Skye beneath him, his gaze blazing as he looked down at her. "How about opening the most incredible store in the universe?"

"...What kind of store?" Skye was a bit breathless, unable to bear Old Wang’s weight.

Without thinking, a spectacular name appeared in Old Wang’s mind, and he blurted out:

"Azeroth Specialty Store!"