Bear School Astartes

”That’s truly regrettable.”

Vimo Vivaldi did not dwell on it, he merely sighed with regret, put on his glasses again, and picked up the bill of exchange.

Following the bank’s procedure, he verified its authenticity and amount, then archived the record.

At this point, the financial handover was considered complete. The previously precarious capital chain was now able to run smoothly again due to this bill’s funding.

After everything was settled and just before leaving, Dudu suddenly raised his hand to the dwarf banker.

”Wait, old Vimo.”

Both the Dwarf and the Demon Hunter turned their heads to look at the Half-Elf.

Dudu’s eyes were serious and wise. Once he entered into a business operation state, his performance was far smarter than when he dressed up as Dandelion to chase Priscilla.

”Can you issue me another promissory note?”

The Half-Elf spoke calmly, while Vimo Vivaldi blinked.

”If I recall correctly,” the Dwarf raised his large rear two inches off the chair then let it back down.

”Dudu, you still have an unredeemed promissory note from the last business. And now, just as you’ve taken over this vast enterprise, you want another one?”

”I not only want another one, but the amount is also three times the previous one.”

”Let me confirm, if I’m not mistaken...” Vimo Vivaldi looked surprised at the confident Dudu. ”The amount I issued you on that last unredeemed promissory note was five thousand kroner.”

”Yes, your memory is as good as ever.” Dudu said carelessly, tapping the thick scroll against his palm. ”You said you admired me enough to issue me a five thousand kroner promissory note without any collateral.”

The Dwarf banker quickly added, ”But my admiration for you only equates to five thousand kroner. If it were your cousin Dandy Bieberwitt, he’d get a maximum of three thousand.”

”So this time, you don’t have to admire me. Just admire him instead.”

Dudu pointed with the scroll rolled up like a stick towards Lann.

”I can’t say much, but just answer me, does your admiration for him warrant fifteen thousand?”

”It does,” the banker said dryly, ”but signatures are required.”

”What if he doesn’t sign, is the proposed plan worth fifteen thousand?”

”It is,” Vimo replied, somewhat stupefied. ”A business plan is needed.”

”No signatures, and no leaving the business plan either.” Dudu unapologetically, or rather boldly, patted his chest and pointed at Lann.

”Me plus him. Our first business together, is it worth fifteen thousand?”

Vimo Vivaldi opened his mouth but couldn’t speak for a while, just played with his gold-rimmed glasses in his hand.

He looked at Dudu as if seeing this old friend for the first time.

”Sir, after all...”

Is this how grand it feels to cooperate with a big shot?

At that moment, Lann recovered from his initial surprise.

He immediately understood Dudu’s business plan.

Dandelion’s script was being fervently created, but its fundamental purpose was actually to sell goods.

Sell the alchemy cloak in Lann’s vision, which, when worn, could make the wearer appear tall and strong.

The requirements for this cloak were simple, and it was not difficult to produce using alchemy.

However, for mass production, a factory or workshop was needed.

The play to sell the goods wasn’t performed yet, but Dudu, as a professional manager, had already planned to set up production facilities first.

This is the quality of a qualified, intelligent, and perceptive businessman.

Though familiar with the plan for less than three days, even if launched at short notice, he could carry it out methodically.

So Lann also sat down again, expressing his support for his professional manager’s plan.

Seeing Vimo Vivaldi’s stunned look, Dudu already knew his answer and began discussing business methodically.

The bank is not only a place for deposits and loans but also a place bridging many industries and resources.

He knew the timing for this plan was late, and the planning time insufficient, so it was even more crucial to integrate resources.

Dudu now considered the twenty thousand kroner as already in his pocket and began making demands from the Dwarf banker as a client.

”First, I need to rent a factory in the Bizi District, preferably near the various tailor shops with cheap labor. Then, contact a technician from the Printing and Dyeing Guild; I need a master knowledgeable in printing and pattern styles. Also...”

A string of demands was brought up by Dudu, and after Vimo Vivaldi processed for a moment, he quickly tugged the cord hanging above the table.

The sound of a bell rattling came from outside the office, and shortly after, a small figure wearing a green cap and a rabbit fur coat entered, began taking notes at the table.

”Who is that? A young dwarf?”

Lann was a bit puzzled, having never seen such a thin and beardless dwarf.

”That’s a young gnome; you don’t need to be so specific. Go on, Dudu.”

Vimo was now also in business mode, answering Lann’s question only as an afterthought, making progress faster.

