Script of Illusions

It's all up to you now.

As the strong liquor went down your throat, the exhaustion from days of preparation was swept away. With such an army behind you, you had nothing to worry about.

You slept your last full night before the expedition. When you woke up, the army was ready to go, and not a single person was late.

Your sparring match drew a crowd of soldiers. After witnessing your strength with their own eyes, the soldiers were more confident about the expedition.

Seeing you out on patrol, some soldiers who'd planned to back out returned to the ranks instead.

More people stayed than you'd expected. You comforted yourself with the thought that there were still many days ahead.

That night, the army's shaman re-bandaged your old wounds. He said that your body could still hold up, as long as you changed the dressings on time.

gain Fountain of Life (Health +1 per turn for 5 turns)

Moved by your passion and sincerity, the soldiers were willing to walk through fire for you.

That night, the army's shaman re-bandaged your old wounds. He said that your body could still hold up, as long as you changed the dressings on time.

gain Fountain of Life (Health +1 per turn for 5 turns)

You raised your hand. The horn tore through the wind and sand, and your troops rushed forward from three directions. Half an hour later, the warlord's formation had collapsed. He was pinned beneath his own flagpole, still clutching that spear. Your army had won this battle.

You took off your cloak and walked into the clearing alone. The two spears clashed on the sand for a long time—so long that the two armies watching forgot to cheer. In the end, he was the one to fall. He looked up at you and said, "You live up to the name of the Blood Claw", and then closed his eyes.

You accepted their banner. The warlord's former troops knelt across the ground. You told them to rise and distributed water-skins to those who had laid down their weapons earliest. The twenty-day journey had finally reached its conclusion.

Led by the refugee, you arrive near the enemy camp and discover that reaching it requires passing through a long, narrow valley. Your soldiers express their doubts once again. What do you decide?

▸Cross the ValleyMorale -1

While passing through the valley, you indeed fall into an enemy ambush. Your army is attacked from both the front and rear, and your situation is perilous. What do you decide?

▸Lead a Squad to Break BlockadeMorale -2Forces -3Stamina -1Health -1

You take the lead, guiding a small squad to break through the enemy's blockade and escape. However, more than half of your elite troops trapped in the valley are lost.

▸Accept Your Losses

You swallow your pride and retreat with the remaining men.

▸Live and Die With Your TroopsMorale +2Forces -2Stamina -2Health -2

Your loyal soldiers bring reinforcements. Striking from both inside and out, you break through the encirclement and take down the enemy camp in a strong, decisive push. Although severely wounded, you've forged deep bonds with your soldiers, and you no longer have to worry about low morale.

▸Good Outcomegain United as One (Morale will not drop below 1)

▸Withdraw Troops

Thinking it might be an ambush, you decide that it's better to be on the safe side.

You have the refugee sent away. He looks back repeatedly as he walks, soon disappearing behind the sand dunes.

The soldiers get their way and occupy the village. They sleep soundly that night, as the villagers' cries fail to wake a single one of them.

You put a stop to the soldiers' rough treatment and asked the village chief why you were unwelcome. The chief explained that the warlord had once aided the villagers here.

▸Expel the VillagersMorale +1

You acquiesced. The soldiers moved swiftly, and the village was soon emptied.

▸Lead the Troops AwayMorale -2

You ordered the march to continue. Even from a distance, you could still hear muttered complaints behind you.

You sensed that the warlord might not be as brutal as the rumors suggested. After some thought, you led your troops away.

▸Leave

The troops bypassed the village and pressed onward.

You sliced your palm, letting the blood drip into the clay bowl he handed you.

"You are too generous, My Lord, but it is not enough. Are you willing to acknowledge before your subordinates that you have accepted me as your friend?"

▸Acknowledge Him as FriendMorale -2Forces -2

Unfortunately, your soldiers were extremely wary of this stranger of unknown origin, and some even deserted your ranks because of it.

With a chilling burst of maniacal laughter, the mysterious figure vanished in a cloud of purple smoke. "Haha! The ritual is complete! I shall visit you often from now on."

▸AcceptMorale +1Forces +1Stamina +1Health +1

▸Punish His Greed

There was no way you'd ever acknowledge him as your friend.

There was no way you'd ever give him your blood.

You gave the insolent stranger a beating. Before leaving, the bruised and battered figure left you with a curse: "You shall pay a price for your disrespect—your blood shall flow endlessly."

