"Huh," Lawrence was stunned.

Using his diplomacy attribute, Will was proposing to smuggle in produce from beastmen tribes, without going through the Tribal Council. Smuggling was a part of the underground, black market, or shadow economy. Chose your phrase. In the past, when Will consulted with world leaders, he told them to find ways to bring the shadow economy come to light, to increase tax revenue. When most people think of the shadow economy, they think of drugs, guns, or sex trafficking. The shadow economy was made of laborers who work unregulated jobs. Think of a factory worker, who drives an unlicensed taxi after his factory shift ends, or a housewife who runs a salon out of her house.

Counterfeit retail sales rivaled the oil industry according to the International Monetary Fund. The shadow economy on Earth each year was estimated at trillions of dollars. All that money was untaxed. Although, the biggest problem with the shadow economy was the risk. You could not call the police or file a suit. If you lost money, it was gone. There were no guarantees in the shadow economy.

"What I'd like is to purchase your trade route from the Merchant Guild. But instead, you are purchasing products from the Tribal Council, you take their half purchase produce directly from farmers, and the other half comes back to me. Think about out it, you'll help the farmers in the beastmen tribes and make a profit selling the rest here. You'll both people and profit two-ways," Will said convincingly.

"You made it sound convincing for me, but what do you get?" Lawrence asked.

"I get inexpensive goods for my business and increased profit margins," Will answered honestly.

"Think of the risk, Lawrence! If the Tribal Council finds out, they'll imprison you or worse. You know what they do to humans," Holo warned Lawrence.

Will sat quietly, knowing Holo's entry into the conversation was a good sign for him. While this agreement was risky, Lawrence would take on much of the risk, but he also reaped more of the rewards. If Lawrence didn't get greedy and seek too many investors, Will could receive his produce quietly from the shadows.

"This would certainly help those farmers with all those crops and no trade. It would also help the folks here seeing as the cost of production is rising every day," Lawrence said, responding to Holo.

"My love is it worth the risk? We'd be putting ourselves in danger, going against the Council," Holo said scared at the thought.

"Think of your family, Elanor's, they would surely benefit from this," Lawrence said.

"Why can't you decrease the risk? You could limit the number of people who worked with you and make them responsible for gathering the crops and goods for you. That way very few people would know who is buying the goods" Elder Li asked,

"Are there many traders on the beastmen route?" Will asked, both curious and to add support to Elder Li's suggestion.

"There are not many, enough to hide for a short while. The other traders service different Fermion cities," Lawrence said thinking out loud.

"Why don't you ask the other traders to help you? Many of them stop here before they travel elsewhere, if we share the profit from selling the products here, everyone prospers and it makes it harder to track," Holo said excitedly, unknowingly building an organized crime syndicate.

Will chuckled, thinking about Lawrence and Holo as mafia bosses.

"If we're going to do this let's discuss numbers," Lawrence said, buying Will bait.

Will saw a blink and knew his diplomacy attribute had risen.

"Lawrence, in truth how much does the government pay for rice?" Will asked.

"About 5 copper a kilogram, but without the government helping farmers the cost of rice has tripled," he answered.

"I'll make this simple, of the 60 I'll pay the Merchant Guild for your trade route, 345 coppers will go to purchase 23 kilograms of rice. The remainder we'll split 128 coppers for you and 127 coppers will return to me." I think that's more than fair. Will stilled paid a premium for rice, but it was less than before.

"I'm fine with that arrangement," Lawrence said.

Holo quickly added, "Eleanor will serve as our intermediary that way, people won't find out we are working together."

"I am fine with Elder Li serving as the liaison," Will quickly responded.

"I agree as well," Elder Li said.

Lawrence and Will were both happy to have a middle woman who asked for remission for her service.

Both men shook hands and agreed to work in good faith. Lawrence even agreed to pay for Will's meal, as thank you gift for the opportunity.

"Before I go, do either of you three know where I can a fermented tea?" Will asked.

Lawrence and Elder Li looked at Holo.

"My clan for centuries has made the drink for which you speak. Although we use it for healing purposes it is also a satisfying beverage. However, only I am here. But there is a vendor woman who sells the beverage. She used to cook for the City Lord. However, he fired her after she became pregnant with his child," Holo said sadly. "You can find her near the brother selling the drink and food."

Will thanked her and the trio parted on good terms. Will walked out of the restaurant happy that he secured an inexpensive trade route. His next stop was to secure a contract with the chef Holo mentioned.

Walking a short distance from the restaurant down the street toward the brothel. Will noticed all the humans sneaking in or singing drunk loud inside. As he approached the brothel, a tanned, scantily clad, the well-endowed beast woman hugged Will from behind.

"Are you coming to the brothel, want to join me. Let me walk you inside and show you a good time," she whispered in Will's ear.

The beastmen walking down the street or standing outside did not even look at Will. But he could see the shame on their faces.

"Thank you, madam, but I am here to speak with the vendor," Will said earnestly.

"You know not every beast woman is for sell, but if you like older women, we have them inside too," she said soliciting Will trying to find his fetish.

"Thank you, but no, I'm just here to purchase a drink and leave," Will said disappointing the escort.

