“We’re fine, Mr. Figos,” Sokram began, his lips curling into a practiced businessman’s smile, “I’ve brought you some prey that needs to be butchered, but I also want to discuss something important with you. Do you have a moment?”

Mr. Figos glanced around his nearly empty shop, the faint scent of aged wood mingling with the lingering smell of raw meat and the metallic tang of blood from days past.

The cool, damp air clung to the walls, and the faint hum of the Ice-Enchanted display shelves, an investment he barely managed to pay.

His whiskers twitched as he chuckled dryly at his own misfortune.

“Well, as you can see, the store is so full that I might not have the whole day.”

He gestured sarcastically to the empty store before breaking into an honest grin.

“Of course, I’m free, boy. So please, don’t be shy, tell me how this old cat from the Southern Great Savana can help you out.”

Sokram approached the counter and handed Mr. Figos a spatial ring, which the werecat promptly accepted.

Checking its contents, a smile appeared on his face. "Are you selling it, or do you just want it butchered?"

"Half and half," Sokram replied, matching his smile.

Without giving the old cat time to pass on the price, he continued, "But that's not all I want to deal with you. I'm leading a hunting party now, and I want you to be our exclusive butcher. However, you’ll only charge us twenty-five percent of the butchering fee."

Mr. Figos let out a hearty laugh, though there was a tinge of bitterness beneath it.

“And I wish I were born an Aerys, but we can’t always get what we want, kid.”

He waved off the suggestion dismissively, treating it as nothing more than a joke.

"I know it's a lot to ask," Sokram said, his voice steady and confident.

"But my team will sell you all the meat from our hunts and fulfill your commissions exclusively, at forty percent of the market value. And believe me, this was just our first hunt, minus ten boars delivered as commission."

He pointed at the ring, emphasizing the value of the deal. "My team is very competent, Mr. Figos."

The old cat sighed deeply, his shoulders sagging under the weight of years spent battling adversity.

“It’s indeed a good deal if I had the means to sell that much meat. But aside from your family and a few others, I barely have any clients left.”

His ears drooped slightly, betraying his frustration.

"I'm aware of that," Sokram replied, his tone calm but insistent. "But with buying the meat at forty percent market value, you can sell at eighty percent and still make a hundred percent profit."

"Price isn't the issue, and you know it, boy," Mr. Figos countered, his expression growing somber.

His voice wavered slightly, betraying years of frustration and helplessness. "The Steelhearts already own all the other butcheries in the city and keep spreading rumors about me. They oversell their second-rate meat at double the market value. While I struggle to sell mine even at ninety percent. And still, nobody buys from me."

He paused, his whiskers twitching as he fought to keep his composure. "Every day, I watch my family struggle because of this. No matter how hard I work, it’s never enough."

He paused, his voice tinged with frustration; everywhere he and his family went was like that. "At least here in Eversnow, I’ve managed to find a few people who still buy my products."

Eversnow and Norwinter’s laws and policies against racial discrimination protected him and his family from being ostracized and chased out of town.

But no law could force people to buy from him.

"And what if I could change that for you?" Sokram’s words, though well-intentioned, caused a flicker of frustration to cross Mr. Figos’ face.

Sokram could read the old cat’s expression easily, but his confident smile persisted.

"Let’s do it like this, since you clearly don’t believe me. You’ll only give me five females of those boars in the ring, and you’ll put the rest up for sale at eighty percent of the market price. I’ll leave a deposit here for the total value of the meat sales. If, by the end of the week, you still haven’t sold everything, I’ll buy it all or whatever’s left at a hundred percent of the market value. How about it?"

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Mr. Figos looked at him, confused, and then glanced at Hannah, who shrugged, clearly stating it was up to him.

But it was Leona who gave the old cat the final push. "I’ll add another deposit of the same value as his. But if what he says happens, you’ll also butcher for the palace for only ten percent of the fee for three months. If it doesn’t, I’ll pay you two hundred percent for six months, and the deposit is yours."

Sokram looked at his Master with deep admiration, a warmth spreading through his chest.

Her unwavering trust in him was the most valuable gift, one he didn’t take lightly.

Seeing that, Mr. Figos nodded. "Alright, if you want to give money away that badly, I’ll accept it."

"Great!" Sokram joyfully extended his hand for a handshake. "One of us will come tomorrow for the five boars, and the same day next week with the contract for our deal."

The old cat shook Sokram’s hand, pity in his eyes, thinking either Hannah or Margiory was trying to teach the boy a lesson.

"See you soon, Mr. Figos, and say hi to the family for me!" Sokram said, his enthusiasm almost making Mr. Figos back out of the deal to prevent the boy from being heartbroken.

The only thing that held him back was Leona’s unwavering trust in Sokram’s words.

After leaving the butcher’s shop, Sokram led the way back home.

It was still too early to visit Lucy at the Purple Pavilion, as it wasn’t even midday yet. But when they arrived, Hilda greeted him at the door with news.

“Dear, you have two visitors,” she announced warmly, ushering him inside.