▸Endure the Cursegain Bleeding Out (Health -1 per turn for 5 turns)

You set aside your tasks and followed her out of the camp.

You walked together toward the pond, with her following silently behind you. Just as you were about to ask her a question, a dagger suddenly flew right at you.

▸Dodge the Dagger

She was just a stranger. You had no obligation to protect her.

You nimbly ducked to dodge the dagger. Then, you quickly turned around to see if the woman was alright.

▸Continue to the Pond

You finally arrived at the pond, and just as you were about to fetch water with a wooden ladle, the woman stumbled and fell in.

▸Let Go of Her

Since she said so, you decided to let go.

Unable to resist the pull, you were forced to let go of the woman. She instantly disappeared beneath the water, and the surface returned to calm. You searched the pond for a long time but found nothing, and none of your troops could recall seeing any woman...

▸Consider It a Dream

You returned to your tent and lay down. When dawn broke, you didn't mention the incident to anyone.

▸Hold Onto HerStamina -2

Your beliefs would not allow you to abandon her.

You held onto the woman with all your might. Just as you were about to give out, the pull suddenly vanished. You fell to the ground as a brilliant light filled your vision. The woman floated in the light and smiled, "Brutus, your heart is clear and kind. I bestow upon you my blessing."

▸Thank the GoddessMorale +1Forces +1Stamina +1Health +1

▸Take the DaggerHealth -2

You decided to prioritize the woman's safety.

To protect the woman behind you, you used your own body to block the dagger. Severe pain shot through you, but as it faded, you regained your senses.

▸Continue to the Pond

You continued walking toward the pond as if nothing had happened.

You finally arrived at the pond, and just as you were about to fetch water with a wooden ladle, the woman stumbled and fell in.

▸Let Go of Her

Since she said so, you decided to let go.

Unable to resist the pull, you were forced to let go of the woman. She instantly disappeared beneath the water, and the surface returned to calm. You searched the pond for a long time but found nothing, and none of your troops could recall seeing any woman...

▸Consider It a Dream

You returned to your tent and lay down. When dawn broke, you didn't mention the incident to anyone.

▸Hold Onto HerStamina -2

Your beliefs would not allow you to abandon her.

You held onto the woman with all your might. Just as you were about to give out, the pull suddenly vanished. You fell to the ground as a brilliant light filled your vision. The woman floated in the light and smiled, "Brutus, your heart is clear and kind. I bestow upon you my blessing."

▸Thank the GoddessMorale +1Forces +1Stamina +1Health +1

She gave you a long, meaningful look and left.

That night, you were exhausted from a long day of military duties, but the woman suddenly claimed she had a secret she had to share with you alone.

▸AcceptStamina -1

As you walked one after the other, you suddenly heard the sound of a blade slicing through the air behind you.

▸Slash BackwardMorale -1Forces -1

Your warrior instincts kicked in, and you counterattacked swiftly without even looking. By the time you'd turned around, the woman had already collapsed in a pool of blood. A later investigation revealed that she was an assassin sent by the warlord. Your troops thought you'd been extremely careless.

▸Turn to LookHealth -2

You turned your head, and the cold gleam of a blade was already right before your eyes.

The moment you turned around, a dagger plunged into your shoulder, though fortunately it missed any vital spots. You quickly subdued the woman, but her eyes were resolute: the warlord had shown her great kindness and knew nothing of this operation—she simply did not want to see the warlord defeated by you.

▸Execute Her

You gave the order. Afterward, no one ever mentioned that piece of turquoise again.

▸Let Her GoMorale -1

Admiring her courage, you untied her ropes. The woman was surprised and stood stunned for a moment before quickly vanishing into the night.

▸Watch Her Leave

▸Refuse

You shook your head. She lowered her eyes and said no more.

You had your troops escort her out of the camp. She didn't argue and left quietly.

Your troops cheered at the enemy's death.

You untied the ropes yourself, much to your troops' confusion.

You let him go, saying that you didn't like resorting to trickery to solve problems. You said you'd see him on the battlefield and hoped for a fair fight with real weapons. Your troops were disappointed, however, and spread the news of your decision throughout the camp.

▸Continuegain Low Morale (Morale -1 per turn for 5 turns)

You and the warlord finally met at the agreed location. The warlord expressed his admiration for your previous actions and proposed a real fight—a pure duel between two Maulers.

