Chapter 428: New Plans For Esta [2] After waking up in the early evening, Noah wasted no time heading straight to Esta. With so much money flowing into his accounts—both from his interdimensional business and now the massive Earth-based assets from Sand’s family—he wasn’t going to hold back anymore on investments that could increase his power and influence. He entered the portal and arrived at his shop in Esta’s plaza. Inside, Lola was playing around with Leo, the massive lion cub that had grown considerably since Noah first acquired him. Upon seeing Noah appear, they both greeted him warmly. Leo jumped on him with enthusiastic affection, nearly knocking Noah over despite his enhanced strength, rubbing his enormous head against Noah’s chest and purring like rolling thunder. Lola smiled at the scene. "Welcome back. You look rested." "Feel better too," Noah admitted, scratching behind Leo’s ears before the lion finally settled down. "Sleep helped clear my head." He looked at the shelves and confirmed that everything was back in stock after the time that had passed. All his auto-makers had been producing steadily during his absence, replenishing the inventory that had sold out during the previous business rush. Noah then turned his attention to the system interface, deciding to make a purchase he’d been considering for a while. He was ready to buy the last item he could currently access at Shop Level 2—the tenth and final product tier available. He navigated the system menu and selected the purchase. The price was enormous—ten million dollars for a single item template. It was bordering on insanity from a normal business perspective, but Noah barely hesitated before confirming the purchase. He had plenty of money incoming from multiple sources. His daily revenue from the shop alone exceeded two million dollars, and now he had seven million monthly in passive income from Earth. The ten-million-dollar investment would be recouped in less than five days of normal operations. More importantly, the Warrior’s Protein Shake represented his most powerful consumable yet. The permanent attribute gains alone justified the price, and the temporary effects would make even average practitioners formidable for a full hour. After completing the purchase, a new auto-maker materialized in his system inventory, and the Warrior’s Protein Shake appeared on his shop shelf in a bottle that seemed to contain swirling energy. [Auto-WarriorShake: Level 1 | 0.5/Hr | Max Stock 12 | 0/100 EXP] Lola glanced at the new product without surprise. Noah had mentioned he was planning to expand his premium offerings, and she’d grown accustomed to miraculous items appearing regularly. She examined the description card Noah had automatically generated for display. "This is incredibly powerful. The temporary attribute doubling alone would turn a competent fighter into a monster for an hour. Who are you planning to sell it to?" Noah shrugged casually. "Whoever pays the most, I guess. This one’s premium enough that it deserves special treatment rather than just sitting on the shelf." At his current status in Esta, Noah was essentially a celebrity. As soon as he left his shop and entered the plaza, people immediately began greeting him with respect and gratitude. Minor nobles nodded their heads, common citizens called out thanks for how his presence had transformed the kingdom’s prosperity, and guards saluted him as if he held military rank. Noah greeted them back politely as he made his way toward the royal castle. He had a specific plan forming—he wanted to hold an auction today for the first Warrior’s Protein Shake. The price needed to be established high for this initial sale because he wanted to set a proper valuation anchor and generate maximum revenue from the premium tier. From then on, he could gradually reduce prices or offer them through other channels to increase quantity sold while maintaining perceived value. Arriving at the castle, the guards immediately let him pass without question. He was treated with deference equivalent to a duke or other high-ranking noble, his status as the kingdom’s most valuable granting him unrestricted access. Upon entering, a royal guard immediately approached and bowed respectfully. "Lord Carter, welcome. Please, allow me to guide you to a reception hall. I will inform His Majesty of your arrival." Noah followed the guard through familiar corridors to a well-appointed waiting room. He’d barely settled into a chair when the door opened again. King Aldric himself entered rather than sending a representative—a clear demonstration of how much he valued Noah’s presence and business. The king was dressed in formal but comfortable attire, suggesting he’d interrupted his regular duties to greet Noah personally. "Noah!" Aldric said warmly, clasping Noah’s hand in greeting. "Excellent timing. I was just reviewing the distribution contracts my ministers prepared for our wholesale partnership. Please, come to my private study where we can talk more comfortably." They moved to a smaller, more intimate room where two chairs sat opposite each other near a fireplace, an arrangement that showed Aldric treating Noah as an equal rather than a subject. The king gestured for Noah to sit, then took the chair across from him. Noah didn’t waste time with extended pleasantries. "I appreciate your efficiency with the partnership arrangements, Your Majesty. But I’ve come today with a specific proposal that I think will benefit both of us significantly." Aldric leaned forward with interest. "I’m listening." "I want to hold an auction today," Noah explained. "I’ve acquired a new premium item that’s extraordinarily powerful, one of the the most valuable consumable I’ve offered yet. I want to auction it to the highest bidder among Esta’s nobility and wealthy elite to establish proper market value."