Don't Come Any Closer!

As evening fell, warm sunlight streamed into the room through the gaps in the wooden blinds.

This is a residence provided by the Riverbank Merchant Guild.

Merchants from Platinum City belong to various merchant guilds, while others, like Ailini, are independent individual traders. The latter have more freedom of movement, but naturally lack the support they receive when they are part of a merchant guild.

Above the various merchant groups is the Merchant United Guild, an organization that controls the mint of the Platinum City.

This organization is jointly managed by top businessmen and is undoubtedly at the pinnacle of the business world.

The Merchant Guild's branch is located in the Remote Yue City in the Courtyard in the Forest.

The area is actually controlled by the Riverbank Merchant Guild.

As for Nine Bends City and Lookout Point City, they are also managed by the Riverbank Merchant Guild, but their influence is naturally not as great as that of Remote Yue City.

The room Elena was currently staying in was provided free of charge to the merchant community by the Riverbank Merchant Guild, and she also enjoyed some living conveniences.

However, in return, the merchants enjoyed this treatment.

We need to respect some of the basic conditions proposed by the Chamber of Commerce.

For example, when conducting business activities, priority should be given to areas controlled by the chamber of commerce.

At this moment, Ailini sat comfortably in the wooden house.

The room was clean and quiet. Ailini sat at the table, her posture upright. Her eyes were focused on the ledger in her hands. Occasionally, she would gently bite the pen to organize her plans for the future, and then quickly jot down some key points on a piece of paper.

The young businesswoman's movements occasionally revealed a confident smile, as if she were full of anticipation and confidence in her plans.

Beside the table were a map and two cloth bags.

The map details the division of shops in the commercial area, with small text annotations providing specific information.

The two cloth bags contained spices and medicinal herbs, respectively.

They are usually expensive, but easy to carry, making them good items that are quite easy to sell.

Ailini had already exchanged the other goods for money on the way.

This is the last remaining hard currency she has, and it can be considered her trump card in business activities. Even if she loses all her money, she can quickly convert it into cash.

"Last time I came, I remember that quite a few girls from the Awakened Lineage and nobles in the North District were particularly interested in textiles." Ailini put down her ledger and circled two places on the map. "This time I can make some special preparations and maybe even find some new customers. As for the local textile trade... it's a bit of a rip-off."

"I can only try to get information at the party."

Businessmen occasionally gather at night.

Naturally, this process would involve inviting both awakened individuals and nobles among ordinary people.

With that in mind, Ailini walked to the mirror in the cabin and adjusted her clothes to make sure she looked professional and presentable.

Months of trekking through the forest left her in a sorry state.

Not to mention that he also worked as a laborer for Linsey for the last month.

After resting yesterday, Ailini has finally regained some of the composure expected of a businesswoman.

Clang clang clang—

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"Ms. Ailini, this is your dinner!"

Bauer, an apprentice from the Chamber of Commerce, brought a meal into the house, respectfully placed it on the table for Ailini, and then politely said goodbye and left.

Bauer's attitude was very respectful, and his gaze towards Ailini even held a hint of longing.

Once these apprentices become Awakened, they will be immediately absorbed by the Chamber of Commerce.

They might also cultivate relationships with the traveling merchants they stayed with, thus joining the vast ranks of traveling merchants.

After seeing the apprentice off, Ailini checked the food.

Besides the comfortable accommodations, the Riverbank Merchant Guild only provided the merchants with the most basic bread and vegetable soup. If they wanted better food, they had to pay an extra fee for meals.

"..."

Ailini looked at the food in front of her and hesitated.

As a traveling merchant working alone, Ailini was already familiar with all sorts of harsh environments. She had even eaten her dinner in a swamp while being pursued.

But now...

"How can I possibly eat this?"

As the saying goes, it's easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality.

During the three months that she was with Linsey, he took care of all her meals, and there's no doubt that Ailini enjoyed it.

Now, faced with this ordinary food that has no special features and is even somewhat difficult to swallow.

A businessperson's idea popped into Ailini's mind:

"If I hire Linsey as a chef and open a restaurant, wouldn't the business be incredibly successful?"

