Chapter 33: Tempting Request from the Silverton, Sending the Children Away
"Pardon the interruption, I bear a message for the shop owner from Lady Evangeline Silverton."
The young woman said softly, her voice carrying an undertone of authority that contradicted her apparent servant status.
Elias noticed Reeves’s expression tighten almost imperceptibly. The Silverton Family was another major power in Sun City, known for their involvement in both legitimate trade and more shadowy enterprises.
The political game was beginning in earnest, with the aristocratic families already maneuvering against each other for his attention.
"Please, deliver your message."
Elias said calmly, maintaining his composure despite the rapidly escalating situation.
The servant girl cleared her throat delicately, ignoring Reeves’s existence as she began.
"Lady Silverton extends her compliments on your exceptional craftsmanship. She would be honored if you would accept her invitation to cater to her upcoming soirée. The compensation would be substantial."
"How substantial?"
Amanda piped up from behind the counter, her curiosity overcoming her caution. Nathan shot her a sharp look, but the question had already been asked.
The servant paused, turning to address the girl directly.
"Five hundred Mystic Crystals, plus materials, for one evening’s work."
What?!
The amount was staggering, more than most ordinary merchants saw in a year, and certainly more than their shop had earned in its first day of operation. Reeves looked surprised by the generous offer, though he quickly masked his reaction.
Elias felt his pulse quicken. Five hundred Mystic Crystals could be converted into several thousand Mystic Stones, an amount that could help in achieving his ultimate goal of becoming a Quantum Seeker. But accepting such an offer would also signal to all the aristocratic families that he was available for hire, potentially creating a bidding war that could spiral beyond his control.
—He didn’t want to create uncontrollable variables that could lead to more unfavorable outcomes than favorable ones.
"I’ll need to consider both offers. Please tell your employers they’ll have my answer within three days."
Elias said diplomatically, his mind racing through the implications and benefits of each option.
Both messengers departed the shop with promises to relay his response to their respective heads, but Elias knew this was merely the opening gambit. The aristocrats were testing him, probing for weaknesses, leverage points, or signs of desperation that they could exploit in future negotiations.
The proposals were beneficial to him, and Elias could have easily agreed. However, doing so would only suggest that he was desperate for money. They might use his desperation to make outrageous offers during negotiations that could affect the way he operates his own business.
—He couldn’t imagine himself becoming subservient to these aristocratic families who display their status whenever they can.
As the afternoon wore on, the pattern continued. More "customers" arrived; some genuine, others clearly agents of various factions. Elias noticed how they lingered, observing his movements with interest, trying to glean any information from him, but failing in their purpose.
A woman in expensive but understated clothing took a seat by the window, ordering a simple cup of black tea and a small pastry. She made a show of enjoying her refreshments, but Elias could see her eyes constantly moving, cataloging details about the shop’s layout, the staff’s interactions, and his own behavior.
"Boss, that woman by the window has been nursing the same cup of tea for two hours."
Selina whispered during a brief lull in customer traffic.
"I know. She’s probably from the Thornwick Family. They most likely want to analyze our recipes and have their alchemist recreate them, but it’s pointless."
Elias responded quietly, his voice barely audible above the ambient noise of the shop.
Selina furtively glanced at the woman with a thoughtful expression.
"What should we do? Should we ask her to leave?"
"No."
Elias said firmly and added:
"Let them watch. They’ll learn nothing from observation alone."
His confidence wasn’t mere bravado. The pastries and other products he created didn’t rely on conventional ovens or traditional cooking methods. Instead, he used his Mental Landscape’s reality-manipulation capabilities to manifest the items directly, bypassing the normal production process entirely. No amount of observation would reveal the true source of his products’ unique qualities.
Most of the recipes for the pastries I’ve introduced probably don’t exist in Mystral. Even if there was an alternative, it wouldn’t produce the same results. Additionally, these are perfect pastries made using my Unified Field Stage power. No one could replicate their effects unless they had the same power level as a Unified Field Stage powerhouse.
Elias silently thought, firmly believing no one below the Unified Field Stage could replicate his creations.
Still, the constant surveillance was wearing on his staff. Nathan had grown increasingly tense as the day progressed, and Amanda kept glancing nervously at the various spies after being informed by Selina. Even Selina, despite her efforts to appear calm, showed signs of stress.
As the afternoon sun began to slant through the shop’s windows, Elias made a decision. The children had performed admirably under pressure, but they needed a break from the intensity of this persistent nobles’ scrutiny. More importantly, he had other plans that required their absence.
"Selina."
He called softly, gesturing for her to approach the counter.
"I need you, Nathan, and Amanda to take care of the matter I told you yesterday."
"Of course."
She replied, moving closer so they could speak without being overheard.
"I’ll say it again in case you forgot. I want you and Nathan to escort Amanda back to the slums. She mentioned having siblings who might need help. I’d like you to check on them and see if other children might be interested in working for us."
Elias instructed.
Selina nodded with a thoughtful expression. After a moment’s deliberation, she asked:
"You’re thinking of expanding our business?"
"That was my intention for when we gain enough popularity, but that might happen sooner than I expected. In the meantime, I want to identify potential workers for the future. When we create franchises in other parts of the Sun Kingdom, we’ll need reliable staff. The slum children who show determination and intelligence could be valuable assets."
Elias clarified, surprised she could discern his intentions.
What he told her was a practical explanation, but not the complete truth. Elias also wanted to remove the children from the shop before the other aristocrats escalated their approaches.
—He knew the gist of what was coming thanks to the vision he observed.
The conversations he expected to have over the next few hours would be delicate and potentially dangerous, and he preferred to handle them without worrying about his young employees’ safety.
"Take your time when you arrive there. Don’t rush to get things done. Get to know Amanda’s siblings, assess the situation in her part of the slums, and identify any children who might benefit from legitimate employment. Be discreet. We can discuss your findings when you return."
He added meaningfully.
Nathan approached, having overheard part of the conversation when he returned from the storage area.
"Should I stay to help with the shop? I don’t have anyone to return to."
"No, I want you to go with them. Your experience with the slums will be valuable, and Selina might need assistance if the situation is more complex than expected."
Elias firmly answered, his tone not broaching any thoughts.
The boy nodded, understanding the unspoken implications. The slums could be dangerous, especially for young women and children, even during daylight hours.
Meanwhile, Amanda looked both excited and nervous about returning to her old neighborhood.
"Will my siblings be safe if they come to work for you, boss?"
She asked quietly, thinking of the future.
"Safer than they are now."
Elias assured her and added:
"We’ll provide food, shelter, and protection for anyone who joins us. The choice will be theirs to make, though that’ll have to wait until I sort things out with the noble families."
As the three prepared to leave, Elias pulled them aside for a final word.
"Be careful. The slums have their own dangers, but they’re more straightforward than what we’re dealing with here. Watch for anyone who seems too interested in your activities, and don’t mention the shop’s name as a precaution. To avoid drawing any attention, just put on ragged clothes and change into them before departing with them. Do you understand?"
He advised in a serious tone, causing the children to straighten up and nod firmly as they absorbed every word he uttered as if they were sacred.