All in Charisma (A LitRPG/Isekai Adventure)

Justin headed toward the front of the building, following the sounds of animated conversation and the occasional scrape of furniture. He found Tammy and Rita in the main showroom, surrounded by an impressive array of furniture samples—chairs, tables, shelving units, and various storage containers artfully arranged to showcase their quality.

"Mr. Talemaker!" Tammy called out, her face flushed with pride. "Perfect timing. I've just finished negotiations with Mr. Laribar here."

A portly man in Merchant attire stepped forward, adjusting his soft-brimmed cap with the resigned expression of someone who had just been thoroughly outmaneuvered. Justin noted his was Level 8.

"Barnabas Laribar, if you please. Your... employee here drives a hard bargain."

"Indeed?" Justin raised an eyebrow, noting how Laribar emphasized 'employee' with a mix of respect and bewilderment.

Tammy practically bounced on her toes. "He wanted fifteen crowns to outfit the entire place, both residential and commercial sections. I got him down to ten and wouldn't take no for an answer!"

Justin's eyes widened. A five-crown reduction from an experienced Merchant was impressive, especially for someone without a class. "How did you manage that?"

Tammy's grin was infectious. "Well, he started by showing me this lovely dining table, all polished and gleaming. But I've cleaned enough taverns to know good wood from dressed-up scraps. I ran my finger along the grain and told him, 'Mr. Laribar, this is pine with a walnut stain, not solid walnut like you claimed. Pine's fine for our needs, but not at walnut prices.'"

Laribar shifted uncomfortably. "It's a perfectly serviceable piece—"

"Oh, it is!" Tammy agreed cheerfully. "That's when I pointed out the wobble in the chair leg and the fact that his 'enchanted' preservation cabinet was just regular wood with a basic freshness rune; good for a few more days, not the weeks he was advertising. By the time I finished cataloging every little flaw, he was so flustered that he agreed to my price just to end the conversation!"

Justin couldn't help but laugh. "Tammy, that's brilliant. You've got a natural eye for quality and the backbone to use it."

"Fifteen years in taverns teaches you to spot when someone's trying to pass off cheap stuff as premium," she said with satisfaction. "Rita helped too. The girl's got sharp eyes for details, even if she can't say much about them yet."

Rita beamed and nodded enthusiastically, clearly pleased to have contributed.

"The delivery will be tomorrow morning," Laribar said, eager to finalize the transaction. "Payment on delivery, as agreed. Ten crowns, in coin."

"Excellent," Justin replied, shaking the Merchant's hand. "We appreciate your flexibility in negotiations."

As Laribar gathered his samples and left, Justin turned to Tammy with genuine admiration. "You negotiated better than most Merchants I've seen. Would you consider pursuing the Merchant class yourself?"

Tammy's cheeks flushed slightly. "Oh, I couldn't... could I? I mean, I can hardly be worth the—"

"You have instincts and courage. It's something to consider for the future."

Before Tammy could respond, the front door opened and Rinna and Ilsa returned, their expressions a mix of satisfaction and mild exhaustion.

"How did the equipment hunt go?" Justin asked.

Ilsa held up a leather-bound tome that shimmered in the afternoon light. "Enchanted ledger book, acquired. Two gold crowns, as expected. It's already connected to the basic interface system, though I can't access that yet without a class. But we can at least start proper record-keeping immediately."

"And the distillery?" Justin asked, turning to Rinna.

Her face broke into a relieved smile. "Success! We found an enchantry in the Golden Quarter looking to upgrade their equipment. They have an older model they're willing to sell for fifteen crowns, delivered tomorrow."

"Is it functional?" Justin asked.

"Absolutely. The owner, Master Aliendro, demonstrated it for us. It's about ten years old. Not the latest model, but it produces clean, concentrated aether perfectly. He even showed us a batch of aether crystals he'd just processed—brilliant blue, no impurities. He said it's been completely reliable, just not fast enough for their current volume needs."

"That sounds perfect for us," Justin said with relief. "Fifteen crowns is reasonable, and we don't need industrial-scale production yet."

At that moment, Lila emerged from the workshop, her hair slightly disheveled and her green eyes bright with excitement. "How's everyone doing? I've been exploring our new capabilities, and I have to say, Master Kilgan's setup is even more impressive than I initially thought."

"Everything's coming together," Justin said, gesturing around the room. "Furniture negotiated and being delivered tomorrow, ledger book acquired, and Rinna found us a distillery."

"Wonderful!" Lila said. "This means I can start experimental brewing tonight, and Rinna can begin working on the chits as soon as her equipment arrives."

