Jake wasn’t at the Merchant’s Guild office when Arwin got there. Instead, he was greeted by a wooden sign. “On break?” Arwin read, a frown crawling across his lips. It was the middle of the morning. Nobody took a break this early. Not a normal one, at least. He glanced around the Merchant’s Guild to see if Jake just happened to be hiding somewhere, but as far as he could tell, the rickety building was empty. Arwin pursed his lips and headed back out onto the street. If Jake wasn’t here, then he was probably out on business. Tracking him down would be impossible, so he’d probably have to wait until Jake swung by himself or check the office again later. There was always the option of standing around and waiting for him to return, but there was just too much to do for him to waste that much time doing nothing. He had armor to craft, new skills to learn, and — if he was lucky — a dwarf to find. And that’s not to mention all the work we’re about to get as more people discover us. The days of working in the corner of the market praying for a single sale are over. I need to make sure I can transition into a more exclusive smith and make custom order items for higher prices. That’s the only way I can sustain this without working day and night to meet demand — and it’ll be better for advancing my class than making a ton of crap that the Mesh doesn’t even acknowledge. Lillia was going to have her own growing pains. She’d also have to find a way to continue making more money. The bigger they got, the more of it they needed. More people visiting the Devil’s Den meant more boons for her. It also meant more demand, and unless she really scaled up the quality of the inn, that wouldn’t translate to considerably more cash on its own. She just needed a way to either significantly expand the number of rooms the inn had or provide more services to the people that visited. I’m sure she’ll figure something out. In a way, my own path is a lot more straight forward than hers. It’s not like she can just serve a single person a day and charge them an exorbitant amount like I plan to. Arwin stepped out of the Merchant’s Guild and wandered down the streets of Milten. He half scanned for Jake on the way back, but he didn’t expect to be nearly lucky enough to just randomly run into him. Esmerelda just sighed and handed them over to him. “And you’re certain you don’t want anything else? Anything you desire could be at your fingertips.” Poor lady probably doesn’t get much chance to talk to people with her shop being this far out. I guess she doesn’t want me to leave yet. I’m kind of busy today, though. I can’t just stand around doing nothing all day, but I suppose I could spare a few minutes. “Well… is there something you recommend?” Arwin asked. Esmerelda’s eyes lit up. After a few centuries of life, that was how long it took the idiot adventurer to break Esmerelda. She showed him rings of great princes. Powerful swords that had traveled from one great warrior to the next, leaving a path of death in their wake. She’d told him the stories of every legendary weapon in her shop. The adventurer smiled and nodded along, asking every question that a buyer would — only to completely lose interest an instant later and ask her about what else she had. Esmerelda’s fingers twitched at her sides and she fought to keep her teeth from grinding. There was one universal truth in this world. Everyone was greedy. Men stole from their brothers and killed their closest friends for power. They betrayed and killed and did all things vile, all in the name of greed. Not all forms of greed were the same, but in the end, it was the great unifier. Some were greedy for wealth. Some for power, and some for fame. There were thousands of different ways to greed — and this adventurer seemed to have absolutely none of them. That was impossible. It went against the basis of her very power. A pure person could not exist. And, if they somehow did, they most certainly did not just walk into her shop to mock her. Esmerelda went through some of the strongest artifacts she’d gathered. Weapons that she didn’t even have any plans of selling under any circumstances. Not a single one of them caught the adventurer’s eye. He just smiled and nodded. “That’s lovely,” the adventurer said. “It sounds like you have an incredible collection. I hope you find appropriate wielders for everything soon, but I’m a bit pressed for time today. Perhaps I can return another time if you want to talk more?” Esmerelda’s eye twitched. She couldn’t help it. “Who are you?” Esmerelda demanded. “Oh, did I forget to introduce myself the last time? I’m Ifrit.” No, you didn’t forget. But there’s no way — Esmerelda paused. Her eyes narrowed. A demon’s name. Was it possible he hadn’t been lying — or more accurately, had he been simply twisting the truth? Ifrit was no demon. That much was certain. She’d have recognized one on the spot… but demons were descendants of devils. There hadn’t been a devil in the Kingdom of Lian in at least thirty years, but there were ways for them to break through. A flicker of excitement passed through Esmerelda’s chest. That would explain everything. Devils had absolutely no interest in mortal weapons. It had been a long time since she’d last dealt with their ilk. Their desires were rooted in chaos. Political power and war, not swords and knives. She swallowed. Devils were masters of disguise and subterfuge. It was possible Ifrit had come to seek her out. Ifrit didn’t want her items. It wanted her powers. She could still remember the last time she’d worked with a devil — it had been some of the most fun she’d had that century. Esmerelda repressed the grin that threatened to erupt over her features. The years I spent hiding in this miserable city must have rusted my mind, but they might be about to pay off. “I wouldn’t seek to keep you here,” Esmerelda said, picking her words carefully. “But would you be in desire of any services? I am a uniquely capable woman.” Ifrit glanced at her from under his helm. “Uh… that’s kind of you to offer, but I’ve got a girlfriend. Sorry.” Esmeralda nearly slammed her fist through a shelf. There was no doubt about it now. No mortal was this idiotic. Ifrit was a devil, and he was testing her determination and ability. “My apologies. That was not what I meant to insinuate. I was asking if you were seeking more than the objects I sell in this humble store. If there is something else you seek, I may be able to procure it.”