Chapter 63: Ryan the Capitalist
In the City of the Black Rose, capital of the Viera Empire.
"So you’re from the City of Light?" Larette asked in surprise.
"Yes, I’m from the City of Light, and I came here searching for an investor for my project," Ravian said, simply going with the first thing that came to mind.
"A project? What project? I’ll invest in it!" Larette said hastily, shaking his hand up and down.
’Huh?’
Ravian could not believe her impulsiveness, even in matters like this.
"Umm, my lady, you don’t even know what field he works in," Shmichael said, pressing two fingers to his forehead, already feeling a headache coming on.
"It’s fine. I have a good eye for people, and Mister Rayan looks like a genius to me," Larette said, lifting her chin with confidence and winking at Ravian to play along.
"But—"
"So, what field do you work in?" Shmichael tried to speak again, but Larette cut him off, directing her question at Ravian.
"I..." Ravian paused for a moment.
He had not expected the conversation to get this far, but...
’If I can secure that Earl’s backing... obtaining a relic of one of the Seven Sins won’t be nearly as difficult as I imagined,’ Ravian thought, looking at Larette as an elegant smile traced itself across his face.
"I..." Ravian paused for a moment, as though choosing his words carefully, then a calm smile settled over his features.
"I work in civil infrastructure."
"Civil infrastructure?" Larette blinked.
"Water, sewage, canals, and the purification of what people use every single day," Ravian said in a confident tone. "Most cities waste money getting rid of filth, then waste even more treating the diseases that filth causes. My project transforms that burden into an organized system—profitable, and built to scale."
Shmichael’s gaze shifted slightly.
It was no longer the look of a servant watching some strange young man in soaked clothes, but the look of a man who had heard something worth relaying to his master.
"Profitable?" Shmichael asked quietly.
Ravian smiled.
"Of course. The city never stops consuming water, never stops producing waste, and nobles never stop fearing disease, stench, and disorder. As long as people live within these walls, this project will never stop making money."
Then he looked at Larette and added in a gentler tone:
"And at the same time, it will make the capital more beautiful and cleaner."
"See?!" Larette said at once, turning to Shmichael in triumph. "I told you he’s a genius!"
As for Ravian, he kept smiling calmly.
But what he was thinking about was not only money.
’If I gain the backing of an Earl with influence in the capital, I won’t just get funding... I’ll get maps, permits, and with them, the doors that only open for those who hold power.’
He had transformed into Ryan the capitalist from his previous life.
"Marvelous. Truly marvelous," Shmichael said, smiling a genuine smile for the first time since his arrival.
"I believe we can invest in that idea of yours. How about you come to the Earl’s manor to discuss the details?" Shmichael offered, pulling a small slip of paper from his pocket, then producing a pen and beginning to write on it.
"Here."
He handed it to Ravian once he had finished writing.
Ravian took the paper and looked at it.
{138 Maurice Street, the manor of Earl Patrick Viola.
Password: rooster’s egg.}
Ravian read the paper, and his expression twisted instantly into disgust.
"Umm, is the password written here actually correct?" Ravian asked, hoping Shmichael would tell him it was a joke.
But Shmichael simply smiled, rubbing his mustache between two fingers.
"That is the password, Mister Rayan. There is no doubt about it," Shmichael said, confirming Ravian’s fears.
’Ugh, that sense of humor.’
A shiver ran through Ravian’s body.
"Congratulations, Mister Rayan! And don’t worry, I’m sure Father will accept your wonderful idea," Larette said with a genuinely happy smile.
’This girl...’
Ravian read the look in her eyes with ease, but he did not even give the matter a thought.
’It’s far too early to be thinking about women right now. Far too early.’
Ravian thought, and then an image surfaced in his mind of a woman with red hair and amber eyes.
Then he shook his head quickly to rid himself of those useless thoughts.
After that, he looked at Shmichael.
"By the way, Mister Shmichael," Ravian called to him.
"Hmm, what is it, Mister Rayan?" Shmichael asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I wanted to ask whether you know where I could acquire the heart of an Eighth-Rank beast here?" Ravian asked what had been circling his mind, plainly and simply.
He did not want to delay his climb through the ranks any longer. That was the second reason he had left the camp, alongside avoiding suspicion over his changed appearance.
But Ravian had not expected the reaction that appeared on Larette’s and Shmichael’s faces, for both their eyes went wide when they heard what he said.
’What the hell is wrong with them?’
Ravian frowned at their sudden bewilderment.
"Mis-Mister Rayan, are you... an Awakened?" Larette said, the shock still lingering on her face.
Ravian fell silent this time.
Their stares, and her startled question, had stirred his wariness.
’Is this not something people discuss openly, or what?’
Ravian guessed, but he could not very well deny her question, especially after asking a question like his.
"Yes, I’m a Tenth-Rank Awakened. Is that a problem?" Ravian said, resting his hands on his waist in a nearly casual manner.
But if Shmichael could have seen beneath his white shirt, he would have known that Ravian’s hand was on his dagger, ready.
But Shmichael’s and Larette’s shock only deepened when they heard his answer.
"We accept," Shmichael said suddenly.
"Huh?" Ravian had no idea what he was talking about.
"We will invest in your project. No—we will invest in you, entirely," Shmichael said in a rush, the interest in his eyes hardening into resolve.
"All right... we’ll see about that later, but you haven’t answered my question—" Ravian tried to speak.
"Don’t worry about that. It costs around twenty gold coins on the black market. We’ll procure one of the finest specimens they have for you. Consider it an advance payment for the beginning of our partnership," Shmichael said, not hesitating for an instant to win Ravian’s favor.
"Wow, you’re even more impressive than I thought, Mister Rayan! To be an Awakened at such a young age—what an incredible blessing," Larette said, clapping her hands with the innocent enthusiasm Ravian had come to expect from her.
She did not seem interested in the matter itself so much as in congratulating Ravian personally.
"Thank you, Miss Larette. I hope we get along well too," Ravian said with a kind smile that visibly made Larette even happier.
"Hehe."
Larette giggled softly, clearly delighted.
"Well then, you could come with us today if you’d like, Mister Rayan—"
"No. I’ll come later."
Shmichael had tried to extend the invitation, but Ravian’s reply came faster than expected.
Shmichael was surprised by the swift refusal, but he simply shook his head and decided not to press the matter any further.
"Very well, Mister Rayan. We’ll see you later then, and I will most certainly inform the Earl of your upcoming visit," Shmichael said, bowing respectfully before turning to Larette.
"Let us go, my lady."
"...All right. See you soon, Mister Rayan." Larette hesitated a little, but she too decided this meeting had been more than enough for a first acquaintance.
"Until we meet again."
Ravian waved to them as they departed.
And when they vanished from his sight, Ravian turned his gaze back to the immense city once more.
’Now then... where do I begin?’
Ravian thought, looking at the inns, cafés, and alleys around him.
For Ravian, this was a magnificent opportunity.
A magnificent opportunity to test the second ability of Void Shadow.
Draining the life energy.
Comments