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ecommenchanter · 2 years ago

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Fast-Track to Online Income: Comprehensive Strategies to Earn Money and Grow Quickly in E-commerce

Introduction

The digital landscape has significantly transformed the way we conduct business, opening up countless opportunities for generating income online. E-commerce, a sector that has seen exponential growth over the years, has become a key player in the digital economy, offering anyone with an internet connection a chance to jump into the world of online selling.

While it’s important to maintain realistic expectations — you won’t become a millionaire overnight — with the right approach, strategic planning, and a good deal of determination, it’s certainly possible to start earning money online in a matter of weeks, perhaps even days. This article will offer an in-depth, step-by-step guide to help you hit the ground running and fast-track your online income through e-commerce.

Part 1: Dropshipping — A Quick Start

Why Dropshipping?

The beauty of dropshipping lies in its simplicity and low entry barrier. It’s an e-commerce model where you don’t handle the products you sell. Instead, you work with a supplier who stores, packs, and ships the products on your behalf. This means you can start selling without a huge capital investment or the hassle of inventory management.

Finding a Reliable Supplier

Your supplier is your business partner, and their performance directly affects your customer satisfaction. You can find suppliers on platforms like AliExpress, Oberlo, SaleHoo, or Doba. Check for suppliers with excellent reviews, reliable shipping, and high-quality products. Remember, the cheapest supplier may not always be the best choice.

Choosing Profitable Products

Your product choice can make or break your business. Focus on niche products that are trending but not overly saturated. Tools like Google Trends, Niche Scraper, and Trend Hunter can help you identify potential winning products.

Pricing Your Products

Pricing is a crucial part of your business strategy. It should be high enough to cover your costs and generate a profit, but low enough to attract customers. Consider your target audience, product quality, and market competition when setting prices.

Part 2: Building Your Online Store

Why Shopify?

Shopify is a leading e-commerce platform known for its user-friendly interface, robust functionality, and excellent customer support. It offers a 14-day free trial that allows you to set up your store and get comfortable with the platform before committing to a paid plan.

Designing Your Shopify Store

Your online store is your virtual storefront, and its design should create a positive first impression. Choose a clean, professional Shopify theme that aligns with your brand identity. The layout should be intuitive, with a focus on user experience. Ensure your website is mobile-friendly, as a significant portion of online shopping happens on mobile devices.

Creating Stellar Product Listings

Your product page is where the selling happens. Each product listing should include an engaging title, a detailed description, high-quality images, and a clear call-to-action. Highlight the benefits of your products and why customers should choose them over competitors.

Setting Up Payments and Shipping

Shopify supports a wide range of payment gateways, including PayPal, Stripe, and credit card payments, making it easy for customers worldwide to shop from your store. For shipping, you can use the rates provided by your dropshipping supplier. Be clear and transparent about shipping costs and times on your product pages and checkout process.

Part 3: Pre-Launch Marketing

Why Pre-Launch Marketing?

Building hype before your store’s launch can help you hit the ground running. Use this period to create a community around your brand, generate interest in your products, and build anticipation for your launch.

Building an Email List

An email list is a powerful marketing tool. Use lead magnets — incentives you offer to potential buyers in exchange for their email address — to encourage website visitors to subscribe to your mailing list. This could be a discount on their first purchase, a free ebook, or exclusive access to pre-launch products.

Social Media Teasers

Leverage social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest to share teaser posts about your upcoming store launch. These could be behind-the-scenes looks at your product selection process, sneak peeks of your products, or countdown posts leading up to the launch. Remember, engagement is key. Respond to comments and messages, and build genuine relationships with your followers.

Part 4: Launching Your Store

The Grand Opening

Now that you’ve built up anticipation, it’s time for the big reveal. Announce the launch on your social media channels and send out an email blast to your subscribers. To encourage initial purchases, consider offering a special launch-day discount or a small gift with every purchase.

Leveraging Social Media for Promotion

Stay active on your social media channels. Regularly post engaging content, interact with your followers, and promote your products creatively. Consider running contests or giveaways to increase engagement and reach. Also, don’t shy away from paid advertising on social media — it can be an effective way to reach a larger audience.

Part 5: Post-Launch Marketing Strategies

Influencer Marketing

Influencer marketing is a powerful tool in the e-commerce world. Influencers have established audiences who trust their recommendations. Partnering with influencers in your niche can drive significant traffic to your store and boost your sales.

Running Paid Ads

Paid advertising, particularly on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, can be a game-changer for your online store. With the ability to target specific demographics based on interests, location, age, and more, you can reach potential customers who are likely to be interested in your products. Start with a small budget and gradually increase it as you see positive results.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

SEO is a long-term strategy that can drive organic traffic to your store. It involves optimizing your website and product pages to rank higher in search engine results. This can be done by using relevant keywords in your content, optimizing your website’s loading speed, and building high-quality backlinks.

Part 6: Fostering Growth and Expansion

Prioritizing Customer Service

Excellent customer service can set you apart from your competitors. Ensure you respond to customer inquiries quickly and professionally. If issues arise with orders, handle them promptly and to the customer’s satisfaction. Happy customers are more likely to become repeat customers and refer others to your store.

Analyzing and Optimizing

Regularly review your store’s performance using analytics tools like Google Analytics or Shopify’s built-in analytics. These tools provide valuable insights into your customers’ behavior, popular products, and traffic sources. Use this information to optimize your website, marketing strategies, and product selection.

Expanding Your Product Range

As your business grows and you gain a better understanding of your customers, consider expanding your product range. This could mean adding new products within your existing niche or branching out into complementary niches. However, ensure any new products align with your brand and are likely to appeal to your target audience.

Part 7: Scaling Your Business

Moving Beyond Dropshipping

Once you’ve built a stable income stream through dropshipping, consider exploring other e-commerce business models. For instance, you could transition into wholesaling or even manufacturing your own products. This could increase your profit margins, give you more control over product quality, and allow you to offer unique products that set you apart from the competition.

Building a Strong Brand

As your business grows, focus on building a strong brand. A compelling brand story, a consistent visual identity, and a clear value proposition can help you establish a strong market presence. Invest in quality branding elements such as a professional logo, a unique color palette, and a consistent tone of voice in all your communication. Remember, a strong brand can command customer loyalty and distinguish you from competitors.

