The First Legendary Beast Master

Over the course of the next three hours, messengers came one after another, each of them informing either Karl or Lotus personally that their boarder had been hired.

Obviously, they were mostly hired out of respect for one of the two, and even the ones for Karl mentioned Lotus in some way. Mostly a message requesting that she return occasionally to the park as a healing tree.

Lotus had no problem with that, and she would happily go be a tree there every so often, just to keep the people in good health.

If she didn't, they would start looking for her at home, and that would be even more time-consuming than spending a day a week as a Tree of Life.

During that time, Karl had begun to enchant rings with various simple runes, focusing on the Royal Rank items. But there was one effect conspicuously missing.

"No Giant Strength rings?" Loros asked, knowing that was what Karl put on the ones that he had sold to Jeweller Magos.

Karl shook his head. "If I only sell them to the Royal Jeweller, then the majority of the buyers, the warrior classes, will have to go to them, and we can keep a flow of money coming and our business relationship strong.

You see, if something happens and our personal reputation takes a hit, selling specific items to other vendors will maintain our funding even during times of hardship.

If they take a hit and have to close, we can simply nominate a replacement and elevate them with the sale of the rings."

Wendy laughed at his analysis.

"You have a rather cruel outlook on business. Trade wars within the city are all but unheard of. Most businesses here last for entire generations." She explained.

While they talked, Lotus took a number of items out of her inventory and placed them on top of the new cabinets.

"You can enchant these as well. I think that the police and the debt collectors will love them." She insisted.

Karl looked at the assortment of clubs, batons and baseball bats, plus a few gnarled mage staves for Karl to upgrade.

Karl quickly carved runes for stunning on the clubs and bats, making them a nonlethal weapon with exceptional durability.

Then Karl decided what to do with the staves. Something simple would be best.

[Fireball. Fireball solves everything.] Hawk insisted.

He even had a whole pile of lower grade Fire Element stones that could be carved with the spell.

Karl carved the stones, then made the staves Royal Rank magical items with extra spell power and mana storage. The wood that Lotus made was exceptionally well suited to such mana storage, and dozens of fireballs could be cast at Commander Rank before it was depleted.

That should make them a valuable item on the market.

Karl set one on the top shelf of a display case, and locked the others underneath. At the moment, Davis and Karl were the only ones who could operate the barriers, so there was no chance that they would be stolen without breaking the Overlord Rank barriers.

With the bats and batons put on display, the cases were still sparse, but looked somewhat complete, except for the one closest to the kitchen wall.

However, Remi had plans for that one. She had all sorts of potions, and if she put one of each on display, then loaded the bottom of the case with extras, they would have a diverse selection of potion effects available.

Most of them were actually failed attempts to make something else, but some of them were truly miraculous. Like the anti aging cream that actually reversed aging. If you used it as a full-body lotion, the skin and muscles of the user, even the hair, would revert to a youthful state.

However, if it was overused, you could accidentally weaken someone's body back down an entire Rank until it naturally recovered.

For an elderly monster, Demon or magical beast, regular use could theoretically stop aging and keep them in their prime indefinitely.

That hadn't been tested yet, but Remi had been doing it on plants to keep them in their sprouting state indefinitely, increasing the number of sprouts she could harvest for materials.

Compared to Remi's fully stocked swamp, the selection of materials for their future sculpting work was not great, but Lotus had created dozens more pieces of wood for the crafters.

"Alright, Loros, can you show Wendy around the workshop? You will have to share tools until I can get a new set made, but the two of you can make some base items this afternoon, and then I will work to teach Wendy more about Runecrafting tomorrow." Karl explained.

Loros gave Karl a wounded look.

"You know, my carving isn't actually a trade skill, just an obsession." She spoke softly.

Karl smiled. "So, you would like to become a Runecrafter as well?

I don't see why not.

We will all sign a proper work contract so that you don't both run off with the knowledge, and then we can get started in the morning, using the items that you have made today.

No matter what it was that you made, we can find a Runic inscription that will go well with it.

But use the magical wood first, as it's less expensive, and Sister Lotus can make more if you run out."

The actual carving was the fun part for them both, and it gave them something to do for the day, while Karl and the team made sure that they had everything that they needed.

Rae was hanging curtains over the windows on the main floor, as she had finished the upper levels already. All the beds had new linens, pillows and blankets. The top floor rooms had new rugs, and she had even distributed some of Remi's soaps to the common showers on the second floor.

Tessa looked around their new residence in satisfaction. "I will go get a few more necessities from the city. Ophelia, come with me for a bit."

Ophelia nodded, sure that the War Cleric had something secret in mind, and the pair left the house, headed for the city core.

Lotus headed back to the kitchen and loaded up supplies, then called in Karl to stock the freezer with some meat so they had options for meals.

Now, all that was left to do was wait to remember all of the small details that they had inevitably forgotten.