In just over ten minutes, they had negotiated all matters.

The resources and connections of the bank were fully revealed; Vivaldi Bank had influence in various guilds in Novigrad, and Dudu’s request was easily met with reasonable pricing.

-----------------

The commercial negotiations with Vivaldi Bank went smoothly; Dudu fully utilized the resources of the other party, and the expenses of the process were all carried through promissory notes.

These promissory notes were issued by Vivaldi Bank, without any collateral conditions, as if the business was agreed upon with just empty promises.

”You have considerable assets, but they are mostly equity and fixed assets now, not much liquidity. And in business, if you can transfer risks, why bear them yourself?”

Dudu explained knowledgeably to Lann.

But he could only achieve this much in business operations; whether the final plan succeeded or not depended on Dandelion’s drama, the Alchemy Cloak itself, and other factors at the execution level.

”I’m rather optimistic about this.”

Lann said with a light smile.

After Dudu returned to the inn, Lann went straight towards the outskirts of the city.

Along the way, he could feel many people secretly glancing at him.

Most of these people should be spies or something. Ever since entering Novigrad, whenever he went out, those kinds of people were there.

But it didn’t matter; soon enough, these people won’t be able to recognize his physique.

As he got closer to the city outskirts, the condition of Novigrad’s roads worsened.

The solid stone pavement transformed into dirt roads and, due to people’s lifestyles, sewage, laundry water, buckets of water, livestock, and human waste...

The dirt road became filthy and muddy.

Gang members swaggered on the streets, their tattoos exposed, making them look formidable in groups.

There seemed to be a gang entirely composed of dwarves in Novigrad, and whenever Lann passed by them, he was glared at angrily.

It appeared his height offended those dwarf gang members.

These people cursed under their breath.

”Yeah, yeah, all the bad things were done by us dwarves, Snow White was deflowered by dwarves, satisfied? What are you looking at, huh? Keep looking, and I’ll smack you!”

Regarding the racial discrimination in Novigrad, these dwarf gangs responded directly and violently.

Of course, ordinary people in Novigrad couldn’t do much against organized and vicious gangs, but it’s predictable that this anger was vented on other non-human races.

Lann walked through the village outside the city, headed to the rented house of Karkstan and Shanni.

Triss was there now; they were jointly researching alchemy.

”You’re here.”

Shanni opened the door, welcoming Lann inside with a smile.

The condition of this house was much better than before. After Lann found Dudu, neither gangs nor banks were issues anymore, so they could spend money freely without worrying about trouble.

Karkstan’s equipment was still operating on the side, but elsewhere was filled with cloth, thread ends, patches, and other such items.

The Alchemy Master, who resembled an ape, and the beautiful red-haired Female Warlock were carefully analyzing a large piece of fabric.

Only Shanni couldn’t join in.

”If you study in Ossenford in the future, I think you should delve into alchemy.”

Lann suggested to Shanni, while bending down to enter the doorway.

”Currently, advanced medical techniques seem inseparable from magic and alchemy.”

Shanni pursed her lips: ”I know, but it’s somewhat rebellious at Ossenford.”

Although Ossenford University is the highest institution for Northern humanity, renowned for its quest for knowledge and open-mindedness.

However, it has its own rules and atmosphere.

This group of scholars devoid of magical abilities were excluded by Mages as they advanced in acquiring much knowledge through magic.

Just like the crystal cultivation project in Lann’s hands could already facilitate organ customization, whereas non-magical medical methods in small kingdoms in remote areas are still practicing bloodletting.

The division and exclusion within the academic and research communities are evident.

Thus, Mages do not involve mortals, and mortal universities naturally began to exclude Mages.

Ossenford prides itself on exploring the world through rational thinking while magic has been stigmatized as ’superstition and frenzy.’

Though Ossenford has mystical subjects, they are not taken seriously.

At Ossenford, talented students seducing the president and teachers’ mistresses isn’t a big deal.

It might even be considered a praiseworthy romantic story.

But if you indulge in magical knowledge... there’s no punishment, but people generally judge you as ’not very rational, not very useful.’

”Studying medicine is correct, Shanni. Milo Van der Beek is a good teacher; he uses his Half-Elf nimble advantages in the field of surgery, his techniques are superb, I’ve read his papers.”

”But alchemy doesn’t necessarily have to be learned at the university; you already have a good relationship with Master Karkstan, and there’s me. These can all help you.”

Lann patted the shoulder of this newly enrolled university medical student as encouragement.