---The Kenway Mansion - Alaric's Office---
The study was quiet, save for the scratching of Alaric's quill against parchment. The heavy curtains were drawn back, revealing a sky that was getting darker.
Alaric sat behind his mahogany desk, a lit cigar resting in an ashtray, the smoke curling lazily toward the ceiling. He was reviewing the business ledgers that had accumulated during his "seven-day" absence.
'Export manifests to Britain: up 15%. Shipments to the Caribbean: stable. Raw material intake from the western frontier: delayed due to the Iroquois conflict.'
He tapped the paper. 'So Penn's letting Britain buy the Celestial products… from the only hands that can make them. Heh. He sure knows how to put salt in the wound.'
Since Alaric wasn't using his Shadow Clones to personally oversee every transaction outside the country, the growth was considered "slow" by his standards. But to anyone else? It was explosive. The Kenway trade empire was swallowing the colonial market whole.
Ships from French and Spanish colonies crowded the Philadelphia harbor, their captains eager to trade with the Holy Commonwealth of Pennmere.
'Ah, damn, I missed Penn's coronation...' He thought as he read a part of a newspaper that was highlighted in the front.
'WILLIAM PENN SR., KING OF THE HOLY COMMONWEALTH OF PENNMERE!!!'
He could only sigh before grabbing other batch of papers that required his attention.
'War with the Iroquois...' Alaric mused, reading a military report. 'Hmm... couldn't stop it, huh?'
It was surprising, but inevitable. A plague had ravaged the Five Nations, leading to desperation. They had pillaged Pennmere-protected villages. William Penn, ever the diplomat, had sent aid and ambassadors. They were returned in pieces.
It was a clear casus belli for Pennmere to wage war.
Armies led by Thulani, Reuben, and Shakoka… his disciples… were on military camps, carrying the name of the Vanguard organization.
'With their strength, it will be over by next week,' Alaric calculated. 'The Iroquois will not settle for peace because of their desperation, so in the end... Pennmere will occupy the land either as settlement and strategic depth. That's okay... it's only a matter of time before Pennmere will own the entire North America anyway.'
He leaned back, the leather chair groaning. It was nearing nighttime.
'Hmmm... now that I think about it,' Alaric thought, staring at the ceiling. 'The warehouse is a huge setback for our products. What if…'
An idea formed. A logistical upgrade.
He stood up, grabbing his cigar. He walked out of the office and into the hallway.
He saw Edward Kenway walking toward him, holding little Jennifer in his arms. The baby was asleep, her head resting on Edward's shoulder. Edward looked tired but content, the look of a man who had found his anchor.
They nodded and smiled at each other.
"Alaric?"
The man in question took a small drag from his cigar before turning his head. "Cousin?"
"I... uhh..." Edward hesitated, shifting Jennifer slightly. He seemed nervous. "There's... something I want to talk to you about. Are you free later?"
Alaric raised a brow. He grabbed his gold pocket watch and checked the time.
"I'll be free about an hour from now," Alaric nodded. "So you have time to put little Jenny to sleep."
Edward smiled, relief washing over him. "Thanks, mate. I'll see you in the study."
He continued down the hall.
Alaric watched him go. 'Family reports say Edward has become Caroline's partner in securing contracts for Celestial Tea and . He's charming the socks off the governors from New France. Good for him.'
Alaric turned and headed for the stairs. He passed Jonathan Hugh, the butler, who was instructing a maid on the proper way to polish silver. Jonathan noticed Alaric and bowed perfectly. Alaric nodded back.
He descended to the ground floor, then deeper. He opened a heavy, reinforced door that led to the basement levels.
He walked past the wine cellar and the family vault until he reached a massive set of double iron doors.
---The Underground Warehouse---
He pushed them open.
The space was cavernous, stretching beneath the entire estate. It was filled with crates, barrels, and sacks… the physical stock of Celestial Products.
It was about 60% full. Millions of pounds worth of inventory sitting in the dark. Well, they were clean… but it's too messy to do things this way.
"Inefficient," Alaric muttered. 'I should've thought of this sooner.'
He raised his hand.
Wind Release.
A gentle but firm gale swept through the warehouse. Crates lifted into the air, floating as if weightless. They organized themselves, stacking into neat piles in front of him.
Alaric pulsed a small amount of chakra to his eyes.
Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.
The geometric pattern spun.
"Vulcan."
Metal bands suddenly appeared in front of him. They melted in mid-air, reshaping themselves. Gold coins from his inventory joined the mix, fusing with the steel to create a durable, conductive alloy.
