AN: If you like what you are reading, you can help by giving my novel Rating.
With the problem laid out before us, we sat down as a family to brainstorm ideas.
"The first and most obvious step is to get more people on our new land to pioneer farming villages." Mum said.
Dad, who still had his face buried in his hands, replied, "Yes, but it's going to take a lot longer than six months to get people settled and set up, let alone produce anything worth exporting. While these long-term money makers are starting up, we need something quick and profitable to keep the troops I need to raise. We would have to wait at least three years before we can expect anything from the new villages."
Hmm… something quick and profitable… "Dad, how luctitive would you say my blacksmithing pieces would be?" I asked.
"The… what did you call it? Weave Smithing?... Despite being as unique as it is, as it is now, I am sure it would catch the attention of many nobles, but what you currently make is only made out of Mana Steel, and you are still unknown as an artisan. I am not so sure about how much it will sell, but at this level of material and reputation, your clientele would be merchants, knights, and low rank nobles like ourselves." Dad explained.
"That does not sound like a lot of money. What is the rough estimate?" I asked.
"If we are talking Mana Steel… I would say twenty gold pieces for one of your Weave Smithed swords, fifty gold, depending on the enchantment. As I said, the main thing holding back the price is the material and your lack of reputation as an artisan." Dad speculated.
"Both of which can be solved relatively quickly," Mum said as she cut in, "All that needs to be done is for your father to accept a few of the party invitations he keeps on receiving and gift the host of the party one of your works. Maybe use better material for the higher-ranking nobles. From what I can see, your works can be considered a form of art. And if they perform as well as they look, even better. As for better materials, I am sure my parents can help with some merchant contacts."
"That's a great idea!" Dad said, "And if you are able to make full sets of plate armor, they usually go for close to ten times the amount of a sword. If your works are well received, and it is known that you are the only one who has this style of smithing, you can demand a premium if others flood you with orders."
"Hmm… as great as this all sounds, the time it takes for me to produce arms and armor, and the time it takes for my reputation to grow, so I do not expect to be making large amounts of gold for some time. I think my career as an artisan blacksmith will most likely be a mid to long-term revenue stream. Is there anything we can do in the short term?" I asked.
Throughout the day until dinner time, we discussed potential money-making schemes, went through records for the area for any quick opportunities we could make use of, and even considered raising taxes, but that was left as a last resort.
Not wanting to carry out the planning for the rest of the night, Dad put a stop to the planning before we started dinner and shelved things unto tomorrow.
***
With all the things that was going to happen within the territory, I doubted me or Dad would have time to do any training until my Dad's obligation to the kingdom and his new title was fulfilled, that meant that I had to tell Professor Sageira and let her grumble and nag at me… but alas, the needs must.
As I lay on my bed, I touched the dragon scale and sent a mental message, [Professor, are you free to talk?]
[Yes, I am free, what did you want to talk about?] she replied.
[We might need to take a break from training for some time.] I said, then I laid out the problem we were facing due to the king's 'offer', and the plans we got so far. [So as you can see, we will be too busy trying to scrape together money until we get some stable income.]
[Hmm… I understand, and I think I can help with your situation.] she replied, but I quickly cut her off.
[As much as I appreciate the sentiment, Professor, I won't be taking your money.] I quickly said. I have read extensively about dragons, and from all the literature I have read, owing them anything is not a good idea. Even the current arrangement Dad and I have with her is bordering on being in her debt. She's currently considering the data she recorded from our training as the price, and I do not want that to change.
[Silly boy.] She giggled, [This is no handout, this is a job opportunity and a chance for me to repay a favor of mine to someone else. Tell me, how do you feel about mercenary work?]
[Not very highly. It sounds like the military, but with a lot less hygiene and standards. Besides, from the way your question sounds, I will not be leading the band of mercenaries, which means I would not be paid enough to make a dent in the finances my family needs.] I replied.
She just huffed at my statement, [I am not talking about the normal riff-raff that call themselves mercenaries. With someone of your skill, I am speaking of the kind of mercenary that caters to the powerful and affluent… a problem solver if you would.]
[Okay, this is sounding shadier by the second, are you introducing me to some kind of assassin-] I replied, but was cut off.
[Minimum is a hundred gold per job and can go into the tens of thousands of gold.] she interrupted.
There was silence over the telepathic connection while her words sank into my head, [I'm listening…]
[I knew you would.] she said smugly.
***
A week after Professor Sageira told me of this so-called 'mercenary work', I was sitting at a private booth in my town's tavern, when a sharp and formal man with an actual suitcase walked up to me.
"Sir Luke Ironcrest, I presume," the man said as he gave me a courteous nod.
"That is I, and who might you be." I asked back.
"Ah, yes, of course, how rude of me." the man said, and at the same time, I felt some kind of barrier form around the both of us, this put me on edge but I stayed calm while mentally spinning up some spells and ramped up the mana flow through my mana pathways. If he made any suspicious moves, a quick knife hand through his chest should settle matters quickly.
"I am a representative of The Steward's Guild. And my manager has told me that you have come highly recommended. You can call me Santon." the man said as he stuck his hand out for a handshake.