Lucy squinted her eyes. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“Well,” Adam said, rubbing his chin. “I don’t really know, I just think it’s a good idea to bring everything together. There are a lot of talents in this group, and there are a lot of different threads that I have with people. I don’t mean I want all of us here to join that group, I would like that, but I’ve been thinking about it for a little while, a day dream, which I think could… be useful?”

“Creating a Mercenary group is not a small feat,” Jurot said. “What is the difference between our Adventuring party and this group?”

“A few things,” Adam said, clearing his throat, trying to get rid of the awkwardness and embarrassment of revealing an idea he had been chewing on. “I would like to create a Mercenary group which assists people in transportation, throughout Aldland specifically, and that involves a bunch of stuff. I have a number of abilities and talents which would help, and I think that I should use them for more than just adventuring with the lads.”

They continued to stare at him, still not used to the way he spoke.

“How long have we known each other?” Adam asked, looking to Jaygak and Kitool.

“Almost a year,” Jaygak replied, with Kitool nodding her head.

“Right. In that year, you’ve pretty much become Experts,” Adam said. “Apparently, something which takes years?”

“Five, typically,” Jaygak admitted. “We’re outliers, and Lucy also trained like crazy with our Iyrmen.”

“Right. However, you guys did not. You, Jurot, and Kitool, didn’t become Experts by training with Iyrmen, you became Experts by adventuring. Adventuring a lot.”

“With you,” Jaygak said.

Adam smiled. “Exactly. With me.”

“We’re almost Experts, but I get your point,” Jaygak said.

“So. My plan is to get you to become Experts. Then, maybe, everyone else here can become Experts.” Adam looked to the rest. “Other than you, obviously,” Adam said, looking to Jonn. “You’re already one, so I can’t take credit for that.”

“So you want the glory of saying you trained Experts?” Sir Vonda asked, wondering if she needed to rethink her thoughts about Adam.

“No, well, kind of?” Adam replied. “I don’t care about glory, I’m no Iyrman.”

Jurot nodded his head slowly.

“Imagine, if you will. Brittany and Nobby become Experts,” Adam said, noting how Kitool stared at him. “Let’s be clear, I didn’t make them into Experts. Kitool did more for Brittany than me. Jurot is helping Nobby.”

The Iyrmen nodded their heads.

“However, I still assisted in that. Brittany wanted to leave her small village and I helped her do just that. I need to keep the rest of my promise, yes, but we’re working towards that.” Adam caught her look.

“Nobby here, the big wall of muscle, I made sure to try and get him to join us because of Jurot. Jurot looked at him and wanted to train him, so I, with my easy to move heart, set about helping his family so that he was in a position to accept. I’ve become invested, emotionally and financially, to make sure he becomes an Expert.”

“Right?” Lucy asked.

“So imagine, the pair are Experts. We invite more people, train them so they’re not utter dog, and they’re able to handle themselves. We train them until they have the, uh, core aspects of their strength. You know, how…” Adam looked at them all, wondering what he should use as an example, not wanting to reveal secret abilities.

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“I rage, but my rage is different to that of the rage of others,” Jurot said.

“Exactly,” Adam said. “Your ability to rage, which caused even the King’s Sword to use two Fourth Gate spells to deal with you.”

Jurot’s lips twitched slightly into a smile.

“So there we have it. Two Experts, and then a bunch of Mercenaries who are pretty tough, led by these two Experts. The group gets a reputation of helping caravans pass by safely, more safe than using ragtag Adventurers. They can now access an actual group which has a reputation, a history, of what they require. We can move goods from South Aldland all the way to North Aldland. From Aswadia to Aldland. From, what’s that place with the tea pots?”

“Persevia?” Jurot said.

“From Persevia to Drakkenlan.”

“Drakkenlen,” Jurot corrected.

“Exactly,” Adam said. “Those who work for the company will be treated very specifically. There will be a base payment, maybe a bonus on top of it every so often. Pay won’t be insanely high for the employees, but the plan is to take care of other stuff. Food, shelter, gear, that will be provided. Not just that, but, due to some of my abilities, and other abilities I plan to get, I plan on offering a few other things too.”

