It took Azrug a long time to stop celebrating. The advantages of youth saw him rolling on the floor long after Theo calmed down. The excitement he felt mounting in his chest didn’t relent, though. With the first out-of-town trader stopping by, he made absurd headway into paying down his debt. Getting the [Flame Artifices] was just another thing that would make his life easier. Managing the small fires under his stills was tiresome, and the devices would provide 6 hours of steady fire.

“I’ve never seen that much silver,” Azrug said, shaking his head.

“We’ll put it to good use,” Theo said. “I’ll spend most of it paying Miana for my debt.”

“That sucks. Thought you’d buy something nice for yourself.”

“I got the [Flame Artifices]. That’s good enough for me,” Theo said. “Anyway, aren’t you done for the day?”

Midday had come in the time they spent celebrating. The sun shone brightly overhead, flooding the small shop with its light. Tresk told Theo about her day out in the swamp, and the improvements the adventurers were making. They might have been making progress, but one of them caught the [Creeping Rot] and would need a potion. She said they were depositing the cores into the town before returning to the shop.

“Right,” Azrug said. “As soon as my taskmaster pays me.”

Theo fished five copper from his inventory, placing it in the wide-eyed boy’s hands. “To celebrate a big sale. Don’t get used to it.”

“Thank you,” Azrug said, his eyes focused on the coins in his hand. “Do you think some of this coin will flow to the rest of the town?”

“I hope so,” Theo said. “My goal has never been to be selfish with my alchemy.”

Azrug nodded, making his way to the door. He stopped before leaving, casting the alchemist a wide grin. “See you tomorrow, boss.”

Theo took stock of his potions before moving back to the lab. He had more [Lesser Potions of Purification] than he knew what to do with, but none of the restoration potions left. The merchant didn’t end up buying any [Cleansing Scrub], leaving him with 50 of the vials. His [Lesser Barkskin Potion] stock was down to 9 vials. That left him with a mostly empty shop, and no materials to distill new potions with. He climbed the stairs and took stock of the lab, finding a scatter of half-empty essence flasks, but nothing worth making a reaction with.

Tresk arrived with Luras shortly after, jumping with excitement. “Let’s see it.”

Theo produced his 23 silver coins, cupping his hands as they appeared in mid-air. The jangling sound they made when they appeared was incredibly satisfying. He returned them to his inventory after his friends got a good look.

“This is the real prize,” Theo said, bringing the [Flame Artifices] out of his inventory. The small disc-shaped contraptions were lighter than they appeared, completely flat on the top with a slot on the side for motes. A turn-style dial sat on the side with a small picture of an increasingly larger flame.

“You found your fire source,” Luras said.

“This is good. No more tending the flame for hours on end,” Tresk said, letting out a sign. “That was my least favorite part.”

“Mine too,” Theo said, nodding. “I should have bought more, but they were 5 silver each. Well, I got a deal for the pair, but still.”

Luras took the contraption and inspected it, nodding his approval. “The hunt went well. We’re seeing the same number of wolves, so that’s a good sign.”

Theo produced a [Lesser Potion of Purification] from his inventory and held it out. “You said someone had the rot?”

“Well, I didn’t want to break your excitement… Miana is calling for a meeting regarding the rot,” Luras said. “She told us when we were dumping the [Monster Cores].”

“Right now?”

“Right now.”

Theo grumbled, stuffing the potion back into his inventory and letting out a heavy sigh. “Off we go, then.”

It surprised Theo when they arrived at Miana’s office and they were the only ones in attendance. He knew this was a special meeting meant for the Newt and Demon specifically, a fact that he wasn’t happy about. The Half-Ogre woman sat behind her desk, scowling around the room the way she always did. Luras stood in the back with his arms folded. He was important enough to get the invite, whereas the others on the mercantile board were not.

“We’ve got an epidemic,” Miana said.

“The [Creeping Rot]?” Theo asked. “I have a cure for that.”

“I know you have a cure,” Miana said, scoffing. “But as the mayor, I need to provide the cure. I’m bound by some nonsense law of the kingdom to provide care for my citizens.”

“Doesn’t sound like a nonsense law to me,” Theo said, shrugging. “Sounds like your duty to the people of Broken Tusk.”

Miana scowled even harder, trying to pierce the alchemist with her gaze. “I know you’ve made more money in a day than the rest of the town has in a year, combined, but try to level with me here.”

