The next day of the market opening dawned bright and clear. The sky was a flawless stretch of blue, the warm sunlight casting a soft golden sheen over the village.
The marketplace buzzed even earlier than yesterday. Merchants polished their wares, salesladies bustled about stacking fresh goods, and the smell of roasting meat and sweet pastries filled the air.
As I inspected the grocery store's front entrance, Kael appeared at my side, his expression sharp. "My Lord," he said, bowing slightly. "A noble caravan approaches from the east gate. Five banners—three belonging to minor lords, two to knighted merchants."
I raised an eyebrow.
I smirked. Nobles, already? Well… more gold coins? Sure, here we go.
"Let's greet them properly," I said, dusting off my coat. While Felix nodded with vigour. "Make sure our people stay calm but respectful."
Kael nodded, already signalling Sylphy and a few trusted workers to form a simple honour guard by the main road.
Minutes later, the caravan creaked and rolled into view—polished carriages trimmed with silver, horses well-fed and groomed, footmen walking alongside with banners held high. Dozens of noble guards flanked them, their armour polished to a blinding shine.
But it wasn't the guards or the carriages that drew attention—it was the nobles' stunned expressions as they crossed the village threshold.
One by one, their eyes widened as their horses' hooves clattered over the mana-infused stone roads, veins of soft blue light pulsing gently beneath the surface. Balloon decorations and colourful flaglets scattered the main road, not to mention the locals who now wore yellow and green long-sleeve uniforms with my logo. They craned their necks to take in the tall, colourful banners and balloons fluttering over the marketplace stalls, the intricate wooden archways being constructed, and the perfectly aligned vegetable gardens that framed the roadsides like living art.
But it was the manor that truly made them stop.
Even half-finished, the large building stood like a proud heart in the middle of the town, its walls gleaming white against the lush greenery surrounding it. Its towers reached toward the sky, banners stitched with the emblem of a golden tree waving proudly.
One noblewoman leaned out of her carriage window, clutching her lace handkerchief to her chest.
"By the gods," she whispered, loud enough for me to hear. "This... this is no mere village."
The nobles quickly descended from their carriages, eager to explore. Their guards remained behind, warily watching the bustling villagers and adventurers moving about.
I approached calmly, offering a polite bow.
"Welcome, honoured guests," I said, voice clear. "You are free to explore our humble town. Please, enjoy what we have to offer."
They wasted no time. Drawn like moths to a flame, they made their way toward the bustling marketplace. Their fine boots trod over packed earth and stone as they eagerly visited every stall.
At the Dirk Grocery Store, Ella and Elvie greeted them with practised smiles, the salesladies standing proudly behind their polished counters. Nearby shops were also busy.
One older nobleman with a feathered hat leaned over the crates of blue carrots and golden apples, sniffing them curiously.
"This produce..." he said, voice thick with disbelief. "I have never seen such colour, such life. Where did you find such seeds?"
Ella bowed slightly, her voice smooth. "They are cultivated through the blessing of our lord, grown only here."
Another noble, younger and sharper-eyed, examined a jar of sun-dried tomatoes, grapes, strawberries and apples. He popped each one into his mouth and immediately froze—his eyes widening at the burst of flavour. He then went to the canned goods and dry section, his eyes widening even more.
He turned sharply toward me.
"I will purchase your entire stock," he declared, slapping a pouch of gold onto the counter with a heavy thud.
Elvie's eyes twinkled as she smoothly slid the pouch toward her ledger.
"Of course, my lord. We'll have them packed and ready within the hour."
Meanwhile, two noblewomen admired bars of lavender soap, shampoo, perfumes, lotions and toiletries, displayed neatly beside jars of fragrant oils and candles.
"I would kill to have this in my bathhouse," one muttered to her companion, who nodded vigorously while handing over silver coins without even haggling.
The excitement snowballed.
Soon, nobles were shouting orders to their servants, waggons being filled with sacks of flour, spices, fresh breads, rare fruits, soaps, and bottled juices—goods no other marketplace in the region could even dream of offering.
As I stood back and watched the chaos unfold, Kael approached quietly.
"My Lord," he said in a low voice, "should we limit the purchases? We might run out of goods for the common folk."
I smiled slightly, crossing my arms.
"Let them buy today," I said. "Let them talk about what they found here."
"But—"
"Do not worry, I still have more in my storage."
