I handed Marlon the gold coins we had agreed upon. He counted them, nodded, then handed me the reins. "He's yours now. Take good care of him."
Ella grinned. "So, what are you going to name him?"
I thought for a moment, then smirked. "How about... Shadow?" The horse snorted, almost as if approving the name. Agnes, who had been watching, nodded in satisfaction. "A fitting name. Well then, Dirk, you're officially a merchant with your own transport. What's next?"
I smiled, feeling a surge of excitement. "Next? We expand. This is just the beginning."
Over the next few weeks, word of my products spread beyond Lord Roland's estate. News travelled fast, and soon, nobles from neighbouring villages started sending messengers to enquire about my goods. It started with a few cautious orders—small crates of water, mamon, and canned goods—but as soon as they tasted my food, the demand skyrocketed.
One evening, as I was closing up the shop, Igor stormed in, waving a handful of sealed letters.
"Dirk! More orders! You won't believe how many nobles want your products now."
I took the letters and quickly scanned them. The Cavendish family from the south, the Elven Duke's residence in the north, and even the Knight Commander of the west had placed large requests.
"Looks like we'll need to expand deliveries," I muttered.
Ella, who was helping count the coins from today's sales, gasped. "Dirk, you do realise that if this keeps up, you'll be supplying half the noble houses in the region?"
Elvie nodded, adjusting her bow. "We'll need more help. Just the four of us won't cut it anymore."
That's when I made a decision. "We'll hire more staff—starting with two elves to handle deliveries."
The next morning, I visited the Adventurer's Guild, where I saw many elves gathered looking for work. With Agnes's help, I posted a recruitment notice.
By midday, two young elves named Kael and Sylphie showed up at my shop. Kael was a tall, muscular elf with sharp green eyes, dressed like a ranger. "I used to be a scout for the city guard, so I know the roads like the back of my hand."
Sylphie, a petite elf with silver hair, nodded. "I was a courier for the merchant guild before. I'm fast, and I know how to handle difficult customers."
"Perfect," I said, shaking their hands. "You'll both be responsible for delivering our goods to noble houses. We'll provide you with a carriage, a horse, and a route schedule."
Both of them grinned excitedly and immediately got to work learning the routes.
With deliveries running smoothly, I turned my attention to my next big idea—Dirk's Deodorant. I have seen how nobles and commoners alike struggled with hygiene. Baths weren't as common in this world, and perfumes were expensive. But I had something better—sachet-size lotion-type deodorant. I set up a small wooden stand in front of the shop, placing samples of my deodorant on display. A simple signboard read: "DIRK'S DEODORANT – Stay Fresh, Stay Confident!"
The first few customers were hesitant. A young noblewoman, Lady Marian, approached cautiously. "What is this... Dirk?" she asked, eyeing the small bottle in my hand.
I smiled and picked up the white sachet. "It's called deodorant. It stops body odour and keeps you smelling fresh all day."
Her eyes widened. "Is that even possible?"
"See for yourself," I said, dabbing a bit on her wrist.
She sniffed it—and her face lit up. "By the gods! It smells divine!" Within minutes, a crowd gathered. People wanted to test it, smell it, and buy it. When I demonstrated the deodorant, the crowd gasped in awe. One wealthy merchant tried it and immediately ordered five boxes. Another noble sent his servant to buy an entire crate.
Even Igor, who had been sceptical, tried a bit and nodded approvingly. "Dirk, my boy, this might just be your biggest hit yet."
By the end of the day, I had sold out of every single sachet.
Ella shook her head in disbelief. "We need to start mass-producing these."
I grinned. "Agreed. We're just getting started."
A few days after the deodorant launch, a formal letter arrived at my shop, sealed with Lord Roland's emblem.
Ella, who was reading it aloud, gasped. "Dirk, we've been invited to the Lord's mansion for his daughter's birthday banquet!"
Elvie whistled. "That's a big deal. Being invited means Lord Roland considers you an important figure now."
Igor chuckled, arms crossed. "Of course he did! You're the most famous merchant in the region right now. Even nobles from other territories are talking about Dirk's products."
I scratched the back of my head. "I guess that means we're closing the shop for the day?"
"Obviously," Agnes chimed in, "You can't just refuse a noble's invitation."
That evening, we prepared for the party. I had a custom outfit made—a simple but elegant black tunic with silver embroidery, matching pants, and polished boots. Ella and Elvie dressed in fine gowns, while Igor and Agnes wore their best attire.
When we arrived at Lord Roland's mansion, the scene was breathtaking. The entire courtyard was decorated with enchanted lanterns, casting a golden glow over the lavish event. Nobles in luxurious clothing mingled while servants carried trays of fine wine and exotic foods.
Lord Roland greeted us personally at the entrance. "Dirk, my friend! I'm delighted you could make it."
I shook his hand. "Thank you for the invitation, my lord. It's an honour."
A young girl, perhaps fifteen years old, with bright blue eyes and golden curls, stepped forward.
"You must be Dirk!" she said excitedly. "Father talks about you all the time."
Lord Roland laughed. "Dirk, meet my youngest daughter, Lady Felicia."
I smiled and bowed slightly. "A pleasure to meet you, Lady Felicia."
She giggled. "You brought your famous sweets, didn't you?"
I chuckled and gestured to my servant, who carried a small chest. "I wouldn't come empty-handed. Inside are freshly made Dirk's Mamon and some special coffee for you and your guests."
Felicia clapped her hands in delight. "Father! Dirk is officially my favourite guest."
As the banquet progressed, I was soon swarmed by merchants and nobles.
"Dirk, let's work together! I can invest in your business."
"I have connections in the royal court. Let's discuss distribution!"
"I'll pay double if you let my company sell your products exclusively in my territory."
It was overwhelming. Every noble and merchant present wanted a piece of my business.
But I had already made my decision. I politely declined every offer.
"I'm honoured by your interest," I told them, "but my business operates directly under Lord Roland's territory. Any trade negotiations must go through him first."
Lord Roland, who was watching from the sidelines, smirked in approval.
A few merchants looked disappointed, but none dared to argue.
"Clever man," Agnes whispered beside me. "By refusing their offers and deferring to Lord Roland, you've strengthened your alliance with him. That'll pay off in the long run."
The rest of the evening was a blur of music, dancing, and feasting. I even joined in a few dances—though I quickly realised Elvie and Ella were much better dancers than I was.
Felicia, delighted with my gifts, personally handed me a token of appreciation—a silver bracelet with the Roland family crest.
"This is for good luck," she said with a smile. "And to remind you that you'll always have a friend here."
As the party came to an end, Lord Roland raised a glass. "To Dirk! The merchant who's changing the kingdom."
The guests cheered. I raised my glass, smiling. I had come to this world with nothing—but now, I was on the path to building an empire.
Ever since the reward for the Divine Tree map appeared in my backpack, the GUARDIAN screen had gone strangely quiet. No dings. No floating notifications. No ridiculous scorpion-blood-collecting side quests.