I Died and Became a Noble's Heir

Chapter 444: How much GOLD?!

By the time the sun began its descent toward the horizon, Kaiser Holdings had secured exclusive distribution agreements with representatives from twelve different territories spanning four kingdoms and seven independent city-states.

Genevieve emerged from the consultation room to find the main store area still bustling with activity, though the initial frenzy had settled into steady, sustained purchasing.

Nobles who’d been waiting hours for their turn were finally reaching the display cases, and the stack of fulfilled orders near Annabelle’s inventory station had grown to impressive heights.

”Mother,” Octavia approached with yet another ledger, this one looking even more frantically annotated than Annabelle’s. ”Final count for the day, pending the last few customers currently in the store.”

She took a breath before delivering numbers that would have seemed fantastical mere hours ago.

”Mana potions: three hundred forty-seven thousand bottles sold at two gold each. Six hundred ninety-four thousand gold in revenue.”

”Hair care products: one hundred sixty-three thousand shampoo bottles and one hundred forty-nine thousand conditioner bottles at five gold each. One million, five hundred sixty thousand gold in combined revenue.”

”Embersalt: thirty-one thousand vials at one gold each. Thirty-one thousand gold.”

”Fire-starting supplies: seventeen thousand complete tinderbox sets at five silver each, plus thirty-eight thousand individual match boxes at one silver. Total of one thousand two hundred and thirty gold from fire supplies.”

Octavia paused, her voice carrying barely restrained excitement as she delivered the final figure.

”Total revenue for opening day: two million, two hundred eighty-six thousand and two hundred thirty gold pieces.”

The number hung in the air.

Two point three million gold in a single day.

Most kingdoms didn’t generate that kind of revenue in a year.

Genevieve allowed herself a genuine smile. Not the polite, calculated expressions she’d been wearing for negotiations, but satisfaction at a plan executed to perfection.

”Expenses?” she asked, because even triumph required practical accounting.

”Minimal,” Octavia replied. ”The products cost almost nothing to produce thanks to Jack’s access to resources. Store operating costs for the day total perhaps three hundred silver, including staff wages and building maintenance.”

”And the exclusivity contracts?”

”Twelve territories secured with ninety-ten profit splits,” Octavia confirmed. ”Conservative projections suggest each territory will generate between five hundred thousand and two million gold annually, depending on market size and population density. At ninety percent profit share, Kaiser Holdings stands to gain approximately fifteen million gold per year from distribution agreements alone.”

”Jack will be pleased,” Genevieve said quietly.

”Speaking of Young Master Jack,” Seraphina beamed as she spoke, ”several customers have been asking about the products’ creator. There’s significant interest in meeting the alchemist responsible for these formulas.”

Genevieve’s expression turned thoughtful. ”Tell them the creator prefers to remain private, focused on research and development rather than public appearances. It adds mystique and prevents competitors from attempting to recruit or compromise our alchemist.”

It was also the truth. He had neither time nor inclination for commercial glad-handing.

”As you say, Lady Genevieve,” Seraphina bowed and returned to managing the remaining customers.

The last purchases were completed as evening settled over Sorne, the crystal lighting in the store taking on warmer tones as natural sunlight faded.

The final customer.

A baroness who’d waited nearly twelve hours for her turn departed with two hundred bottles of mana potions and enough hair care products to supply her entire household for years.

Finn locked the main doors quietly, the sound of the bolt sliding home marking the official end of Kaiser Holdings’ grand one-month opening.

Octavia, Celeste, Annabelle, Seraphina, and Lady Genevieve gathered in the central area. S materialized from whatever shadowy corner he’d been monitoring, his presence a reminder that their security had never wavered despite the massive crowds.

”Well done,” Genevieve said, her voice carrying genuine pride. ”All of you performed admirably. This was not merely a successful day; this was the birth of a commercial empire.”

”Mother,” Celeste spoke up. ”What happens now? We’ve sold three hundred thousand mana potions, but Jack mentioned having nearly half a million in storage. Do we restock for tomorrow?”

Genevieve shook her head. ”No. Kaiser Holdings will maintain limited operating hours. One day per month, by appointment only. Scarcity drives demand. If we’re constantly available, we become commonplace. But if customers know they have only one opportunity per month to purchase...”

”They’ll pay any price and buy in larger quantities,” Octavia finished, understanding dawning. ”Artificial scarcity to maintain premium pricing.”

”Precisely,” Genevieve confirmed. ”Additionally, our exclusivity contracts with regional distributors mean most future sales will occur outside Sorne. This storefront will serve primarily as our flagship location and demonstration center rather than our primary revenue source.”

Annabelle was already calculating numbers in her ledger. ”If today’s sales are representative of monthly potential, and we add the revenue from twelve regional distributors operating continuously...”

She looked up, her eyes wide with what she was calculating.

”Mother, within a year, Kaiser Holdings will generate more revenue than the entire kingdom of Elysium’s annual tax collection.”

The statement should have sounded like a hyperbole. But given the numbers they’d witnessed today, it was simply accurate accounting.

”Which is why,” Genevieve said carefully, ”we must be cautious about how we manage this wealth. Gold in such quantities attracts attention. Both welcome and unwelcome. We’ll need to diversify investments, establish secure storage, and maintain relationships with powerful allies who can help protect our interests.”

”S can handle security,” Finn observed, his single eye tracking the demon guardian. ”And I suspect Young Master Jack has additional resources that could be deployed if necessary.”

”Indeed,” Genevieve agreed.

”Speaking of planning,” Seraphina interjected quietly, ”several of the nobles who purchased today were asking about future product lines. Specifically, they wanted to know if we had plans to develop treatments for other conditions beyond hair restoration and mana recovery.”

Genevieve’s expression turned thoughtful. ”Jack did mention other formulas in development. Healing potions, stamina restoration, and even some kind of temporary enhancement elixir. But those are still experimental.”

”Perhaps when our little brother returns, we could discuss expanding our product catalog,” Octavia suggested. ”Though we should be careful not to oversaturate the market. Each new product should be as revolutionary as our current offerings.”

”Agreed,” Genevieve said. ”Quality over quantity. We’ve established Kaiser Holdings as a premium brand. Everything we release must maintain that standard.”

The conversation continued as they began securing the store for the night.

Collecting ledgers, organizing remaining inventory, setting wards and alarms that would alert S to any attempted break-ins.

But as Genevieve performed these mundane tasks, her mind was already working through the broader implications of what they’d accomplished.

Fifteen million annually from distribution agreements.

A commercial empire that would reshape the economic landscape of the known world.

And Jack didn’t even know yet.

She smiled at that thought. Her son was currently binding Disaster-class entities and conquering tower floors, utterly unaware that his family had just established a business that would fund his ambitions for generations to come.

’When he returns,’ Genevieve thought, carefully locking the final display case, ’he’s going to be very pleased indeed.’

Outside, the streets of Sorne had returned to their normal evening rhythms.

But the carriages departing from Kaiser Holdings carried nobles whose expressions ranged from satisfied to euphoric, each one clutching purchases that represented not just luxury goods, but tangible proof that they’d witnessed history being made.