As usual, Ryan began his early morning routine, and unlike previous days when he had to suffer from hangovers, he felt rather refreshed after last night's drinking spree. There was a mild hangover, but nothing too noticeable compared to the ale he usually had.

Of course, it was mead, but even that should've had a much more noticeable after-effect. Or maybe the tavern had perfected their process of making mead so that it didn't.

"Must be that quality over quantity," Ryan mused.

He couldn't wipe the smile that stretched across his face as he recalled the previous night's free-flowing conversation he'd shared with his good friend. It was something akin to being able to use a limb that he didn't know he still had.

Veron's clangers, I need to socialize more often.

Ryan couldn't really dwell on thoughts like that, as he had a business to run, and time waits for no static, after all.

He went downstairs and had lunch. The walk to his shop today was a little different; Ryan had a spring in his step as he treaded across the familiar streets.

He waved at the baker, smiled at the florist, and even nodded in appreciation to the few guards he saw on his way to the Eastern gate.

His jolly mood surprised him, but he didn't bother pushing the feeling down as he hadn't felt so alive in a long time.

He started to hum a song from childhood, a song that he and Leo had made up when they had dreams of becoming bards. He couldn't help but fall into memory lane.

---------

"Leo, what do you want to be when you leave the orphanage?" Ryan asked.

"Probably a bard, they have it easy. You?"

"Same. Imagine getting to travel across the Eternal Realm, singing and making money," Ryan mused.

"I bet that'll be Veron's will for me. I hope to travel the realm," Leo said with a dreamy expression.

"In your wildest dreams, you sound like a toad, Leo. I don't think you'd be able to make it as a bard with that voice of yours," Ryan said, laughing as Leo's face turned red at the jab.

"At least I'm sure that I have a better voice than you. What does that say about your chances?" Leo asked pointedly.

"Chances? I make my own path. Besides, I'll win the people's hearts with my charisma," Ryan boasted.

"Charisma? You have as much charisma as a turtle," Leo let out with a snort.

"I assure you, Leo, I'm going to travel around the realm, you just wait. You'll hear stories about me someday—I, Ryan Lionheart, the greatest bard!" Ryan said, his chest puffing up with each word in the last sentence.

"Please, I sing better than you. If anything, I'll be the Realm's greatest bard, not you," Leo said dismissively.

"Prove it now, here and now then," Ryan said, offended.

"Really, you want me to prove it now?" Leo asked, glancing nervously around.

"Is somebody shy? How are you going to sing to the crowds at the taverns?" Ryan asked smugly.

"Of course not, I'll do it now." Leo glanced around to make sure that people weren't too close to him before he began:

"He challenged the heavens and earth.

A heart made of stone he had.

His downfall plotted by all sides.

His death made them all glad.

Too greedy with his gold they said.

His rings they shared.

Five rings in all, lost to all.

No one could use the rings, labeled not more than decorations.

Nothing more than beautiful orbs on ore.

Discarded to the four winds, where was the last of them.

No one knows."

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

"Ouch, that hurt my ears," Ryan joked.

"Stop hating, Ryan, and then maybe you'll be as good as me someday," Leo laughed.

"Alright, it was a good one, but you do know that nobody cares about the merchant tales. I do like how you turned it into a song though," Ryan said, accepting defeat.

"It's just a talent," Leo said, blushing.

-----------

The memory brought a smile to Ryan's face as he got to his shop.

How would they have known that their lives would've turned out like this? Most people couldn't even think about how often life messed with their younger selves' dreams.

He couldn't even put it in words how crushed he was when he got the merchant and alchemist combo. It was the same for Leo; the poor guy was distraught. The good part was that both of them had bounced back from that setback and started making a way for themselves.

As Ryan got into his shop, he spied an envelope on the floor and walked towards it. He didn't think much about it as he knew the envelope had most likely been dropped by the Looters Heaven.

Opening it up, he saw what he expected: a single sentence written on the parchment paper.

"Still waiting on your decision"

Ryan didn't really even think much about the Looters Heaven; their entire policy was glorified trash, and Ryan wasn't going to join them. He just had to get himself ready for what was going to happen.

"Rats piss this," Ryan said as he tore up the parchment paper into pieces, letting it litter the floor.

He decided that he wasn't going to let something like this ruin his day. He had potions to brew after all and a whole lot of other things that required his attention at this moment.

Ryan almost lost his head while he was brewing but remembered that he had nothing to fear; all he'd done was reject a terrible and opportunistic offer.

Speaking of which, Ryan had to clear off the Banking Guild's debt and the Traders Guild's next. Something that wouldn't have been easy for him before, but he'd started to build connections, and it was time to see what they were worth.

