--- 32 Days AD ---

I yawned, stretching, and looked around. The small room I was staying in was functional, and clean, the way I liked it.

The innkeeper was convinced I was slumming it up, after hearing my name, and had referred me to several brothels nearby. I had happily taken his advice on the best ones, and planned on visiting one soon.

It seems the College started term in a month, so I was free until then to do whatever I liked, other than break the law, obviously.

This, basically, meant that I couldn't kill anyone, steal anything, or rape anyone, and I wasn't allowed to use magic to attack someone, lethal intentions or not. That was the basic limitations of the laws I was tutored in during my first few days. Punishment for breaking those laws was... Extreme. Extremely Extreme. Magical torture was as methodical as it was precise, I was told.

I had bought a large plot of land, directly on the river yesterday, which was finished with a three story warehouse, and then talked with people around the city. Clothing was often highly expensive, because they were all woven individually and hand-stitched. I planned on making a Textile Mill to alleviate this issue, and make a fortune doing so, without harming anyone.

I walked out of the inn, and made my way to the docks, (after a quick stop in the bank for 1 Platinum Koi and 22 Golden Frei.)

I found the harbor master, and smiled. "Hello, sir, I'm Lord Caleb Johnson, I'm new in the Capitol, I was wondering if you'd point me towards your biggest metal importer and also your biggest cotton importer?" I asked cordially.

He hummed, and wordlessly pointed at two ships, one unloading Metal expeditiously, and the other unloading giant bales of Cotton. I grinned and approached the Metal Ship. "Hello! May I speak to your captain?" I asked.

They pointed at a man who was talking to another, seemingly arguing price. The man wanted to pay only 10 Frei, and I grinned. "I'll give you Twenty for this shipment, and also the opportunity to work together in the future." I said suddenly, and they froze. "Oh, my apologies. I'm Lord Caleb Johnson, and you?" I held out a hand to the Captain.

He gripped my hand, and looked down at the roughness of my palm, then up at my smooth grin, chuckling. "I'm Captain Java (Hava). 20 Frei, you say?"

"Indeed." I handed him the pouch, taking two out. At his raised eyebrow, I smiled. "There were 22." I explained.

He nodded and counted quickly. "Well then. Done, milord." He grinned. He turned to his crew, ignoring the spluttering merchant, and whistled sharply. "Alright, Boys! Looks like we've got a new Client!"

---

I had the metal taken to my plot of land, and then the Cotton, which I'd gotten for the remaining two Frei in my pocket.

I went to the Palace, then found and borrowed a Mage, promising him the Koi if he helped me with cutting many metal slabs into very specific shapes. He replied that that specific job was one he was called upon for often, and he was something of an expert.

I showed him the exactly specified drawings I'd made for the parts of the Mechanical Loom, and his eyes went like saucers, at the sheer size of whatever I was building.

I snapped my fingers and looked him in the eyes. "This is for our eyes only. Word gets out, I'll know it was you, and I'll hunt you down and tear you limb from limb, burn your body, and throw your ashes into the ocean. Is that understood?" I said gently, my hand gripping the back of his neck.

He nodded quickly. "Yes, milord, mums the word!" He chuckled nervously.

"Then separate half of this metal into these parts." I said, hauling one sheet, a gigantic 4 inch thick 10ft-by-10ft, off the second pile, setting it against the wall for my own use.

He started chanting, and the first stack of metal started heating up, and then separating. I grinned in excitement, and in a few minutes it was done. I flipped the Koi to him. "Your silence, bought and paid for, but good job. Maybe I'll call on you again, next time I need something like this."

He caught the coin, and smiled. "I hope so, milord!" He scurried out of the door, and I nodded.

"Let's get to work, then..." I picked up one piece, and started construction. The Mage, 'Kenton', had a basic understanding of the parts, but not the composition, so I wasn't worried about him spreading word of my work.

Soon, I had built a magnificent, giant, looming loom. I snickered quietly to myself as I tossed the bales of cotton into the shredder, so that it was sifted and carded, and then it was automatically moved into the weaver.

If, it had power, something I had overlooked, out of habit. I hummed, and then realized I was right next to the river. I grinned. "Water Mill. Hell yeah."

I took the pile of metal I'd moved aside, half of the original load, and then started hammering out a Water Wheel and axle, plus another wheel for the start of my generator.

--- 36 days AD ---

I pulled down the lever, and crossed my fingers.

The wheel was dropped into the water, and started spinning with the current. The magnets started hissing with electricity, and I grinned, watching everything start to function. The Loom started churning, and I crossed my fingers again, waiting patiently.

Almost twenty minutes later, fabric started to come out of the end, and the Roller got to work, spinning the cotton fabric into a rug-like shape, then cleanly slicing it in the center to the same size as the common fabrics you could buy in the market.

I walked into the Bazaar, carrying the first spool of heavenly soft fabric, and found two young merchants who sold and traded fabric.

"Hello!" I smiled at the elder brother.

He looked at me, then my fabric. "You are looking to sell?" He asked.

"Yes. My name is Lord Caleb Johnson, I own a small company that makes fabric. I'd like to set up a... Relationship, with you and your partner. I sell you my fabric at a low price, and you sell it at double that. I swear it will still bring you profit, and also be cheaper than any other fabric you sell." I smiled.

He blinked, and his sister looked at me. "What will you sell this Spool for? Two Frei?"

"No. 20 Fein." I smiled. "I make profit, and so do you, at 40 Fein. This makes people buy the fabric, which means you buy more from me, which means we both make much profit." I smiled again. "Good?"

