Victor skimmed the bill calmly, then set it lightly on the desk.
"Lia, what exactly are our territory's income sources?"
At the question, Lia tilted her head and squinted at him—like she was looking at an idiot. She let out a short laugh, the sound edged with mockery.
"A lord who doesn't even know where his own territory's money comes from? Seriously?"
Victor truly didn't know—but that hardly stopped Lia from ridiculing this "lord in name only."
"Listen up. The Cravenna Territory makes its money mainly from grain and mineral trade."
As Lia explained, Victor pieced together the basics.
The Cravenna family owned a territory named after themselves—Cravenna. Fertile land, dense forests all around, only a hundred kilometers from the capital. A single day's travel by carriage.
Because of that prime location, the Empire's second-largest commercial town sat right on their land.
Cravenna also boasted a rich mineral vein—still enough for at least fifty more years of mining.
Close to the capital, fertile soil, abundant harvests, and a damn mine.
The Cravenna family would have to work to stay poor.
"But lately, ore output dropped a lot," Lia snapped. "And it's not harvest season yet. All the grain we sold recently was from last year's stockpile."
Her anger spiked as she glared at him.
"We still have to keep enough grain for the people. We can't sell everything! Our income is already low—and you dare spend like this right now?!"
Victor nodded, expression flat, impossibly calm.
"You seriously don't feel guilty at all?"
Lia stared at him in disbelief. She knew her older brother was useless, but she hadn't expected him to be this clueless.
Victor thought for a moment, stroked his chin, and answered:
"Hire a few mages. Then buy a storefront in the busiest part of the capital. We're opening a magic-item shop."
Lia exploded.
"Victor! Did you hear a single word I just said?!"
"You think magic shops are rare in the capital?!"
"And even if you opened one—so what?! You think your name is enough to beat every established merchant?!"
"Victor, do you even understand business at all?!"
The more she spoke, the more agitated she became.
After their parents died, she had managed everything alone since childhood. For over a decade, she'd kept the territory stable—despite Victor's reckless spending. She had never blamed him.
But now this utterly clueless brother wanted to meddle in business?
What on earth was he trying to do?
Her voice trembled. The more she spoke, the more wronged she felt.
Seeing words wouldn't calm her, Victor didn't bother arguing.
He simply waved a hand—
—dozens of bottles of radiant blue mana potions appeared on the desk.
Lia froze.
That ocean-blue liquid… she'd never seen anything like it.
Her anger caught in her throat.
"What… is this?"
She blinked in confusion.
Mana-restoring tools did exist—but they were rare and outrageously expensive. And they weren't potions. As for healing potions, only slow-recovery types existed in this world. Instant-heal potions like players used? Impossible.
In reality, an item like that was basically a world-breaking bug.
Even a single instant-mana potion would be considered a divine artifact.
So Victor didn't bother explaining. It would only sound like nonsense.
Seeing was believing.
"Find a few mages," Victor ordered calmly. "Have them cast spells until they're exhausted. Then let them drink a bottle. After that, you'll know exactly what to do."
Lia eyed him suspiciously—but swept all the potions into her arms.
Victor added, "Also, do you have anyone helping you?"
Lia sneered. "Oh? Our grand lord suddenly learned to care about his subordinates?"
He ignored the sarcasm. Their strained sibling relationship was mostly Victor's fault anyway.
He simply repeated his question.
"Serious question. Does your caravan hire guards?"
Lia snorted. "No. I don't trust outsiders."
Meaning she handled all Cravenna's commerce alone.
"There aren't bandits on the road?" Victor frowned. "It's a full day's journey to the capital."
Lia looked startled that her unreliable brother was worried about her. It felt… strangely unfamiliar.
Leaning against the desk, she twirled a strand of hair and looked away awkwardly.
"No… not really. We have our own trade routes. If someone tries to rob us, we just show them the Cravenna crest and they leave. It's usually fine."
"At least… nothing has ever happened before."
She didn't meet his eyes as she spoke, instead picking up a potion and examining it closely.
Victor nodded.
Then he slipped off his right-hand glove—Mage's Hand.
"Lia. Listen carefully. Opening a shop in the capital won't be simple. A treasure like this will draw greedy eyes. Wear it—it'll help if something unexpected happens."
She stared at the glove, hesitant.
