Over the next hour, they transformed their impromptu breakfast meeting into a structured business planning session. Justin found himself sketching diagrams on scraps of parchment Rinna had procured while the others gathered around.

"All right," he said, setting down his quill. "Let's outline this clearly. We've discussed it in broad terms, but we need actionable steps. We're looking at about a week to get operational, assuming we can move quickly on the essentials."

Lila leaned forward, studying his rough timeline. "That's ambitious but doable. I can head out this morning to find an Alchemist willing to sell me a class core. I'll also need a couple of days to familiarize myself with it. Alchemy is new to me, so I'll probably only be able to start with the basics."

"Sounds like a plan," Justin said. "While you're handling that, Rinna, I need you to source everything for your enchanting setup. Get quotes on the Aether distillery, crystals, and workspace materials—the whole package. We're looking at an investment of twenty to thirty gold crowns, but it's the foundation of everything."

Rinna nodded eagerly, already making notes. "I know exactly where to go. There's a supplier in Mudside who caters to independent enchanters. Not guild-affiliated, so there's a small chance of him reporting our setup."

"He's off the grid?" Alistair asked, raising his eyebrows.

Rinna nodded. "Yes. And discreet." She looked at Justin. "If that's all right with you, Mr. Talemaker."

"As long as it's good quality and it works, I'm not asking too many questions," Justin said. "Going unnoticed is the name of the game, at least for now."

"Sounds good," Rinna said.

"Perfect. Tamsin, you and Rita will focus on making this place livable and functional. We need the warehouse organized, basic furniture sorted, and those repairs cataloged. Think of it as setting the stage for everything else. Go through every room and make a list of everything needed."

The older woman straightened with purpose. "Leave it to us. I can't write, Mr. Talemaker, but my memory is second to none. I've been learning a bit of Daelorian too, if you catch my drift. Rita and I more or less understand each other by now."

Justin nodded. "Good. At some point, we'll teach you to write. It's a useful skill that everyone should know."

"I'd be obliged, Mr. Talemaker. Rita can write, though it's in Daelorian."

"Then have her make the list for now," Lila said. "I can interpret it."

Lila said a few short sentences, and Rita's head bobbed furiously.

"Alistair," Justin continued, "I want you to be our advance scout. Learn the neighborhood, introduce us to the key players, and figure out where the opportunities and threats are. We can't afford to stumble blindly into local politics."

The paladin adjusted his position thoughtfully. "I'll start with the immediate area and then work outward. It's better to understand our immediate environment before we start making deliveries across the city. I have a feeling the varkiss could be a good business opportunity, given what Szara told us."

Justin had a similar intuition, but they'd get there when they got there.

Justin turned to Ilsa, who had been listening with a calculating expression. "You're our numbers person. While everyone else is setting up, I want you tracking every copper we spend and figuring out what we'll need for ongoing operations. Eventually, we'll get you that Scholar class for proper inventory management, but for now, old-fashioned bookkeeping will do."

"Understood," Ilsa replied. "I'll set up a basic ledger system and start projecting our cash flow needs. I can go ahead and purchase an enchanted one. It can still serve as a mundane ledger until we're ready to upgrade later. Otherwise, we'll be stuck with a standard ledger book and have to copy everything over, which could take weeks."

"Good point. Cost?"

"A gold crown," Ilsa said. "Expensive, but with the numbers we've discussed so far, a pittance."

"Go ahead and buy it, then. Also, I'd like you to accompany Rinna to her contact. And if anyone has receipts, bring them directly to me." He looked at Ilsa. "I'll have complete command of the cash flow, at least for now. Every expense goes through me, and by the time we're big enough that I can't handle all that, they'll go through Ilsa, and I'll review it every few days."

Ilsa nodded. "Makes sense."

"So, let's aim to have all this done and set up over the next three days. Once we have the basics in place, we shift into production mode. Lila will start brewing whatever her new class allows. To start, that will hopefully be healing potions, antidotes, cures for specific diseases, and energy restoratives."

"Hangover cures?" Ilsa interjected. "They're always in demand, especially in Mudside."

"Of course."

"And I'll need to do a lot of reading," Lila said. "I'm not sure how much knowledge will be native to my new class and what I have to learn on my own." She let out a sigh. "We really need Eldrin."

Justin nodded. "That we do. He would be a huge source of knowledge about the kinds of potions people need. And he didn't provide any way for us to get in touch with him..."

Justin wondered: why had he left so swiftly? Did he intend never to see any of them again? It was hard to imagine, but in a world without phones, that just might be the reality.

"For now," Justin continued, "we just have to assume Eldrin is out of the picture, as tough as that is. Lila, I know you can learn, and your potions will be much stronger than what even a Level 20 alchemist can do once you're trained up."

