After talking with his uncle, Rayven decided to rest for the day. The exhaustion of travel and the string of recent events made the comfort of Golden Coast Trading's guest quarters feel almost luxurious.
Dinner was served in a private dining room. Despite their current situation, they still served roasted pheasant, buttered root vegetables, and some soft bread fresh from the oven.
Miki, Nara, and Thyruz joined him at the table as they talked about their plans from now on.
Thyruz ate in silence at first, but Albert, who had joined them for the meal, eventually turned his attention to him.
"You're an enchanter, aren't you?" Albert asked.
Thyruz nodded without slowing his chewing. "That's right."
"If you ever want work," Albert offered, "I can arrange something here in the branch. There's always a need for someone who can place enchantments on gear. The pay will be fair."
Rayven looked over at the old man and smiled. "You should take it. A steady job, even part-time, could be good for you. Besides, it might give you a chance to work on some high-quality materials."
Thyruz considered for a moment as he set down his fork and gave a nod.
"Two or three days a week. That's all I'll give. I can only enchant two or three items a day without pushing the limits, anyway."
Albert seemed satisfied. "That's plenty. I'll have someone prepare the workspace."
Meanwhile, Miki and Nara announced that they would spend the coming days training instead of taking on jobs. The upcoming swordsman competition was drawing closer, and they were determined to secure a respectable ranking.
Nara grinned confidently. "We'll put on a good show, Rayven. Count on it."
***
The next morning, Rayven stood before the tall mirror in his new room.
He now wore freshly laundered, well-fitted clothes.
It was a dark navy tunic and black trousers that matched perfectly with his boots.
"I look good…" Rayven commented after seeing his reflection.
His hair was now neatly brushed, while his face was clean from a long, hot bath the night before.
He changed his pose a few times while appraising himself with satisfaction. "Not bad…" he murmured.
His current appearance made him look sharper, cleaner, and undeniably more refined than the dusty traveler who had arrived just yesterday.
But no perfume…
"Should I make one?" he mused aloud. "Could I actually sell that…?" The idea of creating a line of fragrances briefly crossed his mind…
After all, he had noticed here the perfumes weren't really a thing… At the very least, only his uncle and a very small number of people seemed to be using them.
'Is it expensive?' He thought…
However, he knew that he couldn't get sidetracked for now, so he shook his head.
"Focus, Rayven. One venture at a time."
Today's goal was simple: to visit the Aurora Hall Auction House.
***
Albert had arranged an escort for him: a young man named Calder. He was nineteen years old, a Third-Rate Swordsman close to breaking into Second-Rate. He wore the Golden Coast's crest on his left shoulder and carried a straight, steel sword at his hip.
As they walked through the bustling streets of Hesa, they made small talk as Rayven also needed some information about this place.
During this time, Calder was respectful but curious.
"You know about the swordsman competition coming up?" Calder asked.
Rayven nodded. "I've heard."
"It's only for unrated swordsmen," Calder explained. "Good for rising talent, and sometimes a scout from one of the big knight orders shows up. Though most years, it's just merchants betting on the fights."
"That explains Miki and Nara's enthusiasm," Rayven said with a smile… Aside from prestige, they could actually be recruited or even earn a lot of money.
As they moved, the crowd thickened as they reached the main commercial district, where the buildings grew grander and the streets were swept clean.
Then, finally, they stood before a magnificent structure made of white stone.
It was the Aurora Hall Auction House.
At the entrance doors, two guards in half-plate armor flanked the doorway. They have halberds resting upright against their shoulders…
Above the entrance, Rayven saw the Aurora Hall's crest. It was a radiant star encircled by silver leaf…
Calder stepped forward, presenting the sealed letter Albert had given him.
One of the guards inspected the crest and confirmed its authenticity.
The Golden Coast Trading was still an influential organization. Even if it was going through tough times, there was still a chance for them to recover.
"Welcome, honored guest. Manager Darius inside should be able to assist you..."
Rayven thanked the two as they stepped inside.
***
Inside, the place was spacious and well-lit.
A few attendants in matching uniforms moved quietly, guiding other well-dressed visitors toward different counters or up the staircase at the far end.
Rayven gently nodded as he confirmed that the Aurora Hall didn't bother with unnecessary decorations.
Instead, everything here looked neat, professional, and expensive in a practical way…
It was as if it wasn't here to impress with gold and jewels, but to make it clear this was a place where serious business was done.
One attendant approached and, after confirming their names, quickly led Rayven and Calder down a side hallway.
They then stopped in front of the Manager's Office…
The attendant knocked twice before opening it.
"Manager Darius, the guest from Golden Coast Trading has arrived."
For some reason, Rayven felt a little nervous... Still, he was already here, and he just needed to complete this transaction and hope that he could earn a lot of money.
If this worked, he might have to consider doing this Treasure Hunting a few more times, as it might help with his goal of earning a lot of gold.