"An elegant resolution," John acknowledged, his tone carrying a newly earned layer of respect. "You didn't just solve a single dispute with the Schwer Family, Dylan... you practically handed us a blueprint to turn our biggest operational headache into our most lucrative annual showcase."
"You've got a sharp mind, kid," Sir Raul boomed, his eyes shining with rekindled creative fervor. "More importantly, those ideas of yours... I'll be holding you to that lunch next week. Don't you dare try to back out or give me generic fluff!"
Dylan met Sir Raul's gaze with a calm, unbothered smile, bowing slightly. "A deal is a deal, Sir Raul. I assure you, our discussion will be well worth your time. I will send an invitation here at Bob's builder's to where we can have lunch at."
"Good!" Sir Raul barked out a short laugh, turning back toward his workbench near the corner of the office. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go refine the formation runes on the Dragon-Phoenix Annihilation Entrance before the auction. If Harry lets anyone touch it before then, I'll forge a door that locks him out of his own office!"
Harry sighed, though there was no real bite to his annoyance this time. "Sir Raul, please..."
He turned back to Dylan, offering a deep, respectful bow. "Mister Dylan, I cannot thank you enough. Not only for your brilliant counsel, but also for your patience with us today."
"Think nothing of it, Harry," Dylan replied smoothly, adjusting his cuffs. "It was a mutually beneficial interaction. I believe my initial furniture request is still being handled?"
"Of course! Right away!" Harry reassured him instantly. "An Apprentice Craftsman will arrive at your residence before noon. I will personally oversee the arrangement myself!"
"Then I shall take my leave," Dylan said, bowing politely to both John and Harry. "Branch Leader John, Mister Harry."
John stood up from his leather armchair, returning the bow with formal courtesy. "Safe travels, Dylan. Bob's Builders owes you a favor today. We look forward to seeing you again soon."
With the formalities concluded, Dylan turned and walked out of the office.
"Wasn't he the one who just got out of Branch Leader's office?"
"Who is that guy?"
"I saw Sir Raul also smile going out of the Branch Leader's office. The guy rarely smiles! What could they have talked about?"
A few apprentice craftsmen cast curious glances toward him, likely wondering how an ordinary client had managed to walk into the branch leader's private office alongside Sir Raul and emerge unscathed.
Dylan paid the stares no mind. He walked past the grand, crystalline-engraved double door the Dragon-Phoenix Annihilation Entrance which still faintly hummed with the latent energy of the azure dragon and phoenix spirits bound within its wood.
"Thanks to you, I got an unexpected harvest coming here." He whispered under his breath while glancing at the Rank 5 artifact.
Stepping through the main exit of Bob's Builders, the bright sunlight of Cirrus Cloud Town washed over him, accompanied by the brisk afternoon breeze.
Dylan paused on the workshop steps, looking back at the bustling establishment one last time before slipping his hands into his pockets and continuing down the street.
'A Purple Rank Master Craftsman secured for a private meeting,' Dylan thought to himself, a subtle, calculating smirk appearing on his lips. 'Modern engineering concepts in exchange for the craft and connections of an influential figure in the Great Mystic World... Not a bad return on an investment that cost me absolutely nothing.'
With that, Dylan left Bob's Builders and returned to his home. By the time he arrived at home, Scarlet was already awake and looking for him. So, he cooked food for Scarlet so they could have breakfast.
After cooking and eating, the craftsman that Harry arranged had arrived. Actually, it was not just one craftsman, there were three of them.
"I thought that there will only be one craftsman to be sent here? Why are there three of you here?" Dylan inquired.
One of the three replied, "We're the ones who cleared up our workload already which is why we volunteered. Sir Harry asked for three individuals for this work and told us to finish up whatever you need us to do within the day."
"Plus, there was an incentive of a free lesson from Master Raul which rarely happens. That's why a lot of people scrambled to do this commission." The second craftsman replied.
"What do we need to do, sir client?" The third was too enthusiastic about the free lesson that they will gain from Sir Raul.
'Hahaha, these little favors are very much welcome. This is why connections are really important in business. Small favors like this always happens when you're acquainted with other businesses.' Dylan thought that this was a classic five-minute favor fueled by generalized reciprocity, where low-cost micro-gestures build the very social capital that keeps business networks thriving.
It was a display of generalized reciprocity which meant building social capital not through a rigid tit-for-tat trade, but by tapping into a network where mutual support naturally flows back around.
"I see. Thank you very much. These are the things I need you three to do." Dylan started explaining his needs for table sets of two or four as well as the the trestle tables and their complimentary chairs. He also directed them how he wants the pergola to look like.
"If you have time, I would also appreciate if you could make signages for my restaurant's name as well as the courtyard's name." Dylan asked for a small favor to which the craftsmen agreed to.
"Will do so, sir!" The craftsmen started working immediately as the processed the lumber that Dylan brought yesterday. They made the backyard as the primary work station they have since Dylan informed them that the front yard will also receive their finishing touches today.
Due to their cultivations and their excellent coordination, the speed at which they were crafting the furniture was simply surreal!
Within the span of two hours, these craftsmen were able to finish creating five wooden table sets of two and another five sets that could house four. They also made six trestle tables with six to eight wooden chairs. They were already starting to do two pergolas as well.
