Chapter 9 by ZiaAkemi

What kind of world did he end up on?

A world where everything can be bartered, and Tom is the most valuable person

Tom stays bathed in his royal bathtub, the bubbles hiding his whole body except for his face and arms, and he carefully checks his rulebook again. Pages and pages of rules on top of each other are seen, not even Tom can parse what has been changed from the old world and what has always been. But he does notice two rules in written in bold and a bit bigger than the rest of the rules

Old Rule: “Everything can be bartered as long as both sides agree. This includes the physical and the metaphysical.”

That makes sense, humans have been trading ever since they existed. Fisherman selling his fish so he can buy rice, kings owning land and getting the farmer’s profit, workers selling their skill to those that need it etc.

But also the non-physical stuff! Like how a married couple traded so they own each other. How a citizen trades their loyalty for protection to their country. How slaves sell their free will to their owners etc.

“Ok that makes sense” Tom nodded along, but raised his eyebrows at the second rule he reads

Old Rule: “Tom is the most valuable person in the world”

Ah… that’s why all his friends offered their girlfriend’s loyalty. Also might be why his moms and his sisters gave them their free will. Also also why he has unlimited money in his bank account. They have always said “as compensation for being in his presence”.

… this also probably explains why the past 3 years after his 18th birthday the economy kinda crashed. All economic theory now have a “this theory doesn’t apply to Tom” appended in their description.

“Master~” Tom hears knocking on the door, “sorry for our disobedience, but we want to dry you up when you’re finished bathing~ are you done~?”

“One moment Sam!” Tom answered his sister-maid-****, because there’s one thing still bothering him…