Don't Want to Be Ordinary Even Though I'm an Extra Character-Chapter 54: [] Three Months of Progress

-Arkan Lawrence-

It had been three months since the partnership with Marquis Arleon began, and I was fully immersed in work. My mornings were spent managing logistics and ensuring the smooth distribution of raw materials. My afternoons were dedicated to inspecting various production sites, making sure everything met the required standards. And at night? That was my private time, spent designing and building new tools that could benefit both production and security.

"I may not have the ability to use Force or Magic like others in this world," I muttered as I tightened a bolt on a prototype for a simple distillation device, "but as long as I have knowledge from my world, that’s enough."

The device was an early version of a low-pressure distiller, something I created to enhance the quality of our wine. The result? Marquis Arleon loved it.

"As expected," I sighed in relief while reading a letter of praise from the Marquis. "If only all of this came purely from my own talent, maybe I’d feel prouder. But with the system’s help, everything feels smoother."

The Past Two Months

Over the past two months, my operations started to take shape. On the land provided by the Marquis, I had established a modest but efficient wine production facility. Initially, the local workers were skeptical of my "strange" methods and the unfamiliar tools I introduced.

However, once they saw the results, their doubts faded.

"Look at this," one young worker said, pointing to the first bottle of wine produced through my new process. "The color is so much clearer, and the aroma... it’s incredible!"

I smiled slightly, hearing their enthusiasm. "This is just the beginning. If we continue refining the process, our wine could become the best in the entire Marquis’ territory."

Rainer, meanwhile, seemed to be adjusting to his role as my companion. At first, he appeared awkward, likely because of the vast difference in our backgrounds. He was a warrior born of noble blood, while I was just an ordinary man with modern knowledge.

"Arkan," Rainer called one night as I was recording experimental results in my study. "When do you even sleep?"

I turned to him, raising an eyebrow. "Sleep is... overrated."

He snorted, sitting in the chair across from my desk. "Seriously. If you keep this up, your body will give out before your mind does."

"I’m fine. Besides, there’s a lot to do."

"But you’re not alone," he said firmly. "If there’s something I can help with, just tell me."

I paused, surprised by his offer, then smiled faintly. "Alright. Tomorrow morning, help me oversee the raw material shipments. If anything seems suspicious, let me know."

He nodded. "Leave it to me."

###

Even though things seemed to be running smoothly, there were still issues that kept me on edge. Over the past two months, I’d encountered several problems that demanded careful handling:

1. Raw Material Quality

Some of the shipments didn’t meet the required standards. High-quality wine demanded perfect grapes, yet some deliveries included nearly spoiled fruit.

"We can’t accept materials like this," I told the head of logistics. "Send them back and make sure the supplier knows our standards."

2. Competition Sabotage

Our success started drawing attention from local competitors, who felt threatened by the growing popularity of our wine. Some even resorted to sabotaging our distribution efforts.

"I expected something like this," I muttered while reviewing a report about a missing shipment. "Rainer, make sure we have extra guards for all future deliveries."

###

That day, I was summoned to Marquis Arleon’s office at his mansion. I didn’t know what he wanted to discuss, but from recent news, I’d heard that our wine was a hot topic among the nobility.

When the doors opened, I saw the Marquis standing behind his desk with a broad smile. He extended a hand, pointing at me. "Ah, Arkan! Come in. I have some great news for you today!"

I sat in my usual chair for business meetings. On the desk were a bottle of our new wine and several documents, which appeared to be sales reports.

"So, how did we do, Your Grace?" I asked, glancing at the documents on the desk.

"Spectacular!" the Marquis exclaimed, his eyes shining with excitement. "Not only has your wine been well-received, but it’s also starting to become a status symbol. Nobles are competing to have it served at their parties. In just one week, we sold two hundred bottles and several barrels. And that’s just within Vryse."

I was momentarily stunned. Though I had expected the product to sell, I hadn’t anticipated such rapid success.

"I didn’t think the impact would be this significant. That’s incredible, Your Grace."

The Marquis chuckled, raising a glass of wine from his desk. "I must admit, Arkan, I played a small role here. I introduced the product to my fellow nobles, and they seemed impressed. Of course, the quality of your wine is the key factor."

"So, you’ve also been acting as our salesperson?" I teased lightly.

He laughed louder this time. "Of course! Isn’t that part of our partnership? After all, I want to ensure this product gets the attention it deserves."

The Marquis handed me the sales reports. I opened them to find detailed figures outlining the immense profits generated by our wine.

"We’ve earned nearly three times the initial investment in just one week," he explained. "If this trend continues, we can expand distribution to other regions, even to the Empire itself."

I closed the report, a sense of accomplishment washing over me, though tempered by the knowledge of the challenges still ahead.

"This is just the beginning," I thought, glancing at the ambitious sales plans sketched out on the Marquis’ desk. "The road to success is long, but as long as I keep pushing forward, we can achieve it."

I nodded, but my mind started racing. "If we want to achieve that, we need to increase production. Right now, our capacity is limited. If demand continues to rise, we might not be able to meet market expectations."