Investing in Advanced Marketing Strategies

As your business scales, so should your marketing efforts. Consider more advanced strategies such as content marketing, email automation, retargeting ads, and even hiring an SEO consultant.

Content Marketing: Regularly publishing high-quality, relevant content can drive traffic to your site, improve your SEO, and position your brand as an authority in your niche. This could be blog posts, how-to guides, or even video content.

Email Automation: Automated email campaigns can help you nurture relationships with your customers. This could include welcome emails, cart abandonment reminders, and personalized product recommendations.

Retargeting Ads: Retargeting ads can help you reach people who have previously interacted with your brand, reminding them of their interest and encouraging them to complete a purchase.

SEO Consulting: As your store grows, you may want to consider hiring an SEO consultant. They can provide expert advice and implement advanced strategies to help your store rank higher in search engine results.

Part 8: Mastering Customer Retention

Why Customer Retention Matters

Acquiring new customers is important, but retaining existing ones is just as crucial. In fact, it’s often more cost-effective to retain a customer than to acquire a new one. A loyal customer base can provide a steady stream of revenue and serve as brand ambassadors, promoting your business through word-of-mouth marketing.

Implementing a Loyalty Program

A loyalty program can incentivize repeat purchases by rewarding customers for their loyalty. This could be a points-based system where customers earn points for every dollar spent, which can be redeemed for discounts or free products. Or, it could be a VIP program offering exclusive perks to members.

Offering Excellent Post-Purchase Support

Post-purchase support is a crucial part of customer retention. This includes answering any questions or concerns customers may have about their purchase, providing easy and hassle-free returns or exchanges, and following up with customers to ensure they’re satisfied with their purchase.

Part 9: Exploring International Markets

The Benefits of Going Global

Expanding your e-commerce business to international markets can open up a whole new customer base, significantly increasing your sales potential. Additionally, it can help spread risk — if sales dip in one market, they may be up in another.

Conducting Market Research

Before expanding internationally, conduct thorough market research to understand the demand for your products in different markets, the competition, and any cultural nuances that could affect your marketing and sales strategies.

Overcoming Logistics Challenges

International expansion comes with logistical challenges, such as shipping, taxes, and customs. Partnering with international shipping providers and understanding the tax and customs regulations of the countries you’re selling in can help you overcome these challenges.

Part 10: Preparing for the Future

Staying Ahead of E-commerce Trends

The e-commerce landscape is constantly evolving, and staying ahead of trends can give you a competitive edge. This could involve adopting new technologies (like AR and VR for product visualization), exploring new marketing strategies (like TikTok marketing), or even expanding into new product categories.

Investing in Sustainability

Sustainability is becoming increasingly important to consumers. Incorporating sustainability into your business — whether through eco-friendly packaging, sustainable sourcing, or carbon offset shipping — can not only help the environment, but also attract a new segment of eco-conscious consumers.

Adapting to Changes in Consumer Behavior

Consumer behavior is continually changing, influenced by social, economic, and technological factors. Regularly reviewing your sales data, keeping an eye on industry trends, and actively seeking customer feedback can help you stay in tune with changes in consumer behavior and adapt your business accordingly.

Part 11: Building a Team

As your e-commerce business grows, you may need to expand your team to handle the increasing workload and bring in new skills and perspectives.

Hiring the Right People

Hiring the right people is crucial for the success of your business. Look for individuals who are passionate about your industry, align with your company culture, and have the skills and experience needed for their role.

Delegating Tasks

As a business owner, it’s important to delegate tasks so you can focus on strategic decision-making. Assign operational tasks (like order fulfillment and customer service) to your team members, and consider outsourcing specialized tasks (like SEO and content creation) to experts.

Building a Positive Company Culture

A positive company culture can improve employee satisfaction and productivity. Foster a culture of open communication, recognize and reward hard work, and provide opportunities for professional growth.

Part 12: Keeping the Momentum Going

Building a successful e-commerce business is a marathon, not a sprint. Even after achieving initial success, it’s important to keep pushing forward and striving for growth.

Continually Optimizing Your Store

E-commerce is a fast-paced industry, and what worked yesterday may not work tomorrow. Regularly review and optimize your store based on performance data and industry trends. This could involve tweaking your website design, improving product descriptions, or optimizing your checkout process.

Expanding Your Marketing Efforts

As your business grows, you should continually expand and diversify your marketing efforts. Test new marketing channels, experiment with different ad formats, and continually optimize your campaigns based on performance data.

Innovating and Experimenting

Don’t be afraid to innovate and experiment. Whether it’s launching a new product line, trying a new marketing strategy, or experimenting with a new business model, taking calculated risks can lead to big rewards.

Conclusion

While the promise of fast money in e-commerce is enticing, it’s important to remember that building a successful online business requires strategic planning, hard work, and a commitment to continuous learning and adaptation. It’s not about getting rich quick, but about building a sustainable business that can provide a steady income stream over time.

The roadmap outlined in this article offers a comprehensive guide to fast-tracking your online income. By starting with dropshipping, setting up an attractive and user-friendly online store, leveraging pre-launch and post-launch marketing strategies, and focusing on customer satisfaction, analysis, and optimization, you can set your e-commerce business up for success. As your business grows, you can explore other business models and advanced marketing strategies to further increase your income.

So, are you ready to embark on your e-commerce journey? With this detailed guide, you’re well-equipped to fast-track your path to earning online income. Remember, every successful business started somewhere, and today could be your day one. So, take that first step, and let the journey begin!

#E-commerce #Online Income #Quick Money #Dropshipping #Shopify #Marketing Strategies #Influencer Marketing #SEO #Customer Service #Business Analytics #Product Expansion #Business Scaling #Brand Building #E-commerce Success #Online Business #Profitability #Business Launch

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jcmarketresearch · 2 years ago

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#Quick Commerce #e commerce #market research

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personastrologyhub · 2 months ago

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Degree Series :The Hidden Meaning of the Degree of Gemini: (3°, 15°, 27°)

ᥫ᭡ ᡣ𐭩 SO I've been diving deep into degree theory recently, partly because I wanted to gain a deeper understand as there is so much to unpack. I started with gemini as I have a lot of gemini energy in my chart, and so its mostly as a reference for myself however I wanted to share some of my findings here to help anyone else—whether you're new to astrology or a seasoned like me—who's interested in learning more about how degrees work in astrology. I plan to do a series covering all the signs, but I wanted to start with Gemini since that's where my focus has been lately.

When we think of Gemini, we often focus on communication, dual energy, quick thinking, and curiosity etc—but did you know that certain degrees of Gemini hold much deeper meanings?

3° Gemini: The Writers' Playground and Paths We Travel 📝🛣️

The 3rd degree of Gemini, we all know that it is traditionally connected to communication but did you know its also connected to the act of writing itself, so like things like —pencils, notebooks, stationery, and paper. I've always had a love for stationary, I would be so happy when my friends would buy me stationary for my birthday. This is the degree of the scribe. If you have placements here, you may have an intuitive connection to putting thoughts into words, making this an ideal degree for writers, journalists, and storytellers, journalling might be good for you.

3° Gemini is also tied to movement—not just short trips like we know but, crossroads, streets, and transportation. It governs traffic, bus stops, junctions, dual carriageways and the various means by which we navigate both physical and mental journeys. If you have planets at this degree, they may influence how you move through the world, both literally and figuratively. The mental agility of Gemini is mirrored in the constant flow of traffic and movement.

15° Gemini also governs corridors, balconies, and gates—the spaces in-between. These are transition zones, just like Gemini, which constantly moves between ideas, identities, and experiences.

This degree extends its reach into daily connections too: from chatting with a neighbor to a quick text or phone call, all short, rapid exchanges of ideas are tied to this powerful degree.

15° Gemini: The Intellectuals and In-Between Spaces

15° Gemini, we all know that it ties to all things communication, or intellectual work. It’s tied to journalists, literature, and education. radio anchor, radio presenter, news editor, magazine editor, teacher, speaker, publisher, social media marketer, all of that jazz.... It's a great degree for announcers—those who are literally the voice of information, whether on radio or TV.

This degree even links to personal documents like passports, driver’s licenses, or IDs—anything that helps you move between spaces, both literal and symbolic.

27° Gemini: Commerce, Communication, and the Power of Connection

Finally, 27° Gemini reveals a connection to commerce and communication. This degree governs shops, merchants, and the exchange of goods.

—it’s also about the gathering places where exchanges happen. Whether it’s a newsstand, post office, bus stop, or even a bookstore, this degree marks where people meet briefly, exchange ideas or goods, and then move on. It’s where we interact with our environment in fleeting yet meaningful ways.

There’s also a fascinating connection to siblings, twins, and childhood. This degree highlights duality, balance, and the ability to juggle two or more worlds at once—whether it's managing relationships with siblings, or navigating between personal and professional lives.

If you have placements at 3°, 15°, or 27° Gemini, pay attention to how these areas show up in your life. Whether you’re connecting ideas, working in a commercial setting, navigating different environments, or fostering quick, intellectual exchanges, these degrees reveal the dynamic, multifaceted nature of Gemini.

From writing and communication to short trips and business exchanges, these degrees show where the everyday world of ideas, movement, and commerce comes alive.

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another-lost-mc · 2 months ago

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sry if you've been asked this question before but i wanna know what you think is the state of finance and commerce in the celestial realm. do u think they use money at all? or is it a barter and trade situation? or do they just share everything like the na'vi does in avatar since they're angels and all that? do u think currencies and payment were a foreign concept to the brothers when they first came to the devildom?

I had to look up the Avatar thing because I've only seen parts of that movie but based on a very quick search, yeah, that's probably the best way to describe my personal approach to writing the Celestial Realm's social organization.

There are basically two different structures at play when it comes to the angels and how the Celestial Realm functions:

Each angel's talents or interests is used for their personal contribution to society

The formal angelic ranks/power brackets are social classes that shape the power dynamics and interactions of the angels themselves

Since you asked specifically about the financial aspect, I'm going to focus on the first structure (as the second one is more important when it comes to their governance and class system as a whole).

Unlike the Devildom, the Celestial Realm doesn't really engage in capitalism or have formal currency. There aren't shops or stores where things are bought and sold, and there isn't an expectation of payment for services or the exchange of goods. The angels are a community or a family rather than strangers that exist in close proximity. They take care of themselves and each other because it is expected of them. How can they care for the well-being of the other realms if they can't take care of their own?

Angels aren't perfect or flawless - they're unique, but that is what gives them purpose. They embrace their strengths and contribute to the well-being of their brethren.

Some of the angels, usually those drawn to the warrior ranks, prefer to serve in battle and focus on enhancing their physical or magical combat abilities. (It's my personal headcanon that most angels, except some of those in the warrior ranks, tend to be vegetarians; warrior ranks are the ones tasked with hunting/fishing those ingredients.)

There are other areas where angels can use those talents (including but not limited to): gardening and agriculture, to grow the food they eat and the plants that will eventually become textiles or medicines; cooks and bakers that prepare meals; the tailors' guild that provide the angels with clothes and linens for their beds; the angels that gather precious metals and stones and the angels that forge them into armor and weapons. Of course, there are angels that are skilled writers, artists, or musicians. Those are accepted as important skills and equal contributions that make the Celestial Halls vibrant and beautiful, filled with song and colour and everything beautiful in the world they cherish most.

An angel's formal rank sometimes, but not always, indicates what sort of "job" they have. The Seraphs have their own special interests or talents, but they're usually overseeing the other ranks and have more of a managerial role. They delegate the day-to-day tasks and are the ones who have to plan for any unexpected problems or crises that might affect the other angels. Other ranks, like Thrones or Cherubs, usually have secondary tasks they can help with but only if they're not needed for their primary responsibilities first.

The Devildom society, one that functions as a type of capitalism, is a completely foreign concept. Angels understand it in theory, watching over the human world's development as they do, but it's not something they would want to depend on for their own survival.

Just like the demons have their own investments and financial ties to the human world (like the Hotel Corvo), angels also have a foothold in select human world sectors. Demons tend to invest closely with markets that give them more power and influence over human world developments and affairs, like tourism or technology. Angels tend to be more focused on monitoring human activity with community-based projects instead. Like The Angel's Halo cafe, coffee shops and bakeries are examples of an angel-owned establishments that help them blend in. Other potential businesses include book stores or publishing firms, art schools or galleries, florist shops and community gardens.

Angels might be used to participating in these human world projects, but it's still not nearly enough to prepare them for being dropkicked to the Devildom with next to no warning. Fallen angels - especially those who fell prior to Lucifer and his siblings - would've had the worst time acclimating to living as demons. They're not all fortunate enough to have someone from the Royal Family or other generous demons to take them under their wing and give them a crash course in Demon Society 101. (It's another personal headcanon that Lucifer and his brothers were an exception when Diavolo protected them the way he did, and most newly-turned demons had it far worse without that kind of support. That's completely glossing over the various physical and emotional/spiritual changes they would've endured as well.)

Angels aren't used to having to work long hours to afford the basic items they need on a daily basis, when things like food and water and housing and clothes were given to them freely by other angels that cared for them. Angels aren't used to relationships that feel so transactional. There are countless demons that might purposefully manipulate them or abuse them, at least until they know better, because lying and deceit are things that most fallen angels have to learn for themselves. Kill or be killed - literally, in some cases.

(Part of why The Fall exists is to explore various aspects of what it means for an angel of the Celestial Realm falling to the Devildom, and how completely overwhelming it would be for them to adjust with or without the protection of someone with enough power and resources to help them survive when they're most vulnerable.)

#jes.replies #jes.world building #I could literally talk about this all day I swear

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hprofational9 · 1 year ago

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Maximizing Your Income: 25 Effective Ways to Make More Money from Home - Money Earn Info

Get Over 2,500 Online Jobs. You may have already tried to make money online. Here is Some Information about Easy Job you can do from home. 👉 Offers for you

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Cashback and Rewards Apps: Use cashback apps like Rakuten and Honey when shopping online to earn cashback and rewards on your purchases.

Create a Niche Podcast: Start a podcast around a niche you are passionate about. Monetize through sponsorships, affiliate marketing, and listener donations.

Automated Webinars for Digital Products: Create automated webinars to promote and sell digital products or services. This hands-off approach can generate income while you focus on other tasks.

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Rent Out Your Property on Airbnb: If you have extra space in your home, consider renting it out on Airbnb for short-term stays. This can be a lucrative source of additional income.

Remote SEO Services: If you have expertise in search engine optimization (SEO), offer your services to businesses looking to improve their online visibility.

Invest in Real Estate Crowdfunding: Diversify your investment portfolio by participating in real estate crowdfunding platforms like Fundrise or RealtyMogul.

Create a Subscription Box Service: Develop a subscription box service around a niche you are passionate about. Subscribers pay a recurring fee for curated items.

Remote Project Management: Utilize your project management skills by taking on remote project management roles. Platforms like Remote OK and Home feature remote opportunities.

Making more money from home is not just a possibility; it’s a reality with the myriad opportunities available in today’s digital age. By diversifying your income streams and leveraging your skills, you can create a robust financial foundation. Whether you choose to freelance, start an online business, or invest in passive income streams, the key is consistency and dedication. Explore the strategies outlined in this guide, identify those that align with your strengths and interests, and embark on a journey to maximize your income from the comfort of your home.

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esdigisoft · 6 months ago

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#Best SEO services #Professional SEO services #Affordable SEO services #Local SEO services #Quick SEO services #SEO services near me #SEO service provider #SEO services company #Top SEO services #SEO services for small business #E-commerce SEO services #SEO optimization services #SEO marketing services #Expert SEO services #SEO consulting services #SEO and digital marketing services #Full-service SEO agency #Custom SEO services #AI-powered SEO services

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theproperweirdo · 5 months ago

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Nara and Sonja story for @noisette-tornade 🤞all copy and pasted directly from the in game stories

Nara - Heartcarver

The city known as Rustport may have once had a more conventional name, but if that is in fact the case, it has long been forgotten. A sprawl of ramshackle structures that sway and creak in the salty winds blowing in from the sea, taverns lean against gambling halls and establishments of ominous repute like crooked teeth. For every baker there are two thieves, for every blacksmith two pirates. When the sun sets, the woefully few honest citizens bar their doors and secure the latches on windows. It is a rare night indeed that passes in Rustport without a murder and a rare resident who has not seen the body of a victim by the time they are able to speak.

Within this city lies a district where not even the city watch will tread after dark-Mire Town.

It was here, among sludge-slick alleyways and chittering swarms of rats that Nara was born and raised. As an infant, her mother abandoned Rustport and the family she had there, unwilling to suffer the place any longer or see her daughter do the same. Nara's father was deeply in debt to a criminal enterprise, but still managed to keep his daughter fed and sheltered, paying meager installments to the gang without incurring too much physical injury. This continued for a long time, until Nara was nine years old and the criminals discovered that not only had her father not been paying as much as he could, but that he in fact had enough coin stashed away to pay off the entirety of his debt.

After abducting and "interrogating" the debtor, a confession was pulled out. He had been saving the money to skip town and start a new life with his daughter somewhere far away. Having what they needed, they disposed of him: A lesson to other would-be debt evaders. Orphaned, Nara was thrown out of the hovel she had shared with her father. She wandered the streets, stealing and scavenging to survive.

Every day was a fight for survival, and Nara quickly became callous and mistrustful. The other people on the street were simply targets or hazards, and she began to lose any sense of warmth or compassion she once had. The people she did engage with were invariably others like herself- orphaned children and runaways getting by however they could. Eventually, she found herself at the head of a small thieve's guild alongside Sonja, the only other child who could match her abilities.

They called themselves Whispers, for the faint whisper coins make on cloth while being picked out of pockets.

As season after season blended into another, they subsumed the smaller child gangs until they were the largest network of thieves in the city. The size of their operation had grown tremendously until there was hardly a street corner in Rustport that didn't have a Whisper lingering, waiting for a chance to make a quick profit. Other gangs of course wanted in on the Whispers' turf at first, but Nara was quick to show that she was capable of much more than theft. After the initial disputes, those who didn't work for her stayed out of her way.

After dominating the city's criminal underground while still just a teen, she began to look at expanding her horizons.

The most profitable market in Rustport certainly wasn't pickpocketing, even at the scale she commanded. Rustport has a bustling slave market, a plaza drowning in the noises of commerce and despair.

Maulers slump in their chains next to Wilders, men, and other peoples of Esperia.

Here the only distinction is between master and slave. If she wanted to make the real money, she'd need a good ship and lots of manacles.

The first expedition she attended personally. Though she was well past the stage in her career of doing the dirty work herself, she wanted to oversee this new venture. She selected Azure Cove as her target, a patch of water lending access to the forests of the Wilders. What she didn't know was that Azure Cove had a new protector. When her ship sailed in, Seirus the elemental sensed the malicious intent from the crew. In a single great wave, the ship was capsized, drowning all aboard.

Nara's body sank softly to the bottom of the cove. Her story was over, it would seem.

For days she lay there, the seaweed brushing against her pale, open eyes. Then, one night, the husk that had been Nara received the call. With a sickly flicker of green light, her eyes cast about the seafloor and she stood, trudging toward the shore.

If Nara was cruel and violent in life, she is far worse now. She takes great pleasure in the harm she can cause others, and does so as often as she can.

“How would you like to die?”

Sonja - Ruler of the underworld

Sonja and I have known each other for years. Back then she was a wan, listless little thing, scurrying around with us in the dark, lawless alleys of the slums. She had long, flowing blonde hair - not that you'd know it under all the mud and fleas - which she still stubbornly spent ages braiding.

She was one of us: another weak and downtrodden worm, mired in the silt of chaos and turmoil, all too often caught and beaten for her thievery. Now and then I would share with her some of the vegetables I'd managed to obtain and, maybe in response to such unexpected kindness, she in turn would tear off some of her stolen bread and return the favor. As the days, weeks, months dripped by, we inevitably got to know each other better.

Oh, Sonja was a clever one. She was in and out of the various traders all year long, and knew the black market better than anyone else. Am I the slightest bit surprised that she hit it off so well with Nara? Of course not. After all, Nara was the most agile and fierce of all our dank alley thieves.

Ever since they started working together, the two of them complemented each other so well that they were never again caught, instead going on to make a killing with every single job. They made sure to share their profits and goods with us, yet we still remained the target of extortion and bullying by the various other gangs.

One evening, Sonja came looking for us.

She and Nara, tired of the other gangs lording it over us, wanted to form their own group. This would give us orphans, the scurrying inhabitants of the alleys, a proper foothold in Rustport. Together with Nara, she told us of their vision, something we never would have countenanced in a million years: they wished for us to live well, able to eat and drink our fill, as one family. And so it was that the Whispers were born, and we felt we'd finally come home.

It didn't take long for the Whispers to earn a reputation for itself in Rustport.

While Nara's obvious ruthlessness and brutality terrified the other gangs, they still hadn't realized Sonja's strategy, which aimed to elevate the Whispers head and shoulders above the other Rustport gangs.

Blood and roses... These, to me, perfectly symbolize Nara and Sonja. Nara's savagery stained the ground of this sinful land with the blood of countless opponents, while Sonja was more a gorgeous, mud-encrusted rose, tangled and bristling with the thorns of sin.

In order to make real money, we Whispers had to carve out our own unique niche. We gradually found an emerging market in the trade of... "Special" goods, which became our best chance to make it big. Nara bribed her way to ensure the sea routes were open for the Whispers to bring back our plunder, which she held at port for Sonja to dispose of. The excellent coordination between the two have allowed us to really profit from this emerging new industry. As our business grew, Sonja discovered that smuggling was not without risk: while she had always respected and followed the unwritten code of smugglers, the expanding gang brought in more and more people, some of whom may not be so faithful to the criminal creed. There were those who were not above playing multiple sides for their own personal benefit. Once the smuggling lines were leaked, the Whispers had to contend not just with the threat of robbery, but also with the fact that the leaker may well be a member of our own little "family".

Inevitably, this fear became reality. Our secret smuggling routes were leaked to rival gangs by those closest to us. Nara wiped out those who ambushed our goods, while the leaker defected to our rivals.

Faced with those who had once shared bread and battle by our sides, and who now worked to harm the interests of our family, seeds of suspicion were sown and took root in the hearts of many of the Whispers.

This caused the very first argument to erupt between Nara and Sonja. Nara wanted to publicly execute those in the Whispers who were suspected of being traitors, to serve as a warning to others.

She even thought to begin with the earliest members of the gang. Her rage and distress terrified me, yet I was also cognizant of the arrogant, entitled attitude amongst many of these old "veterans". They were no longer satisfied by the wealth the Whispers generated for them, desirous of ever more power, and secretly making moves within our own ranks by leaning on the newest members.

Sonja, however, was more hesitant to take such drastic measures. Perhaps she was reluctant to dig too deeply into the treachery of those with whom she had risen from the mud of the slums. Whatever her motive, she was unwilling to kill the traitors, preferring instead the "merciful" option of banishment.

Their quarrel ended as Nara slammed a door and stormed off. Sonja said not a word, perhaps in resentment of her own hesitation, as she had never before had such a major disagreement with Nara. My own conjecture is that Sonja still believed in the Whispers' original purpose: to provide a stable home for the worms struggling in the mud of the slums. Now that this dream was realized, how could she evict her own " family"?

Nara vanished. One day she set sail on an ordinary voyage, and just never returned. Sonja exhorted all Whispers to search for them, but no trace was ever found. The other gangs felt that with Nara's disappearance we had lost our most powerful deterrent, and began eyeing what had previously been unequivocally under our command. Discontent inside the Whispers also surged, and even I could hear the tavern rumors that there were plans afoot to overthrow the Whispers from within.

Not everyone was rooting for Nara. Some of the veteran members secretly rejoiced, as they eyed Sonja's position as leader and dreamt of seizing power for themselves. For Sonja, these circumstances opened her eyes, stripping away her tolerance of and faith in the old guard. She abandoned her merciful approach, shook off the pain of Nara's disappearance, and began to ruthlessly screen all those around her. She discerns the traitors in her midst and, after a mental and physical flaying, rejects them back into the mud and slime of the slums, broken and dejected.

No one could have seen this coming. That the girl who used to cry because her moldy bread was stolen could make such a cruel decision. Sonja retaliated against the traitors even more than Nara, until no one even dared think of betrayal, and all of Rustport was in awe. Sonja no longer showed pity to those who shared her background, while those orphans she rescued from the slums had to pay everything for the privilege.

I almost do not recognize Sonja now. She has shaved off her long, golden hair, and carved roses into her temples. She no longer smiles at me, but beneath her ice-cold expression constantly wonders if I am tempted to betray her. She had trusted us, and we were unable to repay her with unerring loyalty. She can but watch over the Whispers and, even if she feels the task too heavy to bear alone, will never give up. She knows that only by making the Whispers even stronger, will Nara be able to find her way home.

Sonja is an iron rose blooming among thorns. She has trodden on the corpses of countless traitors, turned her back on the last vestiges of goodwill, and climbed step by step onto the throne of power. The Whispers is not just an empire she built with Nara, but also testament to her ambition and greed.

I am but a bystander to her life of sin, which one may call cruel, another great.

She will never be satisfied with what she has and, while she used to be kind, she now wields total control over life and death in the Whispers, despite never needing to ever again dirty her own hands.

"Desire is the rose that cuts its way through the sinful soil which is covered in blood. That is my weapon.”

Whispers and Shadows (Nara & Sonja union story)

1. The towering waves overturned thecargo ship from Rustport, causing the hull to flip onto the surface of the sea.

The crew cried out in despair as they were swallowed up by the raging waves.

Nara tried to grab the broken spar in front of her, but before she could press her body against the mast, she was dragged into the sea by the person next to her, her arms covered in blood. The pain of salt water rushing into her wounds was quickly drowned out by the crashing waves. During the last throes of her consciousness, the crimson blood that spread in the sea blinded her eyes, and the pungent seawater poured into her nostrils, suffocating her.

The last time she felt such suffocation was when she was a child. Back then, she used to hide with her father in the alleys of Rustport to avoid their creditors. They would bury themselves in piles of garbage reeking of rotten fish soaked in stale water - the same odor that invaded her nostrils now as the salty seawater threatened to drown her.

Nara's memories of her father were filled with hatred. The shameless old man had promised her time and time again that he would give her a stable home once he paid off his debts. But his broken promises only brought her endless disappointment. Eventually, even the disappointment faded away, because she no longer held any hope for her father. When her father was killed by his creditors, Nara hid in a garbage heap and struggled to hold her breath.

Perhaps when she woke up from her suffocating stupor, everything would have passed.

Nara became an orphan, wandering alone in the slums and surviving by stealing. Being beaten up black-and-blue was par for the course with her, and sometimes she even had to fight over scraps of food with wild dogs. She had lost all the innocence that she should have had at her age. Instead, she had to be cunning and even resort to deception to get a measly piece of moldy bread.

Life was like a bone-chilling deep ocean, and except to hold her breath, she was helpless.

She never harbored any hope for a rescuing hand to pull her out form the depths of this ocean. Not until Sonja appeared.

2. The seawater no longer stung Nara's scarred skin like a sharp blade. She even felt a soft touch. She tried to open her eyes, but could only see faint dots no matter how hard she turned her eyeballs. Gradually, the dots took on the familiar shape of Sonja's hand reaching out to her.

Their meeting began with a theft in a dark alley. Sonja, also an orphan, used to wander in the alleys of the slums before she met Nara. Sonja relied on her exceptional intelligence to secretly learn various knowledge that might benefit her.

Compared to Nara's roughness, she seemed particularly cautious. After all, given her lack of agile physical skills, she could easily be caught, beaten, and perhaps even die from that.

On that day, Nara, who was starving, went to a bakery in Rustport. Hunger made her clumsy and her mind dull. So much so that when she smelled the freshly baked bread, she almost lost her faculties and wanted to burst out from her hiding spot in the kitchen's corner and grab it right away. Even a piece of moldy bread was a delicacy that the homeless orphans in this stinking harbor could only dream of, yet at that moment, such a slice of heaven was within Nara's arm's reach.

When Sonja came across Nara, the latter was pinned to the ground by the shopkeeper, covered in blood and filth.

Such was common sight for Sonja, who was even considering using the distraction to swipe something useful from the cupboard. However, when their eyes met, Sonja changed her mind. Nara' s gaze was deep and filled with intense resentment and despair, as if she was calling for help while also declaring war on life.

Carefully, Sonja retrieved an unburnt piece of coal from the stove and used it to ignite the discarded wood planks in the back alley, while the shopkeeper was distracted. The sudden thick smoke frightened the shopkeeper, who abandoned Nara and rushed to put out the fire. Seizing the opportunity, Sonja pulled Nara out of the bakery, taking a few freshly baked loaves of bread on the way.

In this dog-eat-dog world of Rustport, exposing one's weakness to others meant putting oneself in danger. Yet Nara had allowed Sonja to witness her most vulnerable state, perhaps hoping that someone would see through her feebleness and offer a helping hand. For so long, Nara had been wandering the dark alleys alone, but now she asked Sonja if she would be willing to join forces and move forward together. She wanted to prove to Sonja that she was more than just the girl who was beaten and covered in mud, and show the nimbleness and agility that had kept her alive for so long.

Their bond began on the day they met and from then on, they established the Whispers together, building a sanctuary for Nara's soul. As long as she could return to Sonja's side, there would always be warm hands waiting to soothe her icy soul.

Yet, as the spark of life within her dwindled, Nara realized that she was stil a helpless victim of fate, unable to grasp the hand that was reaching out to her.

3. Nara no longer felt any pain, and the last glimmer of light in her eyes faded away. In fact, she knew from the beginning that everything up until now was just a dying dream. Nothing more than an illusion.

Before their latest voyage, Nara and Sonja had a fierce argument. Nara had angrily stormed out of the room, leaving Sonja behind. It was their last conversation, which yet ended in an argument. Nara could not understand Sonja's "hypocritical kindness." Perhaps as an intelligent person, Sonja had her own thoughts on the matter, while a reckless person driven by instinct like Nara could not weigh the pros and con like her. Nara had always relied on Sonja, believing that it was her friend's plansand decisions that had neutralized numerous threats to the Whispers.

Only this time, Sonja made a decision that went against Nara's beliefs.

Sonja often warned Nara not to be satisfied with the status quo, as they had already sacrificed too much for their cause. Nara's injuries, Sonja's sleepless nights - they were all for the sake of protecting those they wanted to keep safe... And yet they had been given tyrannical and cruel labels by the very people they were trying to help.

Nara knew that the argument over how to deal with the traitors was just a reflection of the Whispers' plight, but if she could become stronger and prevent the traitors from doing anything that would harm the Whispers, maybe she could bring everything back on track?

As she sank into the cold abyss, the darkness consumed Nara's vision, leaving her with no chance for regret.

The ocean currents pulled her deeper and deeper until she reached the ocean floor. In her final moments, she realized that none of it mattered anymore. The survival of the Whispers, or punishing the traitors—they were all irrelevant now. All she wanted was to return to Rustport, to the Whispers, and to Sonja's side, where those warm hands could once again comfort her icy soul.

4. "O slumbering assassin. Thou whose nature shy not from killing or plundering, shall be reborn. Serve me, and I will grant thee immortality."

After what felt like an eternity, a low whisper echoing through the deep sea stirred Nara's dormant, icy soul. She was surrounded by a hollow darkness, submerged in the depths for what felt like ages, until the voice infused her with a power that lifted her above the waves.

Penetrating dim light shafts came into her line of sight, and she caught a glimpse of brightness once again.

However, this light was tainted with the color of decay, just like her own rotten body. Her longing to return home had led her to hear the call from the abyss.

Despite knowing that the voice must have malicious designs, she did not hesitate to say yes. For even after spending dozens of days and nights at the bottom of the sea as a corpse, which had left her memories on the verge of shattering, she still remembered that there was someone waiting for her return in a place called Rustport.

As for the cost? That was never a consideration. Nara would gladly give all that she had.

"Go back. Return to where you belong, and embrace the pleasure that death brings you."

As her decayed body ascended from the seabed, her shattered hands regained strength. As she approached the sea surface, sunlight penetrated the dark water and shone on Nara's cold body once again. In a trance, she saw the blurry figure of an old acquaintance reflected on the surface, reaching out a familiar yet strange hand towards her.

Without hesitation, Nara reached out and grasped at that hand.

Yet there was nothing but air.

#afk arena #afk journey #afk lore #afk Nara #afk Sonja #doomed Yuri #right person wrong place? 😢#sad ass shit yall

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mariacallous · 7 months ago

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If you want to understand how China abuses its power on the world stage, consider the lobsters. After the Australian prime minister called in April 2020 for an international investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chinese ambassador to Australia, Chen Jingye, ominously hinted at the economic backlash. “Maybe the ordinary [Chinese] people will say, ‘Why should we drink Australian wine? Eat Australian beef?’” he told the Australian Financial Review. It and other outraged statements from the Chinese government had all the subtlety of a mafia capo wandering into the neighborhood deli and saying, “Nice little business you got here—shame if anything happened to it.”

In the weeks and months that followed, China instituted onerous import inspections on Australian rock lobsters and instituted new bans on timber and barley shipments from Australia. Given that in 2018 and 2019, China had accounted for about 94 percent of the Australian rock lobster market, the new trade restrictions were clearly meant to devastate the country’s lobster industry.

China also invoked punishing tariffs on Australian wine—tariffs that in some cases reached 212 percent—and exports stopped almost overnight. One winemaker, Jaressa Estates in the South Australian wine growing region of McLaren Vale, had been selling about 7 million bottles a year to China, some 96 percent of its total business, and saw that number drop to zero. “The country’s biggest overseas market vanished almost immediately. Sales to China plummeted 97 percent that first year. Storage tanks overflowed with unsold vintages of shiraz and cabernet sauvignon, pressuring red grape prices,” the New York Times reported. “Now that its economy is entrenched as the world’s second largest, the threat of losing access to China’s 1.4 billion consumers is a stick that few countries or industries can afford to provoke.”

It was a brutal lesson for Australia. As one winemaker told CNN, perhaps Australia shouldn’t be so quick to cross China in the future—and it should have approached questions about COVID-19’s origins with more delicacy. “Australia’s only a little nation. We should have absolutely supported it, but we didn’t need to lead the charge,” the vintner said. All told, Australia saw some $13 billion worth of exports targeted.

Outside the egregious Australian case, China has begun to wield the economic stick more regularly. For example, it halted salmon imports from Norway after the Nobel Peace Prize went to Chinese dissident Lio Xiaobo, punished Taiwan in 2022 with new restrictions on exporting pineapples, apples, and fish, and went after Lithuania when the Baltic country tried to strengthen ties with Taiwan. The wide-ranging Chinese move against Lithuania was unprecedented—extending not to just to obvious products like milk or peat but also against products manufactured with semiconductor chips made in Lithuania. As the New York Times wrote at the time, “China’s drive to punish Lithuania is a new level of vindictiveness.” The consequences for Lithuania were so dire that the German-Baltic Chamber of Commerce reported that the country’s high-tech industry faced an “existential” threat.

The most powerful voices in the global trade discussion largely stayed silent during these attacks. The European Union filed a perfunctory World Trade Organization complaint on Lithuania’s behalf but, as the New York Times reported, “otherwise largely left one of its smallest and weakest members to fend for itself,” and behind the scenes its officials urged Vilnius officials to appease China. “To use a Chinese phrase, they are killing the chicken to scare the monkey, particularly the big German monkey,” one European think tank leader said publicly. “Many European leaders look at Lithuania and say, ‘My God, we are not going to do anything to upset China.’”

