After days and hours of tireless crafting, Caelum had finally finished making the first batch of Static Runes. There were 500 in total.
And it was a two-per-box deal. Using his Thunder Force constantly, again and again, had significantly improved both his skill and this new body's ability to withstand its usage.
Now, it was time to push this great rune out into the world. But first, Caelum had to request permission from the Patriarch_Lord Alaric Valeborne.
Highest Floor of the Valeborne Family Skyscraper
Ding!
The elevator doors slid open with a smooth mechanical chime, revealing Caelum as he stepped out and made his way toward Lord Alaric's office.
Taking a left, he entered the hallway leading to the patriarch's quarters. As he walked, his eyes scanned the elegant wall of family portraits, tales of the Valeborne legacy frozen in time. And at the center of them all, the stern figure of Lord Alaric.
Caelum had come to show the Patriarch his latest invention_the Static Rune_for more than one reason.
For starters, he needed Lord Alaric to recognize him. So that in the future, when he made requests, they would not be dismissed so easily.
He also knew that once the rune entered the market, black or not, Lord Alaric would eventually trace it back. Better to gain his approval now than risk unnecessary tension later.
Knock knock!
Caelum tapped gently on the large, mundane double doors, then took a respectful step back.
Creak!
Seconds later, the door opened. It was Veron Knightingale_Lord Alaric's butler, who simply nodded, gesturing for him to come in.
Upon entering, Caelum was mildly surprised. Seated before Lord Alaric was Theron, face slightly twisted in disappointment.
As Theron looked up and saw Caelum's usual innocent expression, a flash of bloodlust flared in his eyes.
But this was Lord Alaric's office, Theron had no choice but to bury his fury.
Caelum ignored him completely and sat down when prompted. Theron, meanwhile, continued to stare daggers through him.
"Father, please grant me this. I promise not to bother you again!" Theron was still pleading. Lord Alaric, however, merely glared at him with a look of cold disappointment before turning his gaze toward Caelum.
"Why have you come to see me, Caelum?"
"You've made some progress on your coming-of-age mission," he continued flatly, "but the deadline is fast approaching, and you still have a lot more to raise."
"If you're here to request my help for anything, forget it."
Pfft.
Theron snickered to himself, thinking Caelum had surely come to beg for the deadline to be postponed, or better yet, canceled altogether.
But Caelum's voice was calm and composed as he spoke. "No, Father. I'm not here to request anything. I've come to get your permission for something."
"Oh?" Lord Alaric raised an eyebrow. "And what is it?"
Caelum reached into a pouch hanging at his side_a pocket dimension, much like Selira's. She had gifted it to him.
From it, he pulled out a box. Cute in size, yet elegantly designed. He placed it gently on the table.
Clam!
The moment Caelum opened the lid, everyone's expression changed. Even from a glance, it was clear, the object within was both valuable and powerful. A faint, steady aura leaked from it, undeniable.
"What is this?" Lord Alaric asked, though he already had a good idea.
"That–" Caelum smiled, "is our ticket back to fame. This is the Static Rune. I've been working on it for a long time, and I've finally made a breakthrough."
For a moment, every face lit up, except Theron's. His expression folded like he'd just eaten something rotten.
He could already tell… the rune in front of him was dangerous. Dangerous to his position as a potential heir of the Valeborne family.
Lord Alaric picked up the cyan rune, inspecting it closely. As he turned it in his hand, his face shifted repeatedly_joy, seriousness, and something like hidden calculation.
"So… you want my permission to sell this rune?" he asked, brow raised.
"Yes," Caelum replied.
"Have you tested its effects?"
"Yes, Father. The amplification is incredible. The side effects are barely noticeable."
"How much per Static Rune?"
"One hundred thousand pounds per rune," Caelum stated boldly, without a hint of hesitation.
"W-what?" Even Lord Alaric blinked in surprise. "Are the effects really that great?"
"Yes. I can guarantee it."
Lord Alaric went quiet for a moment, then nodded slowly.
"Then… you have my permission. Veron, make sure the process goes smoothly."
"Thank you, Father. But I won't be needing Veron's help," Caelum said, bowing gracefully.
Lord Alaric considered this, then gave a small approving nod, signaling him to leave.
Theron clenched his fists. Pitiful. He could no longer bring himself to keep begging for money. He stood and left shortly after.
The Merchant Guild
Merchant traders were people who sold goods and services across states and countries. If something existed, they had it.
To sell the Static Runes quickly, and to powerful individuals, Caelum needed to take a different route.
If the long-forgotten Valeborne family suddenly announced a game-breaking rune, it would raise suspicion at first, then fame would follow.
But that fame would be short-lived.
Powerful families and elite individuals would ransack the business, sabotage supply chains, and run it into the ground. Even if they couldn't figure out how the rune was made, they'd still make sure it couldn't be sold anywhere in peace.
They might even offer unfair, insulting prices just to dominate the market.
The Valeborne family had no real power to protect its inventions, not in this harsh, monarchical era.
But Caelum would change that.
He would become a Monarch.
And the Valeborne name would rise again.
The family had lost everything—power, influence, authority—and if Darius hadn't reincarnated into Caelum, they would've already been swallowed whole by the Mulcasters.