The Marquis nodded in agreement. "You’re right. What do you need to boost capacity?"

I thought for a moment before replying, "Additional land to grow high-quality grapes, better-trained workers, and perhaps new technology to accelerate the process without compromising quality."

"All of that can be arranged," he said confidently. "I’ll handle the land and workers. As for the technology, I’ll leave that to you."

I continued, "If we’re aiming to break into the Imperial market, we need a strong marketing strategy. This product must be known not just for its taste but as a status symbol. Imperial nobles love anything that sets them apart."

"Agreed," said the Marquis with a satisfied smile. "We could host an exclusive event—a small gathering where only select nobles are invited. There, we can introduce this wine as a product for the elite."

"An intriguing idea," I said, noting it down in my journal.

###

I thought everything would proceed smoothly, but the following month brought one headache after another.

"We were robbed again?"

"Yes, this is the third time," Rainer replied, scanning a report. "It seems these robbers are hired by someone."

Damn it. I had suspected this might happen. Not everyone in this world played fair, especially when a business venture became as successful as ours.

"What’s the Marquis’ response?" I asked.

"He’s furious and upset with these people," Rainer replied, "but he’s also overwhelmed managing the region. He said this problem falls to you."

I massaged my temples, trying to ease the pounding headache caused by this situation. This was the third time our wine shipments had been stolen during distribution. It was clear these weren’t random attacks—someone was deliberately targeting us.

"Fantastic," I muttered sarcastically. "Of course, this ends up on my plate. Who else is going to solve it, right?"

Rainer stood nearby, holding the report with a serious expression. "What’s our next move?" he asked.

I exhaled deeply and rose from my chair. "Next move? We’re addressing this directly. If we don’t, it’ll not only ruin our business but also damage our reputation."

Taking the report from Rainer, I read it closely. A pattern emerged—the attacks always occurred along the same route, a remote area far from the Marquis’ patrols.

"Rainer, this route..." I pointed to the map on the table. "Why do we keep using this path?"

"Because it’s the fastest route to the western territories. If we take an alternative route, the delivery time doubles."

I nodded, understanding the logic. "So they know our weakness. They’re aware we don’t have many options other than this path."

Rainer nodded in agreement. "That’s the most likely scenario. According to the report, their numbers are small—ten, maybe twelve men."

"That’s unlikely," I said, shaking my head. "Given the coordination and resources needed, there’s likely a noble pulling the strings behind this operation. Any guesses as to who?"

Rainer’s noble background gave him insights I lacked. "Since these shipments head west, it’s fairly obvious who’s in power there."

"Yes," I agreed. "Baron Derren. He’s the only one holding territory along the western coast."

"Correct. I’ve heard rumors that Baron Derren isn’t very skilled at managing his lands. As a result, he’s deep in debt, and his impoverished territory forces him to resort to such desperate measures."

"But still!" I exclaimed, slamming my hand on the table. "Some of our people have become his victims. Just because he’s a noble doesn’t mean he can do whatever he pleases!"

"So, what’s your plan?" Rainer asked calmly.

"I’ll need to discuss this with the Marquis first, but he’s swamped with preparations for the harvest season."

###

I stared at the map, trying to analyze the situation with a clear head. These robberies weren’t random. Given the coordination and strategic location of their ambush points, it was evident someone was orchestrating the attacks.

"Baron Derren..." I muttered, recalling Rainer’s remarks. The western territory ruled by Derren was notoriously underdeveloped. It lacked resources, and its port was nearly unused due to most trade flowing north.

"Baron Derren has a clear motive," I continued. "If he’s involved, it means he’s trying to cover his economic losses in the simplest way—stealing from others."

Rainer nodded. "He’s known to be pragmatic. But this crosses the line. Noble or not, this is a crime."

I sighed. "What frustrates me is that we can’t retaliate outright. This world operates by a strict set of rules. If we act rashly without evidence, we’ll only create bigger problems."

I scanned the map again, connecting the dots. If Baron Derren truly was behind this, he wouldn’t act directly. He’d likely hire bandits or delegate the task to loyal underlings to keep his hands clean.

"If I speak to the Marquis, will he act?" I mused aloud.

Rainer answered, "The Marquis is a wise man, but right now, he’s too busy. He won’t have time to investigate something without clear evidence."

"Exactly," I said with a nod. "But I can’t let this continue. We need solid evidence tying Baron Derren to these attacks. Otherwise, he’ll keep getting away with it."

Strategizing the Response

I began breaking the problem into smaller, actionable steps.

"First," I said, "we need to gather intelligence on the attackers. If we can find concrete evidence linking them to Baron Derren, we’ll have leverage to escalate the matter to the Marquis—or even the royal court, if necessary."

Rainer nodded. "Do you have a plan for obtaining that evidence?"

I smirked. "Oh, I have a few ideas. But we’ll need to make some preparations. Let’s start by gathering a few trusted people who can operate discreetly."

"Understood," Rainer said, his expression resolute.

"If Baron Derren thinks he can get away with this, he’s in for a surprise," I added, determination hardening my voice. "Let’s turn the tables."