AutumnXd
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CHAPTER 7
🕑 Added 2025-04-29 16:39:37 +0000 UTCHakan was furious.
He could tolerate Ben reading comics—kids were playful, after all. It was partially his fault for not keeping a closer eye on him.
He should have been focusing more on the household. Ben was his greatest hope for marrying into nobility.
But now Ben was secretly buying toys? Hadn’t he played with every toy imaginable growing up? And now he was buying someone else’s toys?
“You’re twelve already! When I was your age, I was already earning money to support the family!”
“And weren’t you selling toys back then too? Why can’t I play with them?”
“Your only job right now is to study hard. You’ll have plenty of time to play in the future.”
“You’re just jealous their toys are better than yours!”
Smack!
A crisp slap rang out.
Red marks immediately bloomed across Ben’s small face. Whether it was from fear or anger, his body trembled slightly. His eyes welled with tears, but he didn’t cry out—he just stared his father straight in the eyes.
That stare unnerved Hakan, though he wouldn’t admit it. Out of pride and a father’s authority, he stood firm. He confiscated the newspaper and the yo-yo, and told Ben to reflect on his actions in his room.
Dinner, which had been carefully prepared, tasted like nothing.
He took a few bites and retreated to his study.
Not that he read much, but every noble needed a study, and his was lined with several expensive bookshelves filled with expensive books.
He opened a bottle of strong liquor, filled a glass to the brim, and downed it in one go.
The wine merchant had once explained to him the flavor profiles of the front, middle, and aftertaste, but he’d forgotten all of it—and couldn’t taste any of it anyway.
He picked up the newspaper he had torn into several pieces to see what exactly had Ben so entranced that he’d skip meals.
It was a special edition compilation of Blazing Yo-Yo Champion.
The whole newspaper was just that—one giant comic. From what he could tell, it was a compilation of everything published over the past week.
“Smart business move.”
To him, the comic wasn’t much different from the dime-a-dozen adventurer, mage, and knight stories—only the swords and staffs had been swapped for yo-yos.
It didn’t even have elves, demons, nuns, or princesses to spice it up. Boring. Not many people would like this sort of thing.
Feeling slightly relieved, he set the paper aside and started scheming.
The sales at Zogo’s Toy Store weren’t great, but the marketing idea was clever.
Writing stories around the toys and publishing them in the paper—much better than dry promotional lines or plastering posters all over town.
He should hire someone to write stories for Aclate Toys too. Maybe even get a theater troupe to perform them.
Once the bards started singing them far and wide, and the stories were printed into books that spread across the continent, Aclate Toys would be selling everywhere too.
Then, with the big money rolling in, he’d fund a military force for the Pope and get himself knighted. All the local nobles would have to bow to him.
Then Ben wouldn’t have to study all day. He could do whatever he wanted.
Feeling excited, he poured himself another drink.
He glanced at the two yo-yos on the table.
“So this little thing is what I got so worked up over?”
He tried a few spins—nothing special. He was convinced the moves in the comic were impossible. And even if they were real, no kid could pull them off.
He’d sold toys for years—he knew what kids could handle.
Maybe it was the booze, but he slept like a rock that night.
By the time he woke up, it was nearly noon. Still, as a responsible shopkeeper, he figured he should check in on the store.
Feeling good after confirming Zogo’s store wouldn’t stir up much trouble, he decided to walk.
He liked to carry candy with him to hand out to the neighborhood kids. They all knew him, and truth be told, he rather liked kids.
Up ahead, a crowd of preteen boys had gathered.
“What are you guys doing?” he asked.
“We’re arguing over who gets to play Liffy, Uncle Hakan!”
Liffy? Who was that? Some new legendary hero from a story? The name sounded vaguely familiar.
“Oh? How are you deciding? Don’t tell me you're fighting—that’s not what good kids do.”
“Of course not! We’re competing—with yo-yos!”
Hakan wasn’t quite sure what competing with yo-yos meant. Probably some new game they’d invented.
“Elevator!”
“Around the World!”
“Lightning Strike!”
“Whoa! He can do Lightning Strike!”
As they shouted out the names of their moves with full confidence, dazzling illusions burst into the air around them.
Hakan’s eyes widened.
That was a yo-yo!
But it was nothing like the one he’d tried last night.
Liffy—Liffy was the main character in Blazing Yo-Yo Champion!
All dignity forgotten, he pushed his way into the group of kids to get a better look. They were holding the exact same yo-yos as Ben—Fire Warrior models.
And nearly every kid had one.
What the hell?
Just yesterday, Zogo’s store barely had any customers!
Suddenly uneasy, he hailed a carriage and headed straight for Cornflower Street.
Before he even saw the sign for his own store, he saw the long line outside of Zogo’s Toy Store.
Why?
He couldn’t figure it out. His years of experience told him toys gained popularity gradually, by word of mouth. How could something just explode overnight?
He had no idea Blazing Yo-Yo Champion had just reached its first big climax—Liffy defeating his school rival.
And today was a holiday. Most schools in the city were boarding schools, and the kids had been locked up for a week. Now finally let loose, they rushed out—straight to Zogo’s.
Hakan stormed into Aclate Toys, nearly bursting a vein.
There were barely any customers. His little brother was in the middle of yo-yo practice.
Seeing Hakan, he said excitedly, “Who’d have thought! You can actually do the moves from the comic! With illusions, too! Turns out that comic is practically a training manual…”
“Stop playing already.”
“Look! Walk the Dog!”
A little white dog chased the path of the yo-yo as it spun across the floor. Kalaman giggled behind it.
The memory of mocking Zogo just yesterday made Hakan’s stomach turn. Now the tables had flipped—what would they say about him?
He paced the store twenty times before forcing himself to calm down.
Thinking rationally, there was only one kind of toy—yo-yos. Too narrow. People got tired of things fast. It wouldn’t last.
Aclate’s strength was noble clientele. They didn’t just want fun—they wanted elegance. Uniqueness. Yo-yos couldn’t compete.
Let them enjoy their moment.
Just then, the store door opened.
Hakan looked up and instantly plastered on a fawning smile. He bowed low and approached. “Young Master Craig! Welcome! What kind of toy are you looking for today? Our newest design is—”
“Do you have yo-yos?” Craig cut him off impatiently.
The Craig family was one of the most powerful in the country, known for their world-class magical constructs, with elite mages and priests, and control over several ports in Twin Tower City.
More importantly, Craig spent hundreds of gold coins in Aclate Toys every year.
“Uh, let me show you this season’s latest—”
“I want a yo-yo! Don’t you understand?!”
“Y-yes, but…”
The young footman next to Craig ignored Hakan and said, “Didn’t I tell you, young master? Only Zogo’s Toy Store sells yo-yos.”
“But—but theirs are too cheap! Only a few dozen copper coins. That doesn’t match my status.”
“I heard they do custom ones too.”
“You should’ve said so earlier!” Craig’s face lit up, then he frowned. “But you know… my family forbade mentioning Zogo…”
“Oh come on, it’s not like they really have an evil dragon or anything. Besides, ‘Zogo Toys’? That’s a joke! You’ll beat them someday, just like you beat a toy.”
“You’re right! I’ll definitely defeat Zogo when I grow up!”
With that, Craig bounced out of Aclate Toys and ran across the street, never once sparing Hakan a glance.
Hakan bowed them out of the shop and didn’t raise his head for a long, long time.
His last shred of pride had just shattered.
