All in Charisma (A LitRPG/Isekai Adventure)

Once back at Summon & Supply headquarters, Lila and Ardabel immediately retreated to the workshop with their precious ingredients. Rinna joined them, working alongside them to ensure her mirror enchantment project. Though the workshop door remained closed, Justin could hear Lila's melodic voice rising every twenty minutes or so as she infused each batch with Bardic magic.

With both Lila and Rinna occupied for the foreseeable future, Justin faced a staffing dilemma. Leaving headquarters risked delayed customer service if multiple delivery requests came in at once. However, it also presented an opportunity to test customer tolerance—how long would people wait before losing patience? Better to discover these limits now while their customer base was still small.

"Alistair," Justin called, "I'm heading to the Commercial District to drum up more business. Can you handle deliveries solo if needed?"

The Paladin nodded from his position monitoring the charm array. "Atlas can watching things here if I leave. How long will you be gone?"

"A couple of hours at most."

Justin gathered his demonstration materials—a pair of bronze charms, silver charms, and a fresh stack of flyers—before heading toward the city center. The Commercial District bustled with afternoon foot traffic.

He positioned himself near a central fountain where four major thoroughfares converged, ensuring maximum visibility. He wasn't the only one competing for attention. There were several mobile food carts, a juggler, a priest preaching apocalyptic doom, and a busker with a flautist playing for the crowds.

Justin found the clearest space he could. After activating Dandy's Swagger and adjusting his posture to command attention, Justin launched into his pitch.

"Ladies and gentlemen of Belmora!" His voice carried clearly across the plaza. "Imagine never having to trudge across the city for healing potions, energy tonics, medicines, or specialized brews. What if the finest alchemical products could come directly to you, rain, shine, or snow?"

A small crowd began to gather, drawn by his confident demeanor. The buskers even put down their instruments to listen, while the food cart vendor stared.

After allowing the tension to build in the crowd, he held up one of the bronze charms, letting it catch the afternoon sunlight.

"I present to you... the summoning charm. With this simple necklace, you can summon us, and we supply you. One of our couriers will be dispatched to your address within minutes, allowing you to place your order on the spot. No need to visit the potions shop. The potions shop comes to you!"

Several people leaned forward with interest, while others exchanged skeptical glances. A well-dressed merchant near the back called out, "What happens when your 'courier' arrives empty-handed because they don't carry what I need?"

"An excellent question, sir," Justin replied smoothly. "Our couriers carry comprehensive inventories of our most popular items in enhanced packs. For specialized requests, we maintain detailed customer records to anticipate your needs. The more you order, the better we predict what you might want. Plus, if we don't have something in stock, we'll brew it fresh and deliver it either the same day or the next business day—guaranteed."

There were several thoughtful hums at this. Justin knew this would be an incredible challenge, but the higher the bar, the lower the competition. He was confident they could succeed once they refined their methods.

"And how much do you pay for this privilege?" Justin asked. "Our bronze membership, which delivers to your address anytime between six and six, is just a silver and fifty coppers. But if you think that's special, consider our silver tier." He held up the beautiful silver charm, noting the crowd's eyes lighting up and several appreciative "oohs."

"With our silver charms, you're not confined to a single address. Besides owning a beautiful piece of jewelry that will make the talk of the tavern, silver members receive deliveries anywhere in Belmora and its environs. We'll find you wherever you are, using a proprietary tracking enchantment, up to five miles outside city limits."

The crowd's reaction shifted from polite interest to genuine amazement. Murmurs rippled through the gathering as people began to grasp the implications.

"Going on a journey and realize you forgot your antidotes or energy tonics?" Justin's voice took on a theatrical quality. "Never fear—Summon & Supply is here! Is it raining or snowing, and you'd rather not go out? We brave the elements so you don't have to. Are you sick or infirm? We're here to take care of you! And the best part? This service costs nothing extra. A membership lasts an entire year; order as many times as you wish at no additional charge, and our couriers will deliver with a smile! Even if you're on the move, our silver charms ensure our couriers can always keep pace."

"Scam!" a random woman shrieked.

"No scam at all, madam," Justin said. "We offer a thirty-day money-back guarantee on both our charms and the quality of our brews. No questions asked. Our address is 67 Copper Lane."