▸Agree to DuelStamina -3Health -3

Despite paying a heavy price, you ultimately defeated the warlord.

▸Refuse

You thought it was pointless.

You heeded your troops' advice. The camp was heavily guarded that night, and nothing happened.

After entering the cave, you ventured deeper inside. Soon, a small opening appeared ahead, glowing with red light. It looked somewhat eerie. Proceed further?

▸Rush In to InvestigateHealth -1

▸33% chance

Suddenly, the red light vanished, plunging the surroundings into darkness. You heard something rushing toward you in the dark. Immediately after, a whistling sound cut through the air... and an arrow fired from the shadows pierced your shoulder.

▸Pay the Price for RecklessnessHealth -2

A trap exploded beneath your feet. You scrambled out of the cave, your body covered with wounds.

▸33% chance

Suddenly, the red light vanished, plunging the surroundings into darkness. A moment later, the area lit up again—it was a massive stone chamber with walls covered in ancient frescoes. In the center of the chamber sat a bottle of glimmering potion.

▸Drink the Potion and Leave the CaveStamina +2gain Surge of Energy (Stamina +1 per turn for 5 turns)

▸34% chance

Suddenly, the red light vanished, plunging the surroundings into darkness. You continued to fumble your way forward in the dark, and finally, a light appeared. Before you knew it, injured as you were, you had emerged from the treasure cave. Seeing you return safely, the soldiers were heartened somewhat.

▸Exit With Your Life, But No TreasureMorale +1Health -1

You walked out of the cave empty-handed, bearing a few new cuts. When the soldiers gathered around, you smiled and said, "There was nothing in there."

You stood at the entrance for a long time, but ultimately turned and walked away.

The apothecary led the soldiers deep into the desert.

His body covered with wounds, the apothecary crawled back to the camp alone. He said there was a powerful monster guarding the potion. He and the soldiers had been attacked by the monster, and he was the only one who managed to make it back.

▸Lock Him UpMorale -1

You imprisoned him for disturbing the troops' morale. This sparked widespread discussion among the ranks.

▸Let Him Lead; Go See for Yourself

You decided to make the trip yourself.

The apothecary led you to the cave where the potion was located. Sure enough, a giant stone monster was blocking the entrance.

▸Challenge the MonsterMorale +2Stamina -2Health -2

You believed you could defeat it.

After defeating the monster, you successfully entered the depths of the cave and found a magical potion emitting a faint glow.

▸Pick Up the PotionHealth +5gain Fountain of Life (Health +1 per turn for 5 turns)

▸Turn and Leave

You believed that a single bottle of potion was not worth so much effort.

You said it was nothing more than a rumor. The apothecary withdrew in disappointment and never mentioned the matter again.

You led your soldiers back along the trail for nearly an entire day and eventually recovered the supplies, but the round trip drained much of your Stamina.

You gave the order to ignore the loss. The soldiers stared at the empty supply carts, none of them saying a word.

You allowed the soldiers to quench their thirst. They eagerly rushed forward to drink deeply, their spirits soaring, though a few were bitten by the fish.

You forbade the soldiers from approaching the water. Forced to endure their thirst, they trudged away, dejected.

You let him off the hook. The news quickly spread, sparking whispers throughout the ranks—if colluding with the enemy could be forgiven, what was military law worth?

You performed the execution yourself. You knew that on the battlefield, emotion could not override military law. Still, you found it hard to sleep upon returning to your tent.

You fell asleep the moment your head hit the pillow. By the next day, the pile of paperwork had grown even taller, and several squads squandered the entire day waiting for orders.

You handled the tasks one by one, and by the time you looked up, the sky was already growing light. Seeing the lamp in your tent burning through the night, the soldiers' respect for you deepened.

You granted them leave. The camp became lively for the first time in a while, though the empty spots in the ranks could not be filled right away.

You flatly refused. The soldiers said nothing more, but their shouts during the next day's drills were noticeably quieter.

You stepped up to meet it alone, cleaving the monster's head open with a single strike. As hot blood splashed across your face, deafening cheers erupted behind you.

You waved your hand, signaling everyone to detour around it. The soldiers exchanged glances—they'd been looking forward to seeing you bravely slay the beast.

During the duel, you found that the soldier's skills were indeed impressive. Though it cost you, you ultimately defeated him, earning the obedience of all your soldiers.

