Company

On the second day, after establishing residence in Gnel, Ian went out with Shortyty with the goal of meeting suppliers, hiring employees, and giving face to the main Factions and Guilds.

The products he would offer were related to Earth's technology and would cover a wide range of categories. The initial idea was not to choose a side, at least delay it as much as possible, until establishing the brand and making contacts.

The Gnomes respected power through contacts, trust, and capital. These three spheres were considered superior to physical repression. With money, you could hire external martial artists; contacts helped you politically suppress or gather troops from third parties, and trust was the foundation of any business, allowing you to acquire the necessary conditions for the previous two spheres.

"Initially, we need to visit the Royal Office. The current External Director is my primary mentor. It would be interesting to initiate a friendly dialogue through him, sir."

"It seems you're not just an ordinary Mr. Bretas," Ian agreed, giving another look at his employee.

"Please, this humble servant asks to be called only by my first name, sir." Shortyty spoke in a pleading tone. Ian didn't ask, but he understood more or less what was going on. It seemed his secretary was in some kind of internship and needed to present the best results and attitudes. After all, how would the disciple of an important director of the state machine be serving an outsider?

Gnel buzzed as always, with the little ones and occasionally other species running, walking, or riding on transport beasts, each with their own purpose, an unprecedented energy of design. In the Infinite World, there was no known art that could predict the future, but it had long been proven that every living person carried a bit of an abstract energy they called Destiny. This variable had something to do with fortune and misfortune.

In the midst of this "hustle and bustle," a being of an unknown race could be seen, traveling on a black-scaled horse with a slightly uncomfortable Gnome at the back.

"Sir, this creature seems very barbaric and hateful, unworthy of your status, if I may say so, sir." Bretas was quite terrified. The ongma not only was strange by gnome standards but also exuded an infernal and diabolical aura. According to legends, its Ancestor was the child of a True Black Dragon of Destruction, an evil entity that caused trouble for those involved in its affairs.

"The Black Star was presented to me by Mrs. Haller, and I hold it dear to my heart. I don't care what others think about it. I will be recognized for power in all its forms, not appearances." Ian retorted, almost immediately in a serious tone. This was his first mount, and for him, it would always be the primary one. It was also the ongma that carried him through his first life trial in this World.

"Sir, excuse this ignoramus!" Quickly spoke the Gnome respectfully.

Soon, they arrived at the Royal Office, a modestly adorned palace with a Royal Statue depicting an elderly Gnome with a book in his right hand, gavel in his left, and a three-pointed crown hat on top of a large head.

"This depicted figure is the Ancestral King Little Sage, the leader who brought us to the Promised Land of Sombreal. His right hand, the main one, symbolizes knowledge, the left represents work, and the three-pointed crown hat, the Triple Peaks, which remind us of our origins." The secretary informed after noticing his master's curiosity about the stone figure.

"The Triple Peaks are mentioned in historical and geographical records as part of the Columunal Mountain Range, an area rich in minerals, earth energy, and surrounded by forests with abundant natural resources. Sombreal isn't bad, but I find it difficult to understand why they decided to come to this place." Ian commented thoughtfully as he remembered some passages from the Legacy of History.

"Sir, this one here is not a sage, so ignore his lack of understanding. However, I ask that you refrain from asking such questions publicly and in places where you don't have absolute trust in those present. The Dark Alliance has an ideological branch responsible for erasing any threats to public order. I know your background, and I know you don't have evil intentions, but ignorance can cause irreparable misfortunes. Please consider this humble advice." Shortyty advised while looking around somewhat worriedly.

"Thank you, Shortyty. I won't mention this matter again. I didn't know about this taboo." Ian quickly reassured his assistant. It seemed that there was something more to the official history told to the population.

Soon, they entered the building and were stopped by a guard who guided them to the top floor after exchanging a few words and noticing the External Rune on Shortyty's hat. This item provided level three authority, a VIP status in that place.

One must know that there were seven levels of authority, where the maximum would be the rulers, The Royalty of Gnel; the sixth, important figures from other races and the main directors; fifth, Faction leaders and Guilds; fourth, nobles and high ranking civil organizations; third, directors of less important departments, talented employees, small nobles, owners of important companies and any cultivation equivalent to the Fantasy Realm or higher; second, ordinary army officers and inspectors; first, ordinary citizens and registered visitors; zero, illegal immigrants, debtors and criminals.

In a small room that barely fit the large polished black wooden table, two wide padded chairs, and a grand chair that resembled a small throne, an old man wearing a black triple hat with brighter runes than Shortyty's was examining a neatly organized stack of papers.

"Master, this disciple has come to request your attention." Said Shortyty as he paid respects by bending his right knee.

"Hmm, what brings you here, Shortyty? I am very busy at the moment." The old man replied without even looking up.

"This one has come to begin protocol with his boss for trademark company registration and to greet the Royalty Office."

"Humpf, this old man doesn't waste time on small matters. Just go to the lower floors." The man replied with an irritated voice, still keeping his head down.

