His power, the impossible +1 enhancement, was dormant. He could feel the emptiness where the internal hum had resided, a void left after depleting the ten charges during yesterday’s frantic testing and hypothesis confirmation. Ten uses, seemingly recharging on a 24-hour cycle, but the first recharge wasn't due for hours yet, pegged to the time he'd enhanced that first glass tumbler. Waiting felt like torture, like watching water drip onto his forehead while strapped to a rack.
He paced the small, cluttered room, his expensive shoes crunching softly on grit near the doorway, fingers drumming an impatient tattoo against his thigh. Waiting for anonymous online buyers to stumble upon his listing for an unknown, unproven product… it was passive. It was leaving too much to chance. His corporate life had taught him aggression, proactive manoeuvring. Relying on hope was a strategy for fools and losers.
Think, Theo, think. Where could a superior knife make an immediate, demonstrable impact? Who valued sharpness, durability, and edge retention above all else, day in, day out?
Butchers.
The idea struck him with the force of necessity. Forget waiting for clicks. He needed to put the product directly into the hands of someone who would know the difference instantly. A single impressed professional could be worth more in word-of-mouth than a dozen anonymous online sales.
Decision made, the lethargy of anxiety was replaced by focused action. He selected one of the ten enhanced knives from the counter, one that felt particularly well-balanced after its +1 treatment. He couldn’t just walk in waving a bare blade. Presentation mattered. He sacrificed one of the cardboard sleeves the knives had come in, cleaning it meticulously. He used a precious few dollars from his wallet, cash reserved for absolute emergencies, to buy a small, cheap whetstone and a piece of clean butcher paper from a corner store. Back in the apartment, he carefully wrapped the knife, creating a semblance of professional packaging. It looked… adequate. Functional. Hopefully convincing enough to get him past the initial scepticism.
Before reaching for the jacket, he caught his reflection in the dusty, full-length mirror propped against one wall, a jarring slash of order against the apartment's backdrop of chaos. He stood tall, deliberately straightening his spine, pulling his shoulders back to maximize his roughly 180cm height. His frame was lean, not skinny, honed perhaps by past scarcity and present stress, giving his movements a certain wiry tension. The white shirt he wore, though likely inexpensive, was crisp and immaculately clean. He ran a hand quickly over his dark hair, ensuring the neat, presentable style was perfect, image was paramount. Beneath the carefully styled hair, sharp cheekbones gave his face definition, leading down to a jawline set in practiced neutrality. Only his eyes, an intense, piercing blue, hinted at the storm beneath the surface, they were constantly scanning, assessing, holding a watchful energy that belied the manufactured calm of his expression. This was the facade he needed, the armour required for the outside world.
He put on his suit jacket, adjusting the knot of his tie. Armor for the battlefield. He needed to project confidence, expertise, even if he was just parroting half-remembered details from cooking shows and online forums. He grabbed the wrapped knife and headed out, the lucky coin cool against his palm inside his pocket.
The walk took him deeper into the neighbourhood’s working-class heart. Past pawn shops with barred windows, bodegas advertising cheap beer, and boarded-up storefronts. Finally, he reached "Marello's Meats," an old-school butcher shop tucked between a laundromat and a discount tire store. The windows were slightly steamed, displaying hand-painted signs for weekly specials. The smell of sawdust and raw meat hung in the air.
Taking a deep breath, Theo pushed open the door, a small bell jingling overhead. Inside, the air was cool, the floor covered in fresh sawdust. A burly man with a stained white apron and formidable forearms looked up from behind a massive wooden chopping block, a cleaver paused mid-air over a side of beef. His expression was neutral, appraising.
"Help ya?" the butcher asked, his voice a low rumble.
Theo summoned his corporate persona, the smooth veneer he used for networking. "Good morning. I'm Theo Sterling," he said, extending a hand automatically before realizing the butcher’s were likely covered in… well, butcher stuff. He let his hand drop smoothly. "I'm introducing a new line of professional cutlery, Eversharp Edge, specifically designed for demanding environments like yours. I believe we offer unparalleled performance at a competitive price point."
