The next day, Ethan was in his laboratory, reviewing a list of potential products to expand the business.
"Whisky and rum… The materials for whisky are relatively simple. As for rum… sugarcane or beets will be the main issue. Most people still use honey for sweetening, and I haven't heard of refined sugar or sugarcane in this place," he murmured to himself.
At that moment, a call interrupted his thoughts.
"Master."
Ethan looked up. The voice came from the other side of the door.
"Come in."
Zhao Ren entered respectfully and handed him a scroll.
"Master, I have completed what you asked for."
Ethan took the list and reviewed it. It contained about 15 names, most of them servants, with only a few guards. In total, his family had only five guards, tasked with the security of the residence.
Wei Jiang – Veteran. Has served the family for over 20 years and accompanied his father in dangerous moments. (Loyal, protective of family and friends).Hu Zhan – Tall and strong man, wields a war axe. (Loyal, 29 years old, has served his father for over 10 years, simple and honest mentality).Hu Jian – Older brother of Hu Zhan, of similar build, uses a halberd. (Loyal, 31 years old, has also served his father for over 10 years, simple and honest mentality).Shen Bao – Silent and reserved. Has been with the family for less than two years. According to the butler's records, his village was destroyed by demonic cultivators and he was the only survivor. The old master offered him a job as a guard. (Withdrawn personality).Liu Han – Sword master, greedy, there are rumors of his contact with the Chu family. (Suspicious).
"Mei Lan – Trusted servant, skilled in cooking, Xu Ping Loyal butler in charge of administration, Yun Tao Young apprentice, curious and hardworking…"
Ethan placed the list on the table and thought for a moment.
"The number of guards is small, but at least they are experienced people with proven loyalty. However, Liu Han represents a risk. If the rumors about his relationship with the Chu family are true, I must keep a close watch on him."
The Chu family was another merchant house in the wine business in the city. The competition between the two often caused friction, and the possibility that they had informants within his house could not be dismissed.
Ethan drummed his fingers on the desk, lost in his thoughts.
"In this world, the weak are prey. Drawing too much attention without enough strength is inviting disaster."
He lifted his gaze and fixed it on the list.
"Security is the immediate priority. I need more guards, but recruiting them directly will attract suspicion. Also, the business cannot be tied to my family if I want to expand without drawing attention."
He let out a sigh and rested his elbows on the table.
"If I want to operate freely, I must create an organization, one not directly linked to the family. I could recruit people under the name of the organization and stay in the shadows until I have enough strength." His mind began to outline a plan.
"First stage: recruitment. I need to attract people willing to join. A merit-based system will ensure their loyalty. The best candidates will be orphans, vagrants. If I offer them stability and purpose, they'll be easier to win over and less likely to betray me."
Ethan narrowed his eyes, processing each possibility.
"In the meantime, weapons production must move forward. All materials are ready, but I need a trustworthy blacksmith. I can't afford leaks at this stage."
A name crossed his mind: Old Zhang.
"His reputation is solid. If I can guarantee his loyalty, he could be the first pillar of this new organization."
"Everything will begin in the shadows. By the time anyone notices its existence, it will already be too late to stop it." Ethan drummed his fingers once more, his mind already visualizing the first steps of his plan.
The next step is weapons production. Setting up a workshop in the city was too risky. The best option was to move the operation to the outskirts, maybe to a nearby town where surveillance was more lenient. A discreet place.
He couldn't buy the land under his name or the family's. Everything had to be done without leaving a trace. Zhao Ren would disguise himself as a wandering merchant in search of opportunities and take care of finding suitable land.
Once the land was secured, construction of the workshop would begin immediately. Nothing flashy, just a sturdy structure capable of housing a foundry.
To avoid leaks, production would be divided into phases. First, steel ingots would be made at the workshop, and those ingots would be delivered to the blacksmith, who would work on them. There would be no direct links between the foundry and weapon manufacturing.
Ethan drummed his fingers on the table, visualizing the next steps. With a steady flow of steel, the production of rifle cannons could begin without raising suspicion. The first move was in motion. Now, it just had to be executed with precision.
Ethan calmly stood up and gave instructions to Zhao Ren."Gather the family's guards in the courtyard. I have something to announce."
With his hands crossed behind his back, he left the laboratory while Zhao Ren bowed in obedience."I'll be there shortly, young master."
A few minutes later, Zhao Ren returned with the group. The guards greeted him respectfully.
Ethan scanned the group with his gaze, evaluating each one.
