All in Charisma (A LitRPG/Isekai Adventure)

Justin, Lila, and Ardabel Kilgan sat down at the single wooden table while his boys finished up the packing.

"Now, Ms. Fairwind here mentioned you had something of a special skill that ensured fair dealing. Mind going over that for me?"

"Certainly," Justin said.

He quickly explained the mechanics of Gentleman's Agreement as Kilgan nodded along. In truth, the man still seemed somewhat shaken by his wife's dramatic exit. His boys worked in practiced silence.

"That's everything," Justin finished. "Are you ready to proceed?"

"Please do," Kilgan said.

Justin activated his skill, feeling the familiar golden shimmer as the System interface appeared before them.

[Gentleman's Agreement Proposed]

Terms of Agreement between Justin Talemaker of Summon & Supply and Mr. Ardabel Kilgan of Kilgan Alchemical and Sundries:

Sale of Complete Alchemy Operation:

Mr. Kilgan agrees to sell his entire alchemy inventory, equipment, and recipe collection to Summon & Supply for fifty (50) gold crowns.

Inventory includes all finished potions, raw ingredients, preserved components, and specialized alchemical materials currently in stock.

Equipment includes two professional alchemy tables, complete glassware sets, distillation apparatus, grinding tools, measurement instruments, storage containers, enchanted preservation chambers, and all workshop fixtures.

Recipe collection includes Mr. Kilgan's personal formulary, standardized ingredient guides, and brewing instructions accumulated over fifteen years of practice.

Transportation and Setup:

Mr. Kilgan will arrange transportation of all materials to Summon & Supply headquarters in the Saint Muriel neighborhood.

Transport to be completed within one business day of this agreement.

Mr. Kilgan and/or his assistants will provide setup assistance to ensure proper installation and functionality of all equipment.

Consulting Services:

Mr. Kilgan agrees to provide one month of intensive consultation services to Ms. Lila Fairwind, Songbrewer.

Services include but are not limited to instruction in potion brewing techniques, ingredient identification and sourcing, quality control methods, and comprehensive guidance on Belmora's alchemical market landscape.

Consultation to begin within two business days and continue as mutually convenient.

Ongoing Partnership Arrangement:

Mr. Kilgan will receive 10% of gross revenue from any potions based directly on his original formulations.

Mr. Kilgan will receive 5% of gross revenue from enhanced or modified versions developed using his recipes as a foundation.

Payments calculated monthly with full ledger access for verification.

Partnership continues indefinitely unless terminated by mutual agreement.

Payment Terms:

Initial payment of fifty (50) gold crowns to be rendered upon completion of equipment transport and setup.

Ongoing revenue sharing as specified above.

No additional fees or charges beyond the agreed terms.

Additional Provisions:

Mr. Kilgan warrants that all equipment is in good working condition and all ingredients are properly preserved and unexpired to the best of his knowledge.

Summon & Supply accepts responsibility for all materials upon delivery.

Both parties agree to maintain confidentiality regarding the terms and circumstances of this transaction.

Mr. Kilgan retains the right to review the usage of his formulations for quality assurance purposes.

[Duration: This agreement remains in effect until all initial obligations are fulfilled, with ongoing partnership terms continuing indefinitely. Violation of terms is physically impossible by all parties to this agreement.]

[Do both parties accept these terms?]

Mr. Kilgan read through the terms with evident care, his eyebrows raising as he absorbed the full scope of the partnership arrangement. "This is... quite generous, Mr. Talemaker. Far more comprehensive than I expected." His voice carried a mixture of gratitude and amazement. "It protects both our interests while ensuring my work continues to have meaning. I accept these terms wholeheartedly."

"As do I," Justin confirmed, shaking his hand.

[Gentleman's Agreement Established. Terms are now binding upon both parties.]

"Excellent," Justin said. "Now then, shall we see this operation in motion?"

What followed was a remarkably efficient process, made smoother by Kilgan's obvious relief at having resolved the situation. He introduced his sons—Garrett, the elder at nineteen, and Willem, two years younger—both sturdy young men who had clearly been helping with the family business for years. If they harbored any disappointment about not being able to follow in their father's footsteps, they showed no signs of it. Instead, they seemed genuinely pleased to see their father's work going to people who valued it properly.

They had already loaded the first cart with the more delicate equipment and several crates of ingredients, while a patient mule waited for orders.

"We'll need three trips total," Kilgan explained as they prepared to depart. "The boys and I will handle the transport. My wife..." He paused, glancing toward the street where Cordelia had stormed off. "Well, she'll likely return once everything is settled. She means well, but security has always been her primary concern."

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"Change can be difficult," Justin allowed. "But it can also be for the best."

"Indeed."

The first load departed immediately, with Garrett driving while Kilgan rode alongside, and Willem stayed behind to mind the shop. Justin and Lila guided them through the winding streets back toward their headquarters and around to the rear entrance they had discovered during their initial exploration.

The efficiency was impressive. Within three hours, all three loads had been transported without incident, despite the narrow alleys and occasional curious onlookers. The workshop, which had seemed spacious when empty, now hummed with the organized complexity of a professional operation. Two elegant alchemy tables dominated the space, their built-in heating elements already connected to the main hearth through an ingenious system of pipes and vents. Shelves lined the walls, filled with an impressive array of bottles, jars, and containers holding everything from common healing herbs to exotic crystalline compounds that seemed to pulse with their own inner light.