Backed up by the guarantee, as well as their store's location, seemed to mollify at least some of the crowd.

A grizzled orc pushed through the crowd. "How much for the fancy one?"

"Three silvers for the silver membership. Our customers say it's worth every copper."

This was a slight embellishment—Murgha Silverwrist and the Archer represented their entire silver membership base—but Justin trusted Rinna would solve the real-time tracking challenges before they became critical issues.

Justin noticed a few hostile faces in the crowd, some from the merchant class. He saw a couple of city guards moving closer to assess the disturbance. It was time to wrap up.

"I have information right here," Justin announced, producing his flyers with a flourish, "and several membership charms available, while supplies last!"

Most of the crowd dispersed into smaller discussion groups, but several individuals approached his position by the fountain. By the time the guards were nearing, egged on by the merchants, Justin had signed up two new members—a bronze and a silver. One was an older adventurer who appreciated the time-saving proposition but warned that if the service didn't work as advertised, he would take advantage of the money-back guarantee. The second was a merchant whose trade routes covered the entire region.

More seemed interested, but Justin had to settle for just handing them flyers. A productive outing. Gaining attention without attracting ire was a tricky balancing act. Best not to stay in one place too long.

When Justin got back, he nearly ran into a crossbowman of the Archer class heading out the door, a disappointed expression on his face.

Justin called after him as he passed, "Anything wrong, sir?"

He shook his head. "Sold out."

"Ah, the Rhythmic Barrage potions? They've proven very popular of late."

"I can't believe I wasn't fast enough! And I'm fifth in line. The others have been waiting for an hour by now."

Justin hid his smile. "Here. Let me take your information, sir. If you're willing to pay for a membership, you'll get priority over the others."

He blinked in surprise. "Truly?"

"Truly. We'll deliver a fresh batch to you first thing tomorrow at the latest, or even today if they become available."

His disposition instantly brightened. "Oh, that's great! I want ten of them."

Justin cleared his throat. "Ten? Certainly, sir."

Justin quickly took down his information and coin after explaining both memberships they offered. Silas sprung for the silver.

"Silas Moncierre," Justin said. "We'll be in touch tomorrow."

"My expedition leaves tomorrow at eight," he said. "Please have the potions at my door by seven at the latest."

"We'll make a note of it, sir."

The man nodded and then walked off.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Justin entered the store to find the scene as described. More adventurers of the Archer class were all waiting their turn.

Justin nodded, tipping his top hat. "Good afternoon. Thank you for your patience. I'm Justin Talemaker, proprietor. We're doing everything we can to get those potions done."

The group, two men and two women, all bearing bows, nodded. Justin rushed to the back workshop to find a scene of chaos.

"They said they want fifty!" Lila exclaimed to Ardabel, her brown hair in disarray. "That's impossible! It takes twenty minutes to make them, so three potions an hour. That's at least seventeen hours of nonstop production. And no bathroom breaks!"

Ardabel's hair was messy, too, his glasses askew. Rinna, oblivious and focused, was still working at her enchanting table as if nothing were happening.

Both Lila and Ardabel looked at Justin as he entered. "Actually... we're going to need sixty potions."

"Sixty! Dear gods," Lila said. "What do you mean? Did more come in?"

Ardabel took the orange potion off the low burner, placing it next to another four. "We have five brewed up, Lila. Just sell those for five silvers each to those adventurers. They can come back tomorrow for more. That's the best we can do."

"What's this about sixty?" Lila repeated.

Justin cleared his throat. "Actually, I ran into one of them walking out after he lost patience," Justin said. "I sold him a membership with the promise we'd get him ten tomorrow morning." He shifted awkwardly. "Before eight a.m."

Lila's green eyes blazed with fury. "You did what!? What is wrong with you? Why did you do this to me?"

She looked as if she were about to break down into tears.

Justin immediately recognized the signs of someone pushed past their breaking point. Lila's shoulders were tense, her hands trembling slightly as she gripped the workbench.

This wasn't just about production quotas; it was about respect, communication, and the sustainability of their partnership.

And he messed up badly. Even Rinna was looking up in surprise.