She touched the fabric dubiously, and gasped. "This is worth much more, at least 6 Frei! Why-"

"It only cost me 10 Fein to make it." I smiled. "I have my ways, and they will remain my own, and unknown." I said when she went to ask.

She nodded, smiling. "As is your right... Brother?"

"I like this idea... Fine. Yes, I will deal with you, friend." He held out a hand.

I grinned and shook his hand firmly. "Many thanks." I said, and then set the Spool on the counter. He handed me 20 silver pieces, and I pocketed them. "And remember, 40 Fein a Spool. Please, it's important. I want the poor to be able to buy this material, as well as the rest of the city."

He nodded. "I swear it. Do you make other... Fabrics? Silk, Sonf?" (Sonf-jeans)

"Soon, yes. Not yet, I'm still starting. You're my first Customer. I'll be selling to others, just so we're clear, I don't want you to think I'm cheating you. Oh, and it's called 'Cloud Cotton'." I smirked, and jogged away, happy as can be.

'I'm going to make an empire of Textile. But first, a visit to that brothel the innkeeper swore by...'

---

I was not disappointed.

--- 44 Days AD ---

I coaxed my last Silk Worm Familiar to spin an endless cocoon, leaving a pile of nutrient-rich dirt next to him for sustenance.

I'd discovered that Familiar's who created things, such as venom or silk, needed matter to convert. So, mineral rich Dirt. Very efficient.

I looked at the row of fifty Silk Worms, and grinned. I was already mass producing Cotton and Sonf, and now I had Silk on the way.

I'd hired two people to guard the room, though they couldn't get inside, I'd payed Kenton to lock all of my buildings magically, warding them against anyone without permission, that is to say, anyone.

I felt a buzz in my skull, and grinned. James was contacting me.

I sat down and looked through his eyes. Sami was sitting down in her dojo, looking at James intently.

"Ahh, hello, Sami. I'm sorry I've been distant lately, I've managed to begin a Textile Industry in the Capitol. My schooling begins in 20 days or so, with the Fall Term. What's going on with you?" I chuckled.

She laughed. "Ah, I see, just got there and you're already taking over the place. Ha! I just wanted to hear your voice, Little One. Keep me posted about whatever you think relevant."

"Will do. Bye, Sami." I opened my eyes, and shivered. The disconnection was always weird.

I started the Silk refining process with the machines, smiling. "And off to the wizard we go..."

--- 51 Days AD ---

I hummed, looking at the knife to my throat. "Is that supposed to scare me, little boy? Can't you see you're not the first person to rip out my throat?" I asked the small person in front of me, gesturing at my scars, which covered my entire throat.

He gulped, and centered himself. Steel filtered into his eyes as he grew a spine. "Just give me the silver!" He growled.

I hummed and handed him a small bag of silver, with 10 units. "Remove the dagger, boy. How would you like a job? You'll be paid that, every month." I said quietly.

He counted it with one hand, stepping back but keeping his dagger pointed at me. "I'm listening." He said.

"No, the negotiations start when the dagger is in its sheath." I countered sternly.

He sheathed his dagger. "There. Now what's this job?" He asked.

"I have several fabric distribution shops. I have to take spools of fabric to the vendors. I can't be in ten places at once. Simple solution. I pay someone to drive a cart, and you sit in the back, and unload the fabric at each vendor. Simple, like I said." I said, leaning against the wall.

He narrowed his eyes. "Why me? What's your angle?!"

"Simple. I'm a simple man. I want people who aren't afraid to get their hands dirty. If someone tries to steal from you, and therefore me, I want you to cut off their dominate hand." I grimaced.

He nodded. "I see... Alright. I'll do it." He grinned. "This every week, you said?" He held up the ten silver pieces. (($1,000))

"Yes. And there'll be guards as well, of course. Just in case." I shrugged. "Meet me tomorrow at the Big Warehouse on the River. It has this glyph on the front." I showed him the 'Turn' mark, on my shoulder.

He nodded and sprinted away.

I laughed. "And now for guards..."

--- 54 Days AD ---

I raised an eyebrow at the crowd in front of my building. They were all merchants who sold fabric, that were almost out of work, now that my fabrics were gaining popularity.

One growled at me about something or other, and I backhanded him savagely, when he got into my face.

I addressed the crowd in my deep, graveled and roughened voice. "Leave." I said simply, and walked past them into my building as they trickled away.

---

I approached each of them separately, and told them, in no uncertain terms, that they were fully welcome to be my competition, but that riots and mobs would not be tolerated. I was extremely persuasive, as were Gem and Pepe.

--- 58 Days AD, 4 days until term starts ---

I signed off on the revenue sheet for my first month of business, and handed it to the Tax Collector, along with my Tax, which equaled 1,000 Frei, or 10 Koi, out of the 20,000 Frei I'd made in profit this month. 5 percent Tax... Better than most places, by far.

The Imperial Tax Collector raised his lip at the numbers, and I smiled. "Is there an issue?" I asked amicably.

He drew himself up. "Are you questioning a Hand of the Emperor?!?" He asked shrewishly, glaring at me like I was scum under his fancy boots.

I smiled and stood, approaching him swiftly, then launched myself forward with a snarl, my full leopard form crushing him to the ground of my office.

I snapped my jaws in front of his face, and licked my chops. Then I shifted human, watching his petrified features. "Yes. Is that a problem? Are you Questioning a Lord Mage of the Capital College?" I hissed, grinning.

He paled even further, and scurried out of the building, babbling apologies. I leaned back in my chair, smirking. "Serves you right, ya wee twat." I chuckled.

I looked at my watch, and hummed. "Only a few more days... Wonder what a Mages college will be like?"