The butcher, Marello presumably, wiped his hands on his apron, his eyes narrowing slightly. He didn’t look impressed by the jargon. "New line, huh? Never heard of it. What makes yours so special? Looks like a regular knife." He gestured vaguely at the wrapped object in Theo's hand.
"It's about the proprietary finishing process," Theo improvised, keeping his voice steady. "It results in a +1 enhancement to overall quality, superior edge retention, durability, and balance. It holds an edge significantly longer and withstands chipping far better than standard blades in this category." He hoped the "+1" sounded like believable marketing speak.
Marello grunted, unimpressed. "Heard that before. Everyone says their knives are the best. Got some Carvers myself. German steel. Do the job."
"Mind if I demonstrate?" Theo pressed, carefully unwrapping the knife. He held it out, handle first. The blade gleamed under the shop's fluorescent lights, looking sharper, more refined than its $25 origin suggested.
The butcher hesitated, then took the knife, his thick fingers testing the weight, the balance. He grunted again, a flicker of grudging interest in his eyes. "Feels okay. Bit light maybe." He turned to his block, grabbed a thick scrap of beef suet. With practiced ease, he drew the Eversharp Edge blade across it. The knife sliced through the tough, fatty tissue with almost unnerving silence, leaving a perfectly clean cut. Marello raised an eyebrow, surprised. He tried again, faster this time, making paper-thin slices. The knife moved like an extension of his hand.
"Huh," he admitted. He picked up one of his own hefty Carvers and made a similar cut. It worked, but required visibly more effort, more sawing motion. He looked back at the Eversharp Edge knife, then at Theo. "Alright, kid. It cuts. Holds an edge, you say?"
"Significantly longer than comparable blades," Theo affirmed. "Reduces sharpening downtime, increases efficiency." He held his breath.
Marello tapped the blade thoughtfully against the block. "How much?"
"$99.99," Theo said, trying to sound casual.
The butcher barked a short laugh. "A hundred bucks? For one knife from a guy I never heard of? You got guts, kid, I'll give ya that." He handed the knife back. "Tell ya what. Leave it here with me for the day. Let me put it through its paces on some real work, not just scraps. Come back before closing. If it holds up like you say, maybe we talk. Maybe."
It wasn't a sale, but it wasn't a no. It was a chance. A hook planted. "Fair enough," Theo agreed, forcing a confident smile. "I'll be back around five." He left the knife, feeling a pang of anxiety at parting with one of his precious few enhanced items, but also a flicker of hope. He walked out, the bell jingling his departure.
The afternoon crawled by. Theo returned to his apartment, the pressure mounting exponentially as 3 PM, then 4 PM passed. He checked his bank balance again. $1580.09. He refreshed the marketplace page. Nothing. The silence was deafening. Doubt gnawed at him. Had he wasted his time with the butcher? Was the online listing a bust? The image of the eviction notice being slapped on his door became terrifyingly vivid. He started calculating what he could get for his laptop, his good suit. It wouldn't be enough.
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Then, at 4:48 PM, just as true panic began to set in, his laptop emitted a cheerful, almost mocking "Cha-ching!" sound.
Sale Confirmed: Eversharp Edge - Pro Butcher Knife (+1 Enhanced Quality)
Theo stared at the notification, his heart leaping into his throat. Relief, potent and dizzying, washed over him, so intense it left him weak-kneed. He’d done it. Someone had actually bought one. He wanted to laugh, to shout, but the relief immediately morphed into a new kind of panic.
Shipping.
He looked around his disastrous apartment. He had no boxes, no bubble wrap, no packing tape. The buyer had paid for standard shipping. Platform rules likely required shipment within 24 hours. He needed materials now. And money for postage.
Adrenaline surged. He checked his wallet. $39 left after buying the butcher paper and whetstone earlier. Not enough. He looked at the clock. 4:52 PM. Banks were closed. The post office would close soon.
Frantic, he grabbed his empty backpack and bolted out the door. He ran to the corner store, spending $10 on a roll of packing tape and hoping for the best. Boxes? He spotted a pile of flattened cardboard boxes behind a nearby grocery store. Ignoring the grime and the potential embarrassment, he grabbed a couple that looked sturdy and relatively clean, stuffing them into his backpack. Bubble wrap? No chance. He ran back to his apartment, his mind racing. Protection. He needed padding. He looked at the piles of dirty laundry. No. Then his eyes landed on the stacks of junk mail and old newspapers overflowing from a recycling bin he never put out. Perfect. He started shredding newspaper, stuffing it into the cleaner of the two salvaged boxes.