By early afternoon, everything was installed and organized to Kilgan's exacting standards, and he had been fully paid. He stood in the center of the workshop, hands clasped behind his back, while his son waited respectfully with the empty cart. He surveyed the space with the expression of a man bidding farewell to a dear friend.

"Well," he said softly, "I suppose this is it."

Lila approached him, her expression filled with genuine respect. "Mr. Kilgan, I want you to know how much this means to me. Not just the equipment and ingredients, but the opportunity to learn from someone with your experience and to carry forward your legacy."

Kilgan's weathered face softened with emotion. "Fifteen years I've been brewing potions in this city, Ms. Fairwind. I've seen fashions change, new ingredients arrive from distant lands, competitors rise and fall. It's been a good life, mostly." He gestured around the workshop with obvious pride. "These tools served me well, and I have every confidence they'll serve you even better. The art of alchemy... it's not merely about following recipes, you understand. It's about understanding the essence of what you're working with, feeling the rhythm of each process, knowing when something's right just by the color of the steam or the pitch of the bubbling."

He moved to one of the ingredient shelves, running his fingers along the labeled containers. "And organization—always keep your vials, retorts, alembics, and ingredients meticulously organized. I cannot stress that enough. A misplaced component or contaminated vessel can ruin hours of work."

"I understand," Lila said quietly. "Or at least, I hope to learn to understand."

"A Songbrewer," Kilgan mused, shaking his head in wonder. "In all my years, I've never had the privilege of working with one. The theoretical applications are fascinating. You'll be capable of innovations I could never dream of achieving."

"I'll still need your guidance every step of the way," Lila insisted. "Theory is one thing, but practical knowledge... that comes only from experience."

Kilgan's smile was warm and genuine. "You have exactly the right attitude. Too many young alchemists think they can skip the fundamentals and jump straight to advanced techniques. But true mastery comes from understanding every step of the process, from ingredient preparation to final bottling."

Lila nodded. "I promise to honor what you've built here."

"I know you will." Kilgan turned to Justin, his expression growing more serious. "Mr. Talemaker, I wish you both tremendous success with this venture. The potion business in Belmora is challenging—established competitors, complex guild politics, ever-changing regulations. You got a taste of that with Mr. Galloway back there. But you clearly have vision and determination. Perhaps you can succeed where I... encountered difficulties."

He glanced around the workshop one final time, then toward the windows in the long hall behind. His expression grew thoughtful, almost troubled.

"One word of advice, if I may," he continued carefully. "This neighborhood... Mudside has its charms, especially this enchanting neighborhood. But it's changing rapidly. New players are moving in, old arrangements are being disrupted. Keep your ears open and your options flexible. Success in this business isn't just about brewing exceptional potions. It's about navigating the currents around you."

Justin caught the subtle warning in the older man's tone. "We appreciate the counsel. Is there anything specific we should be aware of?"

Kilgan hesitated, clearly weighing his words. "Nothing concrete I can point to. Just... be careful whom you trust, and don't be afraid to adapt when circumstances change. The city has a way of testing newcomers, and not always gently." He gave a final nod. "As agreed, I'll return tomorrow to begin my consulting of Ms. Fairwind. It's been a while since I've taught someone new. To be frank, neither of my boys are Intellect cores, and so could not follow in my footsteps even if they wanted. I hope that this gold can secure them both classes of their own. Garrett will be twenty soon."

"You're doing right by them," Justin said.

"I do hope so, Mr. Talemaker." He looked at Lila. "I shall be by at 8:00 sharp, Ms. Fairwind."

"Of course," she said. "See you then."

Mr. Kilgan left with his boys, leaving Justin and Lila alone in their newly equipped workshop.

"Well," Lila said, breaking the contemplative silence that followed, "that was both encouraging and mildly ominous."

"He's probably just concerned about us starting out in a competitive market," Justin replied, though he found himself wondering exactly what Kilgan had observed during his years in the business. "A veteran Alchemist warning newcomers about the challenges ahead."

"Perhaps." Lila ran her hand along one of the alchemy tables, her expression thoughtful. "But did you notice how he looked at the building? Not dismissive exactly, but... worried. Like he knows something about this area that we don't."

"Could be related to the Crimson Scales situation Alistair mentioned. If they've been expanding eastward, an established store owner like Kilgan would definitely have heard the rumors."

"Most likely." Lila opened the gifted journal, scanning the first few pages with growing excitement. "In any case, we'll learn soon enough. For now, I have a month of consultations to look forward to and an entire library of alchemical knowledge to absorb."

Justin surveyed their new capabilities with deep satisfaction. With professional-grade equipment, extensive ingredients, expert guidance, and now a partnership that honored Kilgan's legacy while providing ongoing value, they had just taken a massive step toward making their vision a reality.

"Tomorrow we begin Phase Two," he said, "assuming Rinna and Ilsa can source that distillery today."

"No pressure at all," Lila said with a grin, but her eyes sparkled with excitement as she began exploring her new domain.

[500 experience gained. Current experience: 24,575/29,000.]

Justin supposed the experience notification was to be expected. He had used his class skill to positive results, securing a vital part of the business that could have easily gone awry. Even now, he wondered if it was the last he would hear from Mr. Galloway. He'd have to figure out the possible guild stuff later.

Justin headed toward the front of the building. He had been hearing activity and voices and wanted to check on how Tammy's furniture negotiations were progressing.