Just like what Leonard muttered, Old Marrek arrived the next morning, just past sunrise. He had a quilt and paper in his hand after learning that Leonard would ask him for a more complicated design.

When Leonard spotted him stepping through the gambling den, he gestured toward the back table immediately.

"Good Morning, Old Marrek," Leonard kindly greeted the man with a nod. He was slightly excited on the inside, knowing that barrels are important in the process of making alcoholic drinks.

"You came earlier than I expected."

Old Marrek let out a chuckle as he sat down heavily.

"You said you needed new things, lad. You don't keep an old man waiting when there's good work to be done and hopefully good pay too."

Leonard chuckled at that. "Don't worry, you'll get your fair share just like the first time."

"Good then," Old Marrek leaned back, crossing his arms. "So then, what's this about? I heard from that boy of yours, Gareth, that you're planning something big again."

Leonard rested his elbows on the table, his tone lowering a little as if he didn't want anyone to hear them, even if they were alone.

"Something like that. I need storage barrels. Not just the usual kind, but sturdier ones, airtight, and with thicker linings."

"Airtight?" Marrek raised a brow. "What are you planning to do this time?"

"Don't worry, Old Marrek. Once it's done, I'll make you the first one to try it out." Leonard wiggled his brows at the man, not answering directly.

"I'll need at least 4 to start with, and more as we go along."

"Hmm…" Marrek rubbed his chin, thinking about it. "4 sturdy barrels… that's not easy work. Oak would be best for what you're describing. But oak's getting pricier these days."

"I'll handle the cost," Leonard said simply. "Use the best you can find. I'm not looking for cheap ones."

Marrek looked at him, studying his expression for a moment before a slow grin crept across his face. "Alright, alright."

"So, how long do you think it'll take?"

"For something like that… give me 3 days, maybe 4 if you want the finishing to be clean."

Leonard thought of it. 4 days… it seemed just good enough time. They can wait with that.

"Alright, alright. That's fine with me. Just tell me how much it will cost."

"I will do that." Marrek's grin widened. "I'll have Gareth deliver the list to you later today since I still need to check if I have them stocked in my hut," he added

"Alright. Take your time, Old Marrek." Leonard muttered with a satisfied smile on his face.

Old Marrek pushed himself up from the chair with a light grunt.

"I'll get to work right away," he said, brushing some dust off his sleeve. "You'll have your barrels in four days, maybe less if my hands don't fall off first."

"You've still got the strongest hands in the town, Old Marrek. I trust you." Leonard chuckled quietly.

"Flattery won't get you a discount, lad," Marrek replied with a teasing grin.

"I wouldn't dare ask for one." Leonard stood up as well, offering a small nod.

"Hah! Good." Marrek slapped the young man's shoulder before turning toward the door. "I'll see you soon, then. Don't go burning your place down before I get back."

"Don't worry, I'll make sure to earn a lot." Leonard stood up as well before laughing.

With that, the old carpenter chuckled his way out of the den.

–––

Hours passed in a blur after that.

The gambling den was livelier than ever, its tables were packed from noon until night.

It seemed like the word of their business spread to the crowd. Over the past few days, people from neighboring towns have visited their place. They played the game, bet some money, and also spent time cheering with others.

People started saying that the place was really deserving of its name, "Eternal Happiness." Even those who lost their games didn't seem too upset because the crowd was so cheerful and supportive that no one could stay disappointed for long.

And because of it? The earnings of the gambling den have been consistently high.

They would earn a minimum of 200 silver coins, sometimes it's around 250 to 300. On their highest, they would even cross the 350 silver mark.

Compared to their first days, their earning was now tripled, maybe even more.

Still, since he wasn't alone anymore, Leonard had to pay the others, too. Their pay every day was 15 silver coins. It was 3 times higher than the average salary in the town.

It was also the reason why now, a lot of Ferio and Eric's friends have gathered in hopes of joining the den, even for a portion of the pay.

In front of Leonard stood 6 men.

4 of them were brought by Ferio and Eric, while the other 2 were from Gareth.

The 6 of them lined up in front of Leonard's table. They looked a little nervous and a little… dirty. Their clothes were thin with signs of usage, while their shoes looked ready to give out any moment.

Ferio glanced between them, clearing his throat.

"Boss, these are the ones we told you about. We know them for so long, so we can assure you that they're reliable and hardworking."

Eric nodded beside him. "They've been trying to find proper work for months. I can vouch for them, too, Boss."

Leonard leaned back on his chair, his eyes narrowing a little as he looked at the 6 men standing in front of him. The men stood stiffly, their hands either clasped in front of them or fidgeting at their sides.

Leonard kept his face calm, watching them closely. For the first time in weeks, they saw Leonard getting serious.

Ferio and Eric stood at the side, also unsure of what would happen next. It was hard to tell what he was thinking.

After a moment, Leonard tilted his head a bit and squinted. "Hmm…"

The 6 men froze, some swallowing hard. One of them even took a small step back. They thought that Leonard was kind and all, but why was he scary?

Then Leonard's lips twitched.

A second later, he burst out laughing.

"Pfft—ah, sorry!" he said, raising a hand as he tried to stop himself. "You all look so serious! Relax, I'm not going to bite."

The 6 looked confused at first, but one of them let out a nervous chuckle. The others followed soon after.

"There we go. Much better." Leonard smiled and leaned forward with his elbows on the table.

Ferio grinned from the side. "See? I told you he's not scary!"

"Yeah, yeah," one of the men muttered, who was still red in the face.

Leonard shook his head, still smiling. "Alright. Let's get to business." He looked at them one more time.

"I'll take all six of you, but..."

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