Later that morning, the Vixens accompanied Jax through Solmere while he handled business across the city.
Not because he asked them to.
Because none of them particularly wanted to leave his side anymore.
The realization had quietly happened overnight.
And now?
Walking together simply felt natural.
Bunny stayed close enough that her hand occasionally brushed his.
Nyxian leaned against him whenever she got bored.
Zee walked beside him smiling softly every time he looked her way.
And Llandra—
despite her best efforts—
kept unconsciously matching pace beside him.
The streets of Solmere buzzed louder than usual as news spread through the city.
People recognized them now.
Especially Jax.
The human who killed the Flame Dragon.
The man rebuilding restaurants overnight.
The strange newcomer walking around town beside the Vixens like he belonged there.
Whispers followed them everywhere.
Jax mostly ignored them.
Their first stop that morning was Grathok's establishment.
The massive reinforced doors swung open with a heavy creak while the familiar chime echoed overhead.
Moments later—
Grathok emerged from the back office dressed in another immaculate tailored suit somehow worth more than most houses in Solmere.
The troll spread his massive arms dramatically.
"JAX DARQUEBANE!"
Several nearby employees visibly flinched.
"You," Grathok declared proudly, "may become my favorite business partner."
Jax smiled faintly.
"I'm aiming higher than favorite."
The troll barked out a booming laugh immediately.
"Oh I LIKE you."
The Vixens exchanged glances behind him.
Grathok guided them toward a large private office in the back while assistants scrambled around carrying ledgers, magical tablets, contracts, and inventory crystals.
Business was booming.
Interesting.
Jax noticed immediately.
The troll closed the office doors behind them before dropping heavily into his oversized chair.
Then his grin widened.
"You'll be pleased to hear," Grathok said proudly, "that last night's auction caused several minor political incidents."
Bunny blinked.
"…What?"
"The bidding war escalated aggressively."
Nyxian immediately looked interested.
"How aggressively?"
Grathok expanded a floating system screen large enough for everyone to see.
Auction Item:
S-Class Flame Dragon Head
Auction Status:
Completed
Winning Bid:
42,500,000 Gold
Silence.
Utter silence.
Then Bunny physically sat down without warning.
"…I'm dizzy."
Zee grabbed the edge of the desk.
Nyxian actually laughed out loud.
Llandra stared at the number like it had personally insulted her.
Even she looked shaken.
Grathok leaned comfortably back in his chair enjoying every second of it.
"Oh yes," he purred. "Several nobles attempted to bankrupt one another."
Bunny slowly raised one trembling hand.
"…Can someone steal numbers from your system?"
The troll blinked.
"…What?"
"The money!"
"No."
"…Good."
Jax looked far calmer than everyone else.
That alone unsettled the room slightly.
Grathok noticed it immediately.
Interesting.
Most adventurers would:
panic
celebrate
brag
lose their minds
Jax simply read the number calmly.
Like it was expected.
Like this was merely step one.
Dangerous.
Grathok steepled his fingers together.
"At my standard thirty-five percent commission," he continued smoothly, "your share would total 27,625,000 gold."
Jax nodded once.
Then leaned slightly forward.
"You know what I appreciate most about you, Grathok?"
The troll smiled slowly.
"Do enlighten me."
"You recognize opportunity faster than most people."
Grathok's eyes sharpened instantly.
Ah.
Negotiation.
Good.
"That," Jax continued calmly, "is why you'll be accepting fifteen percent instead."
The room froze.
Even the assistants outside the office seemed quieter suddenly.
Grathok smiled wider.
Dangerously wider.
"…Will I now?"
Jax nodded casually.
"Because this dragon head isn't the real prize."
Nyxian slowly smirked beside him.
Oh he's doing the thing again.
"The real prize," Jax continued, "is every monster that comes after it."
The troll said nothing.
Good sign.
"You already know what I am now," Jax said evenly.
"A business opportunity."
Llandra watched him carefully now.
This wasn't adventurer negotiation.
This was noble-level leverage.
No.
Higher.
Jax continued calmly:
"You're not trying to maximize profit on one sale."