Wei Jiang, the most veteran, was a tall man in his fifties, with gray hair and a scar crossing his left eye. He used to be a member of a mercenary group, lost the eye in a mission gone wrong, and retired. Seeking stability, he came to Rong and met his father. His experience made him a valuable asset.
The Hu brothers, Hu Jian and Hu Zhan, were imposing. Tall and muscular, they stood around two meters in height. The older, Hu Jian, had a shaved head and a well-groomed beard, while his younger brother, Hu Zhan, kept his hair short and a more sparse beard. Although intelligence wasn't their strong suit, they were men of trust, loyal and fierce in combat.
Shen Bao, on the other hand, radiated coldness. Two years ago, when he went out to gather firewood, his village was massacred by demonic cultivators. Since then, he trained obsessively, but unfortunately, he lacked talent for cultivation."Shen Bao... A man marked by tragedy. Such deep-rooted hatred can be a powerful engine if channeled correctly." Ethan considered the possibility of recruiting him for his future organization. "Just need to see if he has enough courage."
Finally, his gaze landed on Liu Han. Of distinguished bearing and unquestionable sword skills, however, his loyalty belonged not to an ideal nor a family, but to gold, wine, and women. A sharp sword, but unreliable.
Ethan let the silence settle before continuing."As you all know, from now on, I will be in charge of the family matters. I wanted to gather you because you are the strength of this house, and your loyalty and performance will be key in the future."
His gaze scanned each of the guards, making sure they understood the weight of his words. Then, after briefly discussing assignments and tasks, he ended the meeting.
"That's all for now. Return to your duties."
The guards responded with a respectful salute before leaving. However, when Shen Bao turned to leave, Ethan's voice stopped him.
"Shen Bao, stay for a moment."
The young man stopped immediately and turned to Ethan with a confused expression, though his gaze retained that latent coldness.
Ethan observed his rigid posture.
"I have a task for you. Something that requires determination and... courage."
He didn't need to say more. If Shen Bao had the will Ethan sought, he wouldn't ask questions.
"Please, order me, master." Shen Bao bowed his head in a respectful gesture, his tone firm and determined.
"I want you to watch Liu Han."
A flash crossed Shen Bao's eyes. Ethan didn't need to explain it in too many words.
"Watch who he meets with, what he says, and what he does when he thinks no one is watching. If you find evidence of betrayal..." Ethan paused briefly before continuing in a firm voice, "you'll take care of him."
There was no need to embellish the words. Ethan sought men who obeyed without questioning.
Shen Bao processed the order silently. His posture remained rigid, but he showed no doubt or fear.
"Understood?"
"Yes, master."
Ethan held his gaze for a few more seconds, evaluating him one last time. Then, he nodded.
"Go. Leave no traces."
Shen Bao bowed his head and left.
With everything in place, Ethan approached Zhao Ren and gave him a clear order:
"Leave immediately. Find a warehouse or an old building on the outskirts of the city, in a discreet and little-trafficked village. It must be spacious, with a sturdy structure, and not attract too much attention. It should look abandoned, but still be able to be repaired without raising suspicion."
He took a small pouch from his sleeve and handed it to him.
"Use this to buy the place. Pay what's necessary and avoid drawing attention."
Zhao Ren asked no questions. He simply nodded, took the pouch, and left without wasting any time.
Ethan walked back to his room when he heard voices coming from the hall. It didn't take long to recognize them.
"Enough! Don't you think you've had enough to drink?" his mother scolded with a mix of annoyance and amusement.
"Come on, woman!" his father replied, his tone clearly lively. "Today is a special day. Our son has grown up. He can take the business into his own hands!"
Intrigued, Ethan entered the room and found his father sitting at a table with a jug of liquor half-empty. His mother stood with her arms crossed, giving him a reproachful look, though there was pride in her eyes.
"Son! Come here, sit down. You have to toast with your old man."
Ethan smiled and sat down in front of them. His father poured a cup and pushed it toward him with a satisfied smile.
Ethan took the cup calmly, swirling it between his fingers as he watched the liquid reflect the light from the lamps. He took a sip and felt the warmth travel down his throat.
His father, excited, laughed and slapped the table with enthusiasm."It's the best drink in the world!"
His mother sighed but then turned to Ethan and gently patted his head."I'm so proud of you, son. You've grown so much…"
Ethan nodded, enjoying the moment. His mother continued scolding his father for drinking too much, while he, with a cup in hand and a calm smile, watched the scene. For a brief moment, he put aside his worries and simply allowed himself to be carried away by the warmth of home.