The Author's POV

...A steady source of income.

That's what I needed.

Although stocks could help me make a lot of money, in the end, it wasn't really a long-term solution.

That mainly had to do with the fact that the time frame for each event differed greatly. There wasn't really going to be another incident similar to that of C.B. pharmaceuticals where I could make quick cash in a span of a few days. At least not anytime soon.

Moreover, with the fact that the plotline was slowly changing, I wasn't even sure whether the events will continue to go as the story dictated.

It was no longer the most optimal option that I could take to make money.

...In the end, after a lot of thinking, I came up with a solution.

Creating my own company.

With me being the creator of this world, I obviously knew a lot of things.

Especially with regards to the world.

From stocks, fashion trends, and products that will sweep the market in the future. I knew everything.

With that being the case, a plan had already started formulating in my head.

I was going to create a business empire that on paper wasn't affiliated to my mercenary organization, but in reality, was secretly funding our every endeavor.

With this, as both my mercenary organization and my business grew...the stronger my influence inside of Ashton city would become.

I had realized that just focusing on keeping the plotline intact was useless. No one knew what would happen in the future. Especially since I tended to do things that in a way changed the plotline.

It was too passive of an approach.

I shouldn't just rely on the security that the plotline gave me in order to fight the Demon King. I needed to have reassurances.

I needed something to support me.

I needed to secretly grow an empire that would rival the likes of the union. One that was there yet not there. A secret organization that ruled the shadows.

...and when everything was set in place, everything would be within my grasp.

'Rather than be a chess piece, be the one that moves the chess piece'

By the time the Demon King descended, I would have made enough preparations to fight back

Yes. That's what I had to do...

However, although this sounded nice and all, I needed to approach this carefully.

One step a time.

Like they all say. Rome wasn't built in a day.

My first goal right now was to establish a functioning business.

I already had several products in mind that I could introduce in the market, however, that wasn't my first priority.

My first priority was finding a sponsor.

Honestly, with me having read a lot of novels in my time, I instantly knew what would happen as soon as the products I introduced hit the market.

It would instantly attract the attention of the bigshots.

They would instantly either try to remove the company from the market or outright threaten them.

This was just how the world worked.

...and honestly, I wasn't too keen on wasting my time dealing with these sorts of problems.

That's why a sponsor was necessary.

One that was big enough to deter the competitions from finding trouble.

...and I knew exactly the right person to ask.

...

As the sun brightly lit the surroundings, inside of a busy train station, an air train slowly descended towards one of the platforms of the station.

-Vuuuam!

Stepping off the air train, I inhaled the fresh autumn air that lingered in the atmosphere.

"This is the right station right?"

Checking my phone, I doubled checked with the information Smallsnake sent me and made sure I was in the right location.

[Northern district - Libonsa station]

Looking at the station sign, and confirming I was in the right location, I headed out of the station.

As I walked out, tapping on my phone, I once again checked Ryan's profile.

=======

Name : Ryan Polive

Age : 12

Job : None

Potential : S [Current : Unranked]

Description : Lives with single mother inside of a warn-down one-bedroom apartment. Currently being eyed by gold graded guild Luxious. Has been approached multiple times with no success. However, it seems like they currently have had a breakthrough as the mother and son duo have scheduled to make an appointment with them in the next few days at their house. Target blood type is A, height is...

.

.

.

======

Looking at the information, I looked at the date on which the appointment was made.

'Today huh?'

Fortunately, I wasn't late and Ryan had still not been recruited by gold graded guild.

He was going to be an essential member of my mercenary group...I couldn't afford for him to tragically die like in the story.

Bishop.

That's the position I had planned on giving him.

With him and Smallsnake controlling the behind-the-scenes of the mercenary group, I didn't have to worry about our operations failing.

Just imaging myself doing missions in the fastest and most efficient way possible sent shivers down my spine.

With one being meticulous and organized whilst the other calculating and perceptive, all sorts of variables during the missions would instantly be analyzed by both of them.

Ah...What a frightening duo.

...

-Knock! -Knock!

Outside of a run-down apartment complex, two muscular men wearing a black suit and a black tie knocked on the door of one of the apartments.

"Who is it?"

A couple of seconds after the knock was heard, a crisp and pleasant voice echoed from the other side of the door.

"Maam, we are from the Luxious guild. We are here for your answer regarding the recruitment of your son Ryan Polive" said one of the men in black suit.

Hearing that the individuals were from the Luxious guild, after a short pause, the sound of rushed footsteps rumbled through the other side of the door.

"...ah, yes"

-Clank!

Opening the door, a middle-aged lady with glossy black hair and few wrinkles on the corner of her eyes appeared in front of the two individuals dressed in black suits.

Trembling, she politely bowed in front of them and said

"Thank you for coming"

Nodding his head, one of the two individuals indifferently glanced at the lady before getting straight to the point.

"Sure, have you considered our proposal?"

Freezing for a split second, the lady tried to hide her trembling hand and curtly bowed one more time

"I'm sorry. H-e is still 12 yea-rs old. I k-now that my son is very smart, but I want for him to have a normal childhood"

"I see..."

Nodding his head, the individual on the right looked at the individual on the left. Glancing back, they remained silent for a couple of seconds before nodding their heads.

"We understand ma'am"

"R-really?"

Looking up, and seeing the two men dressed in suits nod their heads, the middle-aged lady sighed in relief

"Thank you very much for und-kyyaaaah"

-Vuam!

Before the lady could finish speaking, an overbearing pressure bore down on her. Instantly she fell on the ground

"I guess we have to do this the hard way don't we?"

Staring at the lady on the ground, one of two individuals dressed in a suit, glanced at the entrance of the house

Peeking his head from behind the door, a young child with black hair looked towards the two individuals dressed in black standing in front of the door.

His eyes soon landed on his mom who was on the ground unable to move. Shocked, he couldn't help but scream

"Mom?!!"

"Is that him?"

Staring at the young kid peeking from behind the door of the house, the two individuals looked at each other. They soon smiled.

Noticing their expression, Ryan's mom couldn't help but look towards Ryan as she shouted

"Ryan close the door!"

"b-"

"Do it!"

-Bam!

Blocking the door with his foot, a large shadow cast over both Ryan and the middle-aged lady

"Maam, I think you need to put more thought into th-"

"Oh my, would you look at this"

Just as the lady was about to despair, disrupting their conversation, a cheerful voice entered everyone's ears.

As two arms hooked on the shoulders of the two individuals dressed in black suits, a youth with jet black hair and blue eyes leisurely looked at them with a warm yet leisurely smile

"My friends, how about you try to recruit me instead? I am very good with the sword..."