"I hope so."

"Okay, Phase 2," Justin went on. "Once we're done with Phase 1, the general setup, Rinna will begin crafting our chit system, starting simple with the touch-activated summoning charms."

"How many chits should I plan for initially?" Rinna asked.

"Let's say thirty pairs to start. Bronze. Then ten premium ones made of silver, with location tracking for our membership customers. We can always make more as demand grows."

Lila was already thinking ahead. "We'll need enchanted packs for everyone—silver-tier minimum. You can pack a lot of potions in those."

"Agreed. Budget for four packs initially—Lila and I already have gold-tier ones. Now, for our market approach..." Justin's voice took on the tone of someone who had thought this through carefully. "We start with three target areas: adventurers' guilds near the gates, upscale residential neighborhoods, and local businesses that might need discreet delivery services."

"Including Szara's specialized potion request," Tamsin added. "No sense ignoring paying customers, especially ones who are literally next door."

"Exactly. That's perfect for testing our niche market approach. If we can source varkiss-specific alchemicals, we tap into an underserved market with premium pricing."

Alistair raised a practical concern. "What about security? We'll be carrying valuable inventory through some questionable neighborhoods?"

"As discussed, each mobile vendor gets an escort when needed, and we establish protocols for safe operations. Public meetings are only in dangerous areas, never enter customers' homes, and..." A new idea occurred to him. "Everyone who goes out gets their own special chit made from gold. This will be a security chit, activated only in emergencies, with location-based ranges of up to fifty miles. It stays on, a beacon, until it's turned off."

"Good idea," Lila said. "If something does go wrong, we can quickly dispatch help."

"Speaking of which," Rinna interjected, "I'll need to work out the activation conditions carefully. We want deliberate orders, not accidental triggers every time someone touches their jewelry."

"Something simple but intentional," Justin agreed. "Maybe a specific pressure pattern or holding it for a few seconds in a closed fist?"

"I'll work something out," Rinna said. "Still got a few days to think about it."

Over the next several minutes, they refined the details, establishing customer service policies that would revolutionize local expectations. The money-back guarantee that had initially horrified them now seemed like a calculated risk worth taking. They discussed the distribution of free basic chits to build their first customers, with premium memberships for location-flexible delivery.

"As for the name," Justin said, "I know we said we'd discuss it later, but we have a few minutes. Any ideas?"

Justin chuckled inwardly as he thought of the name "Just-in-time Deliveries." It would work if only the English translated.

"The Wandering Vial," Tamsin said with a smile. "Though that doesn't work if we ever move out of potions."

"The Merchant's Reach," Ilsa suggested.

"Marin River Suppliers?" Rinna asked. "We are right near the Marin, and rivers have a way of connecting people."

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Justin thought it appropriate how close she was to the idea of the original Amazon. "I like that one best so far."

Lila asked, "How about Summon & Supply? It's right in the name. They summon us, we supply it."

Tamsin brightened. "Oh, I love it! It's exactly what we aim to be. We tell it to people, and they know exactly what we're about."

"It's simple," Ilsa admitted. "But simple is good."

"I like it too," Rinna said. "What do you think, Mr. Talemaker?"

Justin thought it over. Yes, it did sound right.

"Let's go with that," he said. "See how it works out. We can always adjust if it's not working, right?"

A round of nods confirmed it. The name perfectly captured their magical convenience angle while sounding professional enough for serious business.

"Right," Justin said, rolling up his makeshift planning notes. "We have our assignments, our timeline, and our strategy."

Tamsin stood and began clearing the breakfast remnants. "Better get started then. No point in planning if we don't execute."

With everyone occupied with their assigned tasks, Justin found himself alone with Tamsin and Rita, who were scrubbing grime from the two arched windows. Slants of morning light began to filter in more effectively. This space would never be flooded with natural light, but for warehousing purposes, that might actually be an advantage.

Stuck at headquarters while the others ventured out, he decided it was the perfect time to properly assess what he and Lila had rented. He had already reviewed all the rooms during yesterday's tour, but his attention had been scattered by the business planning. Now he could give the space the thorough evaluation it deserved.

He stood in the front showroom, watching dust motes dance in the shafts of late-morning light liberated by Tamsin and Rita.

No furniture. No signage. Just quiet potential.

The floors were well-swept stone, worn but solid, slightly polished by decades of foot traffic. Wooden shelves lined both walls, each mounted in recessed alcoves that would display goods nicely. A low wooden platform near the front window could elevate featured items.

Justin paced the room slowly, his fingers trailing over the wood of the long counter that stretched along the left wall—initially their makeshift breakfast table from that morning, but clearly designed as a proper checkout area.