He carefully wrapped the enhanced knife in multiple layers of newspaper, secured it with tape, placed it in the box cushioned by more shredded paper, and taped the whole thing shut with aggressive, overlapping strips. It looked ugly, unprofessional, but hopefully secure.
He checked the time. 5:15 PM. Post office was closed. Shipping drop-off boxes? Maybe. He grabbed the package, his laptop (for printing the label if he could find a place), and ran out again. He found a 24-hour shipping store two blocks over, paid their inflated price to print the label using another $5, and used their automated kiosk to pay for postage, another $12 vanishing from his dwindling cash reserves. He shoved the ugly box into the drop-off chute just before the final pickup deadline. Done. Cost: $27 in materials and postage, plus dignity.
He stumbled back to his apartment, exhausted but wired. He immediately logged into his bank account and initiated the $450 rent payment. Confirmation received. He watched the balance drop to $1130.09. Despite making a sale, his bank balance still looked terrible.
Later that evening, close to 6 PM, right around the 24-hour mark since he’d first enhanced the glass tumbler, he felt it. A subtle warmth returning, the faint internal hum restarting, like a pilot light relighting. His power was back. Ten fresh uses available.
Just then, his phone buzzed. A message from the online marketplace. New Positive Rating Received for Eversharp Edge! The buyer, likely the one whose order he just shipped, must have received a notification and left pre-emptive feedback based on the listing or perceived value. Whatever the reason, it was a 5-star rating with a simple comment: "Looks promising, fast shipping!"
Another "Cha-ching!" sounded almost immediately after. Second sale.
Before closing time, he went back to the butcher shop, his anxiety lessened but still present. Marello looked up as he entered, wiping his hands. He gestured towards the chopping block where the Eversharp Edge knife lay.
"Alright, Sterling," the butcher said, his tone grudgingly impressed. "Your knife… it ain't bad. Held up better'n I expected through half a steer and a dozen chickens. Didn't need to touch it up once." He picked it up, examined the edge critically. "Still sharp." He looked Theo square in the eye. "Tell ya what. I'll take this one. And I want two more. Give ya eighty bucks apiece for 'em, cash."
Theo’s mind raced. $80 was less than the $100 online, but it was cash, now, no fees, no shipping hassle. And potentially invaluable goodwill. "Three knives at eighty-five each, and you tell your colleagues where you got them, and that they can buy it online." Theo countered smoothly, leveraging the butcher's admission.
Marello chuckled. "Eighty-five it is, kid. You drive a hard bargain." He pulled a thick wad of bills from his pocket, counted out $255, and handed it over. Theo quickly boxed up two more enhanced knives from his remaining stock when he got back home. The butcher transaction felt solid, real, in a way the anonymous online clicks didn't.
The positive rating and perhaps Marello spreading the word seemed to prime the pump. Over the next few days, sales became steady. Two or three orders a day. More 5-star reviews popped up: "Cuts like a dream!" "Seriously sharp, great value." "My new favourite knife."
Theo quickly enhanced the rest of his initial batch. With the cash from Marello and the steady online income (minus platform fees), his bank balance crept upwards. He felt confident enough to buy another batch of ten knives ($250), his earlier terror replaced by the buzz of burgeoning success. The power recharged reliably every 24 hours, and he fell into a rhythm. Wake up, check orders, enhance ten knives, pack, ship, update ledger.
His apartment remained a mess, but the pile of shipping supplies grew. His spreadsheet showed a clear positive trend. He was out of immediate danger. He could breathe.
But breathing wasn't enough. Theo started looking at the numbers more critically. Each knife cost $25. Listing/transaction fees averaged $10. Shipping materials/postage, maybe $15 if he was careful. Total cost per knife: ~$50. Selling for $99.99 meant roughly $50 profit per knife. $500 profit per day, maximum, dictated by his 10-use limit.
