Building A Business Empire From Scratch In Another World-Chapter 210: Beneath The Estate

Felix strode ahead, the sound of his footsteps softly echoing against the polished floor. The corridor's lights sparkled off his crisp white coat, creating a striking contrast with the deepening shadows in front of him.

Nixie trailed closely behind, her pink hair bouncing with each excited step she took.

"I can't believe we're going this far in! I'm finally about to see the vault's inner depths," she said, her voice filled with awe. "It feels like we're entering the very heart of the world!"

Beside them floated a silver box, about the size of a suitcase, its surface intricately adorned with patterns that seemed to come alive.

Suddenly, it began to glow.

A soft white light poured out as if awakening something inside.

Moments later, like a gentle spark igniting, a tiny figure emerged, no larger than Felix's hand. Dressed in a pristine white tuxedo complete with gloves and polished shoes, he had softly glowing hair that matched his immaculate appearance.

Arthur, the Vault Spirit, adjusted his bowtie and brushed away nonexistent dust from his sleeves before bowing deeply.

"Welcome, Master Felix and Miss Nixie! The vault has eagerly awaited your arrival."

Nixie's face lit up. "Arthur! You're still as shiny as ever!"

Arthur blinked at her. "Your enthusiasm is always radiant, Miss Nixie. Shall we move on?"

Felix nodded thoughtfully. "Open the main gates."

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Before them loomed massive vault doors, towering thirty feet high, forged from a seamless alloy and decorated with glowing runes that pulsed in time with Arthur's heartbeat.

When he raised a gloved hand, the runes lit up in a perfect sequence.

A low hum filled the hall.

The ground trembled slightly; dust fell from above as those colossal doors began to part gradually.

Light streamed out, soft and golden, almost blinding in its brilliance.

This wasn't just a room; it was a magnificent realm!

Endless hills of gold coins stretched before them like shimmering dunes beneath enchanted lights.

Chests overflowed with glittering jewelry, crowns sparkling like stars and necklaces shimmering with every imaginable gem: sapphires glinted like frozen oceans, while rubies blazed brightly like captured sunsets.

Across the chamber, a stunning sight awaited: massive crates overflowing with mana crystals in vibrant shades of blue, violet, and silver.

Each crystal pulsed with concentrated energy, emitting a soft, resonant hum that felt like a gentle melody in the air.

Nixie gasped in astonishment.

"Oh… my… goodness," she whispered, her eyes glinting with wonder as they caught the golden glow. "This is… nothing short of breathtaking!"

Floating ahead with serene authority was Arthur, the ethereal spirit. "Welcome to the true Morningstar Vault," he proclaimed.

"It currently contains six hundred thirty-two billion gold coins, five hundred thousand tons of raw mana crystals, three hundred crates filled with top-tier refined gems, and an array of rare artifacts collected from the Brigdemoor Dungeon Expedition."

He gestured towards towering shelves lined with items sealed in transparent stasis barriers, ancient scrolls, enchanted weapons shimmering with power, and fragments of forgotten relics.

Felix followed closely, his hands clasped behind his back and his eyes sharp as he took in every detail.

As he navigated through this treasure trove, his mind began to whirl. Each coin here wasn't just currency; it represented momentum and an opportunity for influence and power.

' The capital is merely our foundation, he thought. For true dominance, we need a sturdy infrastructure and a comprehensive logistical framework. Our ambitions cannot be limited to Avalonia.'

He paused by a stack of mana crystals; their faint glimmer flickered in his eyes like distant stars.

'We'll begin by expanding into the southern provinces,' he thought to himself, mapping out his strategy. 'First, we'll establish trade routes through Varlon and Cindervale, then we can focus on the western ports. We'll manufacture, distribute... and do it all over again! The common folk are hungry for progress, and the nobles are always chasing profits; we can provide both.'

His eyes drifted towards a set of old maps lining a nearby shelf, where intricate paths and territories were carefully outlined in fine ink.

'Once those nobles realize they can't stop us,' he mused darkly, 'that's when they'll be eager to partner up. And that's when the real conflict starts.'

"Arthur!" Nixie chirped sweetly as she skipped up next to him.

"You look particularly radiant today! Have you been polishing your soul again?"

Arthur blinked slowly but remained composed. "Miss Nixie, flattery doesn't increase one's coin purse."

With exaggerated enthusiasm, she clasped her hands together. "I was just admiring your incredible sense of style!"