"Don't worry. It's just a mage tool," Victor said. "It'll automatically adjust to your hand size."
That wasn't what she was worried about—but she didn't know how to explain it.
She reached out and accepted the fingerless glove. It still carried Victor's warmth.
When her fingertips brushed the embedded stones, irritation rose in her chest.
As a merchant, she knew exactly what they were.
Magic Stones—gems that could store and transmit spells.
Each one worth millions.
He'd put six on a glove.
She mentally complained, but—for once—didn't snap at him.
She slipped the glove on. Just as he said, it resized perfectly.
"Hold your palm out at me," Victor instructed. "Focus on any stone you like."
She followed his instructions, lifting her palm toward him.
One green stone caught her eye.
Pretty color, she thought.
Is that enough?
The moment the thought formed, the green gem lit up.
Then—
Whump!
A spell array exploded into being at her palm.
A violent gale surged through the study, papers snapping in the air.
The forming tempest grew stronger and stronger.
Victor tapped the desk—
A teleportation array opened in the air.
Before the gale could fully erupt, the formation swallowed it whole.
Silence.
A few seconds later—
Boom!
Something outside shattered violently.
Lia stared, stunned.
"Just now… what was that?"
"Tier Two magic. Fury Tempest. Strong enough to flatten a small mountain."
"Don't look so shocked."
Victor dismissed the lingering formation with a tap.
How could she not be shocked?
She wasn't a mage. She had only ever seen others cast spells.
But that just now—that terrifying magic—
had come from her hand.
Her mind was still spinning.
"So that's… what magic feels like…"
She stood frozen, hand still outstretched.
Victor recharged the glove and continued:
"Pay attention. I made you cast it not just to teach you the trigger—more importantly, so you understand the danger. You saw the power."
"Each stone has one use."
"When you run out, come back. I'll refill them."
Lia understood the value of what he'd given her. Priceless didn't begin to describe it.
She was about to suggest selling it—then remembered Victor's serious tone.
This wasn't a commodity.
It was a lifesaving tool.
She hesitated, then muttered awkwardly:
"…Thanks."
Then she hurried out with the potions.
When the door closed, Vega spoke from Victor's shoulder.
"Doesn't it hurt to give someone else something like that?"
"It's just a tool," Victor replied. "I can make another anytime. Besides, I don't really need it."
Mage's Hand wasn't useful except in PvP—instant multi-casting made it perfect for ambushes or emergency defense. A must-have in player duels.
But for now, he had little use for it.
Hearing that, Vega fell silent—then began plotting in his mind.
I need to find a way to trick him into making one for me…
…
The next morning, just as Victor finished breakfast and got ready to head to the Academy, a servant entered.
"My lord, a lady outside claims to be your teaching assistant. She says she's here to deliver your notes and speech draft."
Victor paused mid-button.
Henny?
He hadn't told her to bring them to his house.
Still, he told the servant to let her in.
And saw Henny walk in with two dark circles under her eyes.
"What happened to you? Didn't sleep?"
Henny jolted awake at his voice.
"No, Professor. I forgot to go to bed… and ended up writing the draft all night."
Victor had no words.
"When Erika brought her notes, I remembered you said to send them to you, so I brought the speech draft too."
Watching her sway sleepily, Victor couldn't bring himself to scold her.
Was she… a little dumb?
After a moment of silence, he asked:
"Have you eaten?"
Henny shook her head. She'd rushed over at dawn—no sleep, no food.
Victor gestured to a servant.
"Take her to breakfast. Then prepare a room so she can rest."
Henny squeaked, flustered, wanting to refuse—
but Victor's tone left no room for argument.
"Eat. Then sleep."
Her shoulders drooped instantly. She dared not defy Victor. Head down, she followed the servant out like a wilted plant.
Victor had planned to go to the Academy in the morning. But since Henny came, he changed his schedule. Class was in the afternoon anyway.
He spent the morning reviewing Erika's homework and his speech in the study.
While marking her assignment, he asked Vega without looking up:
"What do you think of that kid?"
Vega blinked, surprised. He knew Victor meant Henny.
"What do you mean?"
"You told me to gather believers for you, didn't you?" Victor stretched, tapped his fingers on the speech draft, then turned to Vega—eyes narrowed, sharp and dangerous.
"A sweet, naïve girl like her… is the easiest to convert."