The morning sun glinted off the newly built ship, its polished hull gleaming in the harbor. Kafi stood at the bow, watching the water ripple against the wooden planks. The vessel was everything he had envisioned: strong, wide, and fast. Beside him, Amir practically vibrated with excitement.
"It's… beautiful," Amir said, eyes wide. "I can't believe you built this, Kafi. Father will be proud."
Kafi smiled faintly, keeping the fire of his secret knowledge hidden. "It's not just for beauty, Amir. This ship will change the empire. But we need the right cargo."
He scanned the harbor, imagining the routes he remembered from his past life. Frankincense first. The markets in Arabia will pay more than gold. And coffee… they don't even know what coffee can do yet. We'll plant it here, grow it, and in a few years, the empire will control a treasure no one else has.
Amir frowned. "Coffee? People don't even drink that here yet."
"Exactly," Kafi said. "We'll grow it before anyone else thinks of it. Then our trade will be unmatched. But first… frankincense. It is precious, light, and easy to transport."
They walked through the market, meeting with local gatherers. The air was thick with the resin's spicy, sweet scent. Kafi's father, Sultan Jama, had allowed the treasury to fund the expedition, trusting his son's careful planning.
"Gather the finest frankincense from the northern cliffs," Kafi instructed. "Sort it carefully, pack it in cedar boxes, and keep the inventory exact. Every gram counts."
The workers nodded, impressed by the young heir's precision. Amir whispered, "You know exactly what to do… almost like you've done this before."
Kafi smiled secretly. Because I have. He did not reveal the memories that guided every decision, every trade calculation, every potential route the ship could take. For now, it was a secret, one that would make him unbeatable when the time came.
Over the next few days, the ship was loaded with the gleaming resin, carefully stacked and tied down. Kafi checked the inventory again and again, imagining the foreign ports that would pay handsomely for their cargo.
"This is just the beginning," Kafi said to Amir as they watched the sailors raise the sails. "We will grow more than frankincense. We'll plant coffee, cultivate rare spices, and trade things no one even knows exist yet. The empire will prosper like never before."
Amir shook his head in awe. "You really think of everything, Kafi."
"I have to," Kafi said quietly, looking out over the horizon. "One day, our empire will not just survive—it will lead. And it starts with this ship, this cargo, and every smart choice we make from here."
As the ship finally left the harbor, Kafi felt a thrill of excitement. The frankincense would reach distant lands, bringing wealth and influence to the Ajuuran Empire. But in his mind, he was already planning the next crops, the next trade, and the next steps that would ensure no one could match him.
The future was vast, and Kafi, the boy heir with a mind far beyond his years, was ready to shape it.