“I am sorry, Sir. The armor you provided was a failure. However, you need not worry; the item was not destroyed in the process, unlike what would have occurred with a regular enchantment. Please, take back your armor along with the five gold coins as per our agreement.”
Orzhan spoke these words to a man who possessed the appearance of an errand boy, though his face was far too weathered and aged for such a title. He was clearly a servant or a lackey sent by a merchant to retrieve their equipment, regardless of whether the outcome was a success or a failure. The man looked down at the returned gear with a frown, his disappointment palpable.
“Tch! So much talk about this supposed 'new method,'” the man muttered, his voice dripping with skepticism. “In the end, you couldn't even manage to add a second skill crystal.”
“We are truly sorry, Sir,” Orzhan replied, maintaining his professional composure. His voice was polite and apologetic, as he knew the importance of customer service in these early stages of the business. “Enchantment is never a guaranteed process, even when one is simply trying to add a first skill crystal. We did our absolute best and hope for better results next time.”
“Huh, next time?” the man repeated with a disdainful look, gathering the equipment and the returned gold coins. “I highly doubt my master will be sending any more of his gear to this establishment.”
He turned on his heel and left the room without another word.
***
Steel Armor ?
- Golem Skill Crystal: Mirror 10% of the damage
***
I watched the exchange from the sidelines, leaning against the wall of the private room Orzhan had arranged within the auction building. From my perspective, the outcome was inevitable. The equipment the man had brought possessed only a single skill slot, and since that slot was already occupied, there was physically no way to add another crystal. However, that was not a problem I could explain to the customer without revealing too much. Even if they left dissatisfied, my hands were tied by the limitations of the items they provided.
This room was set up specifically for returning the equipment I had collected a week prior. Of the twenty pieces I had been entrusted with during our first week of operation, the majority had resulted in "failures." In truth, sixteen of them were not actually possible to enchant from the very beginning due to a lack of slots, while only four were successful.
Despite the grumbling of the customers, this was an essential part of the debut. Even if they were unhappy that their gear remained unenchanted, they were witnessing the reality of my claim: every single piece of equipment entrusted to us was returned intact. The word would soon spread throughout the merchant circles of Yargan that my "no-destruction" guarantee was the truth. The sight of a few successfully enchanted items would act as the necessary proof to validate the business.
I continued to observe as Orzhan handled the remaining customers. For the sixteen "failures," I had collected a total of thirty-two skill crystals and the accompanying gold coins. Since the enchantment was not possible, I kept the crystals for myself—as per the terms of our 2-for-1 agreement—and returned the equipment along with half of the gold they had paid as a gesture of good faith.
As for the four successful enchantments, the items had possessed at least one empty skill slot, allowing me to successfully implant one of the provided crystals. The second crystal from each of those transactions naturally went into my inventory. While I could have technically pretended that the successful ones were also failures to pocket even more crystals, I knew that would be a critical, short-sighted mistake.
It was impossible for these people to know beforehand if an enchantment would succeed, but they were certainly capable of testing the items afterward. Many of the suspicious merchants were likely sending me low-value gear specifically to see if I was telling the truth or if there was a trick hidden in my method. They could easily take an item I claimed was a "failure" and bring it to another enchanter to verify my words. If a single item I labeled as a failure was successfully enchanted by someone else, my reputation would be destroyed instantly.
By providing consistent, honest results now, I was laying the groundwork for the future. Once they saw that some items succeeded and others were returned safely, their trust in my new method would solidify. When that happens, the truly high-value items—Bastion equipment, Mithril accessories, and eventually even Adamantite gear—will find their way to my workshop.
“Here is the armor that Lady Zerin entrusted to us,” Orzhan said, addressing a female servant sent by Madam Zerin Palos. Unlike the previous man, Orzhan wore a small, triumphant smile. “The enchantment was a success. Please, give her my highest regards.”
“Thank you, Sir Orzhan,” the servant replied, her face lighting up with satisfaction. “I am certain my Lady will be very pleased with this result.”
She took the armor and departed the room with a quick, respectful bow.
***
Leather-Steel Armor ? ?
- Centipede Skill Crystal: Increase the durability of the item by 40%.
- Golem Skill Crystal: Mirror 10% of the damage.
