An army of servers, assistants, apprentices, and housekeepers walked the service corridors running through the galleria. Nox didn’t recognize half the faces. There were too many of them. However, all staff had temporary tattoos, and hired guards regularly checked their credentials. He had hired primarily northern refugees from the Terrastalia disaster. Several locals from the New Outer Ring and former child gang members also worked with them. Nox ensured only the most charismatic and presentable individuals worked in customer-facing roles. Ratra Galleria’s performance thus far hadn’t disappointed. However, he regularly checked staff reports from departmental heads and managers. Staff dissatisfaction played a significant role in Singh’s downfall, and he refused to let the same happen to him.

Mou saw promise in Aisha. She had taken the apprentice under her wing, and Nox saw the young alchemist preparing for her journeyman certification in a corner of the workshop. Almost every station had an automation script, and Mou’s recruits moved among them, monitoring the brews. Queen Mercer had released the alchemist, her family, and two assistants—of Mou’s choice—from their service. A replacement alchemist had absorbed Mou’s old operation and the rest of her staff.

Scanning the workshop or side laboratories for his aunt proved fruitless. He guessed she was in the store or alchemist baths. She was also due to visit the old store. Nox had made Mou part owner of the building. The newest paperwork said that if anything happened to him, she and her husband—or their children if the pair passed before Nox—would inherit the building, store, and workshops. He hoped it was enough to compensate them for leaving their comfortable lives on the Golden Isles. The Galleria would also go to her since she was Nox’s only living kin. However, he intended to have papers drawn up in the near future.

Nox and Ingrid passed the artificer’s workshop first. Neither were surprised to find Sapna absent. She spent most of her time in the Galleria’s new magical device shop or her personal laboratory. Her assistants primarily worked in the workshop, keeping the store stocked, keeping all of the property’s devices functioning, and completing commissioned works.

A variety of devices lined the walls. Nox saw weapons and delving devices, tools for other artisans, and luxury goods only the affluent could afford. Currently, Sapna had the workshop working on her newest invention: a music box and recorder. She made the prototype on a whim and showed it off in the Edelweiss Brasserie when the musicians went on a break. Now, several eateries, noble houses, popular musicians, and the local bard’s college wanted the device.

Each workstation worked on individual parts of the device. No team knew of the details of the other’s part, delaying the inevitable leak of the manufacturing process. Sapna intended to supervise the final assembly personally, with her most trusted journeymen assisting.

“I doubt the musicians in the Outer Ring will be pleased when the music box becomes popular,” Ingrid said as they moved on. “It's going to steal a good deal of their business.”

“Given the price, only the most premium establishments and the rich can use it,” Nox told her. “It’s not a replacement for musicians but a substitute for when they’re not available. Nothing can replace the sound and ambiance created by live music. If anything, it will help spread the word of talent more, letting unknown or lesser talents get more jobs.”

“Do you really expect rich folk to go around cheap taverns and pubs looking for musicians to record?”

“Don’t underestimate the eccentricities of the rich. Far too many people have deep pockets and nothing productive or useful to keep them busy. The last year has taught me that a good deal of these people are Pink Sellis addicts, fans of the arts, or both. If they’re not smoking, they’re wasting their time and money on something equally stupid or crazy. Sapna hopes to capitalize on the crowd.”

“It feels like a lot of the products the Ratras create are designed to capitalize on the—”

“That’s a slippery slope,” Nox interrupted. “Yes. You could say half my empire is built around preying on the vanity of the rich and powerful. Our job as artisans is to identify a demand and then supply.”

“Pink Sellis and smiths who sell the gangs their weapons probably say the same,” Ingrid stated. “But I suppose we need to make distinctions.”

The pair moved on from the subject and workshop, walking down the corridor toward the galleria’s more public sections. The number of guards and identity checkpoints increased. Nox had gates installed, so invisibility spells wouldn’t let stealth mages bypass them. He still needed wards to protect against individuals like Swati. Unfortunately, his knowledge of the craft felt insufficient. Sigil of the Artisan only helped him memorize all the building blocks accurately. It did nothing for his understanding of the concepts or their applications.

The Galleria had teamed with the Trade Empire for its next endeavor. Nox never expected a day to come when he would work with his mother and, initially, only agreed to the deal so she’d release Mou. However, the alchemical bath houses had proved more profitable than expected. He peeked in the old gambling halls and lounges as he passed. Giant marble pools now dominated most of the floor.

Sweet aromas wafted out of the spaces as servers carrying trays of beverages, towels, and robes moved between the baths and staff-only spaces. The men’s pools were packed despite the time of day. Only male attendants worked in them, and Nox ignored all requests by regular customers to hire women and put them in scanty uniforms. He didn’t peak in the female baths, but the swarm of servers entering and exiting the space told him it probably had far more clients.

Mou dedicated an entire workshop to producing brews for the baths. The pools needed regular treatment. Every client received a vial of the standard cleansing concoction and could purchase several additional brews to enhance their experience and rejuvenation. The options ranged from scar and wrinkle removal to healing enhancement, mana, and stamina restoration. The alchemical baths enabled clients to indulge in the benefits without worrying about toxicity. They didn’t carry the same risks as life-essence-fuelled magic either. Most importantly, soaking in the baths was a luxurious, calming, and almost addictive experience. He and Aria had gotten in the habit of spending time in their private alchemical bath once a week, too.

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Sapna’s workshop provided and maintained the heating enchantments that kept them functional. Crystallize Essence made getting the relevant essences a breeze as well. Queen Mercer helped procure high-quality rechargeable mana gems to fuel the baths. Set up was an expensive affair, but it proved worthwhile. It regularly drew influential figures from around the city and beyond, and Nox had made several valuable trade deals thanks to it.

