Don't Want to Be Ordinary Even Though I'm an Extra Character-Chapter 67: [66] Must Dare to Take Risks

-Arkan Lawrence-

I walked slowly along the cobbled road, accompanied by Bastian, a merchant from the northern imperial capital who had been my business partner since the very first day I began expanding my ventures. The cool evening breeze carried the earthy scent of soil and the rich aroma of grapes from the distant vineyards.

This land was finally showing signs of recovery, but I knew—this was merely the beginning of a long journey.

"Arkan, you seem deep in thought," Bastian said, breaking the silence.

I gave a small smile. "Of course. Managing a territory while keeping business running smoothly isn’t easy—you of all people should know that."

Bastian let out a short laugh. "That’s true. But I’m sure you already have something in mind. You wouldn’t have called me here just for an evening stroll, would you?"

I nodded, impressed by his keen intuition. Despite his appearance as a boisterous, broad-shouldered trader, his mind was as sharp as a well-honed blade.

"You’re right," I admitted. "I’ve been thinking of something new. You see, the wine market is getting more competitive. Marquis Arleon already holds a strong reputation in this region. If I continue competing in the same field, I’ll just be wasting time and resources."

Bastian nodded, his eyes sharp like an eagle’s. "You want to diversify your business. Smart move. But what’s your next target?"

"Perfume," I said simply, watching his reaction.

He paused for a moment, then let out a chuckle. "Perfume? You plan to compete with the southern merchants? You know they have the best ingredients—jasmine from the desert plains, roses from the southern valleys. That market has been theirs for years."

"I know," I replied, my smile unwavering. "But I have something they don’t."

"And that is?"

"Knowledge," I said as I pulled a small notebook from my pocket. It was a collection of notes I had compiled from my system—basic perfume formulas used in my previous world, along with more efficient distillation methods.

Bastian took the book, flipping through the pages. As he absorbed the information, his eyes widened. "This... this is simple, yet brilliant. If you can truly replicate this, your perfumes could surpass those of the south."

I nodded, satisfied with his reaction. "Exactly. Unlike Marquis Arleon, whom I consider an ally, I have no intention of competing against him. He’s the one who protected me from the predators of the political world. As a newcomer noble, my territory is still in financial ruin, thanks to the previous baron."

"Our agreement lasts six months, and I haven’t yet built a military force—so I’ve already prepared funding and plans for my next move."

"Hmm... I see your point. But are you sure you want to challenge the southern territories?"

"Why should I fear those I don’t even know?" I smirked. "This is business. If you don’t take risks, money won’t come to you."

Bastian laughed so loudly that several passersby turned to look, curious about what was so amusing. He clapped me on the shoulder with his large hand, grinning like a man who had just heard the best joke of his life.

"You’re something else, Arkan," he said, still smiling. "Most people would shrink away from competing with the northern empire, especially in business. They have a massive reputation, vast influence, and deep connections in the trade world. But you... you’re like a young wolf who’s just found his prey."

I shrugged casually. "It’s not about reckless bravery. I know where we stand. My territory is small and still developing, but that doesn’t mean I can’t shake the market. My perfumes will be something different—something even they can’t ignore."

"Bold and clever," he muttered, studying my face as if searching for any sign of hesitation. "But tell me—just how serious are you about this plan?"

I met his gaze directly, ensuring my voice held no uncertainty. "Very serious. This isn’t just about profit and loss. It’s about creating something lasting—something that people will remember even after I’m gone. If I have to take risks for that, then so be it."

Bastian nodded slowly, his expression turning serious. "Alright, Arkan. If you’re serious, then so am I. You know I’ve been in this trade for a long time. I know how the market works—who to approach, who to avoid. But this is a big gamble. We’ll be facing people who won’t hesitate to take down their competition by any means necessary."

I gave him a small, knowing smile. "I’m not looking for new enemies, but I’m not afraid of them either. As long as we play smart, we can handle whatever comes our way."

He studied me for a few moments before nodding again. "Alright then. I’ll start with the raw materials. The southern territories control the largest rose farms and dominate the jasmine supply. But I have connections in the eastern regions that might be useful. They may not be as big as the south, but they produce high-quality goods that often go unnoticed."

"That’s a solid plan," I said. "We don’t need to go head-to-head with giants. We can carve our own path using sources that haven’t been fully explored. If their ingredients match or even surpass the south’s, then that’s our advantage."

Bastian smiled again, this time with a look of deep satisfaction. "You truly are a visionary, Arkan. You don’t just see opportunities—you know how to create them."

I chuckled lightly. "That’s because I know how hard it is to survive in a world like this. If I wasn’t creative, I would’ve failed long ago."

