Reborn As A Beastman With A System

Lion David caught the flicker of intrigue in Logan' eyes, prompting him to flash a knowing smile. "That's merely the first point, and quite frankly, it's the cornerstone of my philosophy."

"The first point?" Logan echoed, his interest piqued.

With a sly grin, Logan nodded. "Boss David, you truly are a genuine soul!"

Genuine indeed, but Logan was no simpleton. He understood all too well that a businessman's authenticity often served ulterior motives. Truth be told, beneath the veneer of sincerity, at least eighty percent was mere posturing.

"The second point," David continued, leaning forward with a hint of urgency, "involves the seven major wine merchants. Together, they've cornered the market on dozens of camp wine businesses in the vicinity. Individually, they might seem manageable, but united, they wield formidable power."

"Seven?" Logan repeated, stunned. His grasp of each merchant's strength was vague, but the idea of seven controlling such a vast network was intimidating.

"How do you know this? Have you met them?" Logan probed, his brow furrowed.

He had previously inquired Fisher about this, who confessed his unfamiliarity with the wine circles and the key players therein. Fisher had already dispatched scouts to gather more information.

Moreover, Tyton had mentioned an encounter with a solitary Beastmen, a mere messenger, likely just a pawn.

"There's a particularly cunning fox among them, a wine merchant who used to supply to me. We crossed paths recently, though he remains unaware of my dealings with you," David divulged with a crafty gleam in his eye.

"I handle the logistics, transporting the wine to the human realm for other allied merchants to sell. Fisher, possessing a chain of grain stores, handles sales directly." David paused, allowing the implications to sink in.

Logan studied David's expression, discerning that the blame was subtly being shifted towards Fisher.

"But let's not fault Fisher prematurely," David hastily added, "Your rice liquor is unparalleled in quality. Such exquisite brews inevitably draw predators the moment they hit the human market."

Logan couldn't help but smile at the maneuver, David had skillfully deflected responsibility while defending Fisher.

"Indeed, the jackals would descend regardless," Logan conceded, a trace of resignation in his tone.

"If our products generate high profits in the human world, unnoticed by competing merchants, it's a mere fantasy."

"Understand this: these wine tycoons are shrewd and ruthless. To trade in their dominion, you're compelled to buy from them, or you're stifled," David warned, his voice low and grave.

"Just like now, they've leveraged their influence to rally thousands of bandits, ready to strike at Fisher's caravans."

"If you choose to align with them, they'll bleed you dry while their influence swells uncontrollably. Soon, you'll find yourself utterly trapped within their grasp," Lion David warned gravely, his gaze locking intently with Logan'. "Liquor is a lucrative business, and should these tycoons monopolize it, their power would be unimaginable."

He couldn't bear the thought, and he was certain Fisher felt the same.

Logan nearly chuckled internally at the dramatic assertion. David's concerns echoed Fisher's, neither wished to collaborate with the wine magnates, not simply to safeguard their revenue from rice liquor, but to avoid the dire scenarios they painted.

Yet, the potential consequences, albeit daunting, were speculative at best, and Logan wasn't keen on verifying their validity. To him, relinquishing control over the terms of cooperation was tantamount to servitude, a price too steep for any partnership.

"I'm not one to be played for a fool," he mused silently.

"So, I ask for your patience, Master. I trust that Boss Fisher is already devising a strategy," David continued, a note of reassurance in his voice.

"Moreover, I've reached out to my family. Within a month, formidable reinforcements will arrive. United with Boss Fisher, we can withstand even a coalition of the seven major wine merchants and give them a lesson they won't forget," David declared confidently.

Though he hadn't profited as handsomely as Fisher in recent wine shipments to the human kingdom, the gains were still substantial. The thought of these wine magnates disrupting his trade and his potential earnings, ignited a fierce anger within him.

"Family? Will they truly arrive within a month?" Logan asked, his interest piqued.

"Are you perhaps from the Caesar Plains?" he inquired, connecting dots in his mind about the lion-men's distribution.

David's identity suddenly seemed even more significant when Logan recalled the surname, Templeton. "Isn't your surname Templeton? And isn't one of the three major royal courts in Caesar Plains known as the Templeton Royal Court?"

As he voiced this, Logan gazed at David with newfound awe, realizing he might be speaking to a member of a royal lineage.

"Yes, Master, I am of the Templeton line," David confirmed with a nod, a hint of pride in his tone. He had intended to share his heritage earlier, wanting to assure Logan that compared to their resources, the clout of the wine merchants was trivial.

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Logan grasped the implications immediately.

Lion David's forthright declaration of his royal lineage wasn't merely a casual mention, it was a deliberate display of strength and assurance for Logan.

Yet, Logan felt no need to probe further into David's background; knowing he was of the Templeton royal blood was sufficient. Their conversation flowed easily, and Logan felt at ease. While Fisher and David seemed pressed by their predicaments, Logan was under no such pressure. After all, with assurances of support arriving within a month, why worry?

As their meeting wound down, and Lion David prepared to depart, Logan decided on a gesture of goodwill. He retrieved a barrel of rye liquor and presented it to David.

"Master, what does this mean?" David asked, genuinely puzzled.

Why would Logan offer him a barrel of liquor when he knew David already had stockpiles of rice wine awaiting consumption?

"Consider it a token of appreciation," Logan replied with a smile, subtly sidestepping a direct answer.

Understanding the unspoken etiquette between them, David accepted the gift graciously. To reject it would be a slight, a risk he wasn't willing to take, especially after revealing his royal ties to garner favor and demonstrate his sincerity.

"Thank you for the gift, Master," David said, bowing slightly in respect.

...

An hour later, in the lavishly adorned bedroom of the Wind Walker Chamber of Commerce, His Highness the Elf was engrossed in an ancient tome, his features relaxed into a faint smile.

Suddenly, the soft rap of knuckles against the door broke his concentration.

"Come in," he called out in a clear, authoritative tone.

Upon his invitation, a young high-ranking elf entered, bowing slightly. "Your Highness, there has been a sighting at the Kasha Hotel. It may involve the wine merchants."

"May involve?" the Elf Prince queried, his eyes narrowing slightly as he closed his book.

"Yes, Your Highness. An hour ago, Fisher and the lion-man merchant were both seen entering the Kasha Hotel. It's likely they were meeting with its true owner," the young elf reported with deference.

"Continue your surveillance," the Elf Prince instructed smoothly, his demeanor calm yet commanding. "I seek certainty, not conjecture. Confirm that the owner is indeed present at the Kasha Hotel. Understand?"

"Yes, Your Highness," the young elf replied, bowing deeper before retreating to carry out his orders. The Elf Prince's smile lingered, tinged with the thrill of the unfolding intrigue.