"Now, where is this vault?" he wondered aloud.

Moving behind the counter, his eyes fell upon a dust-covered panel beneath it, roughly four feet square and made of solid metal, with no visible lock or ornamentation.

He knelt and retrieved the enchanted key from his coat. He wasn't entirely sure how this mechanism worked, but it couldn't hurt to try—

Click.

The panel lifted smoothly of its own accord, glowing with a soft enchantment. It revealed a dark opening with a cold draft and the faint blue glow of enchanting runes embedded in the metal frame.

"Ah," Justin said with satisfaction.

Stone steps descended into a narrow chamber of decent size. It would easily accommodate all of his, Lila's, and even Alistair's enchanted gear, freeing up space in their packs for inventory or anything else requiring secure storage.

"Could use a proper safe for small valuables," he mused, "but this should do nicely."

He sealed the hatch and stood, glancing back toward the main space. This area could serve as a natural receiving bay or perhaps a proper storefront if foot traffic proved higher than expected. Their best-selling potions could be displayed in those arched windows, assuming burglary wasn't a concern.

Justin continued through a stone archway into a side gallery, a narrower, more intimate space where the light dimmed noticeably and the air felt cooler.

Built-in shelves lined the perimeter, each carved with tiny notches and hooks, clearly designed for delicate goods or possibly enchanted items that needed separation. A narrow mirror fixed to one wall suggested the previous tenant might have sold clothing. Another large window faced the alleyway, though the ladies hadn't yet had time to clean it.

We could use this for specialized storage, he thought. Maybe even a varkiss-specific area for local shoppers.

Returning to the main room, he walked through to the wide interior hallway that formed the spine of the building's back half.

Cabinets lined the walls, each fitted with dull bronze locks. Unenchanted, by the looks of them. Justin opened one to find it empty but clean. Tamsin and Rita had clearly been thorough.

The hallway was wide enough for crates to be unloaded and sorted easily. The stone floor was smoother here, perfect for rolling items across. A solid space, ideal for the flow between front and back operations.

He opened a heavy wooden door that led into a smaller, more intimate room. The walls were lined with faded fabric, and a bench was bolted against one wall. This had clearly been an office of sorts, and whatever business had been conducted here, the previous owner hadn't wanted it overheard.

"Future office," Justin decided.

All the sounds of the city that had been audible elsewhere—squeaky wheels, shouts, barking dogs—were muffled here. It would be perfect for thinking and conducting sensitive business.

Returning to the hall, he opened the next door on the right.

Dust motes swirled in the dim light. The shelves here were older, some bowed under the weight of long-forgotten crates, now empty. A ladder leaned in one corner, and a trapdoor was set into the flagstone floor—just a square iron ring, unenchanted.

Justin pulled it open with a groan of old hinges and descended to find a root cellar carved from earth and lined with wooden slats. The space dropped about four feet and was bone-dry despite its mustiness. It was considerably larger than he had expected.

"Can never have too much storage," he murmured.

He let the door drop closed and made a mental note to get a second lock. Having two separate vaults was too valuable an opportunity to pass up. Perhaps improvements like this could be negotiated against their rent since repairs were already their responsibility.

At the end of the hall, he found what appeared to be a back door, iron-banded with a locking bolt and well-oiled hinges. It opened onto a shared courtyard filled with cracked flagstones, a broken fountain, and scattered crates. The alley beyond led to a side street, connecting to the main alley accessible from their front door. On his right was a large barrel, fed by what appeared to be a wide clay pipe from the second floor above.

Justin could already envision the logistics: customer chits and staged items in the hall cabinets, with deliveries going out through this back entrance. It would keep operations discreet when necessary. Deliveries could come in this way too, though the door would need to be widened. Something to discuss with Szara.

One final room remained at the end of the hall. He descended a few stone steps into a wide space with high ceilings and barred windows set above head level. A full stone bench ran along one wall, pitted and stained with curious burns and scorch marks. Hooks dangled from the beams above, and an old brazier sat near the center. A fireplace with a chimney and ventilation pipes completed the setup.

"Alchemy and enchanting workshop," he concluded. "Someone's done one or both here before."

Lila would take one corner, Rinna the other. There was enough room for both, though things might get cramped if their business scaled significantly.

We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

That completed the ground floor. Justin felt more confident than ever that this space had been the superior choice. It could accommodate whatever they wanted to build.

"Time for the upstairs tour."

The stairs creaked beneath his boots, accessible from the back of the front showroom via a partition wall that conveniently kept the residential area hidden from browsing customers. As he ascended, the narrow corridor curved slightly before opening onto the second floor.

The temperature shifted—warmer here, tinged with old dust and something faintly herbal. Perhaps Szara had burned something from her homeland up here once.

