Thrain Coldhammer is truly a remarkable find for my current plans. He is a well-known master blacksmith whose products typically sell out the moment they are placed on the market, snatched up by eager warriors and collectors alike. I did a very good job by securing a deal with him at this stage of my development. With a man of his stature acting as my primary supporter and supplier, I will not have to worry about a shortage of high-quality, specialized equipment for my future workforce. As for the more mundane, regular equipment that the trainees will need, I can source that from almost anywhere in the city. I can even trust Yorik to handle the bulk of those requirements without much oversight.

  Securing a source for equipment is one thing, but I am well aware that I need a much broader and more intricate web of networks to accomplish the smooth development of a complex business. Fortunately, I have spent a significant amount of time wandering the city and engaging in all sorts of transactions with a wide variety of merchants and artisans. I have laid the groundwork by being a consistent and professional trader.

  Of course, having these contacts doesn’t necessarily mean that all of them will be willing to cooperate with me or that my current network will be sufficient for the scale I am envisioning. However, it is a solid start. I intend to use my new enchantment business to fill the missing spots in my network and enlarge my influence as much as possible. The unique service I provide will be the hook that brings the big players to my table.

  To even get through the initial startup phase, I need a diverse array of professional relationships. First and foremost, I need land. It would be highly beneficial to speak with a merchant who maintains close ties with the city authorities. Once the site is secured, I need to plan for the personnel who will actually be doing the work. I have to provide for every aspect of their lives: clothing, standard equipment, accommodation, and food. Then there are the physical requirements of the headquarters itself—furniture, interior design, a functional working environment, and the countless small necessities like high-quality paper, pencils, cachets, and stationery.

  I have already consulted Orzhan regarding the most efficient way to acquire a large plot of land. Following his advice, I am currently heading toward the inner city. He informed me that I should look for a merchant named Halver Karzan, whose shop is located near the City Lord’s palace. In Yargan, the ultimate authority over all land rights belongs to the City Lord, which means any major transaction requires his explicit agreement. Merchants like Halver, who have deep connections within the palace, generally act as intermediaries for these deals. The authorities make the official assignment through them and take their designated cut, keeping the bureaucracy moving smoothly.

  “Hey, Bokur! How is the gatekeeping going today?” I asked the soldier who was on duty at the inner wall.

  After spending so much time moving around the city and behaving like a successful merchant, I have made an effort to get to know as many people as possible. I even make it a point to start conversations with random soldiers and innkeepers. One can never know when a simple connection might turn out to be useful in the future, especially for a man who is trying to launch and manage multiple businesses simultaneously.

  “Oh, if it isn’t Mr. Han! As you can see, it is just as boring and damn tiring as always,” Bokur replied, noticing me and waving a hand. He spoke with a casual familiarity. Then, a slow grin spread across his face as he asked, “How are your girls doing? I hope you’re taking good care of them, hahaha.”

  He spoke of Woya and Wyn as if it were a common topic of conversation, his tone a bit too intimate for my liking.

  “They are doing just fine,” I answered him, keeping my voice level and casual. I chose not to reprimand him for the way he spoke about them; there was no need to descend to the level of a man like this. I simply steered the conversation toward a topic he would be more eager to discuss. “How is the little one? Has he started walking yet?”

  “Aye, don't even get me started on that,” Bokur grumbled, his expression souring instantly. “I’ve nearly started to think the boy might have some sort of developmental problem. He seems to be a bit slow, unlike his father. That bitch of mine just couldn't give me a good, strong son.”

  It was grating to hear him belittle his own child and blame his wife for no reason, but I kept my thoughts to myself.

  “He is still very little, Bokur. You should just wait until he grows up a bit more. You can’t really judge a child’s potential until then,” I said, already preparing to move on. I had made my presence known, and that was enough. “The girls will be waiting for me at home, so I should be going. See you later.”

  “Yeah, you’d better go as early as you can,” Bokur called out as I walked away. “You’ve got two cute girls waiting for you, which is a hell of a lot better than the worthless one I’ve got at home—even if yours are just beastkin. But you should really see for yourself by having a kid, just to know what it’s like. Though I suppose that might be an impossible dream with your girls.”

  He was truly full of himself, speaking exactly as he wished without any regard for propriety.

  But as much as I disliked the man, what he said was technically true within the laws of this world. Since the girls are beastkin and I am human, the possibility of having offspring together is non-existent. For some reason, it seems that only members of the same species can produce children. There are a few rare exceptions mentioned in the various legends of the Hazaroth Union, but they are generally regarded as myths without any real credibility.

  “... Ah, yes. You are right. It can't be helped. See you around, then,” I said. I tightened my fist for a moment, forcing myself to brush off the comment as I passed through the gate and into the inner city.

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  “Yeah, see you later!” he shouted after me.

  I continued walking, and once I had put a considerable distance between myself and the gate, I heard his voice again, drifting faintly on the wind.

  “... Ugh, those merchant fuckers. Just because they go around and collect a few coins, they start to think they’re something special. Looking down on us just because we’re damn soldiers.”