Several rings formed. They were simple, elegant bands of gold and steel.
Alaric didn't stop there. He raised a finger, the tip glowing with blue chakra.
'Fuinjutsu: Dimensional Storage Network.'
He wrote on the air, the kanji burning into the metal of the rings. He linked them all to a single, sub-dimensional pocket… a "cloud server" of storage space.
He programmed the interface.
Thought-based retrieval.Inventory mental display.Long range telepathic communication.
"Seal," Alaric commanded.
The rings flashed. The floating crates and barrels vanished, sucked into the dimensional void linked to the rings.
The warehouse was now empty.
Alaric caught the rings as they cooled. He slipped one onto his index finger.
Query: Inventory.
A list appeared in his mind, and the amount of Celestial products were accurately imprinted on his mind.
"Perfect," Alaric grinned.
He looked around the empty, massive underground space.
'Hmm... what should I use this place as? Maybe a training ground for the family? Or a swimming pool? No… I don't know, maybe something else.'
He shrugged and headed back upstairs.
---The Living Room, Few Minutes Later---
The Kenway family was gathered in the main living room. Kassandra was there too, sitting by the fire with a book, though she looked up with interest as Alaric entered.
"Alright," Alaric announced, clapping his hands. "Christmas came early."
Eleanor, Leonard, Bernard, Linette, Edward, and Caroline looked up, confused.
Alaric held out his hand. The seven golden rings rested on his palm.
"Jewelry?" Linette asked, raising an eyebrow. "Darling, you know I prefer pearls."
"Better than pearls," Alaric said, handing them out. "Put them on."
They did so, looking at the simple bands curiously.
"Now," Alaric instructed. "I want you to think about the inventory. Just ask the ring internally: What is inside?"
Bernard frowned, staring at his ring. "Ask the ring? Lad, have you been drinking?"
"Just try it, Uncle."
Bernard closed his eyes. 'What is inside?'
His eyes snapped open. "Good lord!"
"What is it?" Leonard asked.
"I... I can see it. In my head. Lists. The Celestial Tea. Cigars. It's... it's the warehouse ledger!" Bernard gasped.
"Now," Alaric grinned. "Unc'… think about wanting one pack of Premium Cigars."
Bernard focused. One pack. Premium Cigars.
POP.
A wooden box of cigars materialized in Bernard's hand. He nearly dropped it in shock.
"Sorcery!" Edward shouted, jumping back. "Bloody hell, Alaric!"
"It's… something like that," Alaric scratched the back of his head. "it's like technology. I cleared out the warehouse. It's all in the rings now. You don't need to haul crates anymore. You walk into a meeting, shake the governor's hand, and poof, goods are already sent. Less risk of robbery as well."
Caroline stared at the ring on her finger. "This... this changes everything. Logistics... transport costs... they're gone."
"Exactly," Alaric nodded.
"Wait, there's more," Alaric tapped his own ring. "Focus on someone else wearing a ring. Think about talking to them."
Eleanor looked at Leonard.
BZZZT.
Leonard's ring vibrated. He flinched. '"Huh?"
"Accept the call," Alaric coached. "Just think Accept."
Leonard did.
"Leonard?" Eleanor's voice echoed in his head, clear as a bell.
"Eleanor?" Leonard looked around. "I can hear you! But your mouth isn't moving!"
"It's a communication function," Alaric explained. "Like a... well, like a very advanced letter. You can talk to each other instantly, anywhere in the city. Maybe even further."
The family was stunned into silence. This wasn't just magic; it was a revolution.
Kassandra watched them, amused. She silently queried Aletheia in the Staff of Hermes.
'Is this Isu technology?'
'Negative,' Aletheia's voice responded in her mind. 'This is... something else. It's something too impossible to exist.'
Kassandra chuckled, closing her book. "Always showing off, agápi mou."
---
An hour passed and the house was quiet. The family had retired, likely spending half the night testing their new toys.
Alaric sat in his office alone.
He opened the System Interface. It hovered before him, a translucent screen that was silent and monotonous.
[Buy] [Sell]
He checked his balance.
[Balance Remaining: $663,783,609 69¢]
It was the same number he had left with a year ago… or six days ago, in this time.
Alaric leaned back, blowing a smoke ring.
"Still rich... heh."
He closed the screen as he felt someone approach the door to his office.
"Now... let's see what Edward wanted to talk about."
.
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