With these tables being placed where Dylan instructed them to be, the targeted aesthetic for the Garden Ford Tavern was now being realized!
In the meantime, Dylan was already prepared a feast for lunch. The portions were not just for him and Scarlet. He was also expecting Victoria here today as well. Additionally, he was also planning to have the three workers eat and encourage them to invite their colleagues to come and visit Garden Ford Tavern.
After another hour, Dylan also went out in order to finish decorating the pergolas that three craftsmen had just finished. With the pergolas done, the three workers proceeded with the signages.
...
As Dylan anticipated, Victoria had indeed arrive a little past noon. She was amazed by the sudden makeover and redesign of the entire house.
"What happened here? It's so beautiful and relaxing! I know I was just unable to visit here yesterday..." Victoria stood frozen at the entrance, her breath catching softly in her throat.
"That walkway is so pretty..." Stepping onto the newly laid pathway, Victoria felt the crunch of clean river gravel beneath her slippers. With every step, her hem brushed against the dense borders of fresh rosemary, thyme, mint, and wild lavender.
"It's so fragrant here!" Victoria's nose picked up a delicate, intoxicating wave of herbal fragrance kicked up instantly, washing away the dust and fatigue of her journey. It did not feel like a mere tavern yard, but rather a living, breathing forest retreat crafted by a master artist.
To her left and right, the open space of the Vast Ocean Courtyard was now divided into secluded, romantic dining nooks. Natural wooden trellises wrapped in wild ivy provided cozy privacy, while overhead pergolas filtered the sunlight through drapes of emerald vines and orchids. Beneath the sprawling boughs of ancient hardwoods, long hand-carved trestle tables sat ready to invite guests to relax and linger.
'Is this really Dylan's house?' She could not believe her eyes, the transformation was so absolute, so breathtakingly intentional, that for a moment she wondered if she had stepped through an illusion array.
In the center of the courtyard, she saw Dylan putting the finishing touches on a trailing orchid vine along the main pergola. Nearby, the three craftsman were wiping sweat from their brows, smiling in deep satisfaction as the irresistible scent of sizzled game, fresh herbs, and forest teas wafted from the tavern kitchen, promising a lunch feast like no other.
The three were already gorging the scrumptious feat Dylan made that was prepared on the trestle tables. Their eyes were widening as they loudly praised.
"Good heavens! This might be the best food I have ever had!" One of the craftsman said while biting of a bone-on meat that was dripping succulent juice.
"Aside from the taste, the food looks so delicious it'll make your mouth water!" Another took a bite from a rib eye as his eyes sparkled from seeing all the food that was prepared for them.
"Thank you very much for this otherworldly meal you've prepared for us, Sir Dylan! We will definitely come over for your grand opening along with all our colleagues in Bob's Builders! The food is simply too magnificent!" The last of the three had nothing but endless praises for Dylan's cooking.
"Hahaha, you all flatter me so much. I would just like to thank you for the speedy work that you have done today." Dylan smiled as he saw the absolute delight in their faces.
"You have already paid a commission yet you are still treating us? Sir Dylan, what a good man you are." The craftsman said with teary eyes.
"You mentioned that your house needs rebuilding, sir? We can handle that for you!" Another one offered.
"Yes, we can definitely do that for you. We still have the entire day to work for you after all!" The last of the three reassured.
Dylan accepted their offers of course, "Is that so? Then, I will definitely rely on you for that!"
Victoria took a slow, deep breath, letting the soft rustle of leaves, the warm sunlight, and the rich scents anchor her to the spot as she looked toward Dylan with wide, amazed eyes.
Dylan noticed her presence and approached her, "Hello, Lady Benefactor. I've been expecting you. Food is already ready in another table. Scarlet is waiting for you there."
He pointed at Scarlet who was also enjoying both the meal and the ambience. The little girl shyly waved and said. "Hello, Big Sis."
Then, Scarlet looked at Dylan and said, "The house and garden looks awesome now, Big Bro! Nice job!"
"Your house... why did it suddenly turned into this dream-like place?" Victoria felt like her brain was still in a trance.
"Just little renovations that I made since I am going to be starting a restaurant. How is it?" Dylan nonchalantly said.
"It looks absolutely enchanting here! The vibe is relaxing and pleasing the moment you enter, the fragrant scent that trails around you as you walk towards the center, and the beauty of the entire garden is simply mystical! These "little" renovations you refer to it as is a complete understatement for this transformation!" Victoria pointed out as she recounted her experience.
"Hahaha, I am glad that you seem to like it very much. We can discuss over the details during lunch." Dylan invited her to the table with Scarlet.
"With you cooking skills, I'm pretty sure that this restaurant of yours will be a success." Victoria said as she followed Dylan towards the table.
"That is the goal!" Dylan replied with a smile.
After lunch, Dylan asked Victoria to stay in the house to stay with Scarlet since he wanted to go to the library.
"I plan to go to the library and will return by sundown. Would it be fine if I ask you to stay with Scarlet and also monitor the craftsman's progress?"
Victoria answered, "Sure! I can do that."
"I'll be off then, everyone. Scarlet, make sure to behave. Brothers, I will see you by dusk. I trust you to do your promise to me!" Dylan bid farewell to everyone.
"I will!" Scarlet rolled her eyes and cutely pouted.
"Will do so, Sir Dylan!" The three craftsman replied in unison.