As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the bustling market, I gathered my wares and packed them neatly into my cart. The day had been unexpectedly fruitful, and I found myself in high spirits as I made my way towards the merchants' guild. Sky's words echoed in my mind, and I couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement at the prospect of becoming a legitimate merchant. I would have to find some balance between legit work and some of my usual scams. I parted from the stall where Alice seemed to be happily playing with Sky. I decided that maybe I would target those who deserved it. Those two have grounded me in a way for better or for worse, and with the guy from earlier, I think scamming scum feels better. I am not justifying my scams, but hell, if I am going to make money scamming, it should be off people like that, not regular folk.

The guild building was easy to find. It was one of the larger structures in town, its façade grand and imposing, with an intricately carved sign above the door that read, "Merchants' Guild of Edgefield." I took a deep breath and stepped inside. The interior was just as impressive as the exterior. The walls were lined with shelves full of books and ledgers, and the air smelled faintly of parchment and ink. I heard lots of people talking, and in the center of the room sat a desk with a man about my own age behind the counter, hard at work. A few people gave me looks, but I think I had gained some reputation in this town because the looks were less oppressive than usual.

I approached the desk. The man looked up at me, "Hello, what can I do for you today, sir?" he said with authority. He was around 19 years old and had grey hair and grey eyes. He looked a little stressed. He wore a fancy brown suit and had a red earring in one ear. His pants were a bit shabbier, almost like he threw them on as an afterthought. I gave a friendly smile, "I am Key Creed. I own a small stall here in this town. I was wondering if I could maybe register for the merchants' guild?" The man nodded, "Pleased to meet you, Mr. Creed. I have heard about you. You made that cure for White Iris. Such talent, and around my age, I assume. I am Noble Rothford. I run this small merchants' guild here in Edgefield. I would be happy to have you in our guild."

Noble extended his hand, and I shook it firmly, feeling a surge of confidence. "Thank you, Noble. I appreciate the warm welcome." He gestured for me to follow him. "Let's get you registered then, Mr. Creed. The process is straightforward, and I can explain the benefits as we go."

We walked towards a small office at the back of the guild hall, passing by several merchants engaged in animated discussions and transactions. The atmosphere was vibrant, a testament to the thriving commerce in Edgefield. Noble opened the door to his office, and I stepped inside, taking in the tidy space filled with more ledgers, a large wooden desk, and a comfortable-looking chair.

Noble sat behind the desk and motioned for me to take a seat across from him. He pulled out a large ledger and a quill, ready to begin the registration process. "First, we'll need some basic information. Your full name, place of business, and any specialties you might have." I nodded, giving him the necessary details. "Key Creed. I run a stall in the main market square. I deal in various goods—decorative items, furs, and occasionally, remedies."

Noble scribbled the information down, his quill moving swiftly across the parchment. "Great. Now, being a member of the merchants' guild comes with several benefits. You'll gain access to our network of contacts, which can help you find better suppliers and customers. You'll also have the protection of the guild, which can be crucial in case of disputes or threats from bandits."

He paused, looking up at me. "We also offer training and resources for improving your business skills, and you'll have the opportunity to earn ranks within the guild. Higher ranks mean more prestige and better opportunities. The ranks are divided from E tier to S tier merchants. Those at S tier are some of the best merchants in the country. Their reach spans many different towns and villages. For now, I will put you at E tier. You will receive starting benefits. In order to rank up, you must submit revenue reports. You can also rank up by expanding your business to other towns."

The more Noble spoke, the more appealing the idea became. This was a chance to legitimize my business and expand my reach, all while still having the flexibility to deal with less savory characters when necessary. "That sounds excellent. What do I need to do to get started?"

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Noble finished writing and closed the ledger with a decisive snap. "You'll need to pay a small registration fee and a monthly membership fee. In return, you'll receive your official guild badge and access to our resources. Are you ready to proceed?"

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the necessary coins, placing them on the desk. "Absolutely. Let's do it."

