CHAPTER 71: OPEN FOR BUSINESS

Jack felt warmth spread through his chest at her words, but underneath lay the growing awareness that expectations were mounting alongside his capabilities. The more powerful he became, the more people expected from him.

"CAWK!"

Corvin’s soft call drew Jack’s attention back to the immediate concerns. Through their soul link, he could feel the creature’s eagerness to accompany him to the shop opening, its curiosity about seeing their various schemes come to fruition.

’You’ll have to stay hidden,’ Jack thought through their bond. ’A raven in formal settings might raise questions we’re not ready to answer.’

The response was understanding tinged with disappointment, but the creature’s loyalty overrode any personal desires for adventure.

"The carriages are prepared whenever you’re ready, Young Master," Seraphina reported, checking her own timepiece. "Lady Genevieve and your sisters departed an hour ago to oversee the final preparations."

Jack straightened his jacket and checked his appearance one final time. The young man in the mirror looked every inch the successful noble entrepreneur, someone who belonged in boardrooms and ballrooms rather than dungeon corridors.

But beneath the civilized exterior, power hummed through his veins like barely contained lightning.

’Time to show them what Kaiser Holdings can accomplish,’ Jack thought as he headed for the door. ’Let’s see how the nobility reacts to genuine innovation.’

--

The carriage ride through Sorne provided yet another reminder of how dramatically their circumstances had changed.

But it was the people who showed the most remarkable transformation. Citizens who had walked with the hunched shoulders of the perpetually hungry now moved with the confident stride of prosperity.

Children played in clean clothes, their laughter ringing through the morning air like music.

’This is what success looks like,’ Jack thought with deep satisfaction. ’Not just personal power, but genuine improvement in people’s lives.’

The Kaiser Holdings storefront dominated the intersection of two major thoroughfares, its glass windows sparkling like crystals in the morning sun. The building itself was a masterwork of architecture and commerce, designed to suggest both luxury and accessibility.

Above the main entrance, the Kaiser family crest was displayed in gold and silver, announcing to all who passed that this enterprise enjoyed the backing of one of the realm’s most powerful noble houses.

But it was the crowd gathered outside that truly caught Jack’s attention. A line of well-dressed customers stretched around the block, their carriages creating a traffic jam of unprecedented proportions. Nobles, merchants, and wealthy citizens had all come to witness the grand opening, drawn by rumors of revolutionary products and exclusive offerings.

"CLIP-CLOP! CLIP-CLOP!"

The sound of horse hooves on cobblestone filled the air as more carriages arrived, disgorging passengers who joined the growing crowd with obvious anticipation.

Jack’s carriage pulled up to a side entrance reserved for family members, allowing him to avoid the press of customers while still observing the spectacle they’d created.

Lady Genevieve stood near the main entrance like a general surveying a battlefield, her presence commanding attention through sheer force of personality.

She wore an elegant emerald gown that complemented her auburn hair, but Jack could see the calculating intelligence in her eyes as she monitored every aspect of the opening.

Octavia and Annabelle stood in the store’s interior, their roles clearly defined through weeks of careful planning. Octavia handled the high-value customers with diplomatic precision, while Annabelle managed inventory and ensured smooth transaction processing.

But it was Celeste who caught Jack’s attention most forcefully. His middle sister stood behind what appeared to be a demonstration table, and even from outside, Jack could see the crowd of noble ladies gathered around her with rapt attention.

"What’s Celeste doing?" Jack asked Seraphina as they approached the store’s side entrance.

"Product demonstrations, Young Master," Seraphina replied with obvious pride. "She’s been practicing the presentation for days. The results have been remarkable."

They entered through the family entrance, and immediately Jack was struck by the transformation of the space they’d been planning for weeks. The interior was a perfect balance of luxury and functionality, with display cases that showcased their products like precious artifacts while maintaining an approachable atmosphere.

Crystal lighting fixtures cast warm illumination over polished wooden floors, while carefully placed mirrors created the illusion of even greater space. The scent of subtle perfumes hung in the air, not overwhelming but definitely present, suggesting quality without ostentation.

But it was the crowd’s reaction to the product demonstrations that truly captured Jack’s attention.

"GASP!"

"INCREDIBLE!"

"MAGNIFICENT!"

The sounds of amazement rippled through the gathered nobility as Celeste worked her magic on volunteers from the audience. Jack made his way to the front of the store to get a better view, noting how his sister had transformed the simple act of product application into something approaching performance art.

A duchess with graying hair sat in the demonstration chair, her expression skeptical but curious. Celeste applied the slime-ectoplasm-enhanced shampoo with techniques that seemed almost ritualistic in their precision.

