"Are you truly offering me all this?" Zain asked, struggling to accept the reality before him, his voice tinged with disbelief and awe.

  "Yes, of course." Izark replied, savoring yet another cup of the intoxicating wine. After finishing half the bottle, he finally started talking seriously. "I'm giving all that to you. But I want you to change the terms of the agreement. First, you don't need to pay back the five million gold I gave you. But the profit split will be 90-10. You have no idea how much this wine is going to make. And you don't need that much; what you're getting is already ten times what other dukes' sons get for a monthly allowance."

  This was exactly what Zain had been thinking lately. He realized that the business would be far more profitable than he had initially thought. Even a ten percent share of the profits would be enough to fulfill his every desire, to fund his ambitious plans, and to ensure a comfortable life. So, he agreed to renew the agreement, nodding thoughtfully.

  "So, when can we start selling?" Izark asked, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

  "Actually, Father, about that..." Zain began. The wine was ready, and it was certain to shake the market and see its demand skyrocket. However, there were two main problems: production supply and the medium of sale.

  Currently, the winery's production speed was limited to 200 bottles per month. Each bottle, with its unique flavor and quality, could easily sell for at least 5,000 gold coins, if not more. But at this production rate, they could only cater to a few nobles, not even all the higher-level ones. This exclusivity could create resentment among those left out, potentially harming the business’s reputation if they sold to only a select few.

  Using the family's existing trade channels was likely a big mistake. The Gremory family, mostly filled with bone-headed individuals who were more suited to wielding swords than handling delicate wine bottles, was not the most suitable for managing the wine trade. So, they had to consider other options.

  Typically, other noble families would go to a merchant guild with which they had dealings and sell products through their channels. However, this wasn't a viable option either because the Gremory family had no connections with merchants dealing in rations and supplies, let alone fine wine.

  The family mostly bought weapons, and their fields produced enough rations to sustain them. Other goods were traded with vassal families and small traders within the dukedom. Therefore, to avoid sharing profits and the wine formula, dealing through weapons merchants or vassal families was not an option.

  This left them with only one choice: building their own merchant guild. Many nobles did this to expand their networks and wealth, giving them better control over resources and trade routes.

  "Zain, do you think it's that easy to go and set up a guild? It requires many resources to sell, people to manage, and a market to sell in. Have you thought about that?" Izark asked, skepticism clear in his voice.

  "Jeez... Father, you’ve known me since my birth. Have I ever been without a plan? Besides, this time we don't even need a new one. We just have to change some rules of the game."

  "What do you mean?" Izark asked, on the verge of losing his patience with Zain's cryptic explanations.

  "I mean that the resources, people, and market are already present. We just have to own the resources, hire the people, and enter the market." Zain explained, a confident smile playing on his lips.

  Izark was ready to punch Zain’s pretty face. He was sick of his son's 'figure it out yourself' games. He wanted a straightforward answer. "Zain, if you keep talking like some half-assed bard, I will beat the crap out of you."

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  "Haha... Why are you so angry? Okay, I'll dumb it down for you." Zain said, though the Duke found the statement a little offensive, he continued to listen.

  Zain's idea was to monopolize the dukedom's food production. By changing the rules, he meant altering the law from farmers having to pay taxes after selling their crops to requiring farmers to sell their crops to the Gremory family at a lower price but with no taxes to be paid. The lower price would make up for the loss in tax revenue and could turn into a profit if the family increased the selling price slightly. Given that they would be selling thousands of tonnes of rations, even a small margin increase could result in millions of gold coins in profit. This solved the problem of resources.

  Regarding managing people, most of the merchant guilds in the dukedom dealt with rations, grains, and supplies. By introducing this new law, these guilds, without resources to trade, would perish. Zain's plan was to hire all the experts from these guilds to create his own guild and use the others for transactions with farmers and maintaining supply. This would greatly help both him and the people, solving the problem of manpower.

  The third problem was already solved. The buyers who previously bought from small-scale guilds would now have to buy from the Gremory guild. It would be their only choice.

  Zain finished outlining the details of his plan. When he looked at the faces of those present, he saw respect, admiration, and greed. Although the plan seemed simple to Zain, to others, it was a brilliant strategy that could bring millions in profit. And all this was coming from a thirteen-year-old child.

  "Hey! Don't look at me like I'm a golden egg-laying goose! Hahaha..."

  "THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE!!" everyone in the room exclaimed in unison, their voices echoing with a mixture of astonishment and excitement.

  "Okay, it's a good time to start with our plans. Because of this rare snowfall, most businesses are temporarily halted. It gives us the perfect opportunity to implement big changes to the system without causing much uproar. But still, there will be uneasiness, and I have exactly what it takes to calm it down. I need the support of all of you for this."

  "You already have it, don't you?" Izark replied, his stern face softening into a rare smile.

  "Yeah, yeah, just making sure..." Zain said, feeling a sense of pride and satisfaction. With the full support of his father and the others, he was ready to take the first steps toward transforming his ambitious plans into reality.

  As the meeting concluded, Zain couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. The future of the Gremory Dukedom looked brighter than ever. He had the support, the plans, and the determination to achieve greatness. The legacy of the Gremory family would be built on hard work, innovation, and the vision of a remarkable young boy.

  The room, now clearing out, seemed to hum with the energy of their collective anticipation. Zain looked around, absorbing the ornate decor that symbolized their family's long-standing power and influence. He noticed the intricate tapestries depicting historic battles and noble deeds, feeling a connection to his ancestors and a desire to add his own chapter to their storied history.

  As he stepped out into the cold, crisp air, the snow crunching beneath his boots, Zain couldn't help but think about the journey ahead. He watched his breath form misty clouds in the air, feeling the weight of his responsibilities, but also the thrill of the challenge. He knew that the road to success would be fraught with obstacles, but with his father's trust and the unwavering support of his closest allies, he felt invincible.

  Zain's thoughts drifted to the workers at Goldflow Valley, who had put their faith in his vision. He imagined their faces, weathered and hopeful, working tirelessly to bring his dream to life. He felt a deep sense of gratitude and responsibility towards them, vowing to ensure that their efforts would not be in vain.

  Back at Goldflow Valley, the buildings stood tall and proud against the snowy landscape. The workers, bundled in thick coats and gloves, continued their tasks with determination. The market near the worker quarters bustled with activity, families buying and selling goods, children laughing and playing. It was a thriving community.

  As Zain rode back in the carriage, he glanced at Raina, who sat beside him. She had been a loyal companion, always ready to assist and support him. Her presence was a comforting reminder that he was not alone in this endeavor.

  "Raina, what do you think about all this?" Zain asked, breaking the silence.

  "I think you're going to change the Dukedom, young master." Raina replied, her voice filled with admiration and confidence.