A small number of soldiers began to wonder if you were just scared.

You took one last look at the chest before turning away. The blowing sand soon buried it once more.

The sorcerer's treatment worked, and your wounds closed up before your soldiers' eyes. However, your stubbornness left them somewhat disappointed.

You shook your head. The sorcerer packed up their tools and left without another word.

The apothecary returned with a full pouch of herbs, and the resulting ointment had amazing effects. However, the escort detail came back a few soldiers short.

You told the apothecary that manpower was too precious at the moment. The apothecary almost protested, but ultimately decided to keep quiet.

You swung your blade to clear a path through the thorns, and your arms were soon covered in bloody scratches. The troops behind followed in your footsteps without a word.

You trailed at the back of the line, saving you a great deal of stamina. The soldiers in front kept glancing back at you, and the troops marched slower than usual.

The potion went down your throat with a soothing coolness, and most of the weariness weighing on your shoulders dissipated.

The potion was bitter and astringent, but as you swallowed it, the dull ache of your old wounds noticeably lessened.

The Durri worked more quickly than anyone, rapidly repairing the armaments to perfection. However, the gossip in the camp never ceased.

You politely turned him down. The Durri shrugged, shouldered his toolbox, and walked away without another word.

Believing that an art lover did not belong in a military camp, you expelled him. The other soldiers strongly agreed with your decision.

Believing his interests shouldn't be mocked, you angrily rebuked the complaining soldiers. They were disappointed in you, feeling that you weren't qualified to be a Mauler warrior.

The detour took half a day, but you successfully ambushed the enemy. Your final losses were far fewer than if you'd faced them head-on.

Deeming them no threat, you decided to assault them head-on. The battle ended quickly, but your army suffered heavy losses.

You drank in your tent late into the night. As the alcohol went to your head, you enjoyed a full night's sleep for the first time in a while.

You sat by the campfire, drinking and making merry with the soldiers. That night, laughter echoed across the desert.

Your reply left the general who advocated for more troops feeling vindicated. He recruited a large number of soldiers to expand the army, though this greatly increased the difficulty of managing the troops.

Your reply handed the victory to the general who advocated for morale. He immediately began weeding out the weak to keep the strong, streamlining the troops and inspiring high morale within the ranks.

The narrow path was steep and treacherous. You nearly slipped several times, and by the time you reached the summit, you'd suffered quite a few scrapes.

The wide path wound around in a long loop. By the time you reached the top, it was already late, and you were completely exhausted.

You corrected their blade-gripping techniques one by one, drilling them until the sun began to set. The soldiers were so inspired that they practiced on their own in their spare time.

You organized the soldiers to spar against each other. It was quite effective, though some felt that the improvement from such drills was limited.

The sorcerer took a small bowl of blood. That night, you powered through your military tasks brimming with energy, though your face was alarmingly pale.

You refused. The sorcerer smiled, remarking that there would always be more time in the future, before vanishing into the night.

Your wounds nearly healed overnight. The price was that you couldn't muster any energy for days, even needing to lean on the tent poles just to walk.

You told him the wounds would heal on their own. The sorcerer said nothing, but simply turned and walked away into the darkness.

You worked together with the warriors to capture a massive beast. That night, every soldier enjoyed a bowl of delicious meat broth.

You bluntly stated that the army was no place for play. The warriors left resentfully, and the camp seemed unusually quiet that night.

You bounced along on horseback for an entire day before ultimately winning the competition. The leader dismounted and bowed on the spot, bringing his soldiers to join your ranks.

You told him you were burdened with military duties and had no mind for a competition. The leader shook his head regretfully and left with his soldiers.

You recounted the battle where you defended the pass all alone. The crowd sat in dead silence, and when they dispersed, every soldier walked with his head held high.

You explained how to survive when outnumbered. Some were impatient as they listened, but in the next few skirmishes, more soldiers returned alive.

You accepted him and the potion. After drinking it down, the old wounds that had plagued you for days genuinely felt much better.

You picked out a dozen or so of the defeated soldiers who could still fight. The rest watched you walk away without a single word of complaint.

You took everyone in. The ranks swelled considerably, but the veterans complained behind your back, muttering that sooner or later, the defeated soldiers would hold everyone back.

You made no excuses. The soldiers listened with their heads bowed, and the camp grew so quiet that only the howling of the wind remained.