It sounded good compared to being broke, but compared to his ambitions? $500 a day was pocket change. It wouldn't make him rich, let alone a billionaire. The grind of packing and shipping was tedious. And the 10-use limit was a hard ceiling. This wasn't scalable. Eversharp Edge was successful on its small scale, but it was a dead end for his real goals. Dissatisfaction began to fester beneath the surface success. He needed something bigger, better margins, higher impact per +1 use.
Then, demand spiked. A popular foodie blog mentioned "an incredible new knife from an unknown maker called Eversharp Edge" in a roundup review. Orders surged. Suddenly, Theo had fifteen orders pending, then twenty. His 10-enhancements-per-day limit felt like shackles. Customers were messaging, asking about shipping times.
He looked at his inventory. He had purchased a total of 50 knives so far and still had plenty of the base $25 knives stockpiled. He looked at his power, ten uses available today, ten more tomorrow. He could enhance ten today, ship them, enhance ten tomorrow… but that meant delaying a third of the current orders by at least a day, maybe more if the surge continued. Delay meant potential cancellations, bad reviews, hassle.
Or…
He looked at the un-enhanced knives. They looked almost identical to the enhanced ones. Only an expert user like Marello, under heavy use, would likely notice the difference immediately. These online buyers? They were probably home cooks impressed by the initial sharpness (which even the base knives had, briefly) and the idea of enhancement.
The calculation was cold, instant, and devoid of ethical friction. Ship all twenty orders now. Enhance the first ten knives today as usual. For the next ten orders, ship the standard, un-enhanced $25 knives. Pocket the full $99.99 (minus costs) for knives he hadn't used his precious, limited power on. That was an extra ~$50 profit per knife, an immediate $500 boost. Who would know? By the time any complaints trickled in, if they ever did, he planned to be long gone from the knife business. Eversharp Edge was just a stepping stone, a way to build capital for the real venture. Reputation for this minor gig was utterly disposable. Money came first. Always.
He spent the next cycle enhancing ten knives as usual. Then, methodically, he began packing the next ten orders. He took ten plain knives from his stock, boxed them up, printed the labels. There was no hesitation, no pang of conscience. Just the cold, calculating assessment of risk versus reward. He was taking a shortcut, leveraging the reputation built by his actual enhanced products to squeeze extra profit from inferior ones. It felt… efficient.
He shipped all twenty packages. Later that day, watching his bank balance swell significantly from the influx of payments for both genuine and fake enhanced knives, a grim, cynical satisfaction settled over him. He'd beaten the system, optimized the situation to his immediate advantage. The potential future complaints, the burned customers, the trashed reputation of Eversharp Edge – those were distant, abstract concerns. The crisp, growing number in his bank account was real.
He leaned back, already scanning business news sites on his laptop, his mind churning with possibilities far beyond butcher knives. He had capital now, a proven (if misused) unique selling proposition, and a renewed, ruthless focus. The terrifying desperation of three weeks ago felt like a lifetime away, replaced by the familiar, cold fire of ambition. Eversharp Edge had served its purpose. It was time to find something bigger to enhance.
Theodore Sterling - Financial Ledger (Approx. End of Week 3.5)
- Starting Balance (from Ch1): $1580.09
- Income:
- Butcher Sales (3 knives @ $85.00): +$255.00
- Online Sales (47 knives @ $99.99): +$4699.53
- Total Income: +$4954.53
- Expenses:
- Rent Paid (covering 2 weeks @ $450/wk): -$900.00
- Living Expenses (covering 2 weeks @ $300/wk): -$600.00
- Knife Stock Purchases (Additional 40 knives @ $25/ea): -$1000.00
- Online Sales Costs (Est. Fees/Shipping - 47 sales @ ~$25/ea): -$1175.00
- Misc. Business Setup (Butcher prep, initial shipping and materials): -$34.00
- Total Expenses: -$3709.00
- Net Change During Period: +$1245.53
- Ending Balance: $2825.62
- Status: Short-term financial stability achieved. Rent covered with buffer. Business generated solid positive cash flow but margins/scalability deemed insufficient by Theo. Note: Shipped 10 un-enhanced knives as part of the 47 online sales to maximize short-term profit, knowingly risking future 'Eversharp Edge' reputation. Actively planning pivot to a more profitable venture. Current Runway (after next rent): ~3.1 weeks based on balance.