Soon the boat finally reached the pier the Sonnenbergs had constructed at the edge of the river. The structure was entirely made of wood, but despite its simple appearance, it was remarkably sturdy. The family estimated that it would last at least ten years before requiring replacement, though everyone expected a larger and more impressive dock to be built long before then. After all, if their plans succeeded, this lonely outpost would eventually become a bustling trading settlement.
The vessel slowed as sailors threw ropes onto the pier and secured the ship in place. Several workers quickly moved about the deck, making preparations for unloading cargo. A wooden gangplank was lowered onto the pier with a loud thud. Moments later, a rather portly man stepped onto solid ground and stretched his arms with visible relief.
The man was roughly one hundred and seventy-five centimeters tall and completely bald. Despite his appearance, there was something naturally cheerful about him that made people feel comfortable around him. His round face carried a permanent smile, and his eyes sparkled with amusement. He looked less like a wealthy merchant and more like a friendly uncle visiting relatives after a long journey.
"Hey, Bennie!" the man called out loudly. "Long time no see! How have you been surviving in this godforsaken wilderness?"
Bennie immediately stepped forward to greet him.
Unlike Dennis, Bennie looked like the image of an old ranger brought to life. Though only slightly shorter, his lean frame and weathered face gave him a far more intimidating appearance. His gray hair and hardened physique hinted at decades of experience living and working in difficult environments. While he appeared thin at first glance, anyone with experience could tell that the strength hidden within his body was considerable.
"I've been doing quite well," Bennie replied with a grin. "We were fortunate enough to have a mana vein emerge beneath our ancestral lands. While most people watched their property values collapse after the Expansion, ours increased dramatically."
Dennis laughed loudly.
"Trust you people to somehow come out ahead. You know how happy I was that I insisted on building a ship purely to satisfy my vanity before the System arrived? After seeing what happened, I immediately ordered another one to be built. This vessel may look impressive, but it was still constructed from laboratory-grown wood."
As he spoke, Dennis affectionately patted the ship's railing.
The resulting sound was noticeably dull. While lab-grown wood had once been considered nearly identical to natural timber, the arrival of mana had changed that perception completely. Natural materials now possessed superior mana resistance, greater durability, and significantly better long-term performance. As a result, naturally harvested wood had become a luxury commodity almost overnight.
"You didn't really have a choice back then," Bennie replied. "Natural timber was ridiculously expensive even before the Expansion. Besides, nobody could tell the difference unless they checked the manufacturer's markings. Most people considered the lab-grown versions perfectly acceptable."
Dennis nodded reluctantly.
The merchant could hardly argue with that. Prior to the System's arrival, lab-grown wood had dominated the construction industry because it was cheap, sustainable, and widely available. No one could have predicted that mana would suddenly transform decades of economic assumptions overnight. Now those old forests that had once been protected for environmental reasons had become strategic resources.
Bennie glanced toward the cargo hold.
The ship was packed with goods collected from various settlements and cities along the river. Merchants had quickly adapted to the new world and resumed trading wherever possible. While roads remained difficult to establish, rivers provided a natural transportation network that required relatively little infrastructure. As a result, traders like Dennis were already making fortunes.
"I take it the journey wasn't too difficult?" Bennie asked casually.
The question immediately caused Dennis's expression to darken.
"Are you kidding me?" he whispered. "Do you have any idea who you asked me to transport? The soldiers guarding the ports practically stood at attention the moment they saw him. I've never seen people become that polite so quickly."
Bennie chuckled knowingly.
At that moment, a tall middle-aged man began descending the gangplank. Unlike Dennis, he carried himself with calm confidence. The sailors instinctively moved out of his path as he passed, giving him a respectful amount of space. Their behavior made it abundantly clear that his presence had left a strong impression during the voyage.
The man's name was Natan Merz.
During their journey, the ship had already stopped at another city before arriving here. Business there had gone exceptionally well, largely because local authorities had treated Dennis's vessel with an almost absurd level of courtesy after learning who one of the passengers was. The sailors had witnessed the entire thing firsthand and were still slightly terrified by the influence the young man seemed to wield.
Dennis lowered his voice even further.