We continued walking toward the castle, discussing strategies and plans for the future. Every step I took made my vision clearer. This wasn’t just about creating a good product—it was about changing the way people perceived perfume.

I slowed my pace as we approached the castle doors, my thoughts forming into something more significant. This wasn’t just about perfume. It wasn’t just about short-term profits.

What I envisioned was a system, a structure—something that wouldn’t just benefit my territory but lay the foundation for a strong economic network across the entire nation.

"Bastian," I called, breaking the silence.

He turned to me, raising an eyebrow. "Yes?"

"I want us to establish something bigger than just a simple trade partnership. I want to create a Chamber of Commerce," I said firmly.

Bastian stopped for a moment, his eyes narrowing with interest. "A Chamber of Commerce? That’s a term I’ve never heard before."

I nodded, carefully choosing my words so he could understand the concept forming in my mind.

"Imagine this: an official institution that oversees and connects merchants, artisans, and even farmers across this territory. A place where we can set trade standards, protect small merchants, and ensure fair business practices.

Beyond that, it would be a hub for sharing knowledge, improving product quality, and driving innovation."

Bastian studied me intently, processing my words. Before he could respond, I continued, my voice steady with conviction.

"This kind of system doesn’t exist yet in this world. Right now, trade is like a jungle—the strong devour the weak. But if we create this structure, we can change everything. Merchants will feel safer, price stability will be maintained, and most importantly..."

I leaned slightly closer. "This territory will become the new center of commerce. And we can use it to monopolize key goods and even... legally bypass certain taxes."

Bastian’s eyes widened, his entire posture shifting. That last sentence had hit the mark.

"Wait—you’re saying... we can actually do that?" His voice was a mix of excitement and disbelief.

"Of course," I said smoothly. "But we’ll discuss the details later. For now, let me give you a gift—and in the meantime, think about my proposal carefully."

"A gift?"

As we entered the castle, I signaled a servant to bring over a special package I had prepared in my office while leading Bastian toward the guest lounge.

"Yes, a gift I’m sure you’ll love."

For some reason, Bastian seemed unusually curious about what I had prepared for him.

"Here it is, sir," the servant said, handing over the small wooden box to Bastian.

He examined it with a slight frown, opening it cautiously. Inside, he found a stack of thin black sheets—they looked like paper, but it was clear they were something entirely different.

He picked one up, flipping it back and forth in confusion.

"What is this?" he asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and skepticism.

I crossed my arms, watching his reaction with amusement. "That, Bastian, is carbon paper."

"Carbon paper?" He repeated the term, still baffled. He rubbed the material between his fingers, trying to understand what made it special. "And... what exactly am I supposed to do with this? It just looks like... ordinary paper."

I let out a short sigh, suppressing a chuckle.

"That’s the problem with new inventions, Bastian. People don’t see their true potential at first glance." I picked up one of the carbon sheets, holding it up between my fingers. "Let me show you."

I gestured toward a nearby table. "Bring me a quill and some ink," I instructed the servant, who quickly complied.

"Now, watch closely," I continued, placing a blank sheet of paper on the table, then a sheet of carbon paper over it, followed by another blank sheet on top.

"Look at this," I said as I took the quill and began writing on the top sheet. When I finished, I lifted the top layer, revealing an exact copy of the writing on the second sheet beneath it.

Bastian stared at it, eyes wide in shock.

The writing on the second page was identical to the original—a perfect duplicate without needing to rewrite it manually.

"Is this... some kind of magic?" he asked, half-joking, but the awe in his voice was undeniable.

I laughed softly. "No, this is science. With carbon paper, you can create multiple copies of documents instantly, without having to rewrite them."

I met his gaze directly. "Imagine, Bastian—how valuable would this be for someone like you? Contracts, business agreements, ledgers—you can have multiple copies in seconds. No more tedious rewrites, and no more risk of losing important records."

Bastian gawked at the papers in his hands, his mind clearly racing with the endless possibilities.

"This... is incredible," he murmured. "Do you have any idea how much time this will save me?"

I smirked. "Exactly. Time is money, and with this, you’ll be saving a lot of both."

Bastian looked up at me, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Arkan, this is one of the most brilliant inventions I’ve ever seen. With this, I can increase my business efficiency tenfold!"

I nodded, satisfied with his reaction. "And this is only the beginning, Bastian. Stick with me, and I guarantee we’ll create even more innovations—things this world has never even dreamed of."

He let out a small laugh, shaking his head in admiration. "You really are full of surprises, Arkan. If this carbon paper is just a taