In a corner of a community, there is a unique second-hand bookstore. The owner, Mr. Wang, has recently encountered a dilemma: how to establish a credible source record for each old book. Many customers are eager to purchase rare and out-of-print books, but at the same time, they are worried about buying pirated copies. Mr. Wang has tried uploading the circulation information of the books to different Blockchains, but each method has its problems. Some on-chain information queries are cumbersome, requiring separate views for records from different periods; others incur high transaction fees due to frequent updates of ownership information, even exceeding the profit margin of the books.

Faced with this dilemma, ERA's 'on-chain archive' concept offers an innovative solution. Unlike traditional blockchains that store data in a decentralized manner, ERA adopts a unified cross-chain protocol to integrate information from different periods and sources into a coherent archive. This means that for every old book of Mr. Wang, from the original publication printing, through various transfers to restoration records, no matter which chain it was originally stored on, a complete timeline can be retrieved with one click in the ERA system.

Another advantage of ERA is its efficient cross-chain operations. Users do not need to pay extra fees for cross-chain interactions when updating information; ERA automatically completes seamless connections between different chains. This approach significantly reduces maintenance costs, saving nearly 50% in fees compared to maintaining multiple chains separately.

The practical application effect of this technology is immediate. Mr. Wang shared a recent success story: a long-time customer easily retrieved the notes of the previous two owners while inquiring about a collection of essays published in 2003 through the ERA system. This value-added information prompted the customer to decide on the spot to make a purchase.

For small business owners like Mr. Wang, the value of technology lies in its practicality and enhancement of customer experience. ERA integrates scattered information into a trustworthy complete story, perfectly meeting the needs of small merchants: there is no need to deeply understand complex blockchain technology; as long as it can provide customers with a transparent and reliable consumption experience, it is the ideal technical support.

In the wave of digitization, ERA's innovations have injected new vitality into traditional second-hand book transactions, not only enhancing the credibility of transactions but also giving precious old books a new dimension of value. This approach of combining modern technology with traditional business models may herald the possibility of more traditional industries undergoing digital transformation.