"You're trying to secure long-term exclusivity."
Grathok leaned back slowly.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Jax folded his hands loosely.
"So here's my offer."
The room remained completely silent.
"Right of first refusal."
Grathok's fingers stopped moving.
Every future beast.
Every dungeon haul.
Every rare monster.
Every impossible material.
All offered to Grathok first.
Before rivals.
Before competitors.
Before the market.
Nyxian watched the troll's eyes carefully.
There it is.
Greed.
Not simple greed.
Vision.
The dangerous kind.
"You saw one dragon," Jax said quietly.
"Imagine what happens when I start hunting intentionally."
Silence stretched.
Heavy now.
Grathok finally spoke.
"…Twenty-five percent."
Bunny nearly choked.
HE COUNTERED?!
No one negotiated with Grathok.
People survived Grathok.
Usually.
Jax shook his head calmly.
"Twenty."
The troll narrowed his eyes.
"My reputation wasn't built overnight."
"Neither will ours."
That landed.
Hard.
Jax leaned slightly forward.
"Twenty percent."
"You receive:
rights of first refusal
permanent tie-breaker advantage
exclusive early access
and preferred pricing if your opening bids remain competitive."
The troll rubbed his beard slowly.
Thinking.
Calculating.
The Vixens watched the exchange carefully now.
Because suddenly—
they understood something terrifying.
Jax wasn't talking like someone trying to survive anymore.
He was talking like someone building an empire.
Grathok eventually exhaled slowly.
"…You intend to become very wealthy."
Jax shrugged lightly.
"Wealth is useful."
"That's not what I asked."
Their eyes met.
Then Jax smiled slightly.
"…I intend to build things."
Something shifted in Grathok's expression then.
Recognition.
For the first time—
the troll truly understood what stood in front of him.
Not merely:
an adventurer
a lucky newcomer
or even a dragon slayer
But a man capable of reshaping cities.
Maybe kingdoms.
And if Grathok positioned himself correctly—
possibly the richest business alliance on the continent.
Slowly—
the troll grinned.
"Well then, Mr. Darquebane…"
A contract materialized between them.
"I believe we have ourselves a future."
Jax signed first.
Grathok signed second.
The system chimed instantly.
TRANSFER COMPLETE:
34,000,000 GOLD
The office became unnaturally quiet.
Even the air felt heavier somehow.
Because now—
the wealth was real.
Not theoretical.
Not abstract.
Kingdom-level real.
Bunny stared at the number with completely unfocused eyes.
"…That's too many zeros."
Zee looked like she might faint.
Nyxian slowly leaned back in her chair smiling in disbelief.
And even Llandra—
composed, disciplined Llandra—
looked genuinely shaken.
Meanwhile—
Jax simply closed the notification calmly.
No celebration.
No greed.
No panic.
Just thoughtfulness.
Grathok watched him carefully.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Most men would lose themselves after obtaining wealth like this.
But Jax Darquebane looked almost…
unmoved by it.
That unsettled the troll more than excitement would have.
Grathok slowly stood before extending one massive hand.
"A pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Darquebane."
Jax stood and shook it firmly.
"The feeling's mutual."
The troll grinned wider.
"I look forward to seeing what impossible creature ye drag through my doors next."
Jax smiled faintly.
"So do I."
After finalizing inventory separation for Brannic and Merriweather's future materials, the group eventually stepped back outside into Solmere's crowded streets.
For nearly half a block—
none of the Vixens spoke.
They simply walked beside him in stunned silence.
Not because of the money.
Though that alone was overwhelming.
But because they had just watched Jax negotiate against Grathok—
and win.
Not through intimidation.
Not through threats.
But vision.
Long-term strategy.
Confidence.
The troll broker had entered that office expecting to profit from a lucky adventurer.
Instead—
he walked away tied to someone far more dangerous.
Someone building toward something larger than wealth.
Llandra glanced sideways toward Jax quietly.
He simply walked through the city smiling lightly at the warm summer breeze like nothing extraordinary had happened at all.
That somehow impressed her most of all.