"Speaking of which," Tammy said, "I should start preparing dinner. We'll want to have our meeting while everything's fresh in everyone's minds."

As the afternoon faded into evening, the team gathered in the upstairs dining room for their daily planning session. Alistair returned, saying he would share his news during the dinner meeting. Tammy had prepared a hearty stew with root vegetables and chunks of salted pork, accompanied by fresh bread that filled the room with warmth and the promise of home.

"So," Justin said, settling onto the floor with his bowl, "let's review our status. Tammy, excellent work on the furniture negotiations. Five crowns saved is five crowns we can invest elsewhere."

"Thank you, Mr. Talemaker. Rita was a big help too."

"Noted. Rinna, the fifteen crowns for the distillery keeps us right on budget. Any concerns about the setup?"

"None at all. Master Aliendro said his apprentice would help with installation to ensure everything's properly calibrated, and I can supervise. We should be operational by tomorrow afternoon, if not sooner."

"Perfect. Ilsa, how's the ledger book?"

"Already functional," she said, producing the tome. "I can record transactions, track inventory, and even set up automatic calculations for profits and expenses. It's quite sophisticated. Direct interface access is not possible yet unless you were to use the book, Mr. Talemaker, but that shouldn't matter at the moment. It will be critical if we ever open new locations and want all our ledgers to be in sync, though."

"It will do for now. Now, Alistair, how was your reconnaissance of Scaleback Row?"

The Paladin's expression grew serious. "Enlightening yet concerning. Scaleback Row is definitely Crimson Scales territory. Their symbol, a pair of varkiss eyes, is carved into several buildings, and the local businesses all sport small red pennants indicating protection payments."

"What's the general atmosphere like?" Lila asked.

"Tense. I spoke with a few shop owners willing to talk. The Scales seemed to appear out of nowhere about six months ago, offering 'voluntary' protection services. Those who refused faced mysterious break-ins, supply problems, or worse. Now, everyone over there pays. They speak of one they call 'the Shadowscale.' I can only assume that's their leader."

Justin didn't like the sound of that. "How much are they charging?"

"Varies by business size and type. Small shops pay around five silvers monthly, while larger operations pay more. The interesting part is they're methodical about their expansion. They don't just muscle in randomly; they study an area for weeks, identify key businesses and influential residents, then make their approach."

"And what's their timeline for reaching us?" Ilsa asked. "We've heard anywhere from tomorrow to several months, depending on who we talk to."

"Hard to say precisely, but several people mentioned increased Scales activity moving eastward. I'd estimate we have maybe a month before they start making 'friendly visits' to businesses in our immediate area to anyone not already paying."

Justin absorbed the information while Ilsa diligently recorded everything in her ledger. "So we have time to establish ourselves, but not much time to waste."

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"There's one more thing," Alistair continued. "The varkiss community in Scaleback Row is complicated. Some support the Scales as fellow varkiss providing security, while others resent them for bringing unwanted attention to the entire community. This has created divisions that didn't exist before."

"Which means our decision to serve varkiss customers like Szara could be seen as taking sides," Lila observed.

"Potentially. Though Szara seems well-regarded locally, so it might not be an issue if we're discreet."

Justin nodded thoughtfully. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. For now, let's focus on the immediate tasks. Ilsa, I need to give you all our receipts for proper recording. And if anyone has a business-related receipt, it goes straight to her."

Justin knew this was a calculated gamble. His Insightful Gaze boon was powerful enough to detect any deceit, but there was still the risk of miscalculation. Ilsa was beginning to find purpose, and not allowing her to use her talents would handicap them, if not now, then later. Justin needed to focus on the big picture while she handled the small transactions.

He pulled out a collection of papers and coins from his pack. "Forty crowns for Lila's class core, fifty for Kilgan's alchemy operation, fifteen for the distillery tomorrow, ten for furniture, two for the ledger book... that's 117 crowns committed or spent, plus daily wages."

"And the rent," Rinna added.

Justin nodded. "Right. The rent. Three golds for the first month."

Ilsa's quill moved swiftly across the ledger pages as numbers appeared automatically. "That leaves us with roughly 140 crowns in operating capital, assuming our initial estimate of 260 was accurate. Can I take that as our total coin purse?"

"Yes," Justin confirmed, counting out the silver pieces. "Speaking of which, daily wages." He handed each employee their silver. "Tomorrow we'll have furniture and a distillery. By the end of the week, we should be ready for limited operations."