"Master, my boss is not from the seven races. He came from another World and has many good things that don't exist in Sombreal to manufacture and trade!" Shortyty stepped forward, abandoning the usual formality in his urgency. He knew that if didn't capture the attention of that elder soon, not only would it not bring any advantage to Ian, but it would also put him in an undesirable situation with an important bureaucrat from the royalty.

"Hm?!" For the first time, the Gnome looked at the newcomers and analyzed Ian from head to toe, even sending out his martial sense.

"My name is Ian Haller, coming from the Earth World through a Heli ritual. " Ian spoke hastily.

"I have never heard of races summoning others!" The director was cautious and doubtful. The being in front of him could be a vampire if it weren't for his low cultivation and neutral aura. Something was not right about this story.

"To tell the truth, it was an unprecedented case. The Helis made a mistake and brought me to this plane instead of the God Hellgar." Ian explained, seeing the elder's expression of doubt.

"Hellgar... Yes, this one I know. You look a bit like him. I must assume that you have inherited his body."

"Just as the senior revealed. Although, not the whole body..."

"What was your Earth like?" He was starting to show interest and give some credibility. His eyes were more focused now that the facts were fitting together.

"It was a place where there was only one intelligent species, the homo sapiens. We lived in large communities, nations of millions of people, totaling 8 billion at that time. There was no Dao, Magic, or any other fantastic thing, only science. We created marvelous items for good and evil. There were cars, which were machines capable of traveling at high speeds with passengers, without a beast. There were weapons that had the power to exterminate life for kilometers... Naturally, a weak people, but in practice, very powerful and resourceful."

"Just big words. And even if your species was brilliant, it doesn't necessarily mean you can recreate that miracles." The director was a seasoned man who rose in life through his own achievements. The son of common workers, from the outskirts to the palace of the Royal Office. And if there was something he had learned in the last hundreds of years, it was that the safe and cautious one, drink cold tea, but drink it every day.

"I have at this moment some test pieces. If you could spare some time and arrange a place with defensive arrays to analyze the damage, I might surprise the Director." Ian was no fool, the elder was tempted, but needed proof. He was a provident, but open-minded player.

"Time is the least I have. I can surely get up now and go to a location with Mr. Haller to see your innovations. However, if it doesn't please these tired eyes... Let's just say you'll have some problems living in the great Gnel."

"I have full confidence in my product." Ian was categorical and firm, inspiring confidence in the two accompanying him. Shortyty smiled; it seemed that boss had some skill, which was good because the better Ian performed, the higher his evaluation score would be.

Minutes later, Ian took Black Star to the military testing ground, a block away. He unloaded a barrel and picked up two hand grenades of different sizes. All under the watchful eye of the two Gnomes who stayed further back at the control point of the array arrangement. There they would have access to the data concerning the strength of the explosions and their characteristics.

"Director, I call this first projectile the Simple Hand Grenade, gunpowder model. It has the power to break through the defenses of an early phase, unprepared Bronze Body or, if prepared, peak Copper Body. Do you understand the Heli body strengthening system?"

"I naturally have some understanding and admire the resilience and defense techniques of this race."

"Then let's begin." Ian lit the fuse, waited a moment, and threw it.

BOOM!

The elder was surprised. The item thrown was not imbued with any kind of external or martial energy, but it caused the promised damage. Even someone without skills or cultivation could use this to cause significant havoc.

"This second one is named the Radioactive Hand Grenade, gunpowder model. It can break the defenses of a Bronze Body at any stage, except for titled individuals, and still cause a persistent vital corrosion effect on the target." Once again, Ian repeated the same actions, and...

BOOOM!

This time it was Shortyty who showed a complex reaction. Gnomes mostly cultivated support Dao techniques, so they were indeed more fragile than the Helis, and the current article would cause damage to a Fantasy Realm of that little species.

"This last one, for now, is my most powerful explosive, but it is difficult to handle due to volume. I'm referring to the Radioactive Explosive Barrel, gunpowder model. When used, it wreaks havoc for a Gold Corps, and anyone below it, if shot, will be guaranteed an bad end. It also has a vitality-degrading effect." The fuse was lit, and Ian kicked the barrel so that it rolled toward the matrice wall.

BOOOOOOM!

The matrice wall trembled and flickered, nearly destroyed. Part of the sound waves escaped and shattered windows, scared nearby beasts, and caused panic among the people. The director's eyes sparkled; he quickly jumped into the arena and walked voraciously toward Ian.

Ian wasn't in good shape either. Despite running for nearby cover, the impact still threw him far away, and his ears were buzzing along with a persistent dizziness.

"Ahahah, you passed! Passed! Phenomenal, I'm really excited for your next creations!" Excitement was the word that best described those two Gnomes, each with their own project but under the same scope.

"Let's go back to the Office; we need to register your trademark and patents. If you allow me, I would like to arrange a meeting with the Ministry of Defense for you." Ian realized that the old man wanted to gain points with the upper management by introducing him, which didn't affect negatively in any way, it would even do a favor, maybe his first business deal would soon be underway...

"Oh, what name would you like for the company?"