‘I need to finish learning the formula for the enchantment, and then I should be able to make more weapons easily,’ Adam thought. ‘Now that I think about it, is making a formula for weapons even feasible? Bell?’

[Yes.]

‘Oh, great.’ Adam continued to think about the formula. ‘I suppose it’s mostly just trying to mass produce weapons as cheap as possible. I need to be able to make swords and spears quickly.’

Adam returned back to his room to gather his thoughts. ‘There’s probably a way to make an assembly line, right? There must be. I suppose that won’t work for enchanting, but for making swords and spears? There’s got to be a way to do that.’

‘I can enchant fire swords, but is mass producing Basic magical weapons better? I’d probably earn less, but they would be easier to enchant for…’ Adam realised he was the only enchanter. ‘I need more enchanters. I wonder if there’s a way I can teach others how to enchant?’ He thought back to how he had Awakened Churot’s magical abilities using his XP, and how it had drained him terribly.

‘+1 weapons, +1 with an additional enchantment…’ Adam supposed they sold for roughly a thousand, and a thousand and a half each, or so. ‘+2 weapons probably sell for way more though. Can I mass produce them? How much does a +2 weapon go for anyway? Two, maybe three thousand? No, they must be rare, so even more? Four thousand? Five?’

Adam crossed his arms, trying to gather himself. ‘A basic weapon which regains charges daily. That way it can’t be spammed, in case they end up using it against the Iyr, or if I have to come across it. Just an additional 1D6 damage, like a smite. Should I make weapons which can cast a spell once per day instead? They’d probably sell for quite a bit. What if I made a combination of the two?’

Adam’s thoughts fell to how technology had evolved within his lifetime. ‘I should stagger the releases of each new enchantment, probably. After a few years, I could probably combine both. No, no, once I bring that into the world, it’ll be hard to stop that sort of thing. It’s way too deadly. I should probably market my weapons somehow, with quality, reliability, and being an all around pompous prick, people love that.’

Adam smiled to himself. ‘If I market my weapons to be of… no, wait. Couldn’t I do both? Have a set of weapons for the masses, and then a more bespoke thing? That might work. Though, I would like to mass produce the weapons that are higher end too. Should I find better materials to make those weapons? So the enchantment can be a slightly higher tier, but the materials are nicer. I could mark them up way more…’

However, there was quite a huge issue which lay in front of Adam. ‘I need to bribe the nobles. If they want to stop my business, they could do it pretty easily. I’ll need to ingratiate myself with a high ranking noble. A marquis? Isn’t the ruler of this place a duchess? Duchess Eastsea, I think?’ Adam let out a long sigh. ‘I’ll need to bribe her to get her on my side, and then use her as a shield if anyone tries to come for me. Even the king will have to be wary of offending one of his greatest allies.’

Adam looked over to the supplies he had placed to the side. ‘Then there’s the matter of alchemy. I should really make more healing potions…’ Adam sat up. ‘Wait. Are there other enchanters in this land? There must be, right? The Iyr has a few, but I haven’t heard of an Aldish enchanter yet. Plus, I’ll need to figure out who makes health potions too. If I try to step on another noble’s toes, or gods forbid, the clergy’s toes, I’ll find myself burnt at the stake.’

Adam lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. ‘Who the hell am I going to teach how to enchant too? I’ll give away my identity to the others. Dunes, Vonda, and some of the rest know, but I trust them enough not to spill my secrets. Rick? The others?’

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‘Churot? Churot. Churot? Maybe. I have to pick someone who has Mana, meaning Wizards and Blood Mages. The Iyr probably has a few Blood Mages, but…’ Adam wondered just how much influence the Iyr should have over the business. It was then he remembered that he had given it all to his Aunt, and a board of Directors formed by the other families in the shared estate. ‘It’s too late to try and distance myself now…’

“Jurot,” Adam called as he approached the Iyrman, who was sitting down with his cousins. “Let’s go for a walk.”

“Okay,” Jurot replied, following Adam out.

“You know a place somewhere quiet?” Adam asked.