"Everyone, give us a moment," Justin said, addressing Ardabel and the workshop in general. "Lila, let's step outside."

"Justin, I don't have time to—"

"Yes, you do," Justin interrupted gently but decisively. "Right now, this is the most important conversation we can have."

He guided her to the small courtyard behind their building, away from the chaos inside. Once they were alone, he let out a breath.

"I messed up," he said simply. "I made a promise I had no right to make without consulting you first."

Lila's anger flickered, but she waited.

"You're the one doing the work," Justin continued. "I got caught up in the excitement of landing a new customer who looked unhappy. I neglected the fact that the sale would become your responsibility. That was selfish and thoughtless."

"It was," she agreed, some of the fire leaving her voice. "Justin, I want this business to succeed, but I can't be the bottleneck. Twenty minutes per potion, seventeen hours of straight brewing, plus the ten extra I have to do—that's not sustainable! I'll burn out in a week."

"You're absolutely right. So let's fix this properly instead of scrambling to meet impossible deadlines."

"What do you suggest, then?"

Justin leaned against the courtyard wall, thinking aloud. "First, I'm going back to those adventurers to explain the situation honestly. It's my mistake, so that falls on me. We have five potions available now, period. Anyone who wants them can buy them, but there's no promise of more until we scale production properly."

"And Silas Moncierre?"

"I'll offer him two choices: wait until we can fulfill his order or take his money back for the membership. No exceptions, no shortcuts."

Lila's posture began to relax. "What about scaling production? I'm the only one who can craft these, Justin. I can get more efficient as I refine my methods, I suppose, but it might be a while before we see any results."

"You're right. The potions' value is clear. We need to consider our price points. Maybe there's room to charge more. Should we limit sales until we have an adequate supply?" Justin met her eyes. "These are decisions we make together as partners, not something I decide unilaterally."

"I appreciate that," Lila said, her voice steadier now. "Next time you want to make promises about delivery times or quantities, check with me first. Please. I feel out of the loop sometimes, and this business feels like it's getting away from me. We're supposed to be partners. First the delivery zone change, and now this..."

"Absolutely. I should have learned that lesson already." He paused. "Are you okay to go back in there, or do you need more time?"

"I'm okay. But let's set some ground rules about maximum orders and realistic timelines before this happens again. Let's get a stock going first. Maybe brew a certain number per week and gauge demand." She smiled. "And selling that membership was actually a good idea. A membership perk can be letting members know first when we're back in stock on key items."

"Ah, great idea. We could send a newsletter once a week. We already have their addresses, so why not?"

She nodded. "I'm not sure who could do that, but yes, a good idea. We might need to hire more help already. I'm so overwhelmed."

"Me too," Justin admitted. "Let's refine our processes and systems. We have something people want; that much is clear. We just have to make things easier for us."

She nodded. "Okay. Let's touch base each evening, and again... no major decisions without my input."

"Agreed. And Lila? You're allowed to say no to customers. Our success doesn't depend on saying yes to everything."

She sighed. "I just didn't want to lose the opportunity. I ran a struggling business for years, remember?"

"I get that. But you have to realize that you are the opportunity now. Every Archer dreams of landing the killing blow. They're already calculating the possibilities your potions will provide when combined with their own class abilities. That's huge, Lila. You're not just selling a potion, but potential glory."

She laughed. "You have a way of putting things in perspective. I went from furious to mildly annoyed."

"We're a team, Lila. You're doing great. I promise to do better."

She took a breath. "All right. Take those potions out front and explain the situation. I'll work late tonight and see what I can do about Mr. Moncierre. Who knows? A miracle might happen. And it would be a 50-silver sale."

"No pressure," Justin said. "I'll get to selling those potions."

They parted with a hug, and Justin took the brews up front, where all four Archers were still waiting. They looked up expectantly, their expressions ranging from hopeful to impatient.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Justin began, setting the potions on the counter, "I appreciate your patience. I need to be completely honest about our situation." He gestured to the bottles. "This is our entire inventory of Rhythmic Barrage potions. Due to overwhelming demand and the complexity of brewing these elixirs, we cannot produce more immediately."