A wide hallway greeted him at the top, featuring worn floorboards and pale light streaming from windows at both ends. One window offered a view of rooftops across the street, though the stairwell obstructed access. The window at the far end promised a view of the courtyard he had just inspected. The hallway turned ninety degrees here.

For now, Justin went left, where an open archway led into a dining room where faint outlines on the floor indicated where chairs had once been pushed back from a table. A few high shelves were mounted on the far wall—likely intended for books or dry goods—and a half-shuttered window overlooked a side alley.

Justin crossed slowly, testing each floorboard with his heel. Sturdy and well-settled.

A narrow archway led into a tiny kitchen dominated by a cast-iron wood stove. Various wooden cabinets hung above, and opening them revealed symbols embedded in roughly half. Preservation runes, perhaps, like those found on enchanted packs.

To the right sat a cracked basin built into the wall with a rusted but intact pump handle. A dusty, empty spice rack hung nearby, and the stone floor sloped toward a corner drain that presumably emptied into the alley or perhaps the courtyard.

Functional, if minimal. Tamsin would have to make it work.

The pantry alcove was just deep enough for shelves or crates, its stone walls inscribed with more runes. The enchantments seemed standard for food storage, though it would only hold enough space for immediate use. Longer-term bulk purchases would need to be stored in the root cellar.

Returning to the hallway, Justin entered a central archway that opened to a common area near the front of the building. A broad window cast slanted light across the floorboards, and the walls showed slight plaster cracks in one corner. The dining room was also accessible through another archway.

This was the only room with a built-in closet—narrow but luxurious by city standards. Tamsin and Rita had already stashed cleaning supplies there: buckets, rags, brooms, and a mop.

A low bench beneath the window offered views of the alley and opposite rooftops. With its small hearth promising warmth in winter, it was clearly designed as a living room. Justin was beginning to realize the overall square footage was quite generous for the city, and given the amenities, their monthly rent was likely reasonable; only the location itself kept it from being too outrageous.

Down the main hall was Tamsin and Rita's room, nothing more than sleeping mats and meager belongings, with a shuttered window facing the main alley. The floorboards sagged slightly in the center, suggesting past water damage, but it was not hazardous. The walls were bare except for a narrow shelf where a bed might go.

Directly across the hall, just beyond the kitchen, was a similar room with windows overlooking red roof tiles sloping down to the side alley. The floor was more level here, and the sunlight was stronger. Rinna and Ilsa had claimed this space, their newly purchased mats already in place.

Further down the hallway, which took a right turn, was a smaller room with a single window for light. Some of Alistair's less important gear was stored here—characteristically generous of him to take the smallest room.

To the left, facing the courtyard, was the least pleasant space: a wooden privy seat over a chute that presumably emptied into the collection barrel below. A cracked ceramic basin rested on a small table beside it, and despite Tamsin and Rita's best efforts, an odor lingered. The broken mirror above reflected a shaft of stale light from the courtyard window.

Justin wrinkled his nose. Without modern plumbing, they would have to haul water manually and clean daily—a far cry from the comfort he was accustomed to.

Adjoining this was a simple stone washroom with a drain leading to the same destination. While having private bathing facilities was a luxury most of Belmora's citizens couldn't afford—he'd seen plenty of public bathhouses—Justin's Earth sensibilities made him grateful for this one. He just had to make sure the lock worked properly.

Finally, he toured the master bedroom at the end of the hall, facing the central alleyway. It was the largest room by far and featured a small stone balcony, slightly recessed to avoid protruding into the alley. Since there were no other options, he and Lila were sharing this space, but he didn't mind. Their relationship had endured enough trials that privacy wasn't an issue, and this world's social norms were more flexible anyway. They'd arranged their sleeping mats on opposite sides.

Stepping onto the balcony, he discovered a sturdy wooden ladder providing access to the roof above. Climbing it for the first time, Justin was surprised to find a generous, nearly flat rooftop with only slight drainage slopes. Metal poles marked spots for hanging laundry lines, similar to arrangements he'd noticed on other buildings.

"It'll do," he said aloud. "It'll do just fine. Though we'll need to upgrade that bathroom with the best money can buy."

Back in the common room, Justin stood before the cold hearth, surveying their new domain.

Bare walls. Dust. Empty floors. Cold stones. No beds. No warmth. No polish.

And yet—

"It's a start."

He turned toward the stairs, already envisioning the transformation ahead.

They would make it something better: a home, a base, and, if necessary...

"...a fortress," Justin said, finishing the thought.

He certainly hoped it didn't come to that, but he had already caught the eye of the Aurelians, not to mention Valdrik himself. He would do everything in his power to protect their foothold.

With luck, it would never come to that.

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