The First Legendary Beast Master

Chapter 768  Renovation Efforts

Karl smiled at Teacher Jo. ”I have a proposition for you. I am going to renovate this building as a branch Guild House. I will hire you to stay on as the caretaker, just as you have been, but now with funding to actually fix things. Then we will turn the main floor area into a shop, where we sell the items that my teammates make. You see, weʼre all pushing to make it to Overlord Rank, but that is going to need money and opportunities, plus countless visits to the Dungeon, unless there is a higher Rank one nearby.”

The little Demon smiled. ”Does that mean thereʼs a budget for cleaning supplies? I can go get everything that we will need right away. I donʼt know what youʼre going to change, but I can make everything clean as can be by the end of the day.”

Her excitement level had shot through the roof when she found out that she was going to have an actual job again, but the ladies were giving her looks that said they were concerned with her mental health.

”Sorry, Iʼm an Obsession Demon, and my Obsession is cleanliness. You have no idea what hell it has been being unable to afford to properly clean.” She rambled.

Karl winked at Dana. ”I guess that means no shoes in the house.”

Teacher Jo, or Caretaker Jo, as she would be in her new role. Looked horrified at the concept of shoes outside the common areas of the house, and Karl noticed that everyone inside had left their shoes by the door, despite the poor condition of the floor.

”The city will be short on construction workers for a bit, as they have to take care of the portions of the city that collapsed in the attacks, but do what you can, and we will get started on the renovations as materials come available.”

Caretaker Jo smiled. ”I know people. Theyʼre outside the wall, so nobody will be likely to call on them for the repair, but we can hire them to do the renovation with Earth and Nature Magic. One of them is a Dryad, and theyʼve got a great sense of style.

Youʼll just need to pay their way into the city as part of the fee.”

Karl nodded. ”Just give me the name and location, and I will go get them. While I do that, you can lead the ladies on a walk through, so they can see what we have to work with.”

Jo wrote him a note, including a rough map of the Frostfire Gate suburbs. The location was further east, toward the ocean, but it shouldnʼt be too hard to find.

Karl nodded to the guard on the way out, and the man held up a hand to talk to him.

”Did you buy the old barracks?” He asked.

”The Governor gave them to my team for our efforts during the battle. Weʼre planning to make it a combination of our Guild House and a shop.” He explained.

”Oh? Not tearing it down to build something bigger and better?”

Karl shook his head. ”That might break Caretaker Joʼs heart. Weʼve hired her on to keep the place up. Iʼll have to hire a few more professionals as well, but Iʼm going to get a renovation team that she recommended.”

The guard nodded and smiled. ”If you get back within the next three hours, come through this gate. I lived in those barracks for most of my youth. It will be good to see them back in top condition again. But I have to warn you. When an Obsession Demon says sheʼs obsessed with cleanliness, sheʼs not joking. That tiny psychopath used to chase us with a whip if we didnʼt shower after morning training.”

Karl laughed. ”Iʼm sure that the ladies in my team will be on her side. The bubble bath stock goes almost as fast as clean socks.”

The guard laughed and waved farewell as Karl jogged off to go find the recommended workers.

Thirty minutes of brisk walking brought him to a beautifully decorated gothic mansion, with a carefully groomed hedge maze in the yard.

That was what he was looking for, but there should have been a sign out front that marked it as a furniture maker.

Hopefully, the place hadnʼt changed owners.

Karl walked up to the front gate and knocked, not entering the yard.

Half a second later, a Dryad simply appeared out of the bushes with a smile.

”Hello, how might I help you?” She asked.

”Caretaker Jo recommended your services to renovate the old barracks building. I have just been awarded the location as a combat bonus, and it needs some work to get it back to standards.” Karl explained.

The Dryad nodded, and motioned for Karl to enter.

”Please come in and tell me your plans. My daughter runs the business now, and the shop entrance was moved to the back last year. But for Jo, I can likely flex my magic a little bit.” She agreed.

”Well, I donʼt object to hiring both of you, and whoever else you think might be necessary.” Karl shrugged.

The dryad gave him a curious look, and Karl took out ten gold coins, placing them on the table between them.

She smiled. ”In that case, you can call me Misty, and my daughter is Rain. Do you have any magic users on your team that might be helpful?”

Karl smiled. ”I have a Royal Rank Green Dragon Cleric. She might be useful. Or she might not. It depends on how long she can focus for.”

Misty laughed, the branches of her hair shaking. ”Alright. I will bring a Stonesmith with us as well. It wonʼt take long, but the fee isnʼt cheap. Though, I can see thatʼs not going to be a problem on this job.

What are you going to be selling?” She asked.

”Alchemical potions for healing and progression. Runic jewellery, and once I can find a source for weapon blanks, Runic Weapons as well.”

The Dryad paused.

”I donʼt think that I follow. What is a Runic Jewellery?” She asked.

Karl saw the problem. If she was going to make display cases, she needed to know what he sold.

Karl took out one of the Royal Rank rings that he had inscribed for Giant Strength and placed it on the table.

”That sort of thing. But also amulets, necklaces, bracelets. Whatever I can get from my supplier. Mostly Royal and Monarch Rank, but I might eventually make some lower grade budget items.” He explained.

The Dryad was stunned into silence.

[She might need a minute.] Hawk laughed.

[Positively Shooketh. Flabbergasted. Discombobulated.] Remi agreed.

Then Remi dropped a Monarch Ranked healing potion on the table between them to see what happened.

Misty sighed. ”I am going to have to hire a security expert as well. I know a mage who specializes in barriers. You should have enough magic to help him, and heʼs already in the city. That sort of inventory canʼt just be left in the open.”

That was understandable. Though, Karl suspected that this renovation project was going to get extremely expensive. Just a barrier that could keep away the threats of local thieves would be costly. Unfortunately, while Karl could make Runic Barriers, he had limited experience, and Dana only knew a few basic barrier spells. Neither was up to the task of erecting permanent barriers over an entire property.