"About time." Luo Yun tucked a pen into his ear and looked up from the folder in his hand. "Where have you been for the past few days?"

"I was staying over at Castle Kaynmur. You know, relaxing, resting, becoming a Weaver." Aleister sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "All of it hard work, demanding all of my time."

"Even though you said you felt you were close, I must admit that was sooner than I expected. Good thing we scheduled that fight when we did."

"Yup. And I heard that the fight really boosted the popularity of your dojo?"

"Seeing as you're arriving from Castle Kaynmur, you talked to Kyoko during your stay? I didn't expect her to help with filing of the applicant. Just her helping to advertise is fine, but she surpassed all of my expectations. However many people she told you applied is an understatement."

"She didn't give me an estimate, but really? That many people? There weren't even that many people in the audience."

"Yes, but just like I hoped, the results of your fight and valiant effort were chronicled centerfold in the Osetia Weekly." Luo Yun grabbed a rolled up newspaper from his bag and handed it over to Aleister.

Details about the eclipse still covered the front page, however, two sheets in—the entirety of the page delivered an exaggerated illustration of the fight and listed his entire fight blow by blow.

"Wow, they really advertised your dojo on here, huh?" The illustration showed him and Brilnia in fierce combat, with his bloodied back being front and center. On it, Luo Yun's Dojo was written in striking calligraphy. The caption underneath detailed its location in the Sword Ward. "I'm not sure what the problem is, though?"

"There are just too many people! You know that there's only about space in there for twenty people, max. But I've had over a hundred applicants. Do you know how much paperwork that is? I even had people pay a membership up front to chase off anyone wasting my time."

Aleister grinned as he stared at a reflection of himself in the fountain. "Damn. I didn't realize I was that much of an appeal. Maybe I should become a model or something."

"You not being a Weaver and yet still fighting against one was the appeal. It gave people the sense that maybe they weren't completely powerless against such an opponent."

"Which is exactly what you wanted."

"Yes."

"I'm still not understanding the problem? Is it just the paperwork? Because I'll help you with that."

"You're misunderstanding me. There isn't a problem, for now. And I don't need your help with the paperwork as I already have a plan in mind."

"I'm all ears."

Luo Yun pulled out a thin paper folder. "I quickly skimmed through the list of applicants and pulled out the most promising individuals. Then, I used some of Kyoko's connections and after full background checks I've cut that list down to just four people."

"Out of the over one-hundred people that applied, you're only accepting four people? I think since becoming a Weaver, I've lost half of my brain or something because surely that can't be it."

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"No, of course not. I'm asking you to look at those four candidates and pick two of them to train yourself. I'll train the other two."

"Uh, I don't think I have the time to train them."

"Nonsense. What else will you do with your time? The most efficient way to refine your soul and increase your rank will by ability application. The more you understand about what you're capable of, the stronger you will get. And what better way to improve your own skills than by teaching others?"

"You could have just stopped the first sentence." Aleister grabbed the folder from Luo Yun's hand. "What's your plan for training these four? Since you vetted them and they're receiving special treatment, I'm assuming you're going to force them to file through the rest of the applicants?"

"Of course. I can't be bothered to individually choose each member, so I'll let them figure it all out. The whole point of my dojo was to build up my reputation in the fastest way possible."

"Your welcome."

"Thank you indeed. It took me forever, but who would have expected my first ever underling to bring me to such heights."

"I'm your underling now, am I?"

"Since you're now a Weaver and helping me with my business, I can promote you to a secretarial position."

"Wow, I'm so honored." Aleister rolled his eyes. "This promotion also better come with a pay raise."

"Did you already blow through all the money we netted from our illicit bets? Well, no matter. How much do you need?"

"I haven't, but how about—a million gold coins?"

Luo Yun scoffed with amusement. "You have ties with the Crystal Royal Family. Why don't you go ask the Empress herself for that much money."

"Worry not. I didn't expect you to give me that much money. I was simply probing how deep your pockets were."

"I don't have as much money as you may think. And especially after a few recent acquisitions, my coffers are running low. But, that's the price I must pay."

"Recent acquisitions?"

"Yes. Like I just said, the dojo was the fastest way of building my reputation. However, that's just among the non Weaver base. Even though they make up the majority of the population, they're also in the minority of wealth. However, if you earn enough copper coins, you can trade them into silver coins. And those silver coins in turn become gold. That's why I'm passing down control of my dojo to those four individuals. To start phase two of my operations."

"From your analogy, I'm guessing that you probably purchased a large plot of land for agriculture cultivation?"

"No. Farming will take too much time to turn a profit for now. Although I have heard of Weavers who are able to manipulate the earth, plant life, and the such. So, if I happen across one of them, I might purchase a plot of land sooner rather than later."

"Then what's this secret method of making gold that I haven't heard of until now?"

"Managing a tavern and eventually transforming it into an inn. And its not a secret. It's just that the operational costs are high, but the payout if done successfully can be lucrative."

"How you even found an open area in this city where you can build a tavern, is beyond me. I swear every single inch of this land is being used."

"That's why I'm not building it. Or else I would have. Unfortunately, I had to purchase a long defunct property in the Venerable Ward. It's not in the most ideal of locations, nor is it in any sort of useable state, but it was the best deal I could find for now. The owner sold that property to me and threw in an empty building in the Central Ward as a bonus. However, I still have to pay the excessive monthly costs after the first month."

"Oh, since I'm now a partner in your business, how about you give that building to me?"

"What do you have in mind? Because I'm not paying those monthly prices just so you have an isolated location to do whatever you want."

"That whatever happens to involve me continuing my business in alchemy, potions, herbs, and other useful—stuff."

"Sounds good to me. I'll show you the place and hand over the keys and property deed tomorrow morning at my dojo."

"How early is this morning?"

"Since you asked, its now at sunrise. Don't be late. I wouldn't want you to make such a bad impression on your future disciples."

"It's too early for me to have disciples. I only awakened several days ago."

"The early bird catches the worm."

"I'm not gaining anything from this."

"Tomorrow at sunrise. Don't be late." Luo Yun left the manor's entrance.