Felix smirked subtly, pretending to be uninterested as Arthur led them further into the vault's secondary chambers.

Here, neatly arranged rows of labeled chests stood like soldiers on display, each one guarding untold riches.

"This section holds our liquid reserves for manufacturing," Arthur explained, his tone calm. "We have earmarked eight million gold coins for production and expansion."

Nixie tilted her head with playful skepticism. "Eight million, huh?" She shot a quick look at Arthur.

"You know, big bro said I could take a little extra for my research." Arthur's demeanor shifted slightly, revealing his disapproval. "Master Felix did not authorize any such instruction."

"Oh, I'm certain he did!" Nixie responded with mock innocence. "Perhaps you just need to refresh your memory?"

Arthur frowned slightly in confusion. "My memory is perfectly fine, Miss Nixie."

"Sure, sure," she replied quickly, brushing aside the matter with a smile. "But think about it! What if I stumble upon something groundbreaking? A new rune combination or even a self-spinning cauldron? Surely a little funding could go a long way!"

Standing firm with his hands behind his back, Arthur replied, "Miss Nixie, according to Master Felix's directive number twenty-four, quote: 'Do not give Miss Nixie a single coin more than the assigned amount."

Felix turned his head back, barely suppressing a grin.

"You memorized it word for word?!" Nixie gasped theatrically. Arthur nodded proudly. "I take pride in being efficient."

"Oh, you're so cruel," she pouted playfully, crossing her arms defiantly. "Even the gods wouldn't be so heartless!"

Arthur's tone remained calm as he replied, "I am simply fulfilling my duty."

"Duty machine," she muttered with exaggerated frustration. "You're worse than a vault door!"

As Felix began inspecting several artifact crates scattered around the room, Arthur floated closer, urgency in his voice.

"Master Felix," he said quietly yet firmly, "the funds for expansion are secured, but I must warn you: the number of unauthorized mana signatures near the estate has risen."

Felix continued his work but nodded knowingly. "Could it be the Black Thorn?"

"I'm not sure," Arthur replied cautiously. "But their patterns indicate indirect surveillance."

"I suspected as much." Felix closed a crate with a soft thud and added decisively, "I'll notify the Abyss Hall to quietly shift patrols to the southern perimeter."

Arthur bowed respectfully and responded with clarity, "Understood." Felix exhaled softly as he surveyed the vast sea of gold around him.

Nixie gleefully climbed atop one of the smaller piles of coins, her boots sinking slightly into the shimmering surface.

Laughing joyfully, she stretched her arms wide. "You know, I could totally bathe in this!" Felix chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You'd drown!

"Absolutely worth it!" she exclaimed, gleefully scooping up handfuls of coins and letting them spill like golden snowflakes.

"Why not start a park or something? The Morningstar Golden Spa! We could charge nobles a thousand coins just to walk through the door!"

Felix turned to her, a look of bemusement on his face. "And who would be responsible for the cleaning afterward?"

"Servants!" she replied with a cheeky grin. "The wealthy ones!"

Arthur let out a soft sigh, his radiant aura dimming slightly as if he were tiring of their playful exchange. "Miss Nixie, your imagination is truly beyond reason."

"I like to think of it as creativity," she shot back with a wink.

Felix couldn't help but smile faintly at her antics before redirecting his focus to the sealed storage chests.

The lively contrast between Nixie's playful greed and his own introspective thoughts created a strangely balanced atmosphere in the room.

An hour later, after carefully going through ledgers and approving new allocations, Felix finally faced the main gate.

"Seal it," he ordered with a firm tone.

Arthur raised his hand again, and in an instant, the runes on the door sprang to life, humming in perfect synchronization.

The enormous vault doors creaked as they shut slowly, the golden light dimming to a thin line before vanishing completely.

As silence enveloped them, Felix paused, brushing his hand against the cool surface of the now-sealed gate.

"Gold is what will pay for war," he murmured quietly.

Arthur hovered silently beside him, offering no reply.

Nixie tilted her head in curiosity. "War? You're up to something big again, aren't you?"

Felix offered her a faint smile. "Planning isn't the right term; preparing is more accurate."

She blinked at him, a mix of confusion and intrigue in her expression.

As they started to leave, the lights in the corridor dimmed one by one, leaving only Arthur's gentle glow to illuminate their path back to the exit.

And deep beneath the Morningstar Estate, the vault settled back into a heavy slumber, silent and still, waiting patiently for that day when its gold would spark an even greater upheaval.