Jurot nodded, before leading Adam through the noisy city, slipping through the laundry which dried under the noonval sun. The Iyrman’s eyes noticed coins on various ledges, but he didn’t notice anything alarming.

Finally, he slipped through into a tavern, the doors almost dropping at the hinge. The smell of dog piss hit him like a brick, as he raised his elbow to his face. The other patrons grinned his way, revealing their missing teeth. Jurot placed down two gold onto the counter, before he was taken around back by the elderly man. The old man led him to a trapdoor, which Jurot hoisted up. He allowed Adam down first, the Half Elf walking down the steps into a dark, empty cellar.

“How quaint,” Adam said, looking around in the darkness to see the place was a rectangular room, with a tunnel leading out. The sound of the trapdoor shutting caused him to jump, and he looked back to see Jurot lighting up a candle, which illuminated the area more brightly for Adam’s Fae eyes, and dimly for the Iyrman.

“What did you wish to speak about?” Jurot asked.

Adam glanced around. “We alone?”

Jurot nodded. “We should be,” he replied in the Iyr’s tongue.

“Right,” Adam replied, taking the hint to speak in their language. “I was just thinking about the business.” Adam explained his thoughts to Jurot, speaking about his plans for the business, and the tiers of enchanting.

“I do not know how that will progress,” the Iyrman admitted. Jurot did not have a mind for business, not unless the business was splitting skulls with his axe.

“How long does it take for the Iyr to train Blood Mages to become Experts?”

“From First Gate spells to Third Gate spells, eight to fifteen years, but typically ten.”

“So what if I made a deal to assist in their training and teach them enchanting?” Adam offered.

“I do not know.”

“Should I Awaken some more Scribe Mages then?” Adam asked.

Jurot, who had gotten used to Adam’s antics, blinked. He recalled how Adam had Awakened Churot into a Scribe Mage, though he wasn’t sure of the details. “You are able to Awaken more Scribe Mages?”

“I think so,” Adam said. “I could probably Awaken another person,” Adam said, his eyes glancing to the side to check his XP, “two people.”

Jurot noted Adam’s eyes glance aside, as though he was reading something. However, he remained silent, for what he must know, he knew. Jurot wasn’t sure how to respond to Adam’s words. “I do not know.”

“Hmmm…” Adam rubbed his chin. “I’d rather they be Iyrmen, since I trust you all. I’d rather have Iyrmen who can enchant rather than strangers. They need to know magic, so…” ‘Jonn? Dunes and Vonda? They already have their own things to do, though. Jonn’s meant to be teaching too, and protecting my children.’

Jurot remained silent, trying to take in what Adam had said. “You should speak with the Chief when we return.”

“I should?” Adam asked, raising his brow. “No, I suppose you’re right. I should speak with him about a lot of things…”

Eventually, the pair made their way out, returning back to the Adventurer’s Guild.

‘How does he know all these places anyway?’ Adam thought, but he dared not to ask, just in case it was the Iyr’s secret. For what he must know, he knew.

Adam returned to find his group relaxing together, many having returned from a day of enjoying the markets. He noted Jaygak sharing a look with Jurot, but said nothing about it as he dropped down to one side.

Adam continued to think about his business, trying to find ways to make more money. He realised that he’d have to dip into being evil if he really wanted to make a lot of money, but he wasn’t sure how far he’d be willing to go. Then, a thought crossed his mind. He looked to the three Iyrmen who had adventured with him the most, from his brother Jurot, to the trickster Jaygak, to the quiet, wise Kitool.

“What’s wrong?” Jaygak asked, noting the look on his face.

“Just some business stuff,” Adam replied, returning back to his meal of boar stew, which had been on the menu for a short while now. ‘I didn’t even ask them if they wanted to be Executives of the business, I just forced them into it. I can’t be forcing everyone to do what I want…’

“Do you think Tavgak and Kavgak are already crawling?” Jaygak asked, trying to cheer Adam up.

“How can you do this to me, Jaygak?” Adam whispered, frowning.