Charisma 100: My Academy Life As A Heartbreaking Commoner-Chapter 187: Aggressive Expansion

"Thirty thousand gold," Evelyn said, spreading the ledger across Aegis’s desk. "After accounting for the coins’ collector value versus raw gold weight, we’re looking at approximately thirty-two thousand, four hundred."

"Round it down to thirty. I don’t trust antique dealers."

"Wise." Evelyn made a note. "Now, regarding allocation. I’d recommend a conservative approach. Ten thousand in secure investments; land, bonds, and established trade partnerships. Another ten in liquid reserves for emergencies. The remaining ten split between household improvements and a modest expansion of our current ventures."

Aegis listened, nodded along, and waited for Evelyn to finish.

Then, Aegis finally said:

"No."

Evelyn’s pen stopped moving.

"No?"

"We’re going aggressive." Aegis pulled out her own notes. Scribbled plans she’d been working on since the ruins. "There’s a textile merchant in the Merchant Quarter. Harmond and Sons. They’re struggling. About to go under."

"I’m aware of them. What about it?"

"We’re gonna buy them out. Full acquisition."

Evelyn’s expression didn’t change, but her pen tapped against the ledger twice.

"That would cost approximately twelve thousand gold, assuming they accept a buyout rather than bankruptcy proceedings."

"They’ll accept. Harmond’s too proud to let his family name go through public dissolution." Aegis moved to the next item on her list. "Rosalie’s shop. I want to fund an expansion. Bigger premises, better equipment, some staff to help her handle increased production."

"How much?"

"Eight thousand should cover it. Maybe ten if we want to do it properly."

The pen tapped faster.

"That’s twenty-two thousand committed. You said you wanted to round down to thirty, which leaves eight thousand for—"

"Enchanted equipment. Commissioning custom gear for Scarlett, Kanna, and our new security contractors."

"All of them?"

"Well, the key personnel, at least. Captain Renn and his lieutenants. Call it another six thousand."

Evelyn set down her pen.

"Lady Aegis. You’re proposing to spend twenty-eight thousand gold in a single week. That leaves us with two thousand in reserves. If any of these investments fail to generate returns—"

"They won’t."

"If they do—"

"They won’t." Aegis leaned forward. "Evelyn. I know this looks reckless. But I’ve done the math. Harmond’s textile operation has existing contracts that’ll generate revenue the moment we take over. Rosalie’s potions are already selling faster than she can make them, so expansion means we capture that demand instead of losing it to competitors. And the equipment investment pays for itself in contract efficiency."

Evelyn studied her for a long moment.

"You’re very confident."

"I am."

"Confidence doesn’t guarantee returns."

"No." Aegis smiled. "But I’ve got a good feeling about this. Trust me."

A pause.

Then Evelyn sighed, picked up her pen, and started writing.

"I’ll draw up the acquisition papers for Harmond and Sons. But if this goes wrong, I want it on record that I advised caution."

"Noted. Now let’s get to work."

---

Day one.

Aegis sat across from Gregory Harmond in his cramped office, watching the old man’s hands shake as he reviewed the buyout offer.

"This is... generous," he said slowly.

"It’s fair. Your operation has value. I’m not trying to steal it."

"And my workers? My family?"

"Retained. All of them. I’m buying the business, not dismantling it."

Harmond signed.

Gold: 30,000 → 18,000

---

Day two.

Rosalie’s eyes were wet as she toured the new premises, a proper storefront in the Merchant Quarter, three times the size of her old shop.

"I can’t believe this is real," she whispered.

"Believe it." Aegis handed her the contract.

Rosalie signed so fast the ink smeared.

Gold: 18,000 → 8,000

---

Day three.

The enchanter’s workshop smelled of ozone and burnt copper. Aegis watched as Master Venn examined her specifications.

"Custom work for thirty personnel," he muttered. "Reinforced armor, enchanted weapons, stamina enhancements..."

"Can you do it?"

"I can do anything, Lady Starcaller. The question is whether you can afford it."

She could...

Barely.

Gold: 8,000 → 2,000

---

Day four.

Evelyn’s face had gone slightly pale.

"Two thousand gold in reserves," she said. "If anything goes wrong—"

"Nothing’s going to go wrong."