Theo shrugged. He was feeling bold after his massive sale. The merchant only promised more riches in the future, and he was feeling full of himself. If there was ever a time for him to assert his position as the architect of the town’s success, it was now.

“I’ll donate [Lesser Potions of Purification] to the town, for free‌,” Theo said.

“Ah, yes. I can smell the catch in your words,” Miana said, groaning.

“I’m not content with my mercantile seat,” Theo said.

What are you doing? Tresk asked. She cast him a concerned look, even if the words were between them.

Trust me.

“You want to be the mayor?” Miana said, scoffing.

“Not yet,” Theo said. “I want a position in the town that affords me decision-making ability, without the need to run the politics.”

“Maybe a Lord Administrator?” Luras asked, shrugging.

“This isn’t Qavell,” Miana growled. “Or Rivers and Daub, or Farstretch or any of those other haughty cities. We’re a tiny town in the middle of nowhere—I can’t afford your services.”

I see what you’re doing, Tresk said. You want to determine the town’s growth, like the walls. Miana could pick some stupid option in the upgrade menu. Lord Administrator is your best bet, she can give you that title.

“Give us a year,” Theo said, spurned on by his companion’s words. “And we’ll overshadow any other town in the south. Have you seen how many cores we already added to Broken Tusk?”

“I have,” Miana said.

“I don’t want a salary. I don’t need a salary,” Theo said. “Broken Tusk’s development, the way it's shaped, it's the only thing I want control over.”

Miana pressed her fingers into her temples and groaned. “Gods, you’re so annoying. Technically, you’re already Lord Theo Spencer based on your holdings.”

“He’s what?” Tresk blurted out.

“Everyone who holds a core property in the city has a lordship title, even if it’s meaningless in a small town like this,” Miana said. “Fine. So you’re dangling the potions over my head so you can have sole control over the town’s upgrade system. Seems like an ultimatum to me.”

“No, it’s a functional relationship between the two of us,” Theo said. “How much tax does Broken Tusk owe this year?”

“Five silver, and we’re four silver short. Again,” Miana said.

The spiky edges of her personality were softening. Theo didn’t know if it was his annoying persistence wearing her down, or that glimmer of hope he was offering. He summoned his inventory screen and withdrew five silver, slapping it down on the table with a wide grin. Her eyes went wide.

“Here’s the agreement. I’ll cover the difference in taxes from here on out. The Newt and Demon will provide provisional potions for the town for free. You make me the Lord Administrator of Broken Tusk,” Theo said.

Very impressive, Tresk said, smiling. We’ll tie ourselves directly to the success of Broken Tusk. It’s bold. I approve.

Miana sat there for some time, staring down at the silver with hungry eyes. The taxes that Theo paid to the kingdom were minimal, but it was still a gamble.

“How many potions can you provide for the current epidemic?” Miana asked.

A broad grin spread across the alchemist’s face. “We can spare 100 potions.”

Miana’s mouth fell open, and she stared at Theo for a moment. “You’ve got me against a wall here. How am I supposed to decline?”

“Take the deal, Miana,” Luras said, his voice growling from behind. “Before he comes to his senses.”

“Done,” Miana said, reaching out her hand for Theo to shake. Her expression went blank for a moment before a notification crowded the alchemist’s vision.

[Miana Kell] has granted you a title for [Broken Tusk]. You are now the [Lord Administrator] of a [Small Town].

[Lord Administrator Theo Spencer]

The responsibilities of the Lord Administrator relate to the design, planning, and advancement of a core settlement. This specialized role has been customized by [Miana Kell] to include covering taxes lost because of the delinquency of the town’s members. The Lord Administrator of Broken Tusk handles all upgrade slots for Broken Tusk.

Miana directed a place for Theo to bring the potions. She didn’t expect him to produce them from his inventory immediately, causing her to sputter in surprise. The thought of hoarding all the [Lesser Potions of Purification] didn’t sit well with him, and the allure of making more with his new [Flame Artifices] was strong. The alchemist left with Tresk and Luras, finding themselves standing in the muddy square with stupid grins on their faces.

“Bold move, Theo,” Luras said. “You gave her the one thing she needs more than anything. Coin.”