Hilda led Sokram to the living room, where Savannah and Amber were seated alongside Astrid, who was showing them a few recording crystals from when Sokram was a baby.

‘What is it with women and showing off things like that?’

Even with his ancient wisdom, aspects of the feminine psyche remained a mystery to him, or maybe it was just his teenage hormones talking.

But it didn’t bother him; it only seemed superficial.

When they saw Sokram approaching, Astrid teased, "Wasn’t he so cute?"

Earning an unusually enthusiastic "Yes! So cute!" from the two girls and some giggles afterward, Sokram still didn’t mind.

Sitting beside them, he suggested, "Do you have that one from the first time I cast a fireball?"

"I’m showing your cute side, not opening room for you to gloat!" Astrid frowned, seeing that Sokram wasn’t embarrassed as she had predicted.

"It’s not gloating if there’s evidence. It’s called ‘stating facts,’ and the fact is, I’m awesome," Sokram teased playfully, sticking out his tongue.

"So awesome your first kiss was with your sister," Astrid shot back, her cheeks turning pink.

"Yes, so awesome that not even my big sister can resist me," Sokram retorted with a smug smile.

He didn’t stop there. "Astrid even went as far as making me promise to marry only her, almost tricking me into a blood oath."

Astrid’s face turned as red as a tomato. "I-I did not! You!"

Then, coming from the kitchen, Miralyn chimed in, "Yes, she did!"

Moira, who was following her, also joined in. "That’s true. I saw that happening and had to stop it."

Hilda, meanwhile, cast a glare at her daughter that clearly stated: We’ll talk later!

Astrid sighed in defeat and turned to the two visitors.

"Sigh... As you can see, besides being smug and full of himself, he’s also hard to beat. So be careful not to fall in love with him. Don’t forget, he’s part dragon."

"What do you mean by that?" Sokram asked indignantly.

"I’ve never heard about a dragon only having one wife. You’re all polygamous and lust-bound," Astrid shot back, but instantly regretted it as she saw Hannah enter the room.

"Oh, really? All of us?!" Hannah asked, her lips smiling but her eyes sharp.

"Sorry, haha, I was just pulling his leg," Astrid rushed to apologize, sincerely embarrassed.

But Hannah’s answer surprised everyone.

"You’re not wrong, though." This made everyone chuckle, and even Hannah’s expression softened as she joined in the laughter.

"Haha, we are indeed lustful and polygamous, but draconic marriage works differently. It’s not just a union of the flesh but one of the souls, too. We work together to increase the standing of the dragon we love. Every wife in a draconic harem is equal."

"That’s true, but it’s mainly because of the marriage ceremony, which can even be considered a magic ritual," Sokram added, which made Hannah raise an eyebrow.

She hadn’t taught him that yet, but considering how much he read, it wasn’t surprising.

But Hilda still had to play momma bear. "There’s some literature you shouldn’t be reading just yet, dear."

Laughter filled the room again.

Taking advantage of the light atmosphere, Sokram stood up and introduced the girls to his family.

"Well, let me officially introduce them to you. These are Savannah and Amber. They’re my teammates, apprentices, and newest employees."

Amber nodded enthusiastically, but Savannah gave him a strange look. "Employees?"

Sokram nodded, glancing at them knowingly, making them remember what had happened the previous day.

He took two contracts from his glove and handed them to the girls.

"Yes, these are your contracts. Read them carefully and tell me if you find the terms fair."

"Alright..." Savannah said, finally fully grasping what he meant.

She had believed Sokram would only take her as an apprentice or something similar.

The contract would be one of secrecy, but she was surprised to find herself mistaken.

Amber, without hesitation, asked for a pen, but Sokram shook his head. "No, read it first. I thank you for your trust in me, but here’s lesson number one: never sign any blood contract without reading it first."

Sokram’s tone was stern, but his expression was still soft, so it had the desired effect.

Amber and Savannah began reading carefully, and the mood shifted to a more serious one.

Moira sat beside Savannah, reading alongside her and surprised by how well-written the contract was. "Was it you, Margiory, who wrote it?"

"Nope, it was all him. He even gave me the reading materials he learned from," Margiory answered with a proud smile, showing the ring Sokram had given her.

To spite Hannah, she had placed it on her ring finger.

But it was Hilda, Astrid, and Miralyn who got irked when Hannah asked, "Why are you wearing a ring he gave you on your ring finger?"

"Because I can. Deal with it," Margiory replied with a smug smile, making Sokram chuckle.

But the stares he received from Hilda and Miralyn almost made his chuckle get stuck in his throat.

Amber, being a quick reader, even more so than most mages, finished reading through the contract.

"There, I just have a few questions."

Sokram looked at the girl, happy to be saved from the awkward atmosphere but also raising an eyebrow.

Her reading speed was definitely another sign that reinforced his suspicions about her.

But since she and her family would be visiting the next day, he decided to set the stage to clear his doubts about her then.

Coming back from his thoughts, Sokram smiled at her and answered, "Ask away!"