"I'm excited to start crafting those chits," Rinna said, pocketing her wage. "The design I have in mind should work perfectly with the distillery."

"And I'll be ready to begin proper potion production," Lila added. "I've already absorbed a significant amount of knowledge from one of the volumes he provided. This Songbrewer class is remarkable for information retention."

As the meeting wound down and people began heading to their rooms, Lila excused herself to return to the workshop.

Justin found himself alone and still brimming with energy. The day had been productive, but something about Alistair's reconnaissance report nagged at him. If they were going to serve varkiss customers like Szara, he needed to understand that community better.

So, he stepped out into the street, Jester's Roulette in hand, and felt himself drawn west, toward the river, deeper into Mudside.

The transition was gradual yet noticeable. The narrow streets grew more cramped, and the buildings appeared more weathered. What had started as a mixed neighborhood of humans and varkiss gradually shifted to predominantly scaled residents. Cooking smells changed from familiar stews to exotic spices that made his nose tingle. The architecture adapted too—windows set higher for privacy and brass heating pipes running along building exteriors to combat the constant chill that seemed to plague the city's reptilian residents.

Eventually, Justin found himself standing before a tavern whose sign bore script in both Aranthian and what he assumed was a varkiss language, an elegant, curving script reminiscent of claw marks. The establishment was called "The Warming Stone," and through its windows, he could see the warm glow of multiple hearths and the distinctive silhouettes of scaled patrons.

Most people would find the prospect of entering an almost entirely varkiss establishment intimidating. Justin, however, had faced demons, traversed otherworldly dimensions, and stared death in the face more times than he could count. A tavern full of potential customers hardly seemed threatening.

He pushed through the door and was immediately struck by the warmth—not just from the fire pits scattered throughout the common room, but from the surprisingly convivial atmosphere. Conversation hummed in both sibilant Aranthian and a more exotic varkiss tongue, or perhaps some blend of the two, punctuated by occasional laughter that sounded more like a pleased hiss.

A few heads turned as Justin entered, but most simply acknowledged him and returned to their conversations.

He approached the bar, where a large female varkiss assessed him with yellow eyes before speaking. "Welcome to the Warming Stone, warm-blood. First time in our establishment?"

"It is," Justin replied. "I'm new to the neighborhood. What would you recommend for someone looking to understand local tastes?"

Her neck frill rippled, what he was learning to recognize as amusement among varkiss. "Adventurous, I like that. Try the heated fernwine; it's a local specialty. It helps warm-bloods like you appreciate why we value good heat."

"Sounds good."

She poured a deep red liquid into a metal cup that radiated warmth, then added what appeared to be crushed herbs that released an aromatic steam. The first sip was surprisingly pleasant, sweet with herbal complexity and a gentle warming sensation that spread through his chest.

"That's excellent," Justin said sincerely. "I can see why it would be popular."

"Ten coppers."

Justin felt it was pricier than it should be, but he didn't complain as he handed over the coins.

"You said you're new to the neighborhood?" asked a voice to his left.

Justin turned to see a lean male varkiss with dark green scales and an intelligent expression. Unlike some laborers, he wore the clothing of a prosperous merchant or skilled craftsman. Yet, Justin's monocle identified him as a Level 10 Javelineer, and geometric black tattoos covered much of his scales. Several long spears protruded from a quiver on his back.

"I am," Justin said. "Justin Talemaker."

"I am Kethril Ssk'tha," the varkiss said. His eyes widened a bit. "Ah! You must be the one who rented Szara's old place. She mentioned new tenants but was... diplomatic about the details."

Justin logged his expression and instantly knew that this varkiss recognized him the moment he sat down. "You know Szara?"

"She is my cousin, though we rarely see each other these days. Family can be... complicated when one moves to better neighborhoods."

There was no bitterness in his voice, just a matter-of-fact acknowledgment of social realities.

"She's been a good landlord so far," Justin said. "Very professional."

"Szara always was the ambitious one," Kethril said fondly. "But tell me, what sort of business brings you to our corner of the city? Most warm-bloods who can afford Saint Muriel prefer to keep their distance from Mudside."

"Delivery services, primarily. We're hoping to serve the local community."

Kethril's expression grew thoughtful. "Interesting. Most delivery services avoid Scaleback Row and the surrounding areas. We aren't technically in Scaleback here, though some would argue otherwise. There's a lot of... uncertainty these days."

Justin could see exactly where Kethril was directing the conversation. "You speak of the Crimson Scales."

"Ah, you know about them." Kethril's voice dropped slightly. "Yes, they have... complicated things."