“This way we don’t have to worry about her picking something stupid for the level 5 upgrade,” Tresk said, bouncing on the spot. “The potions you gave her will be put to good use. A Half-Ogre adventurer got bit on our outing today, he’s resting in Miana’s house.”

“She exaggerated that it was an epidemic‌,” Theo said, scoffing.

“That’s what she does,” Luras said.

Theo didn’t know if forcing himself into the position was the right thing to do. If being thrust into this new world taught him anything, it was the value of seizing every opportunity. He was on sure footing now that he’d made his first big sale, and the merchant was going to place a big order. Someone who threw that amount of silver around wouldn’t be looking for anything small. Fenian would place an order for an absurd amount of potions, pushing the lab to its limits.

The alchemist pushed down a feeling of guilt that came from a sense of greed. He’d never been one to desire power, but that’s what he needed. This was a first step for him, a step toward a direction he didn’t know if he wanted. Miana didn’t want the mayor’s seat. How long would she hold on to it out of a sense of duty? No, she would relinquish the seat when she was rendered obsolete—that was the source of his guilt. Mayor Theo was inevitable, but that didn’t stop the pang in his chest. With what he’d accomplished so far, it was a simple thing to push aside.

Adapt and move forward.

The companions stood in the square for a while, watching as people passed by. The alchemist was left with his thoughts, mostly centered on strategizing a large-scale order. He regretted not asking for dimensional storage items while Fenian was in the shop, but the excitement was too much at that moment. He’d need money for more storage, and more potions for that money. The bottleneck in his operation was the gathering of herbs. While it was incredibly important to level his herbalism core, he considered hiring outside help.

Tresk picked up on his wandering thoughts, staring a hole through him with her inquisitive gaze. “What’s the plan?”

“I need reagents,” Theo said, nodding to himself. “[Spiny Swamp Thistle Root], [Moss Nettle], and [Manashrooms]. Lots of them.”

“Hire some laborers,” Luras grunted. “Now that you’re rich.”

“Not a bad idea,” Tresk said. “I bet Perg would hire her tannery staff out.”

Theo nodded. The tannery workers were already familiar with gathering the [Ogre Cypress Bark], and would take to the other ingredients easily. “Alright. I’m going to go pay her a visit.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Tresk said, smiling.

Theo’s companions accompanied him as far as the shop before waving him off. The town seemed to be more active than normal, even in the southern section. The foul stench that made the tannery so characteristic of the southern section of Broken Tusk was completely gone. A hard breeze drove from the south, washing over the alchemist with only the scent of the swamp. It wasn’t an entirely pleasant smell, but it was better than rotting hides. Perg wasn’t standing in her normal spot, and Theo began searching. The warehouse was devoid of leather and the woman, but he finally found her in the yard where the hides normally sat.

“Perg,” Theo said, waving.

She turned around suddenly, a wistful smile playing across her face. “200 hides, Theo. That Elven trader bought all 200 of our hides at 40 copper apiece. I’ve never seen this much silver.”

Theo fully rounded the corner, spotting what she was talking about. A bucket sat on the ground, mostly filled with silver coins. He remembered the amount of leather that sat piled in the now-empty warehouse. Perg said it was a year’s worth of work she planned to sell. By his estimation, it was significantly over double what she would normally work in a year. Since the adventurers were slaying wolves by the score, she’d been buying up all their hides. The tannery’s small processing area only allowed them to treat a small number of leather at a time.

“You’re rich,” Theo said.

Perg shook her head, digging eight silver coins out of the bucket. “And this is your cut.”

Theo took it. The thought of refusing never crossed his mind. This was the cycle of money he wanted to create. The constant push and pull against investment and profit that would make everyone in Broken Tusk rich. Perg would have significantly over 200 hides ready to go the next time the merchant stopped by. She wasn’t someone who rested while the good times came around. She’d push harder to make even more money.

“I appreciate it. This gives you the head seat of the mercantile chairs,” Theo said.

“Does that offend you?” Perg said, flashing a devious grin.

“Not at all,” Theo said, waving a haughty hand and smiling. “I’ve taken a higher position in the town’s leadership. You’ll refer to me as ‘your gracious Lord Administrator’ from here on out.”

Perg burst out laughing, slapping her knees and wheezing before gaining control of herself. “Oh, I can think of a few names I’d like to call you. You must’ve conned Miana to get the title.”