"The textile contracts don’t pay out until next week. Rosalie’s expansion won’t generate revenue for at least three days. We’re operating on fumes."

"Then we’d better not crash."

Evelyn did not look reassured.

---

Day five.

The first textile payment came through.

Gold: 2,000 → 9,000

---

Day six.

Rosalie’s new shop opened. The line stretched around the block.

Gold: 9,000 → 17,000

---

Day seven.

Aegis sat in her study, watching the numbers climb.

Textile revenue. Potion sales. Security contracts from nobles who’d heard about her "independent contractors" and wanted their own protection. The gold counter ticked upward like a heartbeat.

Gold: 17,000 → 24,000

Gold: 24,000 → 29,000

Gold: 29,000 → 35,000

The door opened. Evelyn walked in, ledger in hand, and stopped.

She stared at the numbers.

Then she exhaled. A long, slow breath that seemed to release a week’s worth of tension.

"Thirty-five thousand," she said. "Five thousand more than we started with."

"Told you."

"You’re going to give me grey hairs."

Aegis grinned.

"You’ll look distinguished."

Evelyn made a sound that might have been a laugh or might have been a sob. She set the ledger on the desk and left without another word.

Aegis leaned back in her chair, savoring the moment.

[Three weeks and some change until Talia’s betrothal ceremony. Wealth pillar: looking good.]

---

That evening, Aegis was still at her desk when the door opened again.

She didn’t look up from the revenue projections.

"Evelyn, I told you, the Harmond contracts are fine. The margins are—"

"I’m not Evelyn."

Aegis’s head snapped up.

Serilla leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, one eyebrow raised. She’d dressed down tonight. A simple blouse and fitted trousers, but she still looked like she’d walked out of a painting.

"You’re ignoring me," Serilla said. "For spreadsheets."

"I’m not ignoring you. I’m working."

"Same thing." Serilla pushed off the doorframe and walked over, hips swaying. She perched on the edge of Aegis’s desk, directly on top of a stack of contracts. "You’ve been buried in paperwork for days. I’m starting to feel neglected."

Aegis set down her pen, leaning back to look at her.

"Oh, trust me, it’s not easy. Having a succubus like you trying to distract me."

"Trying?" Serilla’s lips curved. "I haven’t even started trying."

"Is that a threat or a promise?"

"Both."

Serilla reached down and plucked a ledger from the desk, scanning it. Her playful expression shifted slightly.

"You bought out Harmond’s textile operation?"

"Full acquisition."

"Smart. Their distribution network alone is worth twice what you paid." She flipped a page. "And this exclusive contract with the alchemist... sixty-forty in her favor? That’s generous."

"Loyalty costs money. She’ll remember who believed in her when no one else did."

Serilla hummed, still reading.

"You’re overextended on the enchantment commissions. Master Venn charges a premium for rush work. You could have gotten the same quality for thirty percent less if you’d waited two weeks."

Aegis blinked.

"How do you know that?"

"House Frost has been using Venn for decades. I know his pricing structure better than he does." Serilla set down the ledger and met Aegis’s eyes. "You should have asked me."

"I didn’t realize you were interested in my finances."

"Forgot the auction? We’re essentially together now," she said casually. "It behooves me to be interested in everything about you. Besides. If you’re going to challenge Darius for Talia, you’ll need every advantage. Overpaying for enchantments isn’t an advantage."

Aegis studied her for a moment.

"Are you perhaps offering to help?"

"I’m offering expertise. There’s a difference."

"Is there?"

"Take it or leave it, Starcaller."

Aegis reached out, caught Serilla’s hand, and pulled her off the desk and into her lap. Serilla made a sound of surprise but didn’t resist, settling against Aegis with her arms looped around her neck.

"I’ll take it," Aegis said. "The help. The expertise. All of it."

"Good." Serilla’s voice had gone slightly breathless. "Then tomorrow, we’re reviewing your vendor contracts. Some of these terms are embarrassing."

"Tomorrow." Aegis’s hands found Serilla’s hips. "Tonight, I think I owe you some attention."

SMACK

Aegis’s palm crashed on Serilla’s ass.

Serilla’s smile sharpened.

The ledgers could wait.