***
That armor had possessed one genuine empty slot, which I had filled with one of the Golem skill crystals Lady Zerin provided. I was particularly glad that this was among the four successful results. Given her influence as a merchant in the city, the positive outcome of this transaction would act as a catalyst for new, even more lucrative deals between us.
The exchanges between Orzhan and the remaining customers continued for another ten minutes before the room finally grew quiet. Our routine was now established: on the first day of every week, Orzhan would hand over the batch of equipment, coins, and crystals he had collected, and I would return the results from the previous week. This morning, I had already received a new batch of roughly twenty items.
All Orzhan had to do was act as the middleman, managing the flow of goods and people while taking his 5% cut. It was a deal that allowed him to earn significant wealth without any personal risk.
“I only waited today to see if there would be any immediate problems with the returns, but I think you can handle this on your own from now on,” I said to Orzhan once the last customer had departed.
“For now, perhaps,” Orzhan replied, though his voice held a note of concern. “But when the volume increases, and the quality of the equipment gets better, we are going to run into all sorts of new problems. People are more aggressive when high-value gear is at stake.”
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“Don’t worry so much,” I said, trying to ease his mind. “You already know the protocols for responding to issues. You are a talented merchant with plenty of experience; I have no doubt you can handle the unexpected. And in the worst-case scenario, I’m not going anywhere. You can always come to me.”
He was a capable man, especially for his age, and he was already earning quite a bit of money through our partnership. Between his share from the auction and the steady 5% from these weekly commissions, he was becoming a very wealthy man.
“Yes, yes. Just don't come crying to me when things eventually go awry,” he said with a dismissive wave of his hand, though his tone was light. “Anyway, you keep telling me how many things you have to do today. Why are you still dilly-dallying here?”
“Now that you mention it, I really should be going,” I said, checking my mental schedule. I realized I was running short on time. “I have a few meet-ups planned, and I want to visit some other merchants if I can manage it.”
“Go, then. Go and annoy someone else,” Orzhan joked.
“Alright, alright. See you later. Oh! Don't forget the sacks. I’ll bring them back next week,” I said.
I took the six sacks containing the new batch of equipment—items of varying sizes and weights—and placed them into my inventory. With that finished, I exited the auction building and stepped back out into the streets of Yargan.
Over the last few days, I have been busy utilizing my connections to send out invitations and messages. Some people I invited out of professional necessity, others I simply wanted to inform of my plans, and a few had already flatly rejected the invitation. Those who declined were mostly highly influential individuals who likely viewed me as a mere newbie not yet worthy of their attention. I had expected this outcome, so it didn't bother me. I continued my rounds, buying and selling goods while subtly informing merchants about both my enchantment business and the upcoming Questers Guild. In the evenings, I returned home to spend time with Woya and Wyn and to complete the necessary enchantments.
As I continued my walk through the city, I eventually found myself approaching a familiar storefront.
Click, Chime… Chime!
The cymbals positioned behind the door of Pinkdolls rang out, announcing my arrival. I didn't remember them being there before, but I didn't give it much thought. I looked around the shop for Sarya, but the front area was empty. I assumed she was in the storeroom. A few seconds later, I heard the sound of approaching footsteps coming from the back of the shop.
“Welcome, dear customer! I apologize for keeping you wait—”
Sarya pulled open the door in a rush, her professional greeting cutting off mid-sentence when she saw who it was. “Oh, Han. So it was just you?” she said, her shoulders relaxing as she stepped into the room.
“Hi. How is it going?” I asked, waving a hand.
“Hehe, welcome back, Han,” she said, her smile softening into a more relaxed, genuine expression. She closed the door behind her and leaned against it. “Everything is as it always is here. You haven't been visiting much lately. How have you been?”
“I figured that after how much you bought last time, you wouldn't be needing any new stock for a while,” I said, offering a rational excuse. “But aside from that, I’ve been incredibly busy.”
“So you won't even visit unless there is a transaction involved? How petty of you!” she teased, a playful glint in her eyes.
“Come on! Did you miss the part where I said I was busy? I’ve been running around so much I haven't even had time to scratch my own ass,” I replied sarcastically, aiming to lighten the mood.
