Year 1452, month 01, day 20

  “Girls, I will leave the rest of the preparations to you. I am going to join the meeting now.”

  I directed these words to Woya and Wyn, who were busy making the final adjustments to the reception hall. They both looked up from their tasks, offering me focused expressions.

  “Yes, master.”

  “You can leave everything to us, master. We will ensure the service is impeccable,” Wyn and Woya replied with a confidence that showed they had fully adjusted to their roles as the visible faces of my household.

  They were currently dressed in their formal maid uniforms, moving with a disciplined grace as they organized the sprawling spread of food and drinks. The catering was not prepared by the girls themselves; the sheer quantity and variety required for an event of this scale made that impossible. I had hired a professional kitchen staff for the night to handle the heavy lifting.

  It would have been incredibly strange for us to possess such a massive inventory of gourmet dishes and vintage spirits if we were just three people living in a private residence. These preparations were certainly not for us, nor were we currently at home. We were gathered at a reputable restaurant located in the outer city of Yargan. I had chosen this venue specifically because it provided the space and neutral ground necessary for the night I had been planning for months: the formal introductory meeting regarding the Questers Guild.

  I stepped out of the staging room just as the girls took up silver salvers in their hands, ready to enter the main hall and begin serving drinks to the individuals I had invited. As I entered the room, I took a moment to survey the scene. Approximately fifteen people were already present, scattered in small clusters and engaged in low-toned chatter. Woya and Wyn began their rounds immediately, offering refreshments to everyone starting from those closest to the entrance. I stood by the door for a brief moment, scanning the faces and deciding which group to approach first.

  I had rented out the entire establishment for the evening and the night, ensuring we could discuss our business freely without the prying eyes of other patrons. The main hall of the restaurant was spacious, though it felt more intimate now, filled with ornate decorations, polished wooden tables, and high-backed chairs. The guests had naturally gravitated toward the center of the room, where the space was clearest for mingling.

  “Oh! Here you are, Han!”

  The first person to notice my arrival was Yorik, the blacksmith. He called out with his usual boisterous energy. I took a quick glance at him as I approached and noticed that his aura had sharpened slightly; it seemed he had reached level 42 in his blacksmithing job. He was a remarkably hard worker, always pushing his craft forward.

  “Hi, Yorik. It’s good to see you. I hope the venue meets your expectations,” I said, my voice carrying enough to catch the attention of the others who were now turning toward us. While I addressed Yorik directly, I made sure my gaze swept across the room to include everyone else in the greeting.

  “Oh, hello, Han.”

  “It is a pleasure to meet you again, Sir Han.”

  “Hmph.”

  The responses were as varied as the people in the room. Most of them offered a polite greeting, some using a casual tone while others remained strictly formal. A few of the more stoic artisans simply gave a sharp nod of their heads in acknowledgement.

  “Hello, everyone. I want to thank you all for coming here today on such short notice. I’ve made arrangements for a full meal to be prepared, but while the kitchen finishes the final courses, please feel free to catch up and enjoy your drinks,” I said, outlining the initial plan for the evening.

  None of the guests seemed to have a problem with the arrangement. They all agreed readily, settling into the relaxed pace of the evening. I had sent formal letters to most of them, but for those I considered closer associates, I had made personal visits to inform them of the time, place, and the intended proceedings of the meeting.

  While we took small sips from our glasses, I moved through the room, making a conscious effort to speak with each guest individually. Yorik had been invited as a reliable provider of lower and medium-quality equipment—the kind of gear we would need for bulk recruitment. Thrain, who was standing nearby, had been invited for his expertise in high-tier equipment. Since both were prominent blacksmiths, they had naturally found common ground and were already deep in a technical discussion. Seeing them occupied, I moved on to the next person.

