Reborn As A Beastman With A System

Chapter 99: Return to Canyon City!

"Your Highness, though Fisher hails from the branches of the Grey Mane lineage, his ties to the main house have long since thinned," the young high elf began, his voice tinged with skepticism. "The prestigious Grey Manes of old have dwindled into mere shadows of their former glory." Read first at m-v le-mpyr

"I must disagree," the elf prince retorted, his tone firm yet contemplative. "Blood ties, especially among the beast clans, hold profound significance. Fisher is not merely a distant relation; he is the direct progeny of the late King Grey Mane. We cannot afford to overlook such a connection."

"True, the lustre of the Grey Manes may have faded over the centuries, but recall the old saying, 'a waning dragon still dwarfs a hydra,'" the young elf countered with a wry smile, attempting to lighten the mood.

The prince leaned forward, his eyes alight with strategic fervor. "Precisely why this presents us with a unique opportunity. While Fisher grapples with the prominent vintners, we could monopolize the market for the exquisite wines provided by the Kasha Hotel."

"This venture could dramatically elevate the fortunes of our Windrunner Chamber of Commerce, not to mention our own standing within the esteemed echelons of Silver moon City," he added, his gaze piercing.

"This... Your Highness, aren't we perhaps overestimating the impact?" the younger elf questioned, his doubt evident. "Silver moon City isn't won over by mere trade moves. It's the heart of our civilization."

"Do you not perceive the potential?" the prince queried, picking up a crystal glass from the mahogany coffee table, swirling the rich, amber liquid within. "This isn't just any wine, it's a revelation in taste, far surpassing anything else available. Do you understand the vast sums that flow through the wine markets across our lands?"

"This very wine, currently obscure to the major players, is our gateway. By securing its source, we stand to not only dominate the wine market but also cement our influence continent-wide," he proclaimed, a strategic gleam in his eyes.

"Your Highness, I see it now!" the younger elf exclaimed, an epiphany dawning upon him.

"Good. We must act swiftly. Continue to gather intelligence on Kasha Hotel, identify the owner, pinpoint the wine master. We need that information urgently," directed the prince with a decisive nod.

"Understood!"

As the prince was left alone, his gaze settled on the wine glass in his hand, a gentle smile playing on his lips.

"Grandfather, you advised me to renounce the throne, and I have been compliant," he murmured softly. "But fate has thrust upon me an opportunity too golden to ignore."

"And so, I shall not only claim what is rightfully mine but reach for what lies beyond."

Nearly three hours later, a scene straight out of legend unfolded in the heart of Canyon City.

A lion-scorpion, its mane flickering with embers, and a wyvern, wings whispering with the remnants of a long flight, landed majestically in front of the bustling Kasha Hotel. Two muscular wolfman guards, stationed at the entrance, snapped to attention, their senses heightened at the arrival of such formidable creatures.

Onlookers in the vicinity paused, their routines interrupted, as they craned their necks for a better view of the unfolding spectacle.

"Greetings, Chief!" the guards barked in unison, their voices a mix of surprise and reverence as they spotted a familiar figure dismounting the lion-scorpion.

Logan, the chieftain from a Silver mane tribe, nodded in acknowledgment. "Well done, soldiers. Keep up the good vigilance," he responded with a gruff appreciation of their alertness.

Striding into the hotel lobby, Logan's sharp eyes quickly took in the unusual decor. Wine barrels lined the walls, and the air was thick with the sweet, heady aroma of aged grape. The transformation of the space into a veritable fortress of fermentation did little to mask his initial frown of disapproval.

Venturing further, he made his way to the transformed backyard, now the nerve center of the burgeoning winery. The area had expanded significantly; buildings nearby had been acquired and altered as needed, some demolished for space, others repurposed with new openings to facilitate the bustling wine operations. Beastmen hustled back and forth, a testament to the winery's lively commerce.

His presence didn't go unnoticed. "Isn't that the chief?" whispered a nearby worker, triggering a ripple of recognition through the crowd.

