"W-what? How the hell?"

Ron looked at the mansion and then at Ethan, his eyes darting back and forth nonstop.

Turning around, he also saw the large, opulent tavern already being prepared to open the next day.

It had been just a month since his last visit to Goldenveil, but it felt like years had passed, and in those years, Goldenveil had poured everything into that mansion and tavern.

"Tell me how you did this... I’ll give you anything!" Ron turned to Ethan, his eyes almost welling up.

He never spent much time in Goldenveil because he was always in a hurry to get back to the capital, but damn...

His house, that he considered quite luxurious was trash compared to that.

"Boss, it’s not good to meddle in other people’s business..." The guard bowed slightly to his employer, who controlled his emotions on the spot, waving to the third-stage warrior not to worry. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

They were in dangerous territory, and despite his good relationship with Ethan, too many questions could end in slit throats.

Feeling the pressure exuded by Ethan and Doran, even though that specialist had been at the third stage for some time, he preferred to be cautious.

He didn’t want to die on this job.

"Doran, take this gentleman to see Goldenveil. I’m going to talk to Ron alone." Ethan gave a gesture and Doran nodded immediately, setting off alongside the other third-stage warrior.

"Ah..." Ron exhaled as he was left alone with Ethan.

"Is the wine ready?" he asked, but Ethan’s excited expression already gave away the answer.

"Yes, it was a good batch. Five hundred and fifty bottles, but I’ll sell you only five hundred."

Ron’s eyes sparkled like stars.

His mind did the math in seconds. Twelve thousand five hundred gold coins. Given Goldenveil’s size, that sum could sustain the city’s budget for five whole years.

Ron had many doubts about how Ethan intended to use all that money, but he pushed them to the back of his mind.

Together, they entered the mansion and went down to the basement, where twenty-five boxes, each containing twenty bottles, were carefully stacked.

Ethan had stored the other fifty in his personal cellar, just for him and his wives.

Ron walked over to one of the boxes and opened it, observing the green, sparkling liquid, carefully sealed inside the glass bottles he had brought on his last visit.

"The quality is even better than the previous batch." His eyes shone intensely.

"Yes, if you’re willing to pay double, I’ll accept." Ethan joked, drawing a laugh from Ron, whose eyes soon fell on another nearby box.

"These are high-quality magical herbs. I’ll sell them to you too."

Ron stepped closer and opened the box, immediately sensing the sweet aroma that wafted out from within. The quality was clearly top-notch, each herb unique and powerful.

Studying them for a moment, he finally settled on a price and turned to Ethan. "Three thousand gold coins is the most I can pay for the hundred. Don’t you have any lower-quality batches, like that last one? The royal army would love to buy them."

"No." Ethan shook his head.

Since they were focused on reaching the third stage, he had planted only the highest-quality herbs in the spiritual greenhouse.

The profit wasn’t that outrageous, but it was still worth it, bringing the earnings to fifteen thousand five hundred gold coins.

Just thinking about what he could build with that, Ethan’s heart burned with excitement.

After a moment of silence, a doubt arose.

"What interest does the royal army have in so many spiritual herbs? As far as I know, the Vorhn family has ensured an era of peace for over fifty years already."

"Barbarians from the North Sea. Pirates, to be more specific." Ron shook his head. "Apparently, they’re setting their sights on the continent, and the royal army is buying everything at absurd prices to prepare.

They speak of an invasion force numbering as many as a hundred thousand men."

War was never good for business, at least not for everyone.

As far as Ron was concerned, if there was going to be a war, he might as well be on the side that profited from it.

"These herbs will be supplied directly to the army, and if you have any more in the coming months, I’ll buy it all."

Ethan nodded.

Apparently, he’d have to return to the spiritual greenhouse to earn even more gold and send Ron home with empty pockets yet again.

Once Alice completed her advancement to the third stage, they’d surely be able to produce far more herbs than before.

"Are you coming back next month?" Ethan asked.

Ron paused. "It’s difficult... I’d have to—"

"Double." Ethan cut him off. "I’ll supply twice as many spiritual herbs as last time if you can make it here in the last month. Bring plenty of hot drinks too, since this would be your last trip before winter."

Ron fell into thought, fully understanding what Ethan was trying to do.

He didn’t want Ron to sell the rest of the merchandise in other city-states of the eternal forest. He wanted Ron to do business only with Goldenveil.

Ron clenched his teeth and, knowing full well he should refuse, reached out his hand. "It’s a pleasure doing business with you, Lord Ethan! I’ll certainly bring back my pockets full."

Fuck logic. His gold radar was beeping too loudly to ignore.

With a smile, Ethan sealed the deal and even asked if Ron had any healers available.

To his surprise, not only were there two veteran second-stage healers, but one of them immediately agreed to work at the tavern upon receiving the offer of two gold coins a month.

It was far less than she could earn on missions, but in the end, the security was good and she had no family. She was already old and just wanted to settle down somewhere.

Ron didn’t stay long in Goldenveil, as usual. With no home of his own there and that wine in his hands, he was obviously eager to sell it.

With his pockets a little fuller, Ethan stood watching the merchant leave.