"Brother Takahiko, can we talk tonight at Uncle Liu's tavern?" Kunihiko asked.

It was after we finished our dinner. Sofia insisted on helping Mother clean up the dishes, despite being told she didn't have to since she was a guest in our house. Her stubbornness and genuine desire to help seemed to win my mother's heart.

"Sorry, but tonight I must accompany Sofia since she's new here. I don't want to leave her alone," I replied.

"It's okay, Takahiko. I'll be fine," Sofia reassured.

"Why don't we bring her along?" Wakahiko suggested.

"Don't be ridiculous! Liu's tavern at night is not suitable for girls," Mother disagreed. "You boys can go, I'll keep Sofia company. Is that okay with you, Sofia?"

"Yes, I would love to chat more with you, ma'am," Sofia responded warmly.

"If Sofia is alright with that, then I guess we'll go," I concluded.

As we brothers gathered for drinks at our usual place, just like we often did in the past, we ordered our drinks and began discussing the future plans for our family.

"So, it's decided that Mother will accompany me to Goldkorb. The tavern master has already given her approval, so I plan to return in maybe two days," I started.

"I'll be staying for a while. The knight guards' initial assessment will be held in two weeks," Wakahiko chimed in.

"Which means I'll be the one taking care of the home in the meantime, huh?" Kunihiko mumbled with a hint of dejection.

"Do you want to start traveling, Kunihiko?" I asked, curious about his thoughts.

"Actually, I've been considering whether I should start selling something already, but there's something that's been bothering me about your idea, brother Takahiko," Kunihiko expressed, his brows furrowing with concern.

"And what might that be?" I inquired, eager to hear his thoughts.

"I appreciate all the knowledge of trading you've imparted to me, and I'm confident to say that I understand the fundamentals," Kunihiko began, his expression serious. "But let's say I started trading just like you did, brother Takahiko. I wonder how long it would take for us to build our wealth significantly."

"Oh, how significant are you thinking, Kunihiko?" I inquired, curious about his aspirations.

"I'm talking about a total sum so large that we can live without any worries and never have to work again," he explained.

"Hahaha, that sounds quite ridiculous, Kunihiko. How can people get money without work?" Wakahiko chimed in, chuckling at the idea.

"No, wait! I've seen how the lord doesn't have to work in the fields, yet he still accumulates vast wealth," Kunihiko argued. "This land is his property, and we can live here in exchange for our labor, right? But most of the lord's wealth comes from the grain he sells to the kingdom. Have you not noticed how many carriages come after every harvest, purchasing the grain in large quantities?"

"So, what's your point?" I asked, intrigued by his line of thought.

"I've calculated the increment of the wealth accumulated each month using your trading method, and then compared it to the amount the lord gains from selling the harvest each year. After deducting our monthly expenses, the number we accumulate in a year is still despairingly low!" Kunihiko's tone grew more intense. "Even if we work like horses until we grow old, we won't reach the amount needed to live leisurely without doing anything."

I listened attentively to Kunihiko's explanation, realizing that he was pondering about something I had also contemplated in the early days of our trading ventures. It pleased me to see him thinking about the bigger picture and considering ways to achieve what I might not be able to at the moment.

"You're right," I acknowledged his thoughts. "You've brought up the very question that once troubled me during our early trading days. However, I haven't had many opportunities to deeply consider a solution to build significant wealth. I did inquire with some of my merchant colleagues from the guild, but their answers varied."

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"Since you've come this far, what do you think we should do to reach the level of wealth you expect?" I asked him, eager to hear his insights. Wakahiko seemed a bit lost and stayed silent, trying his best to follow our conversation.

Kunihiko sighed, revealing the complexity of the matter, "I don't have a foolproof answer; all of my ideas are mere speculation. First, we need substantial capital, which we currently lack. One option could be to borrow money from sponsors to start our own business, but that comes with its own set of challenges, such as convincing the sponsors to believe in us and choosing the right type of business considering the competition."

He then continued, "Second, we must possess goods or assets with long-lasting value, like land, precious stones, or valuable artworks. However, acquiring such assets also requires initial funds."