  A normal person wouldn't have been able to hear those words from this distance, but since I have a very high sense stat, every syllable was clear. He clearly believed I was out of earshot. It is a common pattern among men of his ilk; they are perfectly polite to your face, wagging their tails like dogs the moment you toss them a few coins as a tip, but the second your back is turned, they begin to snarl and talk behind your back.

  “... Hahaha, what a man,” I muttered, laughing lightly to myself. I found it hard to even consider myself the same species as a "monkey" like that.

  After that short and unpleasant encounter, I finally arrived in front of Halver Karzan’s shop. The building was quite fancy, as one would expect from a man who acted as the City Lord’s proxy for land transactions. The architecture was grand and well-maintained, projecting an aura of stability and wealth.

  “Knock, knock, knock!”

  I knocked firmly on the heavy door three times and waited. After a few seconds, I heard the faint, rhythmic sound of footsteps approaching from the other side.

  “Clank—kreee…”

  The door swung open with a distinct metallic sound, and a teenage boy popped his head out.

  “... Welcome, mister. May I ask the reason for your visit today?” the boy asked. He looked me over and offered an elegant greeting before inquiring about my business.

  “I am here because I am looking to purchase a plot of land. Is Mr. Halver present?” I asked, carefully selecting my words to sound as professional as possible.

  “Yes, sir. My father is currently in, and he isn't busy with anything particularly urgent at the moment. Please, come inside. Allow us to treat you to some drinks and snacks while I go and inform him of your arrival,” the boy said cheerfully. He moved with a genuine sense of hospitality that made me feel like a valued customer.

  “Sure,” I replied, stepping into the foyer and following after him.

  He led me through the building and into an extravagant reception room. The space was filled with luxurious furniture, including several plush chairs that looked incredibly comfortable. The walls were decorated with an eclectic mix of stuffed animals and "head prizes"—the mounted heads of various beasts hanging as trophies. Interspersed between the hunting prizes were several well-drawn paintings. He gestured for me to sit and then gave a few quick orders to a servant who had appeared from a side door.

  “Oh, how rude of me. I haven't even asked for your name yet, sir,” the boy said, the thought seemingly just occurring to him.

  “My name is Han. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I replied with a light, polite gesture.

  “And my name is Eren Karzan. I am also very glad to meet you, Sir Han,” he said. Since it had been a late introduction, he spoke with even more politeness than before. He seemed like a remarkably well-raised child.

  After that brief exchange, Eren left the room. I sat in silence for a few minutes, enjoying the tea the servant had brought along with a small plate of snacks. I had just finished the cup when Eren returned, accompanied by a man who looked to be in his middle age.

  The man was a bit chubby, but not in the gluttonous way I had come to expect from many of the wealthier merchants in the city. He didn't have the typical round, protruding belly of a man who overindulged; he was simply broad and soft.

  “I apologize for the wait, sir. I am Halver Karzan,” the man said as Eren stepped aside to let his father pass. “I was in the middle of some rather tedious paperwork, and I couldn't pull myself away immediately without wasting all of my earlier efforts.”

  Halver’s clothing was clearly made from high-quality fabrics, though the design was subtle and not overly flashy. He spoke to me with the practiced politeness of a man dealing with a customer, but he didn't fawningly overdo it. He struck me as an experienced merchant who was fully aware of his position and the value of his time.

  “No, it’s quite alright. I didn't mind the wait at all. The tea was very unique and delicious, so I enjoyed the time,” I said. It wasn't just a polite lie; the tea really was excellent, tasting both exotic and strangely familiar at the same time. “By the way, you can simply call me Han.”

  “Haha, that tea is actually my own special blend, so I am very glad to hear that you liked it,” Halver said with a light, satisfied laugh.

  “Your own special blend?” I asked. I wasn't particularly curious about the mechanics of tea-making, but I knew it was important to keep the conversation flowing naturally before diving into business.

  “You see, it has become a form of high luxury for the people in the inner city to drink tea imported all the way from the Eastern Continent,” Halver explained. “To be fair, those imports are quite delicious, so I understand the appeal. But personally, I still have a fondness for the familiar, earthy taste of the leaves harvested from our nearby mountains. So, I decided to mix the local tea with the imported varieties. It creates a blend that is both sophisticated and soothingly familiar.”

  He went into a fair amount of detail, as if he truly wanted me to understand the philosophy behind the mixture.

  “I see… I am happy to have had the chance to taste something so unique,” I said thoughtfully.

  “If you truly liked it that much, please, allow us to serve you another pot—”

  “No, no! There’s no need for that,” I interrupted quickly. “It was good, but I’m not actually much of a tea drinker. I only have it on special occasions.”

  Halver looked a bit disappointed for a fraction of a second, but he masked it immediately and sat down in the chair opposite me. Eren took a seat beside him, a slight, polite smile on his face.

  “Well then, if you say so… let’s get right into the heart of the matter,” Halver said, leaning in. “My son mentioned that you are in the market for some land. Are you looking for an empty plot within the city walls, a site outside, a specific existing building, or perhaps just an apartment?”

  “I am looking to buy a large, empty piece of land,” I told him, my voice firm. “I need enough space to build a significant business site. As for the location, it must be either within the inner city or the outer city.”

  [Edited]

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