  Sarya, the owner of the tailoring shop named Pinkdolls, was standing near one of the decorative pillars. While her primary business focused on women's dresses, she maintained an extensive network of contacts among merchants and artisans in the broader tailoring, fabric, and dressmaking industries. I knew that when the time came to provide uniforms and daily clothing for my employees and the slaves I intended to purchase, she would be the perfect conduit for those logistics. She looked perfectly at ease in this social setting, effortlessly chatting with anyone who approached her.

  The room was filled with other merchants and artisans I had worked with during my time in Yargan. There were alchemists who supplied my potions, craftsmen who handled furniture and tools, jewelry merchants, and the specific slave merchant from whom I had purchased Woya and Wyn.

  As the Questers Guild grew, I would need every one of them. I would require a steady supply of healing potions, specialized findings, and a significant influx of labor. I had previously promised the slave merchant that I would return to him for future purchases, and that time was rapidly approaching. When I had visited him personally to explain the nature of this meeting, he had looked genuinely delighted. He clearly understood that my plan to launch a large-scale organization meant I would be in need of a massive number of slaves, especially during the initial startup phase.

  “Thank you for coming and honoring me with your presence, Sir Halver. You as well, Eren. I appreciate you both responding so positively to my invitation,” I said, finally approaching the most influential guests in the room.

  Halver, the merchant assigned by the City Lord to manage the purchase and registration of land, stood beside his son, Eren. They were both dressed in clothing that was high-quality yet simple in design, maintaining an air of understated authority.

  “Thank you, Sir Han. I have always hoped to maintain a good relationship with you, so I was looking forward to this opportunity to see you again. Your invitation arrived at the perfect time,” Eren said, his tone sounding genuinely sincere.

  “I am happy to hear that you value our connection so highly, Eren. I hope we can continue to get along well,” I replied with a smile.

  “Yes, it is a fine thing to see two brilliant members of the new generation coordinating their efforts,” Halver added, nodding his approval. “Aside from the social call, I thought it was necessary to attend tonight because I have received some final news regarding the land you are planning to acquire for this business.”

  “Is that so? Then your arrival is indeed timely,” I said, my interest piquing. “We can discuss the details of the property along with the general overview of the guild. Ah, and it seems the food is ready. Please, everyone, feel free to choose a place at the table.”

  I responded with a nod toward Wyn, who had given me a discreet sign from the doorway. I informed the crowd, and the guests began to move toward the long dining tables.

  We chatted about trivial, non-business matters while we slowly worked our way through the meal. It was interesting to observe the group; most of the guests seemed to be warming up to one another, particularly those who shared similar areas of expertise. The atmosphere at the table was lively and spirited. If there was anything missing from the scene, it was the presence of Woya and Wyn sitting at my left and right sides as they usually did. However, since this was a public business function and not a private dinner, such an arrangement was impossible. I had given them orders earlier to find a moment to eat when they had the chance, so I was at least at ease knowing they wouldn't go hungry.

  Ting, ting, ting!

  The sharp sound of metal striking glass cut through the ambient chatter, immediately drawing every eye in the room to the head of the table.

  “May I have your attention, please? Thank you all once again for answering my invitation and joining me tonight,” I said, waiting for the final murmurs to die down.

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  “As you are all aware, the primary reason for this meeting is the new business venture I am currently establishing. I invited each of you here tonight to formally ask for your support—in whatever capacity you are able to provide it.”

  I started with this general definition to set the stage.

  “The business I am aiming for is a versatile, multi-site, grand-scale project. If it is possible, I want to reach a point where every person living on this continent knows our name. I want it to be so that whenever someone has a task they need fulfilled, the very first thought that enters their mind is the Questers Guild. In short, I want this organization to become a new norm in our society.”

  I spoke these ambitious words with absolute confidence, watching the reactions of those around the table.

  I could see a range of expressions: some faces remained unreadable, others looked genuinely surprised, and a few were bordering on ridiculous. It was the reaction I had expected. To them, what I was describing sounded like nothing more than a delusional dream. Even if an individual possessed the necessary capital and a vast network to attempt such a feat, most people would consider it a waste of resources and effort. The obstacles—ranging from long-distance management and logistics to complex political issues—were massive. After observing their skepticism, I offered a small smile and continued.