And while some U.S. officials held performative tastings of Australian wine, the United States failed to step in to stabilize or support Australia, Norway, Taiwan, or Lithuania. There were no high-profile “Berlin Airlifts” of pineapples to U.S. grocery stores, tanker convoys of Australian Shiraz rolling up the Capital Beltway, or “Buy Baltic” public service announcements to encourage consumers and corporate leaders to look to Lithuanian suppliers. There was no coordinated effort to build a coalition to implement an emergency adjustment of tariffs on Australian wine or lobster, let alone to help the affected industries find new commercial buyers.

Perhaps it’s easy to write off such American reluctance as our own strain of protectionism—maybe the government didn’t want to be accused of undercutting Hawaiian pineapples or promoting foreign competitors to California Zinfadels—but the truth is that even at home the United States has failed to stand up for our industries when China targeted them. We didn’t support American airlines and hospitality companies when China pressured them to remove Taiwan’s name from their maps; nor did the United States government stand up meaningfully for the free speech of NBA players who criticized China.

China is learning, again and again, that bullying works, mastering the 21st-century toolkit of economic statecraft and warfare. As Bethany Allen, a journalist who has covered China for a decade, writes in her book, Beijing Rules: How China Weaponized Its Economy to Confront the World, “If we speak the language of markets … then China hasn’t just learned that language. It has learned to speak it louder than anyone else.” The Chinese Communist Party’s “authoritarian style of state capitalism,” Allen argues, means it “is willing to draw on its full arsenal of leverage, influence, charm, deception, and coercion.” And China has begun to deploy those tools all too frequently—leading to very real questions about whether anyone, companies or nation-states, can afford to be economically reliant on China.

The United States needs to do better—for ourselves and our allies. Strong allies are not going to help only out of self-interest, they’re going to do it because they want to follow their values and principles—and we have to make it easier for countries who want to help us counter China. We need to create an umbrella that shields countries, companies, and individuals when they take on China’s attempts at hegemonic thought and action.

Critical to any global strategy to counter China is building and securing the series of bilateral relationships and multilateral institutions and alliances that helped the West win Cold War I. We have to make it easy for our allies—and desired potential allies—to say yes to such alliances. China is surrounded by many relatively small and weak countries that need real reassurances, both security and economic, that if they side with the United States in a regional coalition they won’t be out in the cold.

Even countries like South Korea, Japan, and Australia that are G-20 countries with advanced economies and trillion-dollar-plus GDPs are small compared to the behemoths like China and the United States, especially if they’re left geopolitically isolated.

Beyond ad hoc responses to pressure on our friends when they stand up to China—especially but not only when they’re acting at our request—the United States needs to figure out a new alliance framework to deter such actions from China in the future. China needs to know that bullying won’t work.

On the security front, there’s little value in the Indo-Pacific in a replacement for SEATO, the 20-year attempt to build a Southeast Asia alliance like NATO that ended in 1977 after never achieving a working military structure. (One British diplomat called the alliance a “zoo of paper tigers.”) Today, too many of the countries across the Indo-Pacific are already protected by bilateral security pacts with the United States to bother joining a larger formal security alliance. For example, given that both Japan and the Philippines have their own security pacts with the United States, it’s not entirely clear what domestic political appetite there would be for, say, the Philippines to be treaty-bound to defend Japan if it’s attacked.

Instead of a military security alliance in the Indo-Pacific, we should be looking to build a new—and global—economic security alliance. America should lead the way in creating a new organization—call it something like the Treaty of Allied Market Economies (TAME), an “economic NATO” alliance of European and Indo-Pacific nations with open-market economies. Together, the partners in this alliance would respond as a unified block to political and economic pressure from China—or any other economic aggressor, for that matter—through a combination of trade barriers, sanctions, and export controls.

In some ways, this alliance would look similar to the coordinated but independent action that the West took in levying unprecedented sanctions against Russia after its Ukraine invasion. As an additional carrot to joining such an alliance, like-minded members could all share increased trade benefits in the form of tariff cuts, regulatory cooperation, and enhanced investment terms.

Beyond formal joint economic punishment of an aggressor, such an alliance could also plan for and commit to repairing and replacing real economic harms that member countries face when hit with retaliatory tariffs or trade wars. Such “trade diversion” often occurs in the market anyway. As one market closes, another opens—and we know that, in part, because of China’s actions against Australia. Markets are adaptable and most goods can flow elsewhere, especially if protectionist tariffs don’t stand in the way. It’s why Australia, for instance, weathered some of China’s aggressive moves better than anticipated. In particular, the Australian coal industry—which was also hit with punishing bans—turned out just fine because coal is such a fungible and high-demand product. “Once China banned imports of Australian coal in mid-2020, Chinese utilities had to turn to Russian and Indonesian suppliers instead. This, in turn, took Russian and Indonesian coal off the market, creating demand gaps in India, Japan, and South Korea—which Australia’s stranded coal was able to fill,” Foreign Policy noted. “The result of decoupling for one of Australia’s core industries was therefore just a game of musical chairs—a rearrangement of who traded with whom, not a material injury.”

One of the reasons that NATO has never had to invoke Article 5 against another nation-state attack—the only time it’s ever been used was after Sept. 11 against al Qaeda—is precisely because of how strong all other countries know the response from the combined NATO force would be.

The same should be true on the economic front. As Daleep Singh, a National Security Council official who helped coordinate the U.S. response to Ukraine, said, “The best sanctions are the ones that never have to get used.” China might very well think twice before weaponizing its trading strength if it understood the combined—and severe—penalties it might face in taking such action and that even if it did launch a trade war, it wouldn’t necessarily inflict much economic harm to begin with.

There’s enough evidence of China’s willingness to inflict economic pain for political gain across Asia and Europe that a well-crafted TAME organization would likely attract a long line of participants—many countries across the globe are becoming increasingly concerned about Chinese belligerent behavior, and there is safety in numbers. While it is unlikely that some large countries with significant economic dependence on China, such as France and Germany, would rush to join this new alliance, states that have already found themselves on the receiving end of Chinese coercion in the past—such as Australia, Norway, Sweden, Japan, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, the Philippines, and Taiwan itself, among others—are prime candidates for initial membership. Over time, as TAME membership grows in numbers, combined economic power, and market size, it will become a magnet too attractive for other market economies to avoid, especially if China continues to engage in brutish bullying tactics around the world.

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