You slept until the sun was high in the sky and woke up feeling remarkably refreshed. By the time you stepped out of your tent, the soldiers had already finished a round of drills.

You woke up before dawn. Even though you hadn't gotten enough sleep, your mind felt much clearer.

The fruit was unexpectedly sweet. As the juice slid down your throat, the thirst and weakness of the past few days vanished. Climbing the tree to pick the fruit took quite a bit of effort, however.

Suspecting the fruit might be poisonous, you decided not to risk it and walked straight past the tree.

The juice was fishy and astringent, but after drinking it, you felt refreshed and alert, and your wounds didn't hurt nearly as much.

The evergreen paste felt soothingly cool when applied, and the wounds healed right before your eyes.

You landed hard on your rear. The soldiers turned away, stifling their laughter. No one dared to mention the incident for the rest of the night.

You steadied yourself in mid-air and landed on your feet. The landing was graceful, but your knees creaked audibly.

Clutching your wound, you got back to your feet. Refusing anyone's help, you continued walking without a word.

You dismissed some soldiers. With the army more streamlined, the burden on your shoulders lightened considerably.

You pushed the paperwork aside and got a good night's sleep. The next day, your soldiers ran themselves ragged trying to catch up on the tasks that had been delayed.

You led a small team to carry stones and build a windbreak, working late into the night. The camp became much warmer, and the soldiers' reverence for you only grew.

You declared that there was no need to be so picky while on the march. That night, wind and sand poured into the tents, and hardly anyone slept well.

Gritting your teeth, you pluck a few strands from your mane and hand them over. The soldier cradles the hair in his hands, his eyes welling with tears.

Irritated, send him away. He stands rooted to the spot for a long while before slowly walking off.

You visit him seven times in a row. On the seventh attempt, the warrior finally opens the door. Moved by your perseverance and sincerity, he decides to join your forces.

You engage in a fierce, exhilarating duel that ends in a draw. You bump fists under the setting sun, an unspoken understanding passing between you.

You send two of your soldiers to fight him in turn. The enemy officer is indeed slain, but your soldiers do not return unscathed.

You grab your blade and step out of the tent to face him yourself. You defeat him, but his stubborn resistance leaves you with a few injuries.

The Tauren shows no mercy, locking you in a fierce, evenly matched fight. The watching soldiers cheer until their voices go hoarse.

You win effortlessly, but the soldiers think you were just picking on the weak.

The soldiers are brimming with energy, seemingly immune to fatigue.

Your army rests and fights as usual.

You become incredibly strong, able to shatter a wooden dummy with a single punch—but the effect is brief.

Your strength remains the same, but it is entirely your own.

You've never felt such abundant strength. During roll call, however, several soldiers are found missing, leaving the troops in a state of panic.

How could you possibly agree to such an unreasonable offer?

You become a lone lion. You possess absolute power and an unparalleled physique, but your troops fear you for being too powerful.

Your soldiers support you, and countless warriors admire you. Your army gradually grows stronger, but you grow weaker by the day.

The singing continues until dawn. The next day, even the wounded rise to take up their weapons once more.

You offer your sincere gratitude to the goddess and throw yourself into the next battle in peak condition.

This reassurance spreads to the rest of the soldiers as well.

You say it's the pain. The goddess reaches out and caresses your wounds, and your torn flesh mends back together.

You say it's the exhaustion. The goddess sighs softly, and the heavy burden that's weighed on you for days dissipates instantly.

The slogan spreads throughout the tribe. The line of enlisting youths stretches all the way past the camp gates.

The slogan attracts some people, but they're more concerned about where the meat is.

Grimclaw salutes you as he leaves. That salute weighs heavily on your heart for a long time.

Scar-Eye sneers and walks away without looking back. Many in the camp feel that you just can't tolerate capable warriors.

After a moment of hesitation, you decide against bathing alongside your soldiers. For one, it would easily pollute the spring, and for another, it would be somewhat awkward. After bathing in the spring alone, you feel entirely refreshed.

After a moment of hesitation, you decide not to keep the spring all to yourself. Bathing with the troops who have braved life and death alongside you seems only right.

You folded the warning letter, tucked it into your shirt, and began preparing to pay off the debt.

Your father's old friend accepted the gift, and his expression softened a bit. The next day, you changed into your most dignified clothes and entered the palace.

The messages were delivered. The response was lukewarm, but better than nothing. The next day, you changed into your most dignified clothes and entered the palace.