The transformation was immediate and stunning. Hair that had been dull and lifeless moments before now gleamed with vitality, each strand catching the crystal light like spun silver. The duchess’s eyes widened in amazement as she caught sight of herself in the demonstration mirror.

"By the gods," she whispered, her voice carrying clearly through the suddenly silent crowd. "I haven’t seen my hair look like this since I was twenty years old."

Murmurs erupted through the crowd.

Excited whispers erupted throughout the gathered customers as the implications of what they’d witnessed sank in.

This wasn’t just cosmetic improvement; this was age-defying transformation that approached the realm of magical enhancement.

Jack felt pride swell in his chest like a balloon being filled with hot air. They’d created something genuinely revolutionary, a product that could deliver results that bordered on miraculous.

"How much?" The duchess’s voice cut through the murmuring crowd with aristocratic authority. "Name your price for whatever miracle you’ve just performed."

Celeste’s smile was pure triumph as she gestured toward the display cases lining the store’s walls. "Five gold pieces per bottle, Your Grace. Each bottle contains enough product for approximately one month of regular use."

"GASP!"

"FIVE GOLD!"

"HIGHWAY ROBBERY!"

The sounds of shock rippled through the crowd, but Jack noticed something crucial. Despite the protests about price, nobody was leaving. Instead, they pressed closer to the demonstration area, their eyes fixed on the duchess’s transformed appearance with obvious hunger.

"I’ll take twelve bottles," the duchess announced without hesitation, her voice carrying clearly over the crowd’s murmuring. "And I want exclusivity for the Capital region. Name your terms."

"WHAT!"

"TWELVE BOTTLES!"

"EXCLUSIVITY!"

The crowd’s amazement reached new heights as the implications of the purchase sank in. Sixty gold pieces for a single transaction was more than most citizens earned in a lifetime.

But Lady Genevieve stepped ourside with the smooth grace of someone who’d been expecting exactly this reaction.

"Your Grace," she said with a diplomatic smile that could have charmed serpents, "while we appreciate your generous offer, Kaiser Holdings believes that exclusivity arrangements should be discussed through private consultation. Perhaps we could arrange a meeting to discuss terms that benefit both parties?"

The duchess nodded eagerly, clearly recognizing the political advantages of securing first access to such revolutionary products. "This afternoon, if possible. My husband will want to review any exclusive arrangements personally."

More hands shot up throughout the crowd as other nobles recognized the opportunity being presented.

"WHAT ABOUT DRACONIA!"

"CORDELIA REQUIRES REPRESENTATION!"

"SANCTORIUM WILL NOT BE IGNORED!"

The voices overlapped in a cacophony of demand as representatives from different kingdoms suddenly found themselves in competition for access to products they’d only just discovered existed.

Jack caught his mother’s eye across the crowd, seeing the satisfaction there as their carefully orchestrated plan unfolded exactly as predicted.

They’d created not just demand, but desperate, urgent need among customers who were accustomed to having their desires fulfilled immediately.

’This is perfect,’ Jack thought, his mind already calculating the potential revenues from international distribution agreements.

Jack opened the doors and customers flooded in as Lady Genevieve kept others outside so people could shop.

"Young Master," Seraphina whispered urgently, tugging at his sleeve to get his attention. "Look toward the back of the store."

Jack followed her gaze and felt his blood turn to ice despite the warm morning air. Three familiar figures stood near the store’s rear entrance, their expensive robes and calculating expressions immediately identifying them as representatives of Phallanx Solutions.

Marcus Thorne led the group, his thin face bearing the same arrogant confidence Jack remembered from their previous encounter. But this time he wasn’t alone. His companions were clearly enforcers of a higher caliber than before.

Whispers began to spread through the crowd as other customers noticed the Phallanx representatives. The company’s reputation preceded them, stories of aggressive business practices and hostile takeovers that had destroyed smaller competitors throughout the kingdom.

Jack felt anger kindle in his chest like a carefully banked fire, lightning beginning to crackle faintly around his fingertips before he forced himself to maintain control. The last thing their grand opening needed was a public confrontation that could turn violent.

But it was Corvin’s reaction through their soul link that truly alarmed him. The raven had tensed with predatory awareness, its supernatural senses detecting something about the Phallanx representatives that went beyond simple business rivalry.

Jack’s hand moved unconsciously toward where his weapon would normally rest, muscle memory from weeks of training overriding conscious thought. The movement was subtle, but Seraphina caught it immediately.

"Young Master," she whispered urgently, "perhaps we should inform Lady Genevieve of their presence?"

But before Jack could respond, a voice cut through the crowd.

"Hey kid!!!"