Transmigrating to the World of Thaumaturgy was the Start of Everything Chapter 34: Thornwick Family’s Visit

"What about you? Will you be alright handling things alone?"

Selina asked, concern evident in her voice.

Elias gave her a reassuring smile.

"I’ll be fine. This is exactly the kind of situation I’ve been preparing for. Oh, and don’t return to the shop. Head to the inn instead."

"O-Okay."

After they departed, the shop felt noticeably quieter despite the continued presence of custors and spies in and out of the shop. Elias used the relative calm to observe those surveilling him more carefully, noting the subtle signs that distinguished genuine custors from professional spies.

The woman by the window had finally finished her tea but showed no signs of leaving. The man near the pastry display had been examining the sa items for nearly an hour, occasionally asking questions that seed designed to elicit information about ingredients or preparation thods. Then there was the individual who had positioned himself outside, ostensibly reading a newspaper while actually monitoring everyone who entered or left the shop.

They’re being thorough and persistent, but also predictable as always.

Elias concluded with a hint of disdain after watching these spies for the past few days.

As evening approached, the character of his visitors began to change. The casual observers were replaced by individuals with more obvious authority and purpose. These weren’t servants or hired spies; they were representatives with the power to make decisions and commitnts on behalf of their faction.

A tall man in rich rchant’s attire entered just as the last of the day’s genuine custors were departing. His bearing was confident, almost arrogant, and he moved with the assurance of soone accustod to getting his way.

"I am Marcus Thornwick."

He announced without preamble, and when he ntioned his surna, his tone carried the expectation of recognition.

"I represent the Thornwick Alchemical Consortium. We have a proposition that I believe will interest you greatly."

Elias studied the man carefully. The Thornwick Family was known for their expertise in alchemical arts and their ruthless business practices. If they were making a direct approach, it ant they had already analyzed his products and identified sothing of significant value.

"I’m listening, Mr. Thornwick."

Elias replied, maintaining his professional deanor while internally preparing for what was likely to be a more aggressive negotiation than the earlier encounters.

"Our alchemists have examined samples of your products. The energy signatures are unlike anything we’ve encountered."

Marcus said bluntly, abandoning any pretense of subtlety.

"We want to know how you’re achieving these effects."

He demanded.

The direct approach was refreshing in its honesty, but also more dangerous than the polite overtures from the other families. The Thornwicks were essentially demanding access to his trade secrets as a condition of any potential partnership.

"My thods are proprietary. I’m sure you understand the importance of protecting one’s competitive advantages."

Elias replied calmly.

Marcus’s expression hardened slightly, his tone shifting.

"Perhaps I wasn’t clear. The Thornwick Alchemical Consortium doesn’t make requests; we make offers. Partner with us willingly, and we’ll ensure your success throughout the region. Refuse, and you’ll find it very difficult to operate in Sun Kingdom, let alone Sun City."

The threat was barely veiled, confirming Elias’s suspicions about the family’s reputation. They were accustod to using intimidation and economic pressure to get their way, and they clearly viewed his shop as either a potential asset or a threat to be eliminated.

"I appreciate your directness. However, I’ll need ti to consider all my options before making any commitnts."

Elias said, his tone remaining steady despite the escalating tension.

"Ti is a luxury you may not have."

Marcus warned and continued in a cold tone:

"Other families are also interested in your talents. So of them are less patient than we are. You have three days to make your decision. Now, I’ll take my leave."

With that ominous statent, he departed, leaving Elias alone with his thoughts. The ssage from this encounter was clearly understood by Elias.

From now on, the aristocratic families would begin moving beyond re observation and into active competition for his services.

—Provided that he didn’t side with any of them soon.

Elias silently thought as he watched the figure of Marcus disappear inside his crystal-powered vehicle.

The situation was escalating exactly as he had anticipated, but the speed and intensity were greater than he had hoped. Elias still felt things had gone favorably rather than unfavorably, considering he managed to make everyone wait for three days before making his decision. Those three days had been initiated by the Thornwick Family in his vision, but he decided to apply the sa tifra to all of the major families that ca to offer him their proposals and invitations.

...

As the last light of day faded from the shop’s windows, Elias began his closing routine. The spies outside showed no signs of departing, suggesting that surveillance would continue through the night. He made ntal notes of their positions and apparent affiliations, information that might prove valuable in future negotiations or confrontations.

If things progressed as intended, tomorrow there would be more direct approaches.

He realized with a thoughtful expression.

These families are testing my resolve and trying to gauge my desperation, which are nothing but childish, exploitative thods in my eyes.

However, the irony of these exchanges wasn’t lost on him. In his previous life, he had been a being of imnse power, capable of manipulating reality itself, let a lone people’s interests. Now, he was reduced to playing political gas with provincial aristocrats, carefully managing their perceptions while working toward goals they couldn’t even begin to comprehend or foresee.

Their attention was only focused on his shop, unaware that it was rely a ans to an end.

But every decision he made on this day, no matter how small, brought him closer to reclaiming his past strength. The Mystic Crystals he needed were within reach, controlled by the very people who now sought to control him with proposals while flaunting their noble status.

All he had to do was navigate their sches and ambitions without losing sight of his ultimate objective.

As he locked the shop’s door and activated the basic security asures he had installed, Elias allowed himself a mont of deliberation. The first phase of his plan was proceeding successfully. He had established a profitable business, attracted the attention of the city’s power brokers, and positioned himself as a valuable but mysterious asset.

—The real work was just beginning.

Walking back toward the Golden Hearth Inn through Sun City’s evening streets, Elias reflected on the day’s events and the challenges that lay ahead. His injured hand still ached, a constant reminder of how much he still had to learn about this world’s power systems.

Fortunately, the pain inflicted by the mysterious force was temporary. Within a few days, he was confident he should be able to rid himself of such insidious blight.

"Soon, I’ll have the resources I need to begin my ascension. And when I do, these pretentious noble families will be nothing in my eyes."

Elias mumbled under his breath as he walked along the andering streets back to the inn.

The night air was cool against his face as he walked, and sowhere in the distance, he could hear the sounds of the city settling into its evening rhythms. At so point, he heard children’s voices as they ran around and played.

Hearing the children, Elias’s thoughts were brought back to sothing he seed to have either forgotten or shifted from his focus until now.

"I wonder if those three have returned by now."