You left the city with him for the entire night. By daybreak, your coin pouch was significantly heavier. As for how that money was obtained, you decided not to give it much thought.

You questioned him thoroughly, and finally only accepted the cleanest job of the bunch. The money wasn't much, but after the Mithril Guild heard about it, their opinion of you improved slightly.

You showed her the twenty days of transactions in your ledger, page by page. Sonja didn't say a word. She just closed the book of debt vouchers and waited for you to report the final figure.

You started talking about trade routes, commissions, and future cooperation. Sonja smiled and said she was only interested in today's numbers—but the little bit of leeway you managed to negotiate still made the money in your pouch a bit thicker.

When the money hits your account, you don't dare count it too closely. You never end up asking what exactly was in that shipment.

You draw the line. Sonja raises an eyebrow and says she'll remember it.

Your father teaches you how to use money to grease the wheels in the Mithril Guild. With his support, you successfully weather the storm.

You argue your case fiercely at the meeting. While the motion to expel you fails, you aren't able to completely dispel the Mithril Guild's suspicions.

You keep the emblem hidden close to your chest. It is indeed useful, but every time you take it out, your hand trembles a little.

You say the gift is too much. The princess snaps back, "Who cares about you?" and turns to leave.

You don't even try to defend yourself. The princess stares at you for a long time before finally saying, "Understood."

Faced with the princess's questioning, you inevitably say the wrong thing. The princess scoffs coldly and leaves.

You hide outside the city for three days. On the fourth day, the Royal Guards find you.

You escort her to the palace gates. Before going in, she says, "You're always such a spoilsport."

Your father chatted with you late into the night. Upon returning home, you noticed the mark of the Whispers on your door.

Sonja closed a major deal. The next day, a letter from your father arrived, containing only two words: "Suit yourself."

You completed Sonja's request. However, news that you were working for the Whispers spread like wildfire.

You said you'd have the money on time. Sonja nodded. "Then I'll be waiting."

You sold at the normal price of 2 gold.

You said the healing potion was carefully brewed using Yuexi Spring water collected that very morning, combined with petals blessed by Nevanthi, and could heal all wounds. Today's special offer: not 100 gold, not 10 gold, but only 5 gold to take it home!

Sonja was very satisfied with your choice. She wanted you to continue to prioritize doing business with the Whispers in the future.

The Mithril Guild thanked you for choosing them, and their members expressed that they would cooperate with you more in the future.

Sure enough, when people talked until their mouths were dry, they badly needed a drink to quench their thirst. Many people lined up to buy, and you made quite a lot of money. However, the royal sheriff believed that your stall was disrupting the order of the streets.

The poetry collections you published in the name of the Mithril Guild sold very well, making you a lot of money. Soon, a large group of artists blocked the entrance to the Guild, complaining that the collections had included their works without permission. You had long since slipped away, leaving the Mithril Guild to take the blame for you.

The guards quickly took down the stronghold. The sheriff established his authority and generously reported your contribution to his superiors. The Whispers soon found out that you were the one who leaked the information and secretly held a grudge against you.

You claimed to be ill-informed. The sheriff quickly saw through your lie, sneered, and left. The next day, the Whispers sent a letter of thanks.

Due to your urgency, you had to buy at a higher price. While the final profit wasn't great, at least nothing went wrong with the banquet.

The price of your frugality was food poisoning. While not many people were affected, it still aroused the suspicion of the Royal Guard.

The customer is always right. You refunded the money in full, and the highly satisfied customer praised you to everyone he met. Even the Mithril Guild heard of your good name.

You considered the request entirely unreasonable. The customer left in a huff, criticizing your terrible attitude to anyone who would listen. Your bad reputation even reached the Mithril Guild.

You spent a massive amount of capital to buy up all the grain in the nearby markets. It was a huge gamble, and you had no idea what your odds of winning were.

You didn't intend to take any risks, or perhaps you just didn't have the stomach for it. The Mithril Guild received your warning and adjusted their prices, sending you their regards.

The people were grateful for your generosity, but your grain convoy was now short a few carts.

Nothing is ever truly free.

Your convoy got a day to rest and prepare, but bandits struck in the night. By daybreak, several grain carts had disappeared.

Time is money, and you refused to let your entire fortune be delayed here.

The market is always unpredictable, but there would be other opportunities.

