Lodin shook his head, "For the Romance series, I hired scribes with beautiful penmanship, but I only gathered them this morning. Printing multiple volumes by tomorrow is impossible—there are so many installments."
Sean wiped his brow, "We don't need the full series. Have them copy Northern Tenderness first—20 copies for the shelves. The rest can follow."
"Brilliant. I'll arrange it immediately." Lodin nodded.
"Divine Realm Shoes also need time, but perfume stock is ample," Sean concluded. "Second: shelves. Bach Bronzehammer knows carpenters—he'll help. Third: staff. We'll sell 20-30 vials daily at most—no rush to hire. Fourth: renovations. Open first, decorate later. We launch tomorrow."
Lodin hesitated but nodded, "As you command, My Lord."
Shifting focus to Brody, Sean addressed his retinue, "Brody will arrive soon. Assignments:
Balor: Stay by my side. Nothing else.Windsor: Confront Brody at the door. If he attacks, you handle him."
Windsor frowned, "His escorts?"
Sean mused, "Two scenarios:
Overwhelming force (unlikely, per Gabe)—we flee or use emergency skills.Even match—Leviathan, you'll perch at the second-floor window. When I signal, use Incinerate on his strongest Bronze Rank guards. Disable, don't kill."
"It's called Incinerate, not 'Fire Burst'," Leviathan corrected, sighing. "And my name is—"
"Details," Sean waved off. "Focus on non-lethal injuries."
The group agreed, and Sean turned to shop arrangements with Lodin, waiting for Brody's arrival.
Half an hour later, carriages emblazoned with Mill's crest halted at Golden Leiden. Brody, overconfident in Sean's "weak guards," brought only a dozen club-wielding thugs and a Bronze Middle Rank knight.
Leviathan spotted them from the window, raced to alert Sean, then returned to charge his magic.
Sean stepped outside, calm as Brody approached, staff in hand.
"Viscount Mill, long time. How fares Waterpine?"
"Poorly. My bride-to-be is enchanted by a scoundrel. Should I seek revenge?" Brody glared, knuckles white on his weapon.
"You mean me?" Sean smiled. "Surely the River Count chooses Jessica's husband, not her? Why would I 'enchant' a mere daughter when the father holds the power?"
Brody hesitated, grip faltering.
"Besides, if I'd enchanted her, she'd have stayed last night. Would you let such a chance slip?"