"The chief is here!" the whisper turned into a shout, and soon, a flurry of activity led Tyton and Kadia, two key werewolf managers of the winery, to burst through a doorway, anxiety and anticipation written plainly across their faces.

"Greetings, chief!" they exclaimed, rushing over to Logan and bowing deeply, their tails wagging slightly in their nervous excitement.

"It's been more than a month since our last meeting, and I see the operation has expanded significantly. Show me around, won't you?" Logan said, clapping them on the back in a friendly, albeit commanding manner.

"Of course, Chief!" they replied, visibly relaxed by his informal demeanor. Their relief was palpable; having the chief's support was like a steadying keel in turbulent waters.

After a thorough half-hour tour, Logan couldn't hide his admiration for the expansive setup. "Impressive work, Tyton and Kadia. It seems you two are indeed well-suited for these roles," he remarked as they returned to the backyard, his voice rich with approval.

"Chief, all this has been possible because of your visionary planning. We merely executed your orders," Tyton humbly deflected, a rough edge to his voice betraying his longing for the more straightforward life of tribal leadership and battlefield command.

Despite his reservations, it was clear that under Logan's directive, the Kasha Hotel's winery had transformed into a formidable enterprise, poised to influence the wine markets far beyond the confines of Canyon City.

Kadia shuffled her feet uneasily, casting a reluctant glance towards Logan before speaking, her voice tinged with a longing for familiar duties. "Chief, truly, all praise should go to Lord Tyton. I've played no significant role here. Might I request to return to the tribe and resume my duties as captain of the guard? Or even as an ordinary soldier, if that suits better."

Her discomfort was palpable; the call of military discipline and the structured life of training still pulled at her heart.

Tyton, standing beside her, felt a surge of anxiety. He, too, harbored a desire to return. Yet, just as he opened his mouth to join Kadia's plea, he caught a stern gesture from Logan halting him mid-breath.

"Why this discontent?" Logan queried sharply, his gaze piercing as it settled on Kadia. "Here, you have ample food and drink, and I've observed you and the other beastman from the tribe growing stronger. Such luxuries are scarce back home!"

Kadia, under the weight of Logan's intense stare, shifted uncomfortably. "Chief, I still feel the pull to... to go back," she murmured, avoiding eye contact.

"And why is that?" Logan pressed, folding his arms across his chest.

He then briefed them on recent developments within the Silver Mane Tribe. "Did you know our population has now surpassed 10,000?"

Both Tyton and Kadia reacted with genuine surprise. "Ten thousand?" they echoed, their expressions a mixture of shock and disbelief.

Logan continued, "Yes, and with our current resources, funded by ventures like this winery, we're attracting disaster victims and providing for them. I foresee no wars until after the next rainy season at the earliest. So, tell me, why rush back to a quieter life?"

The two exchanged a glance. Return for a quieter life? Ironically, their current roles seemed more tranquil in comparison to the evolving dynamics at the tribe.

Realizing the futility of their argument against such strategic reasoning, they shifted the conversation to update Logan on the operational status of the winery.

"Chief, we now have 736 orcs here at the winery," Tyton reported. "Of these, 90 serve as guards due to our expansion and the need for heightened security across multiple entry points. The remaining 646 are workers."

Kadia added, "I oversee the guards, ensuring our security measures are robust."

Logan nodded approvingly. "Excellent work. Security is a wise investment, no matter the cost."

He understood that despite the underlying unrest from his werewolves, the security and prosperity of their commercial ventures like the winery offered a stabilizing force not just for them, but for the entire tribe. This was Canyon City, after all, where order was maintained not just by strength, but by the visible assurance of safety and prosperity.

"By the way, have we been procuring slaves for the labor?" Logan inquired, shifting topics to the staffing of the expanding winery.

"Yes, Chief," they confirmed, ready to discuss the next steps for managing their burgeoning enterprise.