Kunihiko then concluded, "In the end, it all comes down to having the initial capital. We'll need to work towards gathering a substantial sum until we reach a certain point. Once we have that initial capital, we can then use it to launch our own business. However, we'll also need to carefully decide on the type of business to undertake and be prepared for the risk of potential failure. The key is to ensure that the business we choose has the potential to yield significant profits. Then, we can use those profits to further enhance the existing business or venture into new opportunities."

"Wow, that's really hard," Wakahiko chimed in. "I thought we could just work hard and eventually accumulate wealth over time. I never imagined it would be so complicated."

"It is hard," I agreed. "Kunihiko's general idea isn't entirely off base. However, in reality, it's not as simple as it sounds. If it were that easy, everyone would be wealthy by now. Unfortunately, the undeniable truth is that there will always be competition, which means there will be winners and losers," I explained to him.

"You should strive to find solutions for the problems people you know are facing. If your solutions prove effective and satisfy them, then you can consider charging them fees for your services. That's why I've always emphasized the importance of building connections with people, as opportunities often arise from the connections you've established, and your knowledge will be your greatest asset in solving their problems."

I turned to Wakahiko, "Building connections with others is vital. That's something I was always reminded of during my early trading days, and I believe it applies to both of you as well. Since you're joining the knight guards, focus on that path and don't worry about us, Wakahiko."

"I understand, brother."

"So, anyway, you guys are okay with mother and me leaving for Goldkorb, right?" I sought confirmation.

"Yes, just as we agreed before," Wakahiko replied.

"But, brother, I'm still curious about why Sofia insisted on coming to our home. Are you sure you don't have any feelings towards her? Well, she's very young, but still within an acceptable range, I suppose," Kunihiko suddenly shifted the topic.

"What are you talking about? Of course I care about her. I told you guys before, she's just like a younger sister to me, right?"

Wakahiko and Kunihiko exchanged glances, as if silently saying, 'Is this guy serious?'

"Hey, why are you looking at me like that?" I grumbled in protest.

"Well, I mean, it's evident from our eyes that she has affection for you, brother," Wakahiko pointed out.

"Are you suggesting that she doesn't see me as just her brother?" I inquired, seeking clarification from my brothers.

"The chances of that being true are quite significant, I'd say," Kunihiko followed up. "Are you opposed to the idea of marrying her, brother?"

I recalled Master's words before his passing. He did approve of me marrying Sofia if I wished, but I couldn't fathom that notion. In my heart, she had always been like a sister to me. But what if my brothers' suspicions held truth?

"Well, it's ultimately your life, but whatever decision you make, be sure to give her a clear answer," Kunihiko reminded me. "It would be cruel to keep her in uncertainty, whether you see her as a potential suitor or just a sister."

"I never imagined my younger brother would be giving me advice on matters of the heart," I retorted with a hint of amusement.

"Ah, well, Kunihiko has always been quite the charmer with the girls in this village," Wakahiko chimed in. "Sometimes I worry he might end up being stabbed by a jealous girl he's played with."

"What? Really, Kunihiko?" I raised an eyebrow, slightly amused and concerned.

"That's a ridiculous accusation, brother! I simply enjoy practicing my conversational skills with them. They have nothing else to do, so they're just keeping me company," he defended himself, playfully brushing off the notion.

"But anyway, since you don't have anyone you consider as a potential suitor, perhaps taking Sofia as your wife is a good option. Mother seems to like her too," Wakahiko suggested, his words stirring up memories of a woman I once cared deeply for.

"Well, actually, it's not that I don't have anyone," I replied, feeling compelled to share my story with my brothers about the woman who had held a special place in my heart.

"What? You have someone you love, brother Takahiko? Why didn't you bring her here??" Kunihiko's curiosity always seemed to be piqued by such discussions.

"It's not possible now," I said solemnly, my thoughts drifting back to the past. "Let me tell you the story of the woman I once loved, who almost became your sister-in-law."

I spent the night in that tavern longer than usual, just to retell the story of Cordelia with my brothers.