“Basically,” Theo said, shrugging. “Congratulations on the riches. Now, I’d like to rent your laborers.”

“They’re yours,” Perg said. “How many do you need?”

Theo didn’t think she’d be so quick to offer her people’s services to him. He didn’t know how many laborers he needed to accomplish his goals. Perhaps five would do the job. “Five,” Theo said after a moment. “To collect reagents, of course.”

“Done,” Perg said, withdrawing a notebook from her satchel and writing something down. “What are they going to collect?”

Theo detailed the reagents and where to find them. Perg dutifully scrawled on the pages, nodding as the alchemist gave more detail. Her brow knit tight when he described the [Manashrooms], but shrugged shortly after. He was glad to see that other people hated the vile insectoid creatures in the cave as much as he did.

“They’re hard workers, and they’re getting good at harvesting your ingredients,” Perg said. “Speaking of, I’ll need another run of your potions in a week.”

“No problem,” Theo said. “I assume they’ll start collecting tomorrow?”

“They will,” Perg said, nodding.

“Alright. I’ll see you around. Take it easy,” Theo said, turning on the spot and waving.

“You too.”

Theo returned to the shop to find the sign flipped to “Open”. When he opened the door, Tresk was standing behind the counter, beaming at him. “Welcome to the Newt and Demon! Can I interest you in our potions?”

The alchemist leaned against the counter and laughed. “Giving up the life of adventure to run our shop?”

Tresk scoffed. “Just filling in for my Tara’hek while he runs off doing alchemist stuff.”

“Sounds like a cool demon to me,” Theo said.

“He’s an idiot. But he’s my idiot,” Tresk said.

Theo shook his head, coming behind the counter to look at their plundered stock. He applied some [Cleansing Scrub] to himself before he got too far, adding a few drops on the ground to scour the mud away. The afternoon was fading quickly, his stamina bar going with it. It was too late to go out and pick herbs, but too early to go to bed.

“Want to go sit in our fancy new chairs?” Theo asked.

Tresk nodded, bounding behind him up the stairs and into the lab. They left the door unlocked for when Luras inevitably came by to steal their soup. The pair took a seat at their fancy new chairs and let out a synchronized sigh, letting the silence between them grow. It’d been a busy day, and Theo was feeling it in his bones. The excitement left him feeling drained, unable to strategize for the day to come.

“Let’s see your new magical fire,” Tresk said.

Theo retrieved one of the [Flame Artifices] and set it down on the table. He inserted an [Earth Mote] into the side and stood back, but nothing happened. The dial on the side was set as far left as it would go. He turned it clockwise, gaining a faint click for his efforts. A small flame danced from the center of the mechanism. He clicked it again, and the flame grew larger. When the dial was set to the highest setting it raged from the artifice, threatening to burn the roof of their lab.

“Better not use that setting,” Theo said, clicking it to the lowest setting and sitting with his companion.

They watched the flame for a while before they got hungry. Theo produced the hot cauldron of soup from his inventory and dished out a bowl for each of them. Tresk would turn her head toward the door occasionally, waiting for Luras to show up. The fourth time she did so was in response to the tinkling of the bell downstairs. Sure enough, the Half-Ogre came into the room with a sheepish grin.

“I smelled the food,” Luras said, shrugging.

Theo gestured for the man to take a seat and chuckled. “I have a question. Are you just sitting outside, waiting for me to get the soup prepared?”

“I was passing by,” Luras said.

“Uh-huh,” Tresk mocked.

The group ate their traditional meal together, talking about the events of the day and enjoying each other’s company. Theo was craving bread with the soup, but he wouldn’t complain. On Earth, he was eating the same army rations every day, which was more than a lot of the citizens were getting. Mass starvation was a distant memory by now. This new world had plenty to give, he just had to take it. The alchemist let these thoughts wash out of his mind, enjoying the soup too much to entertain the desolation of his home planet. He didn’t even know if the planet he was on was in the same universe, and he didn’t care.

Luras excused himself after finishing his soup. Neither Tresk nor Theo would wait for dusk to come before heading to bed and they locked up the shop, turned off the artifice, and settled down in the bedroom.

Now that we’re rich, I’m going to buy you a bed, Theo said.

That’d be nice.

Sleep came quickly that night. Earth was a distant memory and Broken Tusk was his home. He wouldn’t have it any other way.