The room settled into a thick silence after the chief's mocking words, broken only by the wet squelch of meat being chewed.

Jared stood still, letting the moment stretch.

"Your home is certainly… welcoming," he said, eyes scanning the abundance of food on the table. "The smell of roasted greed is hard to miss."

The chief's laughter rolled through the dining hall like thunder.

"Hah! You're sharp. I like that. Sit, Dragon Master. I'd hate for your legs to grow weary while we chat."

Jared didn't move. Neither did Lucy or Paimon.

"I prefer standing," he said. "This is just a courtesy visit. I came to Ravana to observe its structure, its people… its success."

"Oh? You're interested in me now?" the chief said, licking his fingers before snapping.

The butler poured him a glass of wine without being asked.

Jared's gaze shifted to the butler. That precision. That awareness. This man wasn't just an errand boy.

"I'll be frank," Jared said. "Ravana doesn't look like it should be thriving. It's in a bad region—landlocked, weak terrain, no significant resources. Yet the village is flourishing. Clean roads. Traffic from every region. Guards with standard equipment. Even this mansion, despite its cosmetic flaws, is more than impressive."

The chief slurped from his goblet.

"And your point?"

"My point is—how?"

The chief leaned back with a grin, belly pushing against the table.

"I tax everything. You saw the crowd outside? Every trader, every merchant, even pilgrims—we charge them all. Five bronze per head. More if they bring in products. We don't care if they come for faith, food, or fucks. If they want in, they pay."

"So," Jared pushed back a bit, "you make your money by acting as a tollgate."

"Exactly! Let the world pass through, but make them leave a coin behind."

"It's smart. Efficient. But that only explains half of it. Toll fees can bring income, sure. But infrastructure, security, trade logistics? That takes strategy. And frankly…"

Jared looked the man dead in the eye.

"You don't strike me as the type who builds strategy."

The chief chuckled, but it was thinner now. His smile forced.

"That's bold, Dragon Master."

"True things often are."

The butler coughed lightly, stepping forward with the decanter still in hand.

"I handle the logistics," he said quietly, as though it were common knowledge.

Jared tilted his head. "I figured."

The chief waved a greasy hand. "Don't be modest, Voss. He's my brain. I'm just the face and the weight. You want the real Ravana, you talk to him."

Voss inclined his head in acknowledgment.

"Interesting," Jared said. "And are you the reason merchants keep coming back? Or is there more to it?"

"We control theft. We offer neutral grounds for deals. I set standard tariffs so traders know what to expect. No bribes. No surprises," Voss revealed "Order invites prosperity."

Jared was a bit surprised they were quick to reveal this, perhaps it was because they were wary of him as a dragon master.

"Even if it comes with mockery and extortion at the gate?" Jared asked.

Voss's lips twitched.

"People complain, but they still pay. Predictable greed is better than unpredictable chaos."

Jared nodded slowly. "I won't argue with that."

He took a breath, then stepped closer.

"I came here for a blacksmith. But after seeing this village and hearing what you've done, I'm thinking bigger. I want to build a trade route from Sikone to Ravana."

The room went still.

"Trade route?" the chief asked, meat halfway to his mouth. "That's ambitious."

"It's possible," Voss added, watching Jared closely.

"I've already secured a blacksmith. With the right support, I could turn Sikone into a hub for enchanted weaponry. I don't plan to tax everyone that walks through my village. I'd rather we become the reason they travel in the first place."

"That's idealistic," the chief muttered.

"Not really," Jared said. "It's just long-term thinking. You profit by taxing what exists. I build something new and control its growth."

"Interesting philosophy," Voss chimed in, a glint in his eyes, "And what do you want from Ravana in return?"

"Two things," Jared replied. "First, security. I want a pact—no Ravana soldier interferes with any Sikone shipment. And if we're attacked on the road, Ravana guards will respond."

"And second?" Voss asked.

"Favorable merchant access. Traders passing through Ravana get routed to Sikone. In exchange, I'll allow Ravana merchants to set up permanent stalls in our central district—tax free."