Due to all these reasons, Caelum needed a powerful figure to sell and distribute the Static Rune into society. That way, he could also retain over 80% of the profit.
And the Merchant Guild was the perfect solution.
In the Merchant Guild, they kept their clients' identities strictly confidential, and their network was highly efficient when it came to sales and distribution.
They were Caelum's best bet if he wanted to sell the Static Runes successfully. And to make things easier, Anna had already secured a Merchant Guild card for both herself and Caelum.
With the card, they could directly receive payments and conduct large-scale transactions, making the entire process far more seamless.
Caelum arrived at the Merchant Guild building not too far from their apartment, and there he saw Anna already in discussion with the guild's owner.
The Paladin Merchants.
One of the largest merchant guilds in all of Ukraine, their influence extended deep into powerful circles. As disciples of the Crownhunters, they were nearly untouchable. And the owner_Mr. Wess, a retired general and former strategist, happened to be an old friend of Selira Valeborne.
It was Selira who had spoken to Mr. Wess so highly about the Static Rune in the first place.
After finally locating the Paladin Guild's main office, Caelum made his way down a long marble corridor to one of the private rooms where Anna and the guild master were already seated and in discussion.
Creak!
The heavy wooden door swung open as Caelum stepped inside, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. A man with a stern expression was seated stiffly on the couch beside Anna.
On the low table between them sat a potion_a vivid sapphire color glimmered inside the glass vial, its quality immediately apparent.
Caelum calmly took a seat next to Anna, already understanding the situation. It seemed that others had also come today to pitch their products to the Paladin Merchants, this man's item being a potion of some kind.
Caelum rolled his eyes slightly, unable to fully suppress the amused smirk tugging at his lips. Deep down, he knew this potion couldn't compare to the Static Rune.
"Good morning, Mr. Caelum. I've heard a lot about your product from your maid," Mr. Wess greeted him with a warm smile.
After all, Seraphina Valeborne_one of his most promising former students_had spoken of the Static Rune with such conviction, he was eager to witness it for himself.
Clam!
Caelum brought out a small black case and set it down gently on the table in front of Mr. Wess. He opened it slowly, revealing the Static Rune within. Its unique markings shimmered faintly under the slant of sunlight peeking through the blinds.
The moment Mr. Wess saw it, his eyes lit up with the excitement of a child unwrapping a long-awaited gift. He leaned forward eagerly, lifting the rune with reverent fingers and inspecting it with intense, practiced focus.
"Wow... such beauty," he murmured, rotating it gently. "I can see why she praised it so much."
The other man in the room, the one who had brought the potion–began tapping his foot rapidly, clearly growing impatient. "How long are you gonna stare at that thing? Damn it," he snapped.
Mr. Wess sighed and turned his head. "Mr. Insprin, I've already appraised your healing potion," he said bluntly. "And I can say with confidence that this rune is far more valuable than your potion–by far."
"Y-you–how can you be so sure without even testing it?" Mr. Insprin stammered, his voice sharp with disbelief. He was a Master Alchemist. That potion had taken him over two painstaking years to develop, and yet this man dismissed it so easily?
Unbelievable.
Mr. Insprin stood up abruptly, pointing a trembling finger at Caelum and Anna. "You two! Where did you steal that rune from? You better return it before the real owners come looking. Trying to make profit off something stolen, aren't you even ashamed?" he spat.
"And you," he turned to Mr. Wess with venom in his voice. "Falling for such tricks so easily... how disappointing."
Caelum's brows furrowed immediately. This man had just insulted not only him but also the appraisal of a seasoned master, and even the Paladin Guild's leader. Direct disrespect.
Bang!
The desk rattled as Mr. Wess slammed his hand down.
"I've had enough," he growled. "Security, throw him out."
Two armored guards entered within seconds and swiftly escorted the outraged man out of the room. The door slammed behind him.
Mr. Wess exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. "That man claimed to have spent years perfecting that potion, but after a full inspection, it turned out to be only sixty percent effective in healing basic injuries. Definitely not worth our time."
With the troublemaker gone, the negotiation process for the Static Rune continued without further interruptions. After reviewing all the details, the Paladin Guild agreed to take only a 12% cut for every rune sold, each priced at one hundred thousand pounds (£100,000).
Caelum was genuinely satisfied with the result.
They spoke a little longer, discussing marketing, buyer demographics, and possible expansions. Once everything was ironed out, both parties signed the agreement with firm, confident strokes of the pen.
Mr. Wess looked almost giddy as he shook Caelum's hand. "It's rare to be part of something new in this stagnant world. I want to see just how far your genius can go, Caelum."
The moment the first batch of Static Runes_five hundred in total, was sold, Mr. Wess promised he would use his share of the profits to buy back the former Valeborne Family mansion, which was still on the property listings. Unsold. Waiting.
He couldn't help but wonder how the world would react to the power of the Static Rune.
Caelum stood, his heart pounding, his gaze electric with ambition.
"Prepare yourself, world," he whispered. "This is only the beginning of my rise… back to Monarch."
The mere thought of the future sent a deep thrill racing down his spine.
This will be thrilling…..