  “I am well aware of what you are thinking. It sounds delusional, a reach far beyond what is practical. But you don't need to worry about the ultimate scale just yet. Let’s treat that as our ultimate goal. It is perfectly fine even if we never fully achieve that level of continental reach. To ensure we move forward effectively, I have prepared a series of long-term, medium-term, and short-term plans to guide our growth.”

  I said this to reassure them that I was fully conscious of the potential absurdity of my claims and that I had a grounded strategy in place.

  “Long, medium, and short-term plans?” Halver, the real estate merchant, asked with a look of genuine curiosity. “Are you implying that even if the ultimate continental plan is out of reach, you intend to achieve the same structure on a smaller, more localized scale, Sir Han?”

  “It is not quite as simple as just shrinking the scale,” I explained. “The short-term plan focuses on the initial phase of making the business self-sustaining. Once we secure a suitable piece of land, we will begin developing it by constructing the necessary facilities. We will establish advance contracts with merchants who can provide construction tools, labor in the form of slaves, equipment, and daily necessities. When we officially open our doors, we will likely have very few independent workers. Therefore, the slaves I purchase initially will fulfill those roles. I plan to have them work the daily operations while utilizing their spare time for training and dungeon diving to increase their value and capability.”

  I laid out the logic as clearly as possible.

  “So, in essence, the short-term plan is simply making sure it is running, and the business is operational,” Halver said, nodding to confirm his understanding.

  “Yes, that is exactly right,” I agreed.

  “Then, I have some very good news regarding your search for land,” Halver said, leaning forward. “I have identified three specific locations that meet the size requirements you specified. The first is in the outer city, near the northern side of the wall. It was the only place in that district with enough contiguous space. It is in the cheapest part of the outer city, but despite that, the cost would be 290 platinum coins because you would be forced to buy out a large number of existing buildings. The second and third options are both located in the inner city. They are also on the northern side, but one is positioned further toward the east. That eastern plot is slightly smaller but commands a higher price because of its proximity to both the dungeon entrance and the City Lord’s palace. The prices for those two are 150 platinum coins and 190 platinum coins, respectively.”

  He laid out the options and their costs with professional precision.

  “Hmm… as we discussed previously, the inner city makes the most strategic sense for this organization,” I said. “I don't see any immediate advantage to choosing the eastern site despite the higher cost. The plot for 150 platinum coins is quite reasonable given the market. I would like to finalize the documentation for that property as soon as possible so we can begin construction.”

  “I can certainly arrange that,” Halver replied. His voice was steady, but his expression suddenly shifted into something much more serious. “And regarding that price, I have a specific offer I would like to make to you.”

  “I’m listening. What is it?” I asked, curious about the sudden shift in his mood.

  “You mentioned that one of the reasons you gathered us here was to identify potential investors, correct?” Halver said, his gaze fixed on mine. “What would you say if I offered to bear the entirety of the land costs myself? You could use the property however you see fit for the guild, and in exchange, you would count me as a primary investor.”

  He made the offer as if the staggering amount were just a routine, everyday transaction.

  “What? Really?”

  “Sir Halver, are you certain about this?”

  The reactions around the table were immediate. The other guests were clearly stunned by the magnitude of the offer. Sarya looked at Halver with wide eyes, seemingly forced to re-evaluate the potential and credibility of the business I was trying to build if it could attract such a massive investment.

  However, my thoughts were moving in a different direction. I knew this business held great potential, but for a standard merchant, it wasn't an attractive short-term profit venture. The guild's true value lay in the accumulation of authority, military power, and social influence—things that take a long time to convert into liquid gold. Therefore, Halver had to have an ulterior motive.

  Given his close ties to the City Lord, it was highly likely that the authorities had recognized the potential power such an organization could hold. They likely wanted the right to interfere with its operations or, even better, to own the land itself to maintain leverage over me.