The chief whistled. "You're bold."

"I have one more thing to sweeten the deal," Jared said.

He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a black rectangle.

Voss blinked. "What's that?"

Jared smiled.

"A device from my world."

He pressed a button. The screen lit up.

The room was bathed in pale light.

Jared swiped across the screen. A map unfolded, showing a satellite view of Ravana and the region surrounding it.

The chief nearly choked on his wine.

Voss took a half-step forward, eyes wide. "Is that… a moving image?"

"It's more than that," Jared said. "It's a map that updates in real time. I can mark roads, track movement, even scan terrain. Here—"

He tapped the screen again. A 3D view of the pine forest appeared. Then the village walls. Then their current location.

"This is how I plan routes. This is how I avoid wastelands, rock slides, and unnecessary detours. You think the north is barren because no one mapped it. I'm going to change that."

Voss stared in stunned silence.

Jared kept going. "I'm offering you access. Not just to the device, but to what it can build. I'll design the most efficient trade road possible. We'll place markers, outposts, even rest stops. Ravana benefits. Sikone benefits. The north benefits."

"And what do you get?" Voss asked.

"A legacy," Jared said simply. "And full control of the southern passage. I want Sikone to become a necessary stop for every trader who passes through here. You build wealth with tolls. I build loyalty with opportunity."

The chief leaned back, chewing slowly. "You talk like a king."

"I talk like someone who's seen the world fall apart. I'd rather build one that doesn't."

Silence fell again.

Then the chief nodded at Voss. "What do you think?"

Voss didn't respond for a moment. Then, slowly, he said: "If he delivers even half of what he promises, we double our influence within a season. Triple, if we handle the rest wisely."

The chief grinned.

Even if he wasn't interested in the trade route, the device Jared presented to him was convincing enough.

So he aksed,

"Where did you get that device?"

Jared narrowed his gaze, "I can't reveal that to you just yet"

"Is that so…"

"But you should know, you will be one of the first few people to get this for free."

There was silence for while, and then the butler asked,

"This is our first time speaking, how do you know we can trust you?"

Jared paused before giving a response.

The screen glowing at the side.

[Loyalty– 89.]

Even if it wasn't above 90, chances of them betraying him were slim.

"...I trust you. The question here should be if you trust me."

"Well, Dragon Master, you've got my interest. I'll agree—tentatively. You show us results, we show you loyalty."

"Good," Jared said, sliding his phone back into his coat. "I'll return to Sikone by nightfall. Expect the first caravan within ten days. The route will be marked. Oh and you'll get your smartphone too."

Voss stepped forward. "And the blacksmith?"

"Already mine. His name's James. You'll know him by the noise."

The chief laughed. "That idiot? He's leaving?"

"His talent's wasted here. I'll make sure he gets what he's worth."

Voss gave a faint nod of approval.

"I'll draft the preliminary pact. We'll sign it on your next visit."

Jared extended his hand.

The chief reached over the table and shook it, his fingers greasy.

Voss simply bowed.

As Jared turned to leave, Paimon and Lucy close behind, he glanced once more at the grand feast, then to the lean butler who had made it all possible.

'It's always the quiet ones…'

Outside, the sun was lower now, casting long shadows on the path.

Lucy whispered, "That was incredible, my lord."

Paimon rolled her eyes. "I have to agree there, I intend to get protective if they prove to be harmful. But they were strangely cooperative. My lord, your fear must have worked on them."

Jared just smiled.

"There's a time for fear, and a time for minds. We used both."

"Oh, and master, I noticed you didn't sign any contract with them. Are you leaving all the planning to the fat man?"

Jared sighed,

"I know right? I was just itching to throw a contract that would exploit them. Sadly I can't do that yet."

"Eh? Why is that?"'

"...That butler is smarter than he lets on".

As the gates of the mansion closed behind them, Jared's eyes were already scanning the roads ahead—seeing a future that had just begun.

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