Chapter 456: The Price Of Success

A week after the Grand Auction, Irene Valcrest walked into Sage’s office carrying three account books, a stack of loose parchments and the expression of a woman preparing to destroy someone’s good mood with mathematics.

Sage had been reading the latest registration reports when she placed everything across his desk and pulled out the chair opposite him. Boren, who had been occupying another chair while eating something wrapped in paper, immediately looked suspicious.

Irene ignored him and opened the thickest account book to a page covered in carefully organized figures. "The first complete financial report for the Kingdom Headquarters is ready,"

Irene announced as she turned the book toward Sage. "These numbers are daily estimates based on the last seven days. Some will rise or fall depending on traffic, supply and demand, but they’re reliable enough for us to understand what this place is actually earning."

Sage put the registration report aside. "How good is it?"

Irene’s mouth twitched. "Very good. Unfortunately, that’s exactly why I asked you to read this before you begin believing we’re infinitely wealthy."

Boren stopped chewing. "That sounded unnecessarily threatening."

Irene turned the first page. "Let’s begin with the Mana Cultivation Tower. It is currently our largest source of recurring facility income. Average daily revenue over the last seven days: five hundred and twenty thousand gold coins."

Sage’s eyebrows rose despite himself. He had expected the Tower to dominate, but hearing the actual number was different. "Half a million every day?"

"Approximately," Irene confirmed. "Usage has remained extremely high since the Headquarters opened. Lower floors account for most visitors, but higher-floor fees are substantially greater. Some Warriors are also purchasing longer cultivation periods rather than individual sessions. If current traffic continues, the Mana Tower alone can generate around fifteen million six hundred thousand gold coins in thirty days before expenses."

Boren slowly lowered his food. "The tower earns more in a month than some noble families probably see in years."

Irene glanced toward him. "And maintaining the formations, replacing damaged components, paying attendants and keeping the Tower operating costs money. Revenue is not profit, Boren."

Boren pointed at the figure. "It still says fifteen million."

"It says revenue."

Sage laughed before Irene could murder him with an account book. "Continue."

Irene moved down the page. "The twelve restaurants and dining facilities collectively average one hundred and eighty-five thousand gold coins per day. Maura’s better restaurants produce most of that, although the cheaper dining halls move considerably more meals."

Boren immediately straightened with obvious pride. "Finally, a respectable institution."

Irene looked at him. "Food?"

"Civilization," Boren corrected her solemnly. "Food is civilization."

"The restaurants also spend nearly half their revenue on ingredients, wages, fuel, transport and spoilage," Irene replied.

Boren’s pride weakened. "Civilization is expensive."

Irene continued before he could derail the report. "The Grand Adventurer Hotel currently averages one hundred and thirty-two thousand gold coins per day. Ordinary rooms provide steady income, but the private cultivation rooms are responsible for a disproportionate share of revenue. Wealthier Warriors are willing to pay considerably more for privacy and access to stronger room formations."

Sage nodded. "Occupancy?"

"Seventy-three percent overall," Irene answered. "Higher on days when major missions finish or large groups arrive from outside the Capital. Selene believes we may reach eighty percent consistently if Adventurer numbers continue rising."

She turned another page.

"The Guild Smithing Complex is averaging ninety-six thousand gold coins in daily revenue from repairs, commissions, sharpening, armor maintenance and the sale of ordinary forged equipment. That figure does not include the value of equipment produced for Guild use."

Sage frowned slightly. "Lower than I expected."

"Because the Smithing Complex is consuming enormous quantities of ore," Irene explained. "And our smiths are still building their customer base. Bramdir believes revenue will rise substantially once more Adventurers begin bringing monster materials and rare ores directly to the Guild."

Boren swallowed another bite before asking, "What about the Guild Shop? Every time I pass it, someone is buying something."

Irene turned the book toward him. "Three hundred and ten thousand gold coins per day on average."

Boren nearly choked.

Sage stared at the number. "That’s the second highest?"

"For now," Irene confirmed. "But don’t become excited. The Guild Shop is the facility I’m least willing to treat as reliable income."

Sage understood immediately. "Because some of its most valuable merchandise comes from us."

"Exactly," Irene replied. "Ordinary equipment, supplies and consumables can be replenished. Vault treasures cannot. Mana Liquid is limited by supply. Skill Stones aren’t something we can manufacture whenever shelves become empty. The Shop’s current revenue is inflated because people are buying rare goods that won’t always be available."

She tapped the next entry. "The Grand Guild Exchange averages one hundred and eighteen thousand gold coins daily from transaction fees, appraisal services and the Guild’s share of completed trades. This is the facility I expect to grow fastest."

That caught Sage’s attention. "Why?"

"Because Adventurers are only beginning to understand it," Irene answered. "The more missions they complete, the more materials they return with. Monster parts, herbs, ores, magical plants and equipment all pass through the Exchange. Unlike selling Vault treasures, we don’t need to provide most of those goods ourselves. We provide the market and collect fees."

Sage smiled slightly. "That’s much better."

"I thought you’d appreciate that one." Irene moved her finger downward. "The Monster Material Processing Center averages seventy-four thousand gold coins per day. Most comes from processing fees and the Guild’s portion of materials sold through agreements with craftsmen and merchants. That number is already increasing."

Boren leaned across the desk. "What’s next?"

"The Adventurer Training Complex and Guild Arena together average forty-eight thousand gold coins daily," Irene replied. "Training-yard rentals, instructors, private practice chambers and scheduled combat sessions. The Arena itself isn’t generating much yet because we’re not holding major public competitions."

Sage nodded thoughtfully. "Eventually."

Irene gave him a warning look. "Eventually. Not tomorrow."

Sage raised both hands. "I didn’t say anything."

"You were thinking loudly."

Boren grinned. "She does that to me too."

Irene ignored him. "The Grand Stables and Caravan Yard average thirty-six thousand gold coins per day from animal boarding, wagon storage, feed, caravan services and short-term rentals. Tobias expects that number to increase once more missions begin sending Adventurers beyond the Capital."

Another page turned.