“Yes, yes, let’s say that's the reason,” she said, choosing not to pout anymore. “What exactly have you been so busy with, anyway?”
“Wow. I thought you had your ways of knowing everything that happens in the city. You haven't heard?” I asked. “I’ve officially entered the enchantment business. I’ve been running from one end of Yargan to the other. People are starting to take notice of the new method I presented.”
I’ll admit, I wanted to show off a little bit. The business was doing well, and it felt good to share the success.
“Oh? I did hear something about that,” Sarya said, her expression shifting from amusement to concern. “I knew you were always up to something, but where did you even find someone capable of such a thing? You didn't get yourself scammed or caught up in some shady business, did you?”
“Eh? Who do you think I am?” I asked, puffing out my chest slightly. “It’s because of all the different businesses I’ve been involved in that I found this opportunity. Don't worry, I checked everything thoroughly; it’s the real deal. It’s only a matter of time before I make it big.”
“W-who said I was worried?” she stammered, her face flushing as she denied it. “It’s your own problem if you get scammed or end up in trouble. Just don't go mentioning that you know me if that happens, okay? Humph!”
She looked quite cute when she was flustered like that.
“Hahaha! Okay, okay. Whatever you say,” I said, unable to fully suppress my laughter.
“Humph! Whatever,” she said, trying to regain her composure. “So, why did you actually come by today? It wasn't just to brag about your 'profitable' new business, was it?”
“I know you say you don't care, but I wanted you to know that I’m doing well,” I replied. “But that wasn't the primary reason. I am in the middle of establishing a second business, and I wanted to personally invite the people I know to a meeting.”
“Is that so? So you’re here to invite me as well,” she said, though she looked a bit confused. “But why are you gathering everyone like this? Is it going to be a ceremony, or a prayer, or something along those lines?”
“Of course not,” I said. “The business I am planning this time is on a very large scale. I want to ensure its success since I’ll be investing a massive amount of capital into it. I’m going to use the meeting to advertise the new venture, gather some helpful feedback, and see if anyone is interested in becoming an investor.”
“Hmm… that makes sense,” Sarya said, her expression turning serious as we shifted into business talk. “But just how big of a business are we talking about if you need all of that preparation?”
“I estimate it will take around 150 to 200 platinum coins just to launch the business with its minimum functionality,” I said, not holding back the figures.
“W-what?! How much?!” Sarya’s eyes widened, and she looked at me with total disbelief. “You’re kidding, right? Wait… were you only inviting people so you could rip them off? Are you insane? Who in their right mind would give you that many coins?”
“Hey, hey, come on. I wouldn't even start a business if I couldn't cover more than half the startup cost myself,” I said to correct her misunderstanding. “In fact, I wouldn't even accept an investor who offered a huge amount of coins. I have no desire for anyone to interfere too much with my work.”
“Really? Then why are you even looking for investors at all? And where on earth did you get that much money?” she asked suspiciously.
“I just want to ensure there is no chance of a financial shortage during the growth phase,” I explained. “But the main reason is influence. I want investors who will use their own standing to support the guild. As for the money, my enchantment business has already provided me with sufficient capital. I’ll also be using the ongoing income from that business to fund the guild until it stabilizes.”
Normally, these aren't the kind of details you would share with a potential business partner, but for some reason, I felt comfortable letting Sarya know the truth.
“Is it really okay for you to be telling all this to a potential investor? Hehehe!” she said, her suspicion finally beginning to fade. “Anyway, it makes sense when you put it that way. The amount of money you have is still very surprising, though.”
“It’s not a big deal. You’ll understand once you ask around about the final lot from the auction,” I said. “Anyway, can I count on you to attend the meeting?”
“Hmm… I still have plenty of questions,” she said, sounding as if she were debating with herself. “But I assume the gathering is where you’ll be providing the details and answering questions. It wouldn't hurt to attend, at least.”
“Yeah, exactly. I’d be happy if you participated. It will be held about a month from now. I’ll let you know once the date and the venue are set in stone,” I confirmed.
“Sure, let's do it that way,” she said.
We talked for a few more minutes about miscellaneous things before I finally took my leave and headed back out into the city.
12 chapters ahead and support me on Patreon.
Heroes:
NaTaS