Chapter 204: Time to Return to the Abyss.

[Greet Market Lane]

This was the heart of commerce in the city.

Towering buildings stretched toward the sky, their polished glass surfaces reflecting the constant movement below.

Every notable chamber of commerce and trade hall had a presence along this grand street.

It was a place where wealth flowed like water and influence was measured in gold, connections, and power.

The street was never quiet.

From dawn until deep into the night, it remained alive.

Pedestrians moved in steady streams, weaving through one another with practiced ease.

The air itself seemed charged with opportunity.

Inside one of the towering buildings, Thoren and his family were inspecting the property that would soon belong to them.

Thoren’s expression remained calm and unchanged, as if such grandeur was nothing out of the ordinary.

But the same could not be said for his parents and Elara.

Their faces were filled with awe and excitement.

Their eyes moved constantly, taking in every detail, the polished floors, the elegant fixtures, the sheer scale of the place.

“What do you think?” Corven asked as he walked beside Thoren, playing the role of host with careful attentiveness.

“Not bad,” Thoren replied simply.

He then turned to his parents.

“What do you think? Do you like this place?”

“Son, we like it very much,” Ardyn answered without hesitation.

How could they not?

This was the center of the city’s business district. A trade hall located here would not need advertising or promotion.

The sheer volume of people passing through the area every day was more than enough to ensure a constant flow of customers.

“Yes,” Serene added, her voice filled with quiet satisfaction. “This is a prime location. We’re more than satisfied.”

She had never imagined they would one day stand in such a place, let alone own a part of it.

Hearing their approval, Corven finally allowed himself to relax. He let out a quiet breath he hadn’t realized he had been holding.

At this moment, failure was not an option.

His entire family was depending on him, not just for success, but for the possibility of gaining even more healing potions in the future.

“Good,” Thoren said with a nod. He turned to Corven. “Take us to the staff.”

“Everything has already been arranged,” Corven replied confidently. “Please, follow me.”

He led them down to the ground floor, where a group of men and women had already gathered.

Their expressions were a mix of anticipation and nervousness.

They stood in neat rows, dressed professionally, their eyes occasionally flickering toward the entrance.

Creak!

The door opened.

Corven stepped in first, followed by Thoren and his family.

“Sir Corven,” the group greeted in unison, straightening their posture as they spoke.

Corven nodded before gesturing toward Thoren.

“This is Master Thoren,” he announced. “He will be your employer from now on.”

Immediately, all eyes turned toward Thoren.

A flicker of confusion appeared on some faces but no one voiced their thoughts.

They were here to work.

Nothing else mattered.

Thoren studied them silently for a moment before giving a small nod.

“I trust you’ve already interviewed them and confirmed their competence,” he said, turning his gaze to Corven. “If I return and find that they have caused problems, I will hold you responsible.”

The words were calm.

But the threat behind them was undeniable.

Corven felt a chill run down his spine. He inhaled sharply before forcing a composed smile.

“Master Thoren, you have nothing to worry about,” he said firmly. “As long as they value their lives, none of them will dare cause trouble.”

The group stiffened.

A ripple of unease passed through them as they exchanged subtle glances.

Only then did they realize, this job might not be as simple as they had initially thought.

However, when they remembered the salary they had been offered, their hesitation slowly faded.

Opportunity always came with risk.

“Very well,” Thoren said, satisfied.

He then turned to his father.

“Father, I’ll leave the rest to you.”

Ardyn nodded calmly. “Don’t worry. I can handle everything from here.”

They had already discussed this in advance.

Thoren would lay the foundation.

His parents would build upon it.

Most of the critical steps had already been taken, what remained was management and opening of their trading company.

As they stepped out of the room, Corven handed a file to Thoren.

“This contains the deed to the building, along with all related documents,” he said.

It was a deliberate move.

He wanted to show that he was holding nothing back, no hidden terms, no concealed agenda.

Thoren looked at him briefly before nodding.

He accepted the file.

Then, without hesitation, he reached into his inventory and took out two more Low Iron-Grade Healing Potions.

When Corven saw them, his eyes widened.

Receiving the potions, he could not stop the grin that spread across his face.

“Master Thoren, thank you for your generosity,” he said sincerely.

“It’s nothing,” Thoren replied. “This is business. You did your part well, so you deserve it.”

Corven said nothing more, but his smile deepened.

“I’ll leave you to your work,” he said, giving a respectful bow. “And I wish you success in your journey through the Abyss.”

With that, he turned and left the building.

Watching him depart, Elara stepped closer to her brother.

“Brother… can we go shopping now?” she asked eagerly.

Since they had left the estate, this had been the only thing on her mind.

Even though she was happy about the trade hall, the allure of shopping was simply too strong.

She had heard her classmates talk endlessly about it. How exciting it was, how fun it felt to pick whatever you wanted without worry.

And now…

They finally had the means to experience it.

“Very well,” Thoren said with a faint smile. “Let’s go.”

“Yah!” she cheered, practically jumping with excitement.

At last, her long-awaited dream was about to come true.

—

While their parents remained behind to hold their first executive meeting with the new employees, the siblings set out for the bustling marketplace.

Inside one of the city’s most famous clothing stores, Elara’s eyes widened in wonder.

Elegant dresses lined the walls.

Fine fabrics shimmered under the lights.

Every piece looked more beautiful than the last.

“Brother… can I buy anything I want?” she asked, her eyes sparkling.

“Of course,” Thoren replied.

That was all she needed to hear.

Like a bird freed from its cage, she rushed from rack to rack, picking out everything that caught her eye.

For three hours, they moved from one renowned store to another.

Clothing.

Accessories.

Shoes.

She made sure not to miss a single famous brand.

Her laughter and excitement never once faded.

—

By evening, the siblings returned home.

Elara was still brimming with excitement, chattering endlessly as she showed her purchases to their mother.

“Look at this one! And this, this is my favorite! Oh, and this one too!”

She spoke rapidly, her joy overflowing.

But in her excitement, she failed to notice the faint shadow in her mother’s eyes.

Serene smiled and listened, but beneath that smile lay a quiet worry.

Because while Elara was celebrating…

Time was almost up for Thoren to return to the Abyss.

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