Babel's Basement, the first storefront for Zark'thul's company, was about to open its doors. As a way to promote the event, they had tasked the Sylvans to attend and help with the festivities. Zark'thul stood outside, surveying the scene with a keen eye.

  A large banner hung above the store entrance, proclaiming 'GRAND OPENING' in bold lettering. A small crowd had already begun to gather, drawn by the promise of a unique shopping experience and the novelty of a new store in the city. Gerald was there to help oversee the final preparations.

  The crowd's attention shifted as five striking figures emerged from a sleek, black vehicle. The Sylvan squad stepped out one by one, each of their appearances catching the eye of the onlookers.

  The Sylvans were dressed in attire that highlighted their unique qualities. The dryads wore flowing gowns made of a shimmering, leaf-patterned fabric, their hair adorned with flowers. The nymph's gown was a deep blue, reminiscent of the depths of the ocean, and her silver hair was styled in an elaborate braid. Lastly, the sprite wore a delicate gown that sparkled like morning dew on a spiderweb.

  As they made their way towards the store, the crowd parted, some in awe, others in confusion, but all eyes were on them. The Sylvans smiled and waved, exuding an air of grace and elegance that seemed to enchant everyone around them.

  Once inside the store, they mingled with the customers, offering their assistance and charm in equal measure. The nymph's soft, melodious voice guided customers to the right products, while the dryads, with their gentle mannerisms and knowledge of plants, helped customers select the perfect herbs and plants for their needs. The sprite, with her mischievous smile and quick wit, kept children entertained, flying around the store and pointing out interesting items.

  Zark'thul watched from a coffee shop across the street. He could see the crowd inside, bustling around and making their way through the various sections of the store. The opening had gone off without a hitch, and the Sylvans were doing an excellent job. He took a sip of the bitter, aromatic beverage, and watched as his newest business venture started off on a promising note.

  Beside him, Elspeth, Xashai, and Alice were seated at the same table. Alice, ever the marketing expert, was keeping a close eye on the Sylvans' performance.

  "They're natural talents," Alice commented, watching the Sylvans interact with the crowd. "I knew they'd be a hit."

  "I must admit," Xashai added, sipping her tea, "I had my doubts, but they're proving to be quite adept at this. Who would have thought a squad of combat-trained forest spirits could double as excellent salespersons?"

  Alice smiled, a hint of smugness playing at her lips. "That's the power of good marketing. You find an angle, you work it, and you reap the rewards."

  "Indeed. Your expertise is proving invaluable, Miss Blankenship," Xashai complimented, raising her cup of tea in a subtle salute. Alice returned the gesture with a nod, her smile broadening.

  Elspeth, as usual, sat quietly, observing the interaction with her unwavering focus. Her gaze occasionally flitted between the store and Zark'thul, as if trying to gauge his reaction to the proceedings.

  After a while, Elspeth broke her silence. "The initial response is promising, sir. Sales have been steady, and the customer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. It seems the public is intrigued by the unique products we offer."

  Zark'thul nodded, taking another sip of his coffee. "Success was expected, but the extent of it is... surprising. It seems our marketing efforts have borne fruit."

  Alice leaned back, looking particularly satisfied with herself. "Exactly. And with the right strategy, we can maintain this momentum and continue to grow the business. We have the product, we have the appeal, and we have the expertise. All we need now is consistent effort and a clear vision."

  "The product is what concerns me the most," Zark'thul stated, his eyes still fixed on the store. "Our supply chain is not fully established. Gathering these resources is a slow and painstaking process, and we need to increase our output to keep up with the demand. Otherwise, our stock will deplete, and our growth will stagnate."

  Xashai's fingers tapped rhythmically on the table. "True. We've already taken steps to address this. I've negotiated a few more contracts with other suppliers to bolster our inventory, but we'll need a more reliable, long-term solution if we want to scale up."

  Zark'thul scrolled through his AetherLink, his fingers flicking across the screen.

  With his most recent milestone of unlocking the 5th floor of the Tower, he was now able to deploy five squads simultaneously and could hold forty active Agents. In order to maximize efficiency, he had decided to recruit three more squads to fill the vacant positions—two squads of REDLINEs, and another squad of Sylvans.

  Alas, only common rarity Agents appeared, but it was no surprise. He was well aware that the probability of recruiting a higher rarity Agent was exceedingly low. He had been lucky with Squad Five.

  Now he had enough Agents to cycle through various tasks and maintain the necessary productivity without having to deal with any morale or stress issues. Observing how Alice and Gerald scheduled tasks in their respective departments enabled him to adopt a similar method with his squads—a necessary compromise, considering these mortals required food and rest, unlike himself.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  His eye twitched with the memories of managing their indirect complaints about their working conditions and other... requests. It was an annoyance, but one he had learned to navigate. Efficiency above all else.

  Zark'thul reviewed the data displayed on his screen. "Limit the sales on the most popular products and introduce a pre-order system for them. That will help manage customer expectations and give us more time to restock. We should also look into developing more products, especially those that require less of the rarer ingredients."

  Elspeth nodded, noting his instructions. "I will see to it. However, our product development efforts have been hampered by a lack of specialized personnel. We could benefit from adding an R&D department and recruiting staff to manage it."

