There was only one reason why Kyle was here.
One of the biggest events in Heavenly Paradise's plot was the rise and dominant display put on by the Twilight sect in the coming age.
The other was the beginning of a giant in the financial industry, in other words, a merchant company.
It was not a merchant per se. But rather, a crafter.
The crafter started their business in Dragonvale, eventually moving to the capital during the tournament, making it big, and settling there for good.
At this point in the timeline, this merchant cultivator was a complete anomaly. Relatively unknown to the general populace, only known to the inner circle of business people.
But that would change soon.
So Kyle's goal was simple.
He was going to invest a large chunk of his wealth into this budding crafter and then reap all the benefits once they became successful.
So better to do that as early as possible. If there was one thing he knew.
'One can never have too much money.'
He was going to need as much funding as he could get his hands on if he wanted to reach the pinnacle.
The resources he would need to advance his cultivation in the future would be astronomical.
Why not extort his family's treasury, though?
He would rather not, since he had other means to earn a load of money; this was the best way.
Kyle and his escorts walked into the merchant's guild, his steps light.
Sebastian and Nuna were wondering what Kyle could want from the merchants' guild
Unlike the mercenaries' guild, it was very quiet, the workers busy attending to quite a few queues lined up with merchants waiting to be served.
Every person or the other seemed to be counting money.
However, as soon as Kyle and his entourage entered, a lady immediately came up to him.
"How may we assist you, today's esteemed guest?" She asked respectfully.
Kyle looked her over. "Hello there, I would like to register with the merchants' guild."
Sebastian and Nuna raised their brows in surprise.
'Why would the young master want to register the merchants' guild?' They kept the questions to themselves for the moment.
"Of course, right this way." The lady led them to a secluded room, where she had them sit down around a table.
She started off by introducing herself.
" My name is Emily, a clerk of the Dragonvale Merchants Guild branch. Would you like to register as a merchant or a sponsor?"
She asked, it was rare for a person to register as a sponsor/ investor. But being as good a clerk as she was, the lady's instincts were on high alert.
"A sponsor."
'I was right, as always.' She was proud of herself.
She took out a gemstone, placing it on the table.
"Your identification." She spoke.
Kyle presented a medallion from his storage, handing it to her while she worked. She raised her brows in surprise when she recognised the Insignia instantly.
'Thank the gods, my hunch was right.' She fought the urge to punch the air triumphantly.
After all, she had taken a gamble. Visually, Kyle looked like he was affluent, from his dressing, and their air Sebastian and Nuna gave off made it obvious that they were from a noble house.
And from the way the Duo seemed subservient to this unassuming, fancily dressed young man, she guessed that he could be from a noble house.
It was up to the workers' discretion to choose who to offer premium services to, from those who entered the branch, but it was rare to actually catch a big fish.
'Ravenshade house. He is from one of the major houses. Jackpot!'
"If I may have your name, esteemed sir."
Kyle responded squarely, "Kyle, Kyle Ravenshade."
She noted it down. And got up as soon as she was done.
"If you will excuse me for a moment. I will be right back."
The woman stood up, steps soft and discreet, and she slipped out of the room for a few minutes. Kyle watched the door close before turning his attention to the quiet murmurs of the guild hall outside.
Moments later, she reentered with a small, elegantly engraved card, sleek, palm-sized, and shimmering faintly as she placed it on the table.
"This here is your official guild identification card. Presenting it at any merchants' guild branch instantly verifies your identity, status, and permissions within the guild."
She explained.
"It also doubles as a bank card, you can deposit or withdraw funds as well at any guild, not just the merchants' guild. But of course, it is cheaper if you do so at a merchant's guild."
Kyle nodded, "Oh? That is indeed convenient."
Kyle picked up the card, turning it lightly between slender fingers. The surface was smooth and cool, its edges beveled, inlaid with the guild's emblem in fine filigree, sleek, efficient, and unmistakably professional.
She watched his appraisal with calm courtesy and continued:
"Now that you're registered, you can access your account at any branch. But first, do you already have any investments in mind? Sponsorships, seed capital, or merchant ventures?"
Kyle considered: he'd come prepared, "In fact, I do have a person I want to sponsor."
'Oh, it must be one of the influential ones.' She smiled.
"Of course, sir, you came prepared, would you like me to assist you with the documentation?"
"If you don't mind."
"Right away, esteemed sir. What is the name of this merchant?"
"I'm not sure if you know her, her name should be Athena, Athena the blacksmith." He said succinctly.
The lady was startled, her brow flicking with surprise
"Athena…? I—"
She halts, glances away as though recalling something. Athena, the blacksmith prodigy. She was only forty, at the peak of the Qi condensation stage.
She had been a prodigy for as long as anyone could remember. Big names saw the potential and invested in her workshop.
There was no denying her crafting talent.
The only problem was her personality. Unruly, eccentric, and selfish.
Many had invested in her in the past, but she made no returns. She starts one project, leaves it in the corner to collect dust, while she starts another.
Which meant she never made any sales, because there was nothing marketable in the items she made.
Enraged, the investors demanded compensation from the guild.
And now, she was drowning in debt, and she did not even seem to care. Only seeming to continue her ventures.
The clerk sighed. Then she snaps back: "Uh‑hm… I would strongly recommend you reconsider."
Kyle was well aware of her reputation, and that is precisely why he chose her. Because he knew her from the novel.
And he knew how successful she would become in the future.
'Typical Athena.' He almost wanted to laugh at her dilemma. 'Difficult as always.'
Kyle, raising an eyebrow, snapped a delicate finger at the Emilty to rekindle her attention.
"Could you explain briefly?"
The guild clerk took a breath, speaking carefully, "Athena ... she's well known already, but not for good reasons. She's... unruly. She doesn't care about profit or order. I've heard she... drowns herself in her work, literally, hammering away for hours, then getting drunk in between. She's a troublemaker."
Kyle was studying her reaction, nodding ever so slightly, as if agreeing with her.
Emily smiled, 'At least he is sensible enough to take my advice.' Then he opens his mouth.
"Regardless, I would still like to fund Athena's workshop."
She froze.
"Uhm, could you repeat that? I don't think I heard you clearly.
"I said I would like to fund Athena."
"Ehh?"