"And what's your opinion?"

Kethril was quiet for a moment, sipping from his cup. "Protection that requires payment is just another word for extortion, no matter who provides it. But I understand why some find it necessary. These Scales claim they're different. Perhaps they're right."

Justin read his expression. Kethril wasn't lying about his position, but there was definitely more nuance to his opinion than he expressed. It was a reminder that Insightful Gaze could detect the presence of nuance but couldn't reveal what those nuances were. It was up to him to ferret it out if he chose to pursue that direction.

"Noted," Justin said. "Any advice for navigating those complications?"

"Be honest, be fair, and be consistent. Do not promise what you cannot deliver, and do not make customers feel ashamed of their needs or circumstances." Kethril's expression grew serious. "And be careful of the Scales themselves. They are not... fond of businesses that operate outside their influence."

"I appreciate the counsel."

"Szara chose well," Kethril said approvingly. "Perhaps your venture will succeed where others have not. Being a successful business owner requires a great deal of flexibility, a trait not everyone possesses."

Again, Justin sensed Kethril was trying to convey something deeper, and he couldn't shake the feeling it was connected to the Crimson Scales.

They then discussed local preferences, reliable suppliers, and the neighborhood's rhythms for a few more minutes. When Justin finally excused himself, he felt he had gained valuable insight into a customer base that most businesses overlooked.

He navigated the winding streets, ensuring he wasn't followed, until he found a secluded alley near a closed cooper's shop. After confirming he was alone, Justin gripped his Jester's Roulette and focused on the workshop.

In an instant, the world shifted around him, leaving him disoriented. Suddenly, he stood in the workshop, startling Lila, who was bent over one of the alchemy tables.

"Justin! How did you—" She straightened up, holding a small glass vial filled with pink liquid. "Oh, your daily enchantment?"

"Testing it out," he replied, examining her setup.

The alchemy table was a marvel—built-in heating elements maintained precise temperatures for various solutions, while an array of glassware bubbled and steamed in perfect harmony. Ingredient containers were neatly arranged within easy reach, and Kilgan's organizational system made every component accessible.

"What are you working on?" he asked.

"My first real potion," Lila said, her pride evident. "A basic healing draught. According to Kilgan's notes, it's an ideal starting point for mastering technique."

She held up the vial, which contained a pleasant pink liquid that glowed faintly in the workshop's lighting. "Bronze-tier healing potion. Nothing fancy, but it should effectively mend minor cuts and bruises."

"Impressive," Justin said. "Is that the limit of your new abilities?"

Lila's eyes sparkled. "Actually, no. Watch this."

She began to sing softly—the same melody she used for her Charisma-boosting bardic song. As her voice filled the workshop, golden energy flowed from her into the potion. The pink liquid transformed, taking on a rich golden sheen that pulsed in rhythm with her song.

When her melody ended, Justin's monocle updated its assessment of the vial's contents.

"Bronze-tier healing potion of temporary charm," he read aloud. "Provides moderate healing plus a +2 Charisma boost for ten minutes. That's remarkable, Lila."

"The Harmonic Infusion boon," she said with satisfaction. "Imagine the possibilities."

Justin pocketed the potion carefully. "How many of these can you produce?"

"As many as we have supplies for. Master Kilgan left us well-stocked with basic ingredients, and this combination isn't too demanding on resources."

"What's our production strategy?"

Lila leaned against the alchemy table, deep in thought. "We need to balance appeal with profit margins. Most people in Belmora don't have classes, so potions that benefit everyone—like basic healing, disease resistance, and energy restoration—will likely sell best. However, potions that enhance class abilities can command premium prices from adventurers and professionals."

"Both markets, then," Justin agreed. "Volume sales for basic needs and premium pricing for specialized effects."

"Exactly. But I suspect we'll learn more about demand once we start taking orders."

Justin yawned, suddenly feeling the weight of the long day. "Don't stay up too late experimenting. Tomorrow will be busy with deliveries and setup."

"Just a little longer," Lila promised, turning back to her ingredients. "I want to try a few more basic formulations while the process is still fresh in my mind."

As Justin headed upstairs to bed, he felt a deep sense of satisfaction. In just two days, they had secured their location, equipped their workshop, negotiated favorable deals, and begun production, if Lila's small efforts could be counted.

The challenges ahead—guild politics, gang pressure, and competition—remained daunting. Tomorrow would undoubtedly bring new complications.

But tonight, as he settled onto his sleeping mat, Justin allowed himself a moment of optimism. It was all starting to come together.