"Your wine, Logan, is truly a revelation, an artful defiance of the conventions set by traditional vintners. It's a rare blend that could indeed revolutionize the entire wine industry," remarked Pleti, his voice a mix of admiration and calculated intent.
Logan nodded, yet a shadow of concern lingered in his eyes. "I appreciate your words, Pleti, but you must realize that with such innovation cos great risk. Wine rchants and covetous rivals will go to great lengths to uncover and usurp my thods."
Pleti's expression turned serious, his tone grave. "I'm well aware, and believe , the bandits lurking on the outskirts of Canyon City are rely the vanguard. They're the first of many who will co sniffing around, like jackals drawn to a feast."
"And such jackals will keep coming, relentless and unyielding," Logan interjected, a hint of weariness in his voice. "I'm but one man against a tide."
"Which is precisely why an alliance with the Wind Walker Chamber of Comrce could safeguard your interests. My family, as you know, wields considerable influence. With our resources and connections, we can fend off any threats to your craft, be they mortal or otherwise," Pleti declared, his confidence undiminished.
Logan remained contemplative. He knew of Pleti's heritage, a lineage of high elves renowned for their honor and might. It was a compelling proposition.
"And how do I know you're not another jackal in disguise?" Logan asked, a playful smirk touching his lips.
Pleti chuckled softly. "Because, my friend, you saved my life once. And as a descendant of the elven god-king, my word is my bond, unbreakable."
Acknowledging the sincerity in Pleti's eyes, Logan nodded. "There is honor among your kind, true. We might indeed forge a partnership, but I must be clear, I cannot grant you exclusive rights to my entire production."
Pleti's brow furrowed in confusion. "Why ever not?"
"Because I have existing commitnts. Fisher, my brother-in-law, and David of the Templeton Royal Court have my word and my loyalty. I cannot and will not forsake them. Moreover, the future may hold new ventures for , like forming a caravan with the Silver Mane Tribe. It's imperative I keep my options open."
Pleti listened intently, then nodded slowly, understanding the delicacy of Logan's position. "Very well, I respect your decision. Let's proceed with a substantial but not exclusive agreent on your wine supply."
Logan smiled, relieved and reassured. "That sounds like a prudent beginning, Pleti. Let's toast to a new alliance, one built on mutual respect and shared prosperity."
Logan recognized the strategic advantage of aligning with the Windrunner Chamber of Comrce, a powerhouse capable of navigating the tumultuous waters of the wine trade.
"I'm curious, Logan, how much wine can the Kasha Hotel produce in a month at present?" Pleti inquired, his eyes narrowing slightly with anticipation.
"If our current output is any indicator, it's about 100,000 kilograms. But we're scaling up. Soon, reaching a million kilograms per month won't just be a possibility; it'll be a reality," Logan replied, his tone confident, seeing no need to veil the ambitious scope of his operations.
Pleti's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "A million? That's formidable indeed." He pondered for a mont, his mind racing. Surely, Logan wasn't working alone. A team of skilled apprentices must be behind such prodigious output.
With a surge of determination, Pleti staked his claim. "I would like to secure half of that monthly production," he declared, the weight of his request hanging in the air.
"And not just now, every month henceforth," he added, his voice tinged with a mix of excitent and urgency. After all, the wine sold by Fisher commanded exorbitant prices across the human kingdoms, fetching several gold coins per kilogram. Even a re 50,000 kilograms would translate into a fortune.
The prospect was tantalizing. Despite his noble lineage as the scion of the Elf King family, Pleti was the youngest of his siblings and far from the center of familial power. This venture could provide him not just wealth, but influence, enough to carve out his own sphere of influence within the sprawling, competitive family hierarchy.
Logan, sensing Pleti's eagerness yet mindful of his existing commitnts, proposed a pragmatic solution. "Let's hold on for a couple of days. Once Fisher and David are available, we can all sit down together and discuss a fair distribution of the wine I produce. How does that sound?"
Pleti paused, considering the proposal. Was he being too aggressive with his initial demand? Nevertheless, eting with Fisher Greymane and David Templeton could indeed prove beneficial. Both were influential figures in their own right, and cultivating relationships with them could only strengthen his position.
"Agreed," Pleti responded, a strategic smile forming on his lips.
For the next half-hour, the two delved into discussions about the intricacies of trade and politics in both the human and elf kingdoms, each sharing insights from their respective realms.
Eventually, Pleti rose, his mind buzzing with plans and possibilities, and took his leave from the Kasha Hotel, the wheels of comrce and alliance turning ever forward.
As the days swiftly passed, Logan found himself deeply engrossed in the bustling activity of the Canyon City Winery. He had been diligently managing the winemaking and sugaring operations, all the while ambitiously scaling up production to et the growing demand.
anwhile, Jane's second stead bun shop had opened its doors and was already drawing crowds. Under Logan' guidance, Jane had expanded his offerings to include a variety of pastas and unique snacks that were quickly becoming the talk of the DC area.
Each morning, a lively queue of Beastns, sotis numbering in the hundreds, snaked its way in front of the shops, eager to taste these novel delights.
After covering costs, the profits from the stead bun and snack shops were flourishing, easily netting ten to twenty gold coins daily. Despite frequent visits from the envoys of major wine rchants, Logan remained resolute in his refusal to negotiate with them.
Back at the winery, Logan was inspecting the latest batch of wine. In anticipation of Pleti's substantial demands, he had significantly increased the production capacity. Now, the winery could produce 50,000 kilograms of wine in one go. Accounting for multiple brewings throughout the month, the total output was projected to reach between 160,000 to 170,000 kilograms.
A few days earlier, Logan had also made a quick trip back to his tribe, a journey made swift and effortless by the lion scorpion, a magical flying beast. This brief visit was not only to procure a large stock of supplies, including the tribe's rye liquor, maltose, and perfus, but also to oversee the tribe's expansion.
The Silver Mane Tribe, now boasting nearly 15,000 Beastns, had recently absorbed another thousand from the nearby Luochuan tribe, which had been on the brink of starvation. Their chieftain had proactively reached out for integration, a move largely credited to Carl's influence.
Carl, whom Logan had tasked with forming the Shadow Blade, had been effectively spreading the word among smaller tribes. He promoted the Silver Mane Tribe as a sanctuary capable of supporting Beastns in need, regardless of age or health. This initiative was beginning to bear fruit, drawing more Beastns under the Silver Mane banner and strengthening the tribe's numbers and resources.
Indeed, the effects of these strategic moves were beginning to manifest, promising a robust future for Logan' enterprises and his tribe.
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