Organization (Part 2): Promised Two Updates, My Liver Exploded

"I've run into some difficulties."

Shane paid Hawkins Flamehawk a visit to "ask for help." "I need a 'highly skilled,' 'experienced' mage to serve as production director and help me manage the magic item workshop. After thinking it over, you're the best candidate. Want to come work for me?"

Hawkins Flamehawk felt like he was floating, as if several pounds had been lifted from his bones. He agreed on the spot, though he insisted it was not because the pay was good, but because he was qualified for the position.

Before speaking, Shane handed him the documents. He would receive half the profits from production, plus a hundred gold coins in his pocket every month. The mage tower's knowledge would also be open to him, though the library was empty. Shane had learned about his background through Quel'Thalin's mage organization. The magical craft he had mastered was precisely "magic item crafting."

After settling things with Hawkins Flamehawk, Shane returned to Windrunner Outpost with him. The first thing they saw was the observatory rising from the sea of trees like a lifted flower crown, its glass dome glittering brilliantly in the sunlight.

"It's beautiful. Your Red Sun White Tower." Hawkins Flamehawk sounded a little envious. "Looks like I made the right decision."

"Thank you. I'll be relying on your help from now on as well," Shane replied politely.

"Back then, Halduron said you would become someone important. I agree with him now." Hawkins Flamehawk brought up the time the three of them had traveled together through the Ghostlands. "What is Halduron doing now?"

Shane had remained in contact with Halduron Brightwing. He was doing quite well at the southern border with the human kingdoms—well in every sense of the word. His smuggling business was flourishing more and more.

"Only I've been standing still." Hawkins Flamehawk sighed first, then encouraged himself, declaring his resolve to improve and bid farewell to his mediocre days. "No matter when you begin, what matters is that you do not stop after starting. No matter when you finish, what matters is that you do not regret it afterward."

When they arrived at the outpost, Sylvanas had yet to return. Shane first arranged for the three Flamehawks to stay on the second floor, then took him to the fourth floor to inspect his workplace. The heaps of materials and accessories were enough to make one's eyes pop.

"Too much. There's far too much work."

Hawkins Flamehawk's reaction was exactly as Shane expected. He might have been a carefree playboy for the first half of his life and seen plenty of grand occasions, but he had definitely never done any serious work. "Don't rush. Instead of thinking about how much work there is, think about how much stronger you'll become once it's done."

Hawkins Flamehawk truly wanted to change. He followed Shane's advice and began working. His speed and efficiency could not compare to Shane's, but once he settled down, completed items started popping out one after another.

The previous batch of magic items had sold well. This time, Shane would officially put the name "Red Sun White Tower" on the market. The flagship products were two offensive accessories.

Tigerstrike Pendant: a tiger carved from corundum that enhanced Strength and Agility, with the utility spell Lightness. After use, the wearer became as light as a swallow.

Cunning Direwolf: an alpha wolf carved from corundum that enhanced Agility, with the utility spells Night Vision and Lightness. The wearer gained night vision and became as light as a swallow after use.

Having finished the two accessories early, Shane used his spare time to record what he had learned on paper. Arcane knowledge could be exchanged, but it was difficult to buy or sell. Filling a library mostly depended on mages copying down their own knowledge, much as they would copy a new spellbook.

Each spell was compiled into its own volume, covering its introduction, principles, spell imprints, and methods of use. The knowledge he had learned before appeared under his pen, item by item. Shane also added his own idea: proficiency evaluation. A caster's proficiency could be judged by using a spell to accomplish a task, based on the time required and the actual result. It also explained how to train in order to become more proficient with the spell. Altogether, the contents made for a fairly thick booklet, about as thick as a thumb. Once finished, it was placed in the library.

Accumulation required time to settle. Trying to achieve everything in one stroke would only exhaust him to death. Shane was not in a hurry. Aside from evening study, stargazing, and practicing his spellcasting techniques, whenever he had nothing to do during the day, he would write a section or two. Bit by bit, the books grew. After finishing a copy, he wrote his name at the end: Copier: Shane Dawnblade.

More than a dozen books gradually appeared on the shelves. Among them, Shane discovered one he had not copied himself. Opening it, he found it was Hawkins Flamehawk's work, recording a first-circle Transmutation spell: Enlarge. Shane observed that during his spare time, Hawkins was also copying spells, yet his magic item production had not fallen behind. When the total order was nearly finished, he added a second spellbook: Reduce.

The second batch of magic items was completed. Sylvanas gave Shane two thousand four hundred gold coins. Shane took out eight hundred and fifty gold and gave it to Flamehawk. His share of the profit was fifteen hundred, plus a hundred gold in wages, making eight hundred and fifty in total.

Shane put a thousand gold into his own pocket and placed the remainder in another magic pouch, hiding it behind a painting in his study as maintenance funds for the mage tower.

Sylvanas had met Hawkins Flamehawk before. She looked down on him, while he was terrified of her and took detours whenever he saw her. Hawkins Flamehawk quietly told Shane, "That Windrunner is terrifying. One time, my head nearly got sliced off. All because I complimented her a few times." A long scar ran from his left shoulder to his right chest.

"Who did that?" Shane automatically replaced "complimented" with "harassed" and asked curiously.

"Her." Hawkins Flamehawk did not even dare say her name.

Shane guessed it had to be Sylvanas, so he asked her about it that evening. Sylvanas thought hard for a while before suddenly realizing. "I was wondering why that weakling looked familiar. So it was him. That bastard actually dared to ask me if I wanted to spend a day playing with him. I was too young back then and didn't know my limits. I nearly cut off his dog head."

"What about now?" Shane regretted the question as soon as he asked it. Why was my mouth so cheap?

"Now?" The female elf shot Shane a sidelong glance. "If he dares, his dog head will fly before I even blink." As she spoke, she patted the daggers hanging at both sides of her thighs.

The next day, Shane revealed to Hawkins Flamehawk that Sylvanas was the one funding the magic item production. After hearing this, he said, "My old injury is acting up. I need to rest for a few days."

"Be my guest," Shane said sympathetically.

With money on hand, Shane added furniture to the reception room and wrote a letter to his family. Sofas, cushions, crystalware, and jeweled decorations all arrived, worth far more than a thousand gold. A bank statement came as well. Shane had twenty-eight thousand gold deposited in the bank, along with the account records for the oceangoing trade ship Dawnblade. It traveled as far as Stormwind, earning a fortune selling magic items. On the return trip, it carried rare metal ingots and some textiles, sold the textiles in Southshore, replenished its metal ingots, and returned to Quel'Thalas.

"I finally have money in my pocket." Shane was quietly pleased. "It's time to replace everything that needs replacing."

"Not bad. You're almost catching up to us." Sylvanas leaned over to look as well, her head nearly resting on Shane's shoulder.

Why did this scene feel so familiar? Shane thought for a moment. Vereesa had stood in the exact same spot before, saying, "The three sisters jointly own a ship—the Three Sisters."

Sylvanas was not short on money. She was a true rich woman. Shane looked at her from the side. The female elf seemed not to notice his gaze and continued examining the account statement in his hand.