“That is difficult to do,” Jonn said. “It is difficult to front in terms of gold.”

“Difficult for me?” Adam asked.

“You would lose a lot of money in the beginning too,” Jonn said. “If you are planning to train people from the ground up, then there’s a period of time you won’t be able to use them for work.”

“I don’t mind losing much money in the beginning,” Adam said. “Money doesn’t really motivate me.” Adam bounced his head from side to side. “Well, maybe a little, but… I’d like to make a force whose name will ring across the land.”

“I thought you said you did not want glory?” Vonda said.

Adam smiled. “I never said my name would be attached to it.”

Suddenly, brows furrowed and raised.

“What?” Jurot asked.

“Jurot,” Adam said, looking to him. “Could you imagine a Half Elf creating a Mercenary group in Aldland?”

“What does that have to do with finding purpose?” Fred asked.

“I think it’s a part of me finding my purpose,” Adam said. “It might help you too.”

“So I will travel through the lands as an Expert of the group?” Brittany asked.

“You’d be able to go from sight to sight. Aldland, Drakkenlan, Aswadia-“

“Aswadasad,” Jurot corrected.

“Aswadasad, other places I’ll mispronounce like Peruvia.”

“Persevia,” Jurot corrected.

“Yep,” Adam said. “Nobby, you’d become strong and make decent coin, and part of the deal for working for the company would be it taking care of your family too.”

“My ma and pa?” Nobby asked, sitting up.

“Yeah. I want to create a compound for it,” Adam said, pulling back as he gesticulated. “A headquarters, a massive one, with all kinds of different… things. Forges, hell, we could hire craftsmen and let them create a bunch of stuff to sell too. I’d need to find a place for it, probably in the North or East.”

“Not Red Oak?” Jurot askd.

Adam shook his head. “Probably not. I’m in some hot water with Sir Harvey, so I don’t know if that’ll work.” He threw a knowing look to the others who had seen how he had fought with the High Alchemist. “Could make it near the Iyr though, or a village nearby?”

Brittany frowned.

“We could have a smaller home base near the Iyr, maybe? The Iyr and it’s people would be treated well by the company.” The idea was expanding in real time in front of them.

“What about-“

Adam raised his hand. “Dunes, just a sec.” He looked away, closing his eyes tight. He tried to focus on something he had caught. ‘What if I got the Iyr on board? The company could assist the Iyr in training its youth, taking teens along to various corners of the land. The business would bring in a ton of information, and once established, some of the information could be passed to the Iyr.’

“Sorry, Dunes,” Adam said. “What did you have in mind?”

“I was going to suggest you could speak with the Iyrmen, see if they can’t get on board,” he said.

Adam laughed. “Great minds think alike. That’s what I was thinking about.”

“You could also invite Priests.”

“Priests?” Adam asked.

“There are some who wander the world trying to find stable work outside of temples, for one reason or another,” Dunes said. “Some Priests work as Adventurers, but some want to work for an operation, the kind you’re describing.”

“Priests…” Adam whispered, his eyes glazing over as he felt into thought.

The others continued to eat and drink, keeping an eye on him. Adam had felt a little different today, so talking with him was a way to cheer him up. Hearing his thoughts would help at least alleviate some pressure on his mind, even if it was crazy nonsense.

“A business with hundreds of employees. Warriors, Iyrmen, perhaps those that need training. Guards of different ranks, guarding caravans from one place to the next. Priests who can deal with medical care of the employees, their families, and those on the missions. We could trade our own exotic wares, maybe even train Mages so they could have their own tower to sleep at night.”

Adam began to laugh. “Can you imagine someone training Mages to Third Gate just to cast the tower spell?” Adam shook his head, wiping the tears from the corner of his eyes.

They were listening to Adam’s nonsense, and seeing him laugh, the others smiled.

“That’s such a good idea,” Adam said. “I should do it.”

“You’re serious?” Dunes asked.