His little trick wasn't enough to fool you. After entering the city, you sold all your grain and made a hefty profit.

You believed the dream for some reason, so you spent the day chasing the rainbow on the outskirts of the city, and you actually found a pot full of gold.

You thought the dream was utter nonsense and started preparing for the day's business early. However, everyone else was drawn to the magnificent rainbow, leaving the market practically empty that day.

You donated all the money and personally oversaw the construction plans for the orphanage. Soon, the city's orphans would have a safe home to shelter them from the storm. One night, the fairy appeared in your dream again to thank you.

The news of your sudden wealth spread like wildfire, and everyone questioned the origin of the massive sum. Soon, rumors were flying, saying you had accumulated a vast amount of ill-begotten wealth through scams and deception.

You cleverly lured the Royal Guard away, allowing the shady merchants to smoothly retrieve the goods. From then on, underground merchants viewed you as an ally and provided you with many high-risk but highly lucrative opportunities, while the royal family began investigating your past trading activity.

The Royal Guard reported the incident, thwarting the shady merchants' attempt to force their way into the warehouse and loot the goods. The royal family decided to reward you by granting you exclusive sales channels for certain goods. However, underground merchants viewed you as a traitor and secretly plotted their revenge.

You gained the Mithril Guild's approval and acquired more business resources through this exclusive sale, but you fell into a short-term financial crisis with a strained cash flow.

You found other channels to sell your hoarded goods and made a massive profit. However, because you couldn't cooperate with them, the Mithril Guild treated you coldly, and you lost some lucrative channels related to the Guild.

One of the arguers turned out to be a royal messenger whose bag was stolen. You paid out of your own pocket to cover his losses, and he remembered your name.

You continued haggling with the Wilder merchant. The sound of the argument soon faded away.

You picked out an elegant silver ornament. The princess didn't say anything upon receiving it, but after that, the palace gatekeepers treated you with a bit more respect.

You did the math and decided to keep the money. On her birthday, there was not a peep from the royal palace.

You put on a smiling face, poured him some tea, and slipped him a little tip for his trouble. Before leaving, he said you "knew what was good for you" and returned the abacus.

You kicked him out. That very night, the signboard above your shop entrance was stolen.

The goods move smoothly, and the money hits your account. However, the auditors from the Mithril Guild have recently started scrutinizing your books.

You politely decline. Sonja doesn't say anything, but the goods show up in your competitor's warehouse the next day.

The minor boss takes power as he wished, and the royal family credits you for your help. But Sonja is still alive—and everyone knows it.

The minor boss disappears the very next day. Sonja has someone send you a message: she'll remember this favor.

You want absolutely nothing to do with this.

Your questions attract the guards. The Whispers flee in a panic, but they remember your face.

They pay a hefty rent. Three days later, you spend an entire afternoon trying to scrub away the bloodstains left in the yard, but can't clean them away completely.

You tell them the backyard is undergoing renovations. They stare at you for a long time, then leave without a word.

You feed your father a few red herrings. Sonja is pleased, but you still can't sleep at night.

You pick up the drink, down it in one gulp, and get up to leave. Sonja chuckles behind your back.

You pay half out of your own pocket. The old man cries so hard he can't speak when he leaves, and Sonja actually lets it slide as a favor to you.

You close the door. The next day, you hear he was taken away, and no one's seen him since.

Your father sends over some emergency funds and pulls some strings on your behalf.

Your father doesn't reply.

You spend a fortune to buy a spot.

You give an impassioned speech at the meeting. The board members applaud politely, then give the spot to someone else.

You pay someone to redo the books overnight. The auditor nods after flipping through them, while your palms are covered in sweat.

You make an excuse that the books are out of town. The auditor immediately notes this down in their records.

You earnestly mentor him and provide some startup capital. He praises your dedication to everyone he meets.

You tell him there's no future in business, and he's convinced. Soon, the Mithril Guild hears about this as well.

You clear out the old inventory by mixing it into batches of new goods. The board member owes you a favor.

You politely decline. The goods eventually rot in the warehouse, and the board member remembers your refusal.

You make a lot of money, but the price-gouging is soon discovered, and even your father knows you were involved.

Your father praises you and severely punishes the market-disrupting behavior.

After you finish speaking, your father remains silent for a long time, only saying, "I'll look into it."

You chat about some of your proudest business achievements. Your father says nothing more, leaving you a bag of gold before he departs.