Noble took the coins and handed me a small, intricately designed badge with the guild's emblem. "Welcome to the Merchants' Guild of Edgefield, Key. I'm looking forward to seeing what you accomplish. Two things we must get started on before you leave here today. First, please decide on a merchant name. I need to register you as something before we can proceed." I smiled, "Alright, how about The Key to Wonderland." Noble tilted his head, puzzled. I added, "My assistant's name is Alice, and my name is Key, so I figured Alice in Wonderland combined with my name would be fitting." Noble smiled, "Clever. I will add that to our merchant list it will appear on your badge. One more thing, and this is the most important thing."

He pulled out a big book and placed it on the table, "You see, we do collaborations with the adventurers' guild. I will explain what that means briefly. Adventurers kill bounties or complete quests for money. However, most adventurers don't know anything about selling gear, furs, or other treasure. On the other side of the coin, merchants usually can't fight. To solve this issue, the adventurers' guild and merchants' guild are usually closely linked. You will gain more allies to your new group as you go along, but for starters, it could be beneficial to collaborate with an upstart adventurer. What do you say, Key? Want to have a look?"

I thought about it for a moment. Sky was nice to me in town, but realistically, after tomorrow, we would have to part ways. Sky was my fighting power right now, and without her, I would be defenseless against bandits. I asked a few questions, "Are all adventurers in this town registered in this book?" Noble nodded, "Yes, as far as I know, it is a requirement. With that being said, most of them will jump at the chance for someone to sell their goods. I mean, the trade is mutually beneficial, so being denied by an adventurer isn't super likely. Please, have a look."

I took the big book from Noble. Inside, I spotted tons of names in alphabetical order. I asked, "Are all of them E-rank adventurers?" Noble scratched his chin, "Most of them, yes, but there are a few exceptions. Those that aren't with a merchant group can still be found in the book." I smelled a good deal. I decided to skip all the easy targets. Ideally, I could score a D-rank or C-rank if I was lucky. Noble added, "Now that I think about it there is one of higher rank in this small town, from what I can think of she is is neither in a group nor looking to travel to increase her rank further, but don't concern yourself with her. She is old news."

I raised an eyebrow, "Old news? Was she a big deal?" Noble sighed, "At one point, yes, but please don't bother with her. She is temperamental." I asked curiously, "Please continue. You have my curiosity piqued. What rank is she?" Noble put a hand on his forehead, "Well, she is C-rank, last I recall, but trust me, her attitude is not worth her skill as a fighter. You would do better with a mild-mannered E-rank or D-rank adventurer." C-rank, that's perfect. I want someone strong I can rely on. I can use my skills as a salesman to ease her attitude, perhaps. I was always looking for the best deal possible even if it meant I had to work a bit harder to get it.

I asked, "Please, what is her name? At least tell me that." Noble frowned, "Vice... Vice Evergold." Ah, shit. Well, this was difficult then. I gulped my throat got dry quickly she really was bad news. I sighed, "Is she the loan shark here in town?" Noble nodded, "I take it that you've met her already then? Judging from your expression, it wasn't a good meeting, I assume." I frowned, "You guessed right. She tried to extort a business associate of mine because he didn't pay what he owed. I didn't get a good first impression as you guessed." However, if she is C-rank, she must be pretty damn strong compared to some of the others I could have in my group.

This could be a good investment. I decided, "However, she's strong. If I could rein her in, she could be the best option I could hope for. Noble, I think I will go for Vice after all." Noble looked at me surprised, "Really? But I thought you had a bad experience with her, and trust me, the rumors around her are not just lies she is easy to provoke." I smiled, "I will make it work. Thanks for the help today. I will make the guild proud." I got up from my seat with a new goal in mind. Noble bowed, "As you wish, Mr. Creed. I wish you luck in your business ventures from today onward." I bowed, respecting the young guild master, and then I headed back out. One thing was clear: Vice was no easy target for me to enlist, but we had something in common. I am no saint. I have done some good, but up until this week, I did a lot of bad shit. I think Vice is the same as me, but maybe there is some good I can dig out of her.