One of the Archers, a weathered human with calloused fingers, frowned. "How much are they? I heard they were two silvers each."

"That was our introductory price," Justin explained. "However, we've had to adjust our rates based on ingredient costs and brewing time. These potions now sell for five silvers each."

One the the men's expressions soured. "Five silvers? That's more than double what I was told!" He stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor. "This is highway robbery, taking advantage of desperate adventurers."

"I understand your frustration," Justin said. "But the ingredients alone, combined with the specialized Songbrewer crafting—"

"Keep your excuses," the man interrupted, heading for the door. "I'll find my enhancement potions elsewhere."

The remaining three Archers exchanged glances. A young woman leaned forward. "Five silvers is steep... but if they work as advertised, it could mean the difference between success and failure in a Vault."

Her companion, also a young woman who might have even been her sister, nodded grimly. "Our last expedition failed because I couldn't maintain accuracy and power during critical moments. If these potions help with that..."

"They will," Justin assured them. "Every customer who's tested them has reported significant improvements. One Archer split a training dummy completely in half with his sixth consecutive shot."

"Yeah, that's the story that brought us here," the woman said.

The last remaining Archer, a middle-aged human male with intricate tattoos covering his bow arm, studied the potions intently. "I'll take one, but if it doesn't deliver what you're promising..."

"Thirty-day money-back guarantee," Justin said immediately. "If you're not satisfied, return the empty bottle for a full refund."

Within minutes, all three had purchased potions. As they prepared to leave, the two women hesitated, the male Archer also pausing at the door.

"What about the other two bottles? Can my sister and I buy them, too?"

Justin considered. If he held on to these two, it was two potions Lila didn't have to brew for Silas. Though the man didn't know, he had made out the best of all of them.

He wondered what Lila would want. She had given him the potions to sell, so that was what he would do.

And besides, this presented a unique opportunity.

"They are for sale," Justin said. "To whoever wants them. Otherwise, our next brewing cycle starts tomorrow, and members get priority notification when fresh inventory is available."

The second sister bit her lip, clearly calculating. "Members?"

"Bronze membership is one silver, fifty coppers," Justin said, producing the bronze charms. "It guarantees you'll be first to know when we restock, plus home delivery for all your potion needs. No more waiting in line or making special trips."

All three Archers exchanged meaningful looks. The tattooed human spoke first. "If I become a member, I get the first chance at tomorrow's batch?"

"Exactly. Plus, we keep customer records. If you consistently order Rhythmic Barrage potions, we'll start setting aside inventory just for you."

"That's... actually quite valuable," the first woman admitted. "I spend hours each week traveling between different shops trying to find what I need. Even without these potions, that's valuable."

Within ten minutes, all three had purchased bronze memberships. The two women bought the final two potions.

Lila emerged from the workshop, looking exhausted but curious. "How did it go?"

"Better than expected. One customer walked out over pricing, but the other three bought memberships and seemed genuinely grateful for the opportunity to secure future inventory."

"And the premium pricing experiment? Did they go for five silvers?"

"Worked perfectly."

She hesitated for a moment. "I've been thinking about Silas Moncierre's order while you were up here. Ten potions by seven tomorrow morning isn't impossible if I work late, but it's not sustainable long-term."

"What would make it sustainable?"

"Since I'm the only one who can make these potions, I'd have to find ways to reduce brewing time, like I said earlier."

"I'm sure that will come with time," Justin said. "For now, though, let's focus on what we can deliver."

Lila nodded slowly. "If I start now, I think I can do it. But Justin, this has to be the exception, not the rule. I can't maintain this pace."

"Understood. Consider tonight an investment in our reputation. Word of mouth from satisfied high-level adventurers could bring us dozens of new customers."

"True enough." She managed a tired smile. "Fifty silvers for one night's work isn't bad compensation."

As Lila returned to the workshop, Justin reflected on the day's lessons. They had discovered a premium market willing to pay high prices for specialized products. They had also learned the crucial importance of managing production capacity and customer expectations.

Most importantly, they had proven that the demand for their services was real, substantial, and growing faster than they had ever anticipated.

The challenge now would be scaling to meet that demand without burning out their most valuable asset—starting with Lila herself.