Instead of continuing down the service corridors, he attempted cutting through the Edelweiss Brasserie. It was after lunchtime. Primarily, afternoon tea indulgers populated the eatery. Servers and cooks stood in the far corner, talking to their team leaders and managers. A woman broke away from the gaggle and grasped Nox’s hand as he passed.

“Are you on your way to see Sapna?” Aria asked after planting a soft peck on his lips.

Nox had technically leased the brasserie to House Edelweiss. He had no say in its running and received rent and a twentieth of its profits as his compensation. In exchange, he also allowed Edelweiss Brasserie to sell a portion of their menu in the bathhouses, resulting in a busy but profitable venture. As the barony’s representative in the city, Aria oversaw its running, and the pair, more or less, succeeded at keeping business and their relationship separate.

“I am,” Nox replied. “I was hoping to bump into you before seeing her. Yggdrasil knows how long she’ll keep me.”

“We both knew this was going to happen sooner or later. I just hope everything turns out well. The brasserie is safe. If I don’t wake up—”

“Don’t even go there!” Aria smacked his chest. “Everything will be fine. I’m sure you’ll be in perfect shape for next Sixthday.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him deeply. “I know this is a risk you need to take, and I’m just worried. Alright? Or is that not allowed?”

“My wards don’t allow it. I’m sorry, love.”

Ingrid pretended to gag next to the couple and went ignored.

“How are the preparations coming along?” Nox asked, taking a step back from his paramour and straightening his wrinkled shirt. Their exchange had drawn the staff’s attention, and the ongoing meeting had stalled.

“I received more correspondence from Lord Oakheart,” Aria answered. “He offered to provide wine for the event for no charge at all. Isn’t that generous?”

“Almost too generous.” Nox chuckled. “It's almost like he has an ulterior motive.”

“I wonder what that could be. Curious, isn’t it?”

“Curious indeed. The Edelweiss Brasserie is already stocking their vintages. What more could he want? Do you need any help—”

“I’m fine.” Aria shot him a cheeky smile. “This is an Edelweiss event, Sir Ratra. Your involvement isn’t needed. I’ll take care of everything. In the meantime, get yourself sorted.”

“Fine.”

Nox kissed her one last time before exiting the brasserie. The Galleria’s main hall was a buzz of activity. He had filled it with guards and opened it to anyone with enough gold to visit the eatery, Knightly Brews, or the artificing store.

During the day, he also opened the great ballroom to the public for a small fee and allowed them to bring in drinks from the brasserie. It let them enjoy the splendor of the grand room and watch the manicured gardens below. The Galleria had become a popular loitering space among the city’s young and rich.

Only brasserie guests enjoyed entry to the building in the evenings after the stores closed. He also rented the ballroom out for events. It was occupied almost every Fifth and Sixthday during term time. Nox insisted the parties end by midnight unless they paid an extra charge. Mou and her family slept on the top floor on such evenings. Putting an extra floor between themselves and the festivities.

Most of the doors lining the main halls remained locked. He had several powerful businessmen regularly contacting him for an opportunity to set up shop in the Galleria. Nox kept most on the hook while continuing to refurbish the property. After a year of ownership, he still hadn’t repaired all the damage inflicted by the explosion of myconid flesh. The structure was still sound, but the walls, floors, and woodwork demanded repairs. He had a small team of contractors refurbish a section at a time and hoped to have a space available in a handful of months.

Allen Tanner, one of Nox’s first employees, approached him as he walked down the hallway. His newest role involved managing the bathhouses and the ballroom. “Sir Ratra!” He sounded out of breath as he approached Nox. “We have a bit of a delicate matter, and I’d love your advice on how to deal with it.”

“You have the authority to deal with whatever it is on your own, Alex. I need to meet Sapna.”

“It’s Lord Highwater. He’s demanding the premium private bath, but it's already booked.”

“So, give it to him,” Nox said. “I know I said no exceptions, but he’s on the city council and isn’t my biggest fan. He might as well do it if it will help win his favor. Downgrade the other to the next best available space. They shouldn’t know the difference.”

“If it were only that easy.” Allen sighed. “He’s here with his mistress while his wife and daughter have the premium baths booked. They’ve used it before. They’ll know.”

Nox paused. He turned to his employee, grinning from ear to ear. “In that case, tell him who has it booked and why we can’t give it to him.”

“What?” Ingrid raised an eyebrow. “This is your chance to get him in your pocket.”

“That’s not how we do things, dear apprentice,” Nox said. “Besides. All that matters is that Lord Highwater knows what we know. What he thinks we’ll do with the information is up to him.”

“And if he demands the bath anyway?” Allen asked.

“Then there might as well be a chance encounter between the happy couple and his wife and daughter. He can’t blame us for that.”

“I can never tell whether you’re a genius or plain evil,” Ingrid whispered, chuckling as they moved on.

The humbly named Artifice was half as busy as its neighbor, Knightly Brews. It was humbly furnished, and the shop had her best pieces and sellers on display. Nox spotted his great aunt, Sapna Ratra, by the counter, laughing and conversing with a familiar, towering figure.

“It’s a pleasure seeing you again, Dean Oleg,” Nox said, greeting one of Woodson University’s four leaders. “What brings you to our humble establishment?”

The larger man patted a torso-sized box wrapped in brown paper. It sat between him and Sapna on the counter. “The lovely Ratra lady requested I procure a rare piece of artificing for her. It took me a while to fulfill the request, but here we are.”

“What is it?” Nox asked, reaching for the container. Unfortunately, Sapna slapped his hand.

“None of your business, boy,” she said. Sapna waved Dean Oleg away. “Go home. I’ll talk to you later. Young Sir Ratra and I have a few delicate matters to attend to.”