Of course, he had a basic grasp of how markets and auction houses worked as a gamer.

'If the demand is high, increase the exchange rate!'

He tucked his fingers around his chin, a calculative glint flashing in his eyes.

First, he had to decide what to ask for.

Wood wouldn't be a problem since he could cut the forest's trees down and stockpile it.

Yet, he frowned at the idea.

Trees were vital to provide the fresh air blowing his hair. Even if it might sound stupid, he took the matter seriously in this strange world.

'It'll also disturb the eco-system, something I don't want to happen this early.'

The rhythmic tapping of his finger on his cheek reverberated in the silence for a moment before he nodded.

"I'll study the forest's width later. I'll cut enough trees to build my city and let the rest serve as a natural reserve."

His mutter disturbed the silence as more ideas popped into his mind. Many underestimated nature's importance, but after seeing the demon realm? He'll do anything to preserve it and not live in a similar environment.

Nodding at his thoughts, he eyed the stones and iron ores. They were scarce in this forest, making them the primary items he would need.

Yet, stones were regular resources. Even if their prices would eventually increase, the ores would probably multiply, making them the most valuable commodity in the foreseeable future.

'I'll invest twenty percent of the meat for ores.'

Acting on his idea, he listed eight units of meat, asking for three iron ores for each in exchange.

Then, he abused the demand, listing the remaining thirty-two for a whooping eight stones per unit.

As for the blueprint, he waited before listing it. With their stomach crying, he doubted anyone would want to build houses.

Finally, he returned to the chat to inform the others.

[Adam: I listed forty units of meat for stones and iron.]

However, he frowned a second later as someone answered.

[Idk what name to use: Where? I can't see your offers.]

'Did it bug?'

His hand blurred on the interface as he checked the market tab, noticing in alarm that his selling list was empty.

"Where did my goods go?!"

Before dread could settle and the loss of profits engulfed his heart, a blinking light attracted his attention to a retrieve option.

The moment he pressed on it, a flood of notifications rang in his ears, forcing him to cover them with a wronged grimace.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

[One unit of meat has been traded for eight stones x32]

[One unit of meat has been traded for three iron ores x8]

'They bought it in a second! Are they eying the market all day like starved hyenas or what?'

An amused grin crept on his lips as a determination to abuse his strong citizen's advantage filled his thoughts. After all, he just got 256 units of stones and 24 of ores!

Without wasting time, he rushed to the nearby demon den, pushed its doors open and threw the seven cores he got from the goblin raid into the fiery pool.

Soon, seven demons condensed from the dancing green flames as notifications flashed before his eyes.

[Congratulations on summoning six tier-one common demons from western mythology: Lesser imps.]

[Congratulations on summoning a tier-one rare demon from northern mythology: Tomte.]

Cheeks puffed into a pout, he gazed at the weak creatures standing before him.

Unlike Shihan, the djinn or the satyr, the imps, looking like copies of himself if he removed his robes. But for some reasons, they couldn't speak.

Their growling grated at his ears, forcing a realisation: they acted on instinct and weren't intelligent at this stage. Worst, they were creatures of chaos whose mischief couldn't be controlled.

He massaged his frowning brows, feeling a headache menacing to form as they already started to fight while the Tomte caressed his long beard in amusement.

"You can't keep brainless creatures. Consider them as resources and absorb their demonic essence. That is if you want to build a cohesive society."

Luna emerged behind him, casting the weak imps a disdainful glance.

His face turned somber at the cruel option she offered.

What if they could evolve and gain intelligence? Could he really sacrifice them to... to flee a problem he could fix with a bit of patience and kindness?

"Even if you keep them. Then, what? You'll probably summon even worse types of demons. Will you raise them as well? Is it worth the investment?"

Luna shook her head, knowing which direction Adam's thoughts wandered to.

His frown deepened. She was correct. He would waste a substantial amount of time he didn't have in the early stage.

Yet, he shook his head.

"We'll keep those six. I'll assign someone to watch over and teach them until they evolve."

What image would he project if he slaughtered them? A cruel lord who killed his weak subjects to increase his strength? Then, what difference would there be between his territory and the demon realm?

Killing them without reason didn't suit his play style anyway, even if he would feel nothing as he pierced their short frames.

More than ever, he had to set his moral boundaries and try to share them with those demons.

As his words lingered, he walked out, noticing Luna shake her head and leave, her expression unreadable. But if he had to guess? He would say she felt disappointed.

With a wry smile and planning to talk with her later, he grabbed the mischievous imps by the hand and dragged them out.

Perhaps they thought the dressed individual from their species wanted to show them a fun place or that he wanted to play with them. In any case, they didn't resist, jumping around him and ruffling his fiery hair like kids instead.

Once before his hut, he turned to the old demon shorter than him.

"Can you watch over them and help them understand we want peaceful lives?"

"Hmm. Depends on what's in for me."

The demons played with his beard as his eyes sparkled.

"I want food, lodging and farms to oversee. If you promise them to me, I'll take your job."

"You'll have them once the territory expands."

He nodded before leaving the small creatures together. The area was still empty, and he doubted they could cause too much chaos under the old demon's supervision anyway.

Then, he stepped inside and stood before the lord's emblem.

[Materials required to level up: ten units of stone, twenty units of wood, and a population of five citizens. Proceed?]

The wooden floor cracked and rumbled under his feet the moment he pressed yes. The walls stretched and turned before his eyes, making a new room emerge as a blinding energy refined the rough interior.

'Seems more solid.'

He patted the walls, feeling their texture with an approving nod before checking the building's new stats.

Demon lord's shaky hut LV2

HP: 700

Materials required to level up: fifty units of stone, a hundred units of wood, and a population of fifteen citizens.