  That was the only logical explanation for a merchant to offer such an astronomical sum as an "investment." Regardless of his reasoning, it didn't change my stance. I had never intended to have major investors from the beginning. My plan was to allow a few people to put in a few hundred gold coins at most—just enough to tie them to the business’s success and make use of their networks to strengthen my connections. I had absolutely no intention of letting anyone else have a say in how I ran my guild.

  “Sir Halver, I am deeply honored that you view my business idea with such high regard that you are willing to offer such a staggering amount,” I said, carefully adopting a look of regret. “But that goes far beyond a simple investment. I cannot accept that level of involvement.”

  “Really? I assumed you were looking for capital so you could focus your own resources on scaling the operations instead,” Halver said, watching me closely. He spoke as if he were trying to read my true intentions.

  “Father, I think Sir Han simply doesn't want anyone else to have the power to interfere with his plans,” Eren interjected from the side. “It is understandable; he has clearly been planning this for a long time. He is likely concerned that an idea he has worked so hard to develop might be taken over by another party if he cedes too much control.”

  It was a classic case of like father, like son. Eren’s comment made it seem as though he were siding with my logic, but in doing so, he had exposed my exact mindset to everyone in the room.

  It wasn't a direct blow to my position, however. My goal was simply to ensure these people were helpful to my plans. The "investor" angle was just a way to make the partnership feel more secure for them. While their attempt to buy in was a bit aggressive, I didn't sense any immediate ill intent; Halver was a high-level merchant, and for him, suggesting a massive investment was simply a way of testing the waters.

  “Haha, it seems you can read my mind, Sir Eren. It’s no wonder you have such a reputation for brilliance,” I said, laughing lightly to diffuse the tension. “I do want investors, it is true, but I am looking for bonds with other merchants more than I am looking for raw gold. Please don't take my refusal as an offense. I intend to return every investment several-fold in monetary terms, alongside the specific privileges you will enjoy as a stakeholder. I also want to establish bulk-purchase agreements with many of you.”

  I explained my position as clearly as possible to ensure no one felt I was simply trying to take advantage of them.

  “I see. In that case, Sir Han, tell us about your medium-term plans,” Halver said, surprisingly dropping the subject of the land investment without further pressure.

  “Ah, yes. The medium-term phase,” I said, returning to the presentation. “I plan to diversify and enrich the types of contracts we accept. We will undoubtedly start with escort missions, transportation, and basic bodyguarding. But as we build a track record of success, we will expand into more specialized tasks: harvesting specific rare herbs, sourcing difficult trade goods, procuring dungeon ingredients, and even moving into the production of high-quality equipment. As you already know, I maintain a side business related to specialized enchantment and skill crystals.”

  “Hooh! Now, that is a prospect I find very interesting,” Thrain said, his voice deep with approval. The other guests, including Halver, seemed to nod in agreement as the connection between the guild and my existing successful business became clear.

  “Since the enchantment method is exclusive to our organization, it can be used as a primary draw to attract both high-end customers and talented workers,” one of the other merchants noted.

  “W-wait! If you start producing equipment and handling the enchantments within the guild... doesn't that mean I might lose my position as the middleman for the skill crystal business?” Orzhan asked, his voice suddenly thick with anxiety.

  The entire room went dead silent the moment he spoke. Every guest turned to look at him, unsure of how to respond to such a blunt outburst of self-interest. Orzhan turned pale under the collective gaze, and then his face began to turn a deep red as he realized he was the center of attention. The awkward silence stretched for several seconds before it was broken by a sharp, feminine laugh.

  “Then I suppose you’ll just have to join his new business as its primary middleman, Orzhan,” Sarya said sarcastically, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “He’s going to be short on employees for a while anyway, so you can handle all the middleman jobs—at least until you manage to lose those spots to someone else as well!”

  The room erupted in laughter at Sarya’s wit. We continued to make light of Orzhan’s worry for a few more minutes, the tension of the earlier investment talk fully dissipating before the meeting moved on to the final details of the guild's structure.

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