At the break of dawn, Logan rose from his bed, the morning still thick with mist, and hurried towards the tribal winery, his thoughts racing. There was no time to waste; Fisher and the old elf were waiting for him at the tribal hall. Today, they were bound for Canyon City, and that journey promised to be unlike any other.
When Logan arrived at the hall, he found Fisher, his brother-in-law, standing with the old elf, who seemed more interested in his morning liquor than the impending trip. Fisher's eyes twinkled with anticipation, while the elf, a figure of legend, was still somewhat bleary-eyed. Despite his renowned powers, the elf's passion for drink was infamous.
Dozens of kilograms of liquor before the sun was fully up, that was his routine.
Logan couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of the elf's unquenchable thirst. "Good thing I never agreed to become his student," he thought. "Had I stayed here in the Silver Mane Tribe, I'd be drowning in wine daily, not to mention how much it would cost to keep up!"
His thoughts were interrupted when Fisher, sensing his curiosity, grinned and asked, "Ready to fly to Canyon City, then?"
"Fly?" Logan echoed, glancing towards the old elf. Surely, with his immense power, flying a few companions would be a trivial matter.
Fisher let out a hearty laugh. "Fly? Who told you we'd fly?"
The elf, still groggy but now more alert, mumbled something incoherent as Fisher turned to him and asked, "Mentor, are we ready?"
The old elf, who had just downed yet another flask of wine, glanced at Logan with his tired but sharp eyes. He gave a slight nod, signaling that it was time. Despite his apparent hangover, the moment he raised his hand, the air in the hall thickened with magic, as though the very atmosphere was holding its breath.
Jane, standing beside Logan, couldn't hide her awe. She watched the old elf's display with wide eyes, unable to comprehend the sheer magnitude of the power before her. Her envy was palpable, this man's magical strength was like an ocean, while hers felt like a mere droplet.
"Don't worry," Logan said with a reassuring smile. "One day, you'll be as strong as him."
Jane nodded, determination burning in her gaze. "I will. I know I can do it." Her confidence was well-founded. With her siblings all possessing the potential for greatness, she believed that with enough dedication, she too could break through the limits and become a legend.
The old elf, with a wave of his hand, summoned a vortex of magic. It swirled faster and faster until it tore through reality itself, revealing a dark, swirling abyss. The sight of it sent a thrill of excitement through Logan and Jane; this was no ordinary spell. This was the fabled Gate of Space, a portal that only the most powerful of space magicians could conjure.
Jane and Logan exchanged a glance, their astonishment mirrored in each other's eyes. A space magician? They had heard tales but never imagined they'd witness such magic firsthand.
Fisher, ever the optimist, beckoned them forward. "Come on, let's not keep Canyon City waiting."
Without hesitation, Logan and Jane stepped into the portal, their hearts racing with a mix of fear and exhilaration. Fisher followed close behind, with the old elf, slightly stumbling from his morning indulgence, bringing up the rear. As soon as they were through, the gate sealed itself shut, leaving the tribal hall once again in quiet stillness.
But elsewhere, high above the Silver Mane Tribe, another figure appeared. He emerged from a shimmering space gate in the sky, his form that of an elderly Beastmen , his eyes sharp and full of purpose. He gazed down upon the tribe below with an inscrutable expression.
"So, this is the Silver Mane Tribe," he murmured, his voice a deep growl. "I didn't expect to find a new tribe flourishing in the southern wilderness..."
"The Silver Mane Tribe doesn't carry the aura of legend," the old Beastmen murmured to himself, his voice low with disappointment. "It seems the Royal Court has grown far too suspicious of everything... perhaps too cautious for its own good."
He sighed, his gaze distant as though contemplating the weight of an uncertain future. "How much longer can this incompetent Royal Court hold out? It feels like we're all teetering on the edge of something..."
Shaking his head, he waved his hand dismissively, summoning another swirling vortex of magic. "Enough of this. Let's go see Lao Wu," he muttered under his breath before stepping through the space gate without another word. In an instant, the portal sealed shut behind him, leaving nothing but the faint trace of his presence in the air.
---
Canyon City.
Logan dismissed the thought with a smile, focusing instead on the grand feast that awaited. Pleti had spared no expense, arranging a sumptuous banquet in their honor. Not long after, the lion-man, David, joined them, his large frame squeezing through the door with a booming laugh.
The reunion was brief but warm, with the group exchanging stories of their travels and adventures over platters of exotic food and drink.
Yet, despite the lively atmosphere, everyone knew the real reason for this gathering. The goods. Business always came first.
Once the banquet was over, the group made their way swiftly to the Kasa Hotel, the designated meeting place for their trade negotiations.
---
Kasa Hotel – Backyard.
The hotel's backyard bustled with activity, and as Logan stepped in, he was greeted by Teton, his trusted subordinate. Teton approached with deference, holding out a neatly rolled piece of animal skin.
"Chief, here's the latest bill for the goods," Teton said, bowing slightly as he handed it over.
Beside him stood Cardia, another key figure in managing the operations. Both stood respectfully, awaiting further instructions.
Logan unrolled the animal skin and quickly scanned the figures. His eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Three thousand workers?" he said aloud, impressed by the rapid expansion.
Teton grinned. "Yes, Chief. The expansion has been moving at a fast pace. Thanks to your foresight and the resources you reserved, we've been able to scale things efficiently."
Logan nodded in approval. "You've both done well. I appreciate your hard work." His praise was genuine, and Teton and Cardia beamed at the compliment. They had long since become familiar with the demands of running the winery, and as soon as they saw an opportunity to grow, they seized it.
"If we had more gold reserves, the expansion would be even greater by now," Teton added, the excitement clear in his voice.
As Logan continued reading through the report, his eyes stopped on one figure. He blinked, certain he had misread it.
"Three hundred and fifty thousand pounds?" he muttered, his voice filled with astonishment.
Teton nodded quickly, sensing his shock. "Yes, Chief. The current output has been remarkable. We're producing around 60,000 kilograms of wine per batch. Over the past two months, we've managed to accumulate over 350,000 kilograms. Though, of course..." His voice trailed off, leaving the rest unspoken.
Logan understood without needing further explanation. A portion of that wine would be stored away, aging into fine vintage. The best batches would be kept in the wine cellars, prepared to become coveted old wine, which would only increase in value over time. They had also produced 130,000 kilograms of maltose, another lucrative product in their growing inventory.
Satisfied with the report, Logan handed the animal skin back to Teton with a nod of approval. "Excellent work. We'll continue as planned."
With that, he made his way back to the hotel's lobby, where Pleti, Fisher, and David were waiting for him. As he joined them, Pleti leaned forward, his expression eager.
"How much, then?" Pleti asked, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.
Logan smiled, his voice steady. "Five hundred and twenty thousand pounds of liquor."
The room went quiet for a brief moment as everyone took in the enormity of the numbers. Fisher grinned proudly, while David let out a low whistle.
"That's more than enough to make a significant impact on the market," Fisher said, his voice tinged with excitement. "Canyon City won't know what hit it."
Pleti nodded, his mind already calculating the potential profit. "It seems this partnership will be even more fruitful than we imagined."