Sylphy, listening nearby, smirked. "Word of mouth spreads faster than any merchant's cart."
She was right. Every loaf of bread and box of pizza they packed away, every jar of preserves, every soap bar tucked into noble waggons would carry not just goods—but stories.
Stories of a miracle town.
Of a marketplace unlike any other. By the time the sun dipped low behind the hills, painting the sky in shades of gold and crimson, the noble caravans were still buzzing with activity. Servants rushed back and forth, packing purchased goods into crates, securing barrels of fruit wine, and double-checking purchases. Laughter and excitement drifted through the cooling air as torches were lit along the market square.
I stood on the manor's half-finished balcony, overlooking the lively scene.
Kael and Felix flanked me as usual—silent sentinels.
But I wasn't surprised when, one after another, messengers in fine livery approached the foot of the manor steps, bowing low and presenting scrolls sealed with wax.
"Requests for private audiences," Kael said grimly, reading over the offered scrolls. "Five so far."
I gave a small, amused smile. "Of course they would," I murmured. "They've tasted what we offer. Now they want more." I chose three names at random to meet that evening. It wouldn't seem too eager.
*****
Later in the manor's great hall, under the flickering light of enchanted lanterns:
The first guest was Lord Hammond, an aging but sharp-eyed noble who smelled faintly of old parchment and lavender oil. His yellow hair was kept sideways. He bowed deeply before taking a seat.
Holy crap! The man looked like the president of the USA.
I couldn't help but smirk, who would have thought that someone like him would bow at me now.
"My Lord Dirk," Yellow guy began, stroking his thin mustache, "the goods your people produce... are beyond anything I've seen, even in the royal markets."
He leaned forward, lowering his voice confidentially.
"I propose a partnership. I'll provide you with additional workers and coins in exchange for exclusive rights to distribute your produce to the southern cities."
I raised my brows and leaned back in my chair, regarding him coolly.
"Exclusive rights?" I repeated, voice mild.
Lord Hammond's smile tightened. "A minor sacrifice for rapid growth, is it not? You would have guaranteed wealth."
Felix, standing just behind me, shifted slightly.
I didn't need to look to know his hand hovered near his dagger.
I smiled politely but said nothing.
Instead, I let the silence stretch until Lord Hammond grew visibly uncomfortable, wiping his brow with a handkerchief.
At last, I spoke calmly. "I appreciate your offer, my lord. But this village's growth will not be shackled by exclusive deals—no matter how generous they may seem."
Lord Hammond's smile faltered, but he stood and bowed stiffly, sensing the finality in my tone.
He left with a polite farewell, but I noticed the slight anger burning in his eyes.
The second visitor was Lady Avenne, a shrewd merchant-lady known for controlling trade routes along the rivers. She offered no outright deals—instead, she slyly probed, asking about how the Divine Tree "blessed" the land and whether its fruits could be transplanted elsewhere.
I answered carefully, giving nothing away beyond what the common folk already knew.
Lady Avenne laughed lightly, sipping her wine.
"Ah, you are wise to be cautious," she said, setting her cup down. "You will survive long in this game."
When she left, she bowed deeply and, to my surprise, placed a small velvet pouch on the table—inside, a handful of rare silver coins marked with the sigil of an ancient merchant guild.
"A gift," she said. "No strings attached... for now."
The third visitor, however, was different.
Sir Derrow, a younger noble with sharp cheekbones and a too-eager smile, bowed low.
"My Lord," he said, voice dripping with false humility, "I come merely as a humble admirer of your efforts."
He offered fine compliments, admiration for the villagers, awe at the mana-infused roads.
But beneath his honeyed words, I felt the probing—the subtle, desperate curiosity.
At the end of the meeting, as he turned to leave, he slipped a folded note into the palm of one of my servants.
Kael caught it instantly and intercepted the servant halfway across the room.
I unfolded the note after Derrow left.
It read, simply:
"If you wish for true power—meet me outside the north gate at midnight."
I folded the note back, tucking it into my coat with a thoughtful hum.
Kael's jaw tightened.
"It smells of a trap," he said. Felix's hand casually flipped the dagger he had palmed earlier.
"Maybe," I said lightly. "But every trap teaches something about the hunter." I glanced back down at the bustling marketplace from the balcony once more, villagers and visitors mingling under the lantern lights, laughter and the scent of roasting meats drifting into the evening air. We were growing stronger every day. But the real games... were just beginning.