Merchant Guild

Edwin emerged from his workshop after deep thinking of the sacred knight relic, For weeks, he had been consumed with personal breakthroughs and mysterious discoveries, but now, a realization struck him—his forces were woefully underdeveloped. Even with the incredible power of the AI at his disposal, Edwin needed manpower, resources, and infrastructure to truly establish himself as a force to be reckoned with.

Determined to change that, Edwin made his way to the castle's administrative wing, where the domain's finances were managed.

---

The Umbracrest household's account offices were a large, orderly set of chambers filled with shelves of ledgers, stacks of parchment, and a bustling staff of clerks. Edwin was greeted by the familiar figure of the household steward, a middle-aged man named Morton. Morton had served the family for decades, his graying hair and stern demeanor a testament to his years of loyal service.

Morton looked up from his desk, offering a small bow. "Young Master Edwin, to what do I owe the pleasure? I trust you're doing well this morning?"

Edwin wasted no time. "Morton, I need 5,000 gold coins immediately."

The steward froze mid-bow, his eyes wide with shock. "F-Five thousand? Master Edwin, that's a significant sum. May I ask what this is for?"

"It's for a project I'm undertaking," Edwin replied evenly, his tone brooking no argument. "I'll take full responsibility for the funds. They will be accounted for by the end of today or tomorrow at the latest."

Morton's composure slipped for a moment before he adjusted his glasses and regained his professionalism. "Young Master, the household's annual income barely exceeds 100,000 gold coins. Requesting such a large amount all at once…" He hesitated, clearly torn between his duty to safeguard the family's wealth and his respect for Edwin's authority.

"I understand the magnitude of this request," Edwin said firmly. "But this is necessary. You have my word—it will be worth it."

Morton studied Edwin's face, searching for any hint of doubt, but found none. With a resigned sigh, he nodded. "Very well, Young Master. I'll prepare the funds immediately. But please—exercise caution."

---

With a small chest of 5,000 gold coins in hand, Edwin summoned two carriages. One, an elegant noble's carriage for himself, and the other a larger, simpler vehicle for the servants he brought along. Their destination: the largest merchant guild branch in Umbracrest City.

The guild building was a sprawling, imposing structure in the heart of the inner city, its facade adorned with banners and intricate carvings of coins and scales. As Edwin stepped inside, he was greeted by a stunningly dressed receptionist who bowed deeply.

"Welcome, Young Master Edwin of House Umbracrest. It's an honor to host you today," she said politely, her voice tinged with respect and curiosity.

Edwin frowned slightly. *It seems my name carries more weight than I realized,* he thought. The original Edwin's reclusive nature had not made him invisible, especially to a guild known for its vast information network.

"I'm here to see the branch manager," Edwin said.

"Of course, Young Master. Please follow me."

The receptionist led Edwin to a lavishly furnished VIP room, where the branch manager, a shrewd-looking man named Gerald, soon arrived. Gerald's eyes lit up as he saw Edwin, and he bowed deeply.

"To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit, Young Master Edwin?"

"Let's skip the formalities," Edwin said, placing the chest of gold on the table. "I have a list of materials I need—iron, silver, copper, rare metals, and certain organic materials. This should cover the cost."

Gerald opened the chest, his merchant instincts kicking in as he examined the gold coins with practiced ease. A smile spread across his face. "Consider it done, Young Master. It will take no more than half an hour to prepare everything."

He clapped his hands, summoning an attendant to bring refreshments. "Please, enjoy some snacks while we prepare your order."

As Gerald left to oversee the arrangements, Edwin leaned back in his chair, his thoughts already racing ahead to the next steps.

Exactly thirty minutes later, Gerald returned, his voice booming with satisfaction. "Young Master Edwin, your order is ready. The goods have been loaded onto a dozen carts and are awaiting your inspection outside."

Edwin followed Gerald out to the guild's courtyard, where the carts stood covered with thick tarps to conceal their contents. He walked along the line, lifting the covers occasionally to inspect the materials. Satisfied, he nodded.

"You've done well," Edwin said.

"It's our honor to serve you," Gerald replied, his tone oozing professionalism.

Edwin called over the servants he had brought and arranged for additional help from the guild staff to escort the carts back to the castle. Before leaving, he addressed the group of servants with a sharp gaze.

"If anything goes missing during transport, I'll hold you personally responsible," he warned, his tone icy. "Do I make myself clear?"

The servants all nodded vigorously, their faces pale.

Edwin boarded his carriage, leaving the convoy behind to follow. He reached the castle ahead of the group, positioning himself outside his workshop with a chair to wait for their arrival.

The sight of the carts pulling into the castle courtyard filled Edwin with a rare sense of satisfaction. As the servants unloaded the goods, Edwin personally carried them to the workshop's storage areas after sending the servants away also rewarded them with few dozens of sliver coins.

With everything in place, Edwin finally stepped into his workshop, the heavy door sealing behind him. He placed a hand on the central console, and the AI's voice greeted him.

"Welcome back, Master Edwin. Resources detected. Shall we commence the next phase of development?"

Edwin's lips curled into a determined smile. "Yes. Let's begin constructing the first generation of mechanical knights."

The dim light of the workshop flickered as the AI activated various systems, and the whirring of machinery filled the air.