The World of The Genius

[Arius POV]

"WHAT JUST HAPPENED?"

As my outburst echoed in the quiet room, Grampa Edward simply sat back down and took a sip of his tea.

"Arius, learn to relax for a bit."

"H-how can I? You just turned into a different person."

"That's what happens when you work in business. You have to adapt to survive."

"How did you know that someone would come in? Can you see the future?"

"Ha ha ha! You don't need to give me that face of fright. I can't see the future. It was going to happen. This shop is situated on the far side of town because this street leads to an area where many steel and silver-ranked quests take place. Adventurers at those ranks have just gotten used to adventuring and are looking for a challenge. They'll start to fight stronger monsters but are still using their copper-ranked items. The weapons will break and they'll need to buy new ones. With their sudden increase of income with higher difficulty quests, I'll sell them these quality items for a good price."

Hearing the complicated things coming out of Grampa Edward's mouth, I start to realize that the cheerful old man in front of me was a lot scarier than I originally thought.

'Dakria, isn't he a little crazy?'

'Not at all, he's a genius and I respect that.'

'What? Not you too Dakria?'

'Don't worry, Arius, you're a genius too. Since you've dipped yourself into the world of creation, you will come to respect it as well.'

'NO, no way that's crazy. Stop being creepy Dakria.'

'Don't worry, Arius, you'll learn sooooon enough.'

'YOU'RE CRAZY! NOO WAYY! IT WON'T HAPPEN!!!'

...

After my slight mental outburst, I returned to sitting down with Grampa Edward and drinking some tea.

"Grampa Edward, doesn't this mean that you don't really need my help to complete the goal?"

"Of course not, Arius. While I do have a few tricks to get some sales, it's nowhere near enough to get what I need to not get kicked out."

"Even though you're so good?"

"Not good enough, I guess."

"Hmmm..."

As the pressure of the situation still loomed over my head, I feel a hand rest on my shoulder. Looking over my shoulder, I see the smiling face of Grampa Edward.

'How does everyone know when I'm sad?'

"Arius, the biggest problem I had was that I didn't have enough products but now that you've brought so many items, I'll be good for the week. So while I stay here in the store, you gotta find other ways to get customers, alright?"

"But what if I don't? What if I can't get customers?"

"Well, we can say that we tried our best. Arius, if you hadn't shown up, this shop would have already switched hands. So don't worry about failure, I already don't have anything to lose."

"But I do! I like the shop here. I want to learn to engrave!"

In the heat of the moment, I let out my inner desires in my response. Realizing what I did, I quickly cover my mouth with my hands in a desperate attempt to stop the words that have already been spoken.

Ha ha ha ha!

"If you wanted to learn to engrave, you should have told me! No matter if the shop is here or not, it matters not, for Engraving is in the heart. "

With that, the laughing man before me beats his fist into his chest and stands up. Pulling me up as well, Grampa Edward rummages through a drawer and pulls out a small knife.

"According to tradition, when an engraver takes an apprentice, they shall give them their first engraving knife. Take care of it, Arius."

Placing the knife in my hand, I squeeze it tightly in my hand. I couldn't describe the feelings I was feeling but I knew one thing for sure. I going to learn engraving!

Ding Ding!

"...Oh, mighty adventurers, what can I do for you?"

While I held the knife with much emotion, the proud smiling grampa quickly changes styles as another group of adventurers come in. As he begins to talk to him, I simply stood there for a while before putting the knife in my pocket and going to help Grampa Edward.

"Arius, the wood."

"Already, got it!"

...

[Kaiser POV]

'...Statistics of all the industries have come in. Growth...Average..."

Holding a piece of paper as I look out from my personal office on the fifth floor of the LeMonc Estate, I sat comfortably on my chair with stacks on stacks of papers on my desk.

Knock Knock Knock

"Come in."

After a series of knocks and my permission, one of the many guards hired by my family walks into the room. Saluting in a typical manner, the guard relays his message.

"Young Lord, the groups of merchants are here as per the appointment."

"Bring them in."

With my response, the guard quickly leaves the room before returning, and accompanying him were three people. Two guards wearing a different uniforms and a short chubby man. Putting down the paper, I lean in with my elbows on top of my desk and my hands clasped together. I stare as the chubby man sits down across from me with his two guards by his side.

"So, have you agreed?"

"Regarding that Sir LeMonc, I have come today to discuss that deal. What you are suggesting is far too much. My merchant company is worth at least 3000 gold coins. Factoring all the infrastructure in place and the deals that I've made I believe your offer of 2000 gold is far from enough."

"Your company's only worth that much. Through certain reports, your infrastructure is only worth about 1000 gold, and current deals are worth about another 1000 gold. Future deals worth zero."

"What do you mean ze-"

"15%"

"What?"

"Over the past month, your profit is down 15% beyond the seasonal low. In the last year, it's down 10%. Your business is failing. It will cost gold to fix it."

"Failing? You're ridiculous! I've made this company from scratch and it grew to this scale. This month is simply an outlier."

"Exactly my point, you started it from scratch, how much money do you have in reserve then? 200? 300? That's not enough to keep operations going. Your own inexperience ensures that the company needs to perform to keep operations running. If your profits are down, fewer operations run, and in turn, profits decrease again and operations stop to a halt. And there goes your business-"

"SHUT UP! Insult me sure, but to insult my life work, you efficiency freak. Die!"

Standing up from his chair, the chubby man stands up from his chair and waves his hands in front of me. Seeing his two guards charging at me after drawing their swords, I simply sigh in disappointment.

"Another irrational fool."

As the guards got closer, I simply shack my head as I didn't move to react to the incoming attack. Suddenly, two swords that were hung on either side of the wall come to life, stating the guards causing them to fall right in front of my desk.

"Die, you monster!"

With a bright glow shining from a ring on his finger, the chubby man fires a large fireball toward me. Sit there, I see the large fireball getting closer and closer. I could even feel the heat tickling my skin.

'That must have cost quite a bit.'

BOOM!

Suddenly before reaching my desk, the fireball collides with something and explodes.

"AAAAH!"

Slash!

Seeing my unfortunate aggressor facing the brunt of his own attack, the twin blades fall upon him to end his suffering. With that, peace returned to the room. As many of my guards quickly pilled into my office, I simply stand up and look out the window, admiring the much more pleasant sight.

"Clean up the mess, once his son inherits the business, buy it as per the deal."

"Yes, Young Lord!"

Very soon, the mess was cleaned up and the guards funnelled back out of the room leaving behind one sole guard.

"Young Lord! I have a paper for you!"

Without looking back, I open my hand as a rolled-up paper is placed in my hands. Unravelling it, I take a look at what's written.

"Hmm, Deploy a few guards to the local towns, the news of the murders has started to affect business."

"Yes, Young Lord."

"Increase manpower to track down the murderer, make it public too."

"Yes, Young Lord."

As the guard quickly runs out, I look back at my desk. Looking at a map with a few circles in particular, I feel a small smirk form on my face.

"It's time to weed out those imperfect."

...

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Edward's Fun Fact: An engraver's knife is actually dull, it requires the user to input mana that will activate an engraving that allows it performs its job. Don't ask how the first engraver's knife was made, it's like the chicken and the egg.