The brewing process lasted about two hours, with Ryan making sure to add enough mint for the smell and taste. It wasn't quite as aesthetically pleasing as what they served at the Looter's Heaven, but he didn't really care as it served its primary function.

Ryan bottled up the potions and arranged the vials on the shelves as he usually did, making sure to optimize their positioning.

With a smile still on his face as he hummed the song from their childhood, he opened up his shop proper to receive customers.

He didn't have to wait long to receive his first of the day. It was a troll that looked suspiciously like Boreas; Ryan almost closed the window in the troll's face before Boreas raised his hands in a 'I come in peace' manner, which made him pause.

Ryan's fight or flight response was off the charts, and to be frank, it was his flight response that wanted to destroy the meter in his head at this point.

It wasn't much, but he had to take a breath before he missed out on what could be an opportunity.

"Good morning, how can I help you?" Ryan asked placatingly, one hand reaching for his stirring rod.

"Relax, Merchant. I'm here on business, sent by the Master of Silvers, or his second anyway," the troll said.

"Am I supposed to know who his second is?" Ryan said, the words leaving his mouth before he could stop them.

His hands clamped tightly around the rod, and he started sweating on his forehead; his entire visage must've been shaking because the troll let out a booming laugh.

"Again, relax, Merchant. You've met his second. A certain Levi—we've been here before," Boreas said.

Ryan could remember Levi, the nonchalant adventurer that had indirectly saved him from being robbed or worse. He could do business with the man, but he wasn't here, was he? Nope. He'd sent his troll buddy, and Ryan didn't know if he'd even sent Boreas or if this was a ploy by the elf to get back at Ryan.

His distrust must have shown on his face because the troll seemed to let out a sigh as he picked up a club from thin air—something adventurers could do on a whim.

"Look here, merchant, if I wanted to crush you, I would have done so by now. I don't have the patience to deceive anyone; it's a tactic used by cowards, and I, Boreas, will never be known as such," Boreas said as he spat on the ground.

Ryan relaxed a little at the statement; he was a little shaken by the fact that the adventurer had told him in plain terms that he could wipe Ryan off the face of the Eternal Realm with ease. He knew it, obviously, but for it to be put to him so... eloquently. He knew he had to relax now. The stirring rod wouldn't help him much anyway.

"My apologies. What would you want?" Ryan asked politely.

The adventurer let out a smile at the words, and his club disappeared into wherever it came from. An action no doubt done for Ryan's benefit more than anything, as the troll seemed to wield it as though it weighed nothing, whereas Ryan knew for a fact that he'd struggle to lift it with both hands if he tried.

"There's been complaints about effects of potions by..." The troll trailed off as he thought about something.

Ryan wondered why but knew it wasn't any of his business anyway.

"Let's just say, we need a lot of potions, and we're here to trial yours."

Ryan was wary of giving potions out at special discounts for adverts, as it seemed like the dwarf had cheated him to get cheaper potions.

"I have fifteen for a bundle price of three hundred and ten silvers," Ryan said.

"That cheap, huh? I'll take that," Boreas said with mirth.

Ryan quickly arranged the potions and packaged them; the exchange was conducted swiftly and without any hassle.

"We'll get back to you, or we won't," the troll said as he left the shop.

Ryan immediately sank into his chair, his adrenaline pumping high after that exchange.

What did Boreas want to say before he stopped?

Well, that ship had sailed now, but it seemed as though he wanted to talk about Looters Heaven supply. It seems like the branch of Looter's Heaven has started dabbling in murky waters.

The adventurers themselves seemed to be jumping ship; what would that mean for him?

Could he somehow manage to keep his shop open long enough to profit from the boycott?

He could maybe grow a customer base as most adventurers were on the move looking for new suppliers.

Ryan rubbed his head at the thoughts plaguing him.

Ryan couldn't put a finger on it. Veron's clangers, he hated schemes. Moves were being made by hustle masters, and he was just another piece on the game board.

Heck, he might not even be on the board, but he'd happily take the crumbs falling off the table.

How else was he going to build a business if he wasn't ready to poach as many customers as possible and as often as he could?

He couldn't even see himself looking down on anyone; he'd take on anyone, even those with personalities like the elf.

Heck, the dwarf was worse, but he'd rather have him patronizing him than not at all.

"Eh, erm..." The sound of someone clearing their throat startled Ryan.

A stranger was at the other side, looking at Ryan with a smile on his face.

"Please excuse me, what can I help you with?" Ryan asked as he quickly pulled himself together.

"I'm here to buy some teleportation stones. I was told this was the place to get them at a cheap rate," the adventurer said.

Oh oh.

Ryan knew he didn't have any left.