After spending most of the night planning and a couple of hours meditating I am ready to start the day. I have a lot to do today before the party, but first, before I start working on my list, comes breakfast. So I head downstairs to request food be sent up, when I return upstairs Isabella is awake.

"Good morning, breakfast will be up soon."

Isabella says "Morning, how did your planning go?"

"Pretty good, I only need to make a few minor changes to what I had already planned."

Isabella says "That's good. Any changes to my mission?"

"Nope, you are good to go."

Isabella says "Alright, I'll head over to the adventurer's guild after breakfast."

"Sounds good, just make sure to stay safe. If need be, use the adventurers as shields, that is what they get paid for."

Isabella says "I don't really like the idea, but I will keep it in mind."

"I know it's not pleasant, but keep in mind they are being paid a lot to protect you."

Isabella says "I will do as you say."

"Just remember the people and the gold are important, but the most important thing is that you return safely."

Isabella says "I didn't realize I was so important to your plans."

"It has nothing to do with my plans, you are one of the people I care about."

Isabella says "Thank you, Ash."

Another awkward moment is saved by the arrival of our breakfast, we both dig in and pretend the awkward moment never happened. As usual the food is amazing, and the portions are big enough for me to eat my fill. I keep forgetting to ask Sarah if she is the one cooking or if it is another summoned, I need to pay my compliments.

Once we are done eating Isabella and I chat casually for a few more minutes before she gets up to get ready to leave. When she is ready I walk with her to the adventurer's guild and meet the group that is going with her. I make sure they are aware that if anything happens to her I will hunt them down, just to give them a little encouragement.

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Isabella gives me a hug and then shoos me out so that she can get started on her mission. So I leave the guild and return to my street and enter the blacksmiths shop to see how the two of them are doing. What I find is surprising, Harold has made a large amount of tools and weapons while Hyung has only made two swords.

The tools and weapons Harold made are all of decent quality but nothing special. The katana and wakizashi that Hyung made however, are absolutely beautiful and are only limited by the material used. It looks like they will do just fine, so I wait for them to finish their current work before speaking.

"Morning!"

Harold says "Mornin, Lord Ash."

Hyung says "My Lord."

"I am impressed with what you have managed in just one night."

Harold says "It has been good to have proper tools and materials to work with."

Hyung says "Do you have more steel?"

"Actually no, but I have something better. Although it might be a bit of a challenge."

Hyung says "Oh? How so?"

"Are you familiar with the weapons of the ancient empire?"

Harold says "Not really, we've only seen one."

Hyung says "It was decent, but only really special due to the enchantment."

"Well, it turns out they cheated. They had a source of iron ore that was inherently magical."

Harold says "Magic ore? Such a thing exists?"

"Yes, and I have some for you, but you will have to figure out the smelting and working of it yourselves."

Harold says "No problem!"

Hyung says "We can do that!"

"Are you okay with not getting paid until the first merchant caravan returns?"

Hyung says "Not a problem."

Harold says "I am getting skill ups, money doesn't matter compared to that!"

"Fair enough!"

Looking around I spot an empty ore bin and walk over to it, tipping the pouch upside down above it, I mentally think of the ore pouring out. Luckily it works, I didn't want to have to remove the ore a handful at a time. When the first bin fills up I open a second and repeat the process, while the two smiths stare in amazement.

Harold says "A bag of holding!"

Hyung says "All that ore is for us?"

"This should be enough for you to start experimenting with. I can provide you with more later. But please finish using up the steel before you start working with the new ore."

Hyung says "Of course!"

Harold says "Yes, we need to get our skill as high as we can before we work with a new metal."

"Alright, sounds good. Is there anything else you need?"

Harold says "Um, if you could ask Sarah to send us some food it would be appreciated."

"Sure, I'll see to it."

When I return to the inn Sarah seems busy so I walk over and sit at the bar to wait for her to have a minute. I notice the common room is much more lively than I have ever seen it, yet there are the same number of people. It is just that the people are more lively, since they are all summoned who live on the street, it must be because of what I have been doing.

My plans didn't include giving these people a new sense of purpose or hope, but it seems like that is how it worked out. Which is fine by me, I need the items these people can craft for the whole merchant plan to work. If that in turn benefits them and makes their lives here better then that is just an added bonus.

"Sarah, the smiths worked through the night and haven't eaten, could we get some food sent over there?"

Sarah says "Sure! No problem! Oh, by the way a message arrived for you, you are having a guest join you for lunch."