  He nodded, a brief flicker of acknowledgment in his otherwise impassive face. "Do it. I'll leave the specifics of the hiring process to you. As always, prioritize talent over all else."

  "Understood, sir."

  Zark'thul tapped the screen, selecting the configuration settings for Floor 5. A list of available departments scrolled across his vision, each one representing a potential path for his business expansion.

  He tapped on the option labeled 'Research & Development,' then set it to the fifth floor. Instantly, a series of prompts and options unfolded before him, detailing the requirements and costs associated with setting up the department. He reviewed them, his eyes quickly scanning the information, before giving his approval.

  A prompt appeared, asking for confirmation. Zark'thul selected 'Yes', and the screen dissolved into a flurry of data and calculations, confirming the changes he'd implemented and the estimated time for completion. In two days, the fifth floor would be fully operational as an R&D department.

  He closed the screen, his attention returning to the table. "It is done. The fifth floor is now an R&D department. It should be ready in two days."

  Two days later, the R&D department on the fifth floor was ready, and Zark'thul was reviewing the candidate profiles Elspeth had compiled. They were seated in a meeting room on the first floor, with the large, holographic screen displaying a series of resumes and profiles.

  He flicked through the profiles, each one represented by a picture of the candidate alongside their qualifications and experience. Most of the candidates had a background in botany, biochemistry, or pharmacology, and a few even boasted expertise in arcane magic and its applications in research.

  "This one is promising," he muttered, pointing at a profile. "An elf with a strong background in alchemy and arcane botany. His research on the properties of magical plants could be useful. Hire him."

  Elspeth nodded. "I will send him the offer letter."

  They continued reviewing the candidates. Zark'thul's eyes scanned each profile carefully, weighing the candidates' strengths and weaknesses. He made a few more selections, choosing a diverse range of specialists to form the core of the new department. Once satisfied with the choices, he leaned back.

  "Make the offers to the selected candidates. And arrange for their orientation and onboarding. I want them to begin their work as soon as possible," he ordered.

  "Yes, sir."

  As they wrapped up the meeting, Xashai entered the room. "Good news, sir. I just finished negotiating with a new supplier. They're willing to provide us with a larger quantity of resources, but they need help clearing a dungeon that's infested with creatures. It's disrupting their operations. If we assist them, we can secure a steady supply of raw materials for our products."

  Zark'thul's eyes gleamed with interest. "A mutually beneficial arrangement. What type of creatures are we dealing with?"

  "They're not too dangerous," Xashai replied, "mostly low-tier monsters. But the sheer number of them is what's causing the problem. The supplier's workforce is not equipped to handle them, so they're hoping we can resolve the issue quickly."

  He typed on his AetherLink, pulling up the details of his Agents. If it was just 'low-tier' creatures, then a squad comprising of Artillery-role Agents would be more than enough to deal with them. He tapped on a group of profiles, selecting the Agents he wanted to deploy.

  "Very well. I'll send a team to deal with the creatures. Prepare the necessary paperwork and make sure the supplier understands the terms of our agreement."

  "Of course, sir. I'll take care of it right away," Xashai responded, a confident smile on her face. She turned to leave, but then paused, looking back. "By the way, I've been meaning to ask, are there any specific types of resources you're looking for? Knowing your priorities will help me in my negotiations."

  Zark'thul pondered for a moment. "Focus on alchemical reagents and magical components. We need to diversify our product lines, and those materials will be crucial for our R&D department."

  "Understood, sir. I'll see what I can do," Xashai replied, nodding before leaving the room.

  With the meeting concluded, Zark'thul returned to the Command Room. The room was silent, the only sounds coming from the various machines and displays. He sat in his chair, leaning back, and closed his eyes. Despite not needing sleep, he had found that periods of stillness and quiet were conducive to his thinking. It was during these moments that his mind could roam freely, unburdened by the immediate demands of his work.

  As he sat in the silence, his thoughts drifted to the past. Memories of his life before his defeat surfaced, images of the vast, cosmos he had once traversed, the beings he had encountered, and the battles he had fought. The memories were vivid and visceral, stirring something deep within him—a longing, a yearning for his former existence.

  But he pushed those feelings aside.

  His defeat was a bitter pill to swallow, but it had also given him a new perspective. No longer a being of unfathomable power, he now had to rely on strategy and cunning to achieve his goals. And, surprisingly, he found he didn't mind. There was a certain satisfaction in building something from the ground up, in manipulating the pieces on the board to his advantage.

  And right now, those pieces still need a lot of improvement.

  Facing even an aspect or fragment of Nai'hum as the last challenge for this floor... his Agents were unlikely to prevail against the Qliphoth. That being could even spell his doom as well.

  But if time was on his side, he still had an opportunity. To improve his Agents. To improve himself, and his capabilities. If there was one thing Zark'thul could always rely on, it was his ability to adapt. And adapt, he would.

  A faint chime interrupted his thoughts. He opened his eyes to see a notification flashing on his screen. It was an alert from Elspeth, reminding him of his next appointment.

  With a sigh, Zark'thul rose from his seat.