The princess's eyes light up. As she leaves, she drops a remark: "I suppose you have some taste after all."

The princess takes it, glances at it for a moment, then tosses it back onto the counter and leaves.

You hand over the money, and the case is closed. The sheriff pats you on the shoulder as he leaves.

You say that the innocent have nothing to hide. That very night, two extra guards show up to "patrol" in front of your shop.

You put together a decent outfit. The princess sits next to you for the entire banquet, chattering nonstop.

You write back a heartfelt letter. You tuck the smiley face on the invitation under your account books.

You play along with his words and tell a joke, and the whole room bursts into laughter. The princess also smiles at you.

You bluntly fire back a retort. The noble's face turns red, and the princess laughs heartily from the sidelines.

The royal family is very grateful for your cooperation. But for a merchant, the juice is never worth the squeeze with this kind of thing.

You pull some strings to get your name taken off the requisition list, and the royal family is very displeased about it.

The messenger takes your written reply back. Word has it that the princess was very pleased after reading the letter.

Your response is tactful, but for the next two weeks, your name doesn't appear on the royal family's procurement lists.

The spices sold for three times the price in Oakenfell. As for why the owner was in such a hurry to leave, you didn't give it much thought.

You played it safe and took a ten percent cut. Later, hearing what those spices eventually fetched made your heart ache.

The chart was authentic. However, the shortcut required navigating around three reefs, and your captain shook his head after looking at it.

The old captain pawned his compass to pay off the debt. He didn't look back as he walked away.

You made a profit flipping the goods. Three days later, the Mithril Guild posted a notice stating that the batch had been stolen from their warehouse.

You took a couple of glances and walked away. Later, you heard that the person who bought the goods ran into legal trouble.

The books did look better. However, two veteran workers quit this month without giving any reason.

You paid the wages in full. The workers stood noticeably taller while they worked.

You sold it for a good price, but the Mithril Guild soon found out what you'd done.

The foundation of a merchant's business is never for sale.

The journey was rough, but the timber you got was highly sought after in Oakenfell. You came back with a peeling sunburn.

Your worker got the job done, but failed to secure a great price. You said nothing.

The goods were sold. Two weeks later, several buyers showed up demanding a refund.

You threw the goods into the fire yourself. The fellow merchants watching called you a fool, but your reputation improved significantly as a result.

He actually paid the money back on time, plus an extra ten percent. For the first time, you felt like taking a gamble on someone's character wasn't such a bad deal.

You insisted on payment upon delivery. The merchant went to someone else and became their regular customer.

You cleared out your inventory before the caravan arrived. The sales price was nothing special, but at least the money was safe in your pocket.

The caravan brought in more goods than you expected. Your inventory was sitting around for a solid two weeks.

You established your authority in front of everyone. That kind of thing shouldn't happen again.

You didn't want to make a scene, so you had him replace the goods privately. Out of gratitude, he gave you a nice gift.

The guards couldn't find any evidence. Before being taken away, the fugitive gave you a nod.

You told the truth. That night, the Whispers carved a mark on your door.

The Mithril Guild offered a generous price and showed due respect. As for the Whispers, you knew you'd have to settle that score sooner or later.

The price was thirty percent higher. Your pen paused for a moment as you signed.

With the cash in hand, most of your stress was relieved. As for what happened to the people who owed you money, you preferred not to know.

You knew their motives, but you'd been in debt yourself and understood that paying it off took time. You decided to be forgiving.

The guards got the short end of the stick, and Sonja sent you a jug of fine wine. There wasn't a word of thanks attached, but you got the message.

The guards took down your name. As the members of the Whispers left, they dropped a few harsh threats.

The list was indeed useful. However, you started to worry whether someone else might have a similar list with your name on it.

You handed the person over to the Mithril Guild. Everyone praised your integrity, but deep down, you knew you were just scared.

You sold the house your father had left you. On the day you moved out, you didn't look back.

Piling new debt on top of old, you made it through for now. You tried your best not to think about next month.

Everyone made it out safely. As for the goods reduced to ashes, at least you didn't have to count inventory.

Most of the goods were secured, but your reputation for greed spread throughout town.

After double-checking, you discovered a missing transaction. The next day, you made up for the shortfall. The Mithril Guild appreciated your honesty and thoroughness.

You blew out the lamp. Tomorrow's problems could wait for tomorrow.