Hearing the conversation, the street vendor was visibly worried. She knew her clientele, poor laborers usually men on their way home for work or from whoring around. Will was a well-dressed cadet that spoke well. He was the farthest thing from normal clientele.

"Please leave sir, I promised the City Lord, I would never bother him. I don't know if you're his son's friend or cousin, swore on my daughter's life, I would never see him again," she said beginning to cry.

The men in line looked at Will like they wanted to massacre him. If Will was not a cadet they probably would have attacked already.

"Madam I am not associated with the City Lord, or a friend of his son. Mrs. Holo told me of your culinary skills, and I've come to offer you a job," Will said.

"Is this a joke? Do you know what the City Lord will do to your store if he finds out I work there?" she said incredulously.

"Madam I am not aware; I am simply in the market for a chef who can cook and make fermented tea. Mrs. Holo pointed me in your direction," said Will.

Admiring this ignorant boy, who was clueless to the power the City Lord possessed in Guidon. She was stunned. She had been waiting for another job for so long, and with this job, she could barely afford her rent and food. She wanted the best for her daughter, she did not want to raise her in squaller. When might another opportunity exist? She had no choice but to accept the pay, no matter how bad. If it got her daughter out of poverty she'd do it, anything except service him. She already learned that lesson.

"Yes," she stuttered, "I'll accept," she said softly.

"The men standing in line cheered, wishing her success. They had witnessed her being verbally and physically abused months ago by the City Lord's son and friends. The helpless watched, as she was kicked unconscious on the ground. Emasculated by the boys, what could they do it was the City Lord's family. If they had done something, anything he would have brought the guards in and killed them and their family, maybe even set fire to their houses. No, they made the right choice and watched. In the end, they carried her healers and donated the coin for her treatment.

Now, months later she was offered a job. A job that would be a thumb in the eye of the City Lord. Everyone knew she was an exceptional chef, but under pressure from the City Lord, no one offered her a second chance, until this boy.

"Shall we agree on the cost?" Will suggested.

The woman knew better than to ask for her old fee, she was too much of risk. "Is 10 copper a week too much?" she asked. She was making about 2 copper a week now, the cost of buying all material, no hours, and uncertainty of customer did not justify her profit. Moreover, her profit halved since the rise in produce three months ago. If she could get 10 coppers she is on top of the world.

"Let's make it 20 coppers," Will said.

She looked confused, "why would you pay me so much for taking such a big risk?"

"Because I expect for you to do an excellent job," Will said assuredly. There was no better motivator than money, especially for people who had little money, when given a chance they often thrived. Will knew she would work hard if she was justly compensated for her worth.

"You could take advantage of me and pay me less," she was still uncomfortable with the pay.

"Madam here is the business address; I'll send a courier when the remodeling is finished. Please reach out to Lawrence for any product you will need. Will handed her a silver coin and said, "please use this money to come up with a menu. If you need to find me, send a courier to the Mage Academy copied to William vont Ballard."

And with that, he left and proceeded to exit the southern district leaving the woman confused why a knight cadet would be living at the mage academy. She planned to investigate the young man, and if this were a joke, she would return the coin.

As Will left the gate, he saw Mark walking towards him. Both of us stopped in our confusion of seeing each other.

"Greeting Mark, what brings you to the southern district?" Will asked.

"This is where I grew up, in the slums. My mother and I, before I was accepted in the Knight Academy. What are you doing here," He asked investigating Will's eyes for lies.

"I came here to get away, think, explore the area," said Will being honest.

"Did you visit the zoo," said Mark looking sad to know Will wanted to experience the sexual pleasures of exotic beast women.

Not caring for false rumors, leaving out the business deals, Will told Mark about his brief experience and eating at the restaurants. Putting Mark at ease and stopping any salacious false gossip from starting. The two young men passed pleasantries before separating.

After leaving the southern district, Will returned to the Loan Office, where he officially signed the ownership agreement. Mr. Wallace, telling Will that property taxes will not be due until next year, as Will had guessed. Then Will walked to the Merchant Guild and formally purchased Lawrence's trade route. Finally returning the Thompson twins Seamus and Stephen to sign the contract to begin work. The Seamus and Stephen told Will; the remodeling should be done in two months. Finally, ending with the carpenter apprentice explain where to send the finished boards after Will approved the model.

Will walked back to his master's house. When he started this morning it was dawn, and now it was after dusk. He had a productive day, and his plans were set in motion. In two months, he would restart his business career. As Will approached the Mage Academy gates, he remembered his screen was blinking. Opening the screen Will was happy to see his attributes and abilities had increased, but he reached a bottleneck with his swordsmanship and terramancer abilities.

Name: William vont Ballard

Race: Human

Rank: 0

Class: Merchant

Sub Class:

Attributes:

Constitution—42

Strength—45

Dexterity—36

Intellect—63

Charisma—12

Ranks Skills: Management (23+7), Diplomacy (30+5), Accounting (43)

Class Skills: Appraisal (1+3, 100)

Abilities: Apprentice Swordsmanship (25, 25), Apprentice Terramancer (25, 25)