Ailini shook her head at this thought.

Although she hadn't investigated further, she could sense that Linsey was hiding some important secrets. This was compounded by her unwavering determination to travel to the City of Law World.

It's probably unrealistic to expect to keep this guy around to open a shop and make money together.

"What if I open my own restaurant?"

Ailini did the math.

For awakened individuals in the city of the Courtyard in the Forest, acquiring a property isn't difficult. However, opening a shop involves a completely different set of costs, including land acquisition and construction.

Meanwhile, awakened chefs are not easy to find.

Adding in other miscellaneous expenses, the money she has is probably barely enough to get by.

"If you're a traveling merchant, you'll continue to suffer, but you'll enjoy freedom."

"Opening a shop would be more stable, but I'd probably be stuck here for a while, and I'd likely have to join the chamber of commerce."

"..."

Ailini was somewhat tempted, but then fell silent.

Merchants' trading activities were not just about monetary transactions; their skill development also stemmed from this.

A stable business environment signifies a steady and gradual improvement.

The upper limit of this lifetime is probably limited to the Fourth Stage.

It also means giving up the chance to explore the infinite world and search for that opportunity called hope, which has a probability as far away as the horizon.

"Really."

Ailini chuckled softly, "I still can't stay in one place forever."

Just then, the girl heard running sounds coming from the corridor outside.

Her room was the last room facing south on the second floor. Judging from the hurried sounds, she knew that the other person was coming for her.

Ailini opened the door.

Sure enough, Bauer, an apprentice from the Riverbank Merchant Guild, came running over, panting. "Ms. Ailini, someone is looking for you!"

After explaining the situation, Bauer cautiously continued, "He was also carrying two bunches of flowers, which looked like Dreamy Purple Rose. They should cost four or five Silver Coin to buy!"

"..."

"Okay, I understand."

Ailini had intended to go down to the Chamber of Commerce hall to meet the other party.

However, considering that the other person was holding flowers and wanted to save face, she stopped the apprentice Bauer and instructed him:

"Bauer, go and call him up. I'll be waiting in the room."

"Yes, Ms. Ailini!" The apprentice nodded dejectedly and left.

A few minutes later.

The man who delivered the flowers went upstairs.

Ailini was very confident in her appearance and knew she was a beauty.

Before meeting him, she thought it was someone she had dealt with in Nine Bends City before, or a businessman expressing goodwill towards her.

But to my utter surprise...

It was Linsey, standing before me with a bouquet of flowers! "Huh? It's you!"

Ailini's expression was subtle. She quickly pulled Linsey into the house and then locked the door.

"Linsey, what do you mean by this?"

The man in front of her was a money pit with no end in sight, so Ailini was extremely cautious.

Linsey came over with a smile, "These flowers are for you, they're free."

"Besides, we're friends who traveled together, so isn't it normal for me to bring a gift when I come to visit?"

Ailini's eyes still held a deep sense of suspicion.

The businessman's shrewdness told her that the man in front of her definitely had ulterior motives!

Linsey took in the girl's appearance.

He gave a wry smile, took out a vase, arranged the flowers neatly on the table, and then earnestly explained his purpose:

"Okay, let's get straight to the point."

"I have a profitable business idea, and I'd like to ask you to do it together."

Ailini finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Upon hearing the words 'making money' and 'trading', she quickly pulled Linsey to sit down inside the house:

"That's perfect, we're on the same page!"

Linsey interpreted Ailini's behavior as the merchant's skill revealing something.

He and the girl in front of him exchanged a smile, feeling the tacit understanding they had developed during their trip return. So Linsey took the stockings out of her bag and said to the girl, "Since we're on the same page, things are much simpler."

"Ailini, take your pants off first."

Ailini's expression froze.

She was so frightened that she jumped back, almost touching the second-floor window, looking as if she was ready to jump out at any moment.

The businesswoman girl's attitude was completely different from when she had seduced Linsey; she shouted:

"Linsey, what are you doing?!"

"Don't come any closer, or I'll get physical!"