"You should have seen what happened. Some twenty-year-old idiot actually argued with him at one port. The poor guy nearly fainted when he learned who Natan was. Ever since then, everyone aboard has been walking on eggshells."
Before Bennie could reply, Arin stepped forward.
"Are you Natan Merz?" he asked plainly.
Natan turned toward the young archer.
"I am."
"Good. Then come with us. The Patriarch and the Elder Council are waiting for you."
Without another word, Arin turned around and started walking away from the pier. Bertho, Bill, Tom, and several others followed him immediately. None of them waited for a response, nor did they seem particularly impressed by Natan's status.
The unexpected treatment left Natan momentarily stunned.
Throughout most of his career, people had treated him with extreme respect. Government officials rolled out red carpets. Military officers greeted him formally. Business leaders carefully chose every word they spoke around him. He had become so accustomed to such treatment that the complete lack of ceremony caught him off guard.
Fortunately, he recovered quickly.
His father had spent a considerable amount of time explaining the peculiar nature of the Sonnenberg family before his departure. Natan understood that these ancient trade families operated according to entirely different rules than modern institutions. To them, titles and political offices mattered far less than personal conduct and professional reputation.
More importantly, Arin was not just any family member.
As the grandson of the Patriarch and a likely future leader of the family, his position carried enormous significance within Sonnenberg circles. Natan had been explicitly warned not to comment on succession matters, as these families considered such discussions private affairs. Understanding their internal structure would be crucial if he hoped to navigate future interactions successfully.
Meanwhile, Dennis stared nervously at the departing group.
"Is it really okay for him to speak like that?" he asked quietly.
Unlike most people, Dennis possessed enough political awareness to recognize the name Merz immediately. As the owner of a successful medieval weapons company, he frequently dealt with government agencies and military contracts. That meant he knew exactly how influential Natan's family was within the European Union.
Bennie merely shrugged.
"Don't worry about it. Natan disrespected our Patriarch during a phone call, so we're simply getting a little revenge. Besides, he'll survive. Now let's focus on business. Did you bring anything interesting for us, or are you only here to buy our bows?"
Dennis instantly brightened.
Business was a far safer topic.
"Unfortunately, I don't have much you would consider exciting. Most of my profits come from moving goods between settlements these days. What I am interested in are your bows. Those things were selling before the Trial even began."
Bennie laughed.
"Sadly, we can't sell you our handmade arrows. We need every single one ourselves."
"That doesn't matter," Dennis replied immediately. "Handmade arrows aren't exactly popular right now anyway. Nobody wants to fire five wooden coins into a forest and never see them again. The bows, however, are a completely different story."
The merchant's eyes gleamed with excitement.
Quality handmade equipment had become one of the most valuable commodities in existence. Even items rated as Inferior by the System sold for impressive sums. Demand vastly exceeded supply in nearly every category. Weapons, tools, clothing, and construction materials all commanded extraordinary prices.
"Then you're in luck," Bennie said proudly.
He gestured toward a large collection of crates stacked beside the pier.
"Since we established our faction, we've gained a huge number of recruits. Many of them are training as bowyers. Most of these bows are Inferior rarity, but they're still superior to what most people carried out of the Trial. And then there are the bows crafted by our master craftsmen."
Dennis followed the gesture.
His eyes widened immediately.
Ten large crates sat neatly arranged near the dock. Each measured roughly two meters long and contained dozens of carefully crafted bows. Beyond them stood even more containers waiting to be loaded. The sheer quantity represented a small fortune in today's market.
"That's a lot," Dennis muttered.
"It is," Bennie agreed.
In total, nearly one hundred crates waited for transport. Considering that even the lowest-quality handmade equipment sold for more than a silver coin, the value sitting on the riverbank was staggering. For many factions, such merchandise represented months of production.
Dennis's grin grew wider.
"These are going to sell incredibly well."
Without hesitation, he waved his men forward and ordered them to begin loading the cargo. Sailors immediately sprang into action, carrying crate after crate toward the ship. Watching them work, Bennie couldn't help but smile. Their expensive road and pier project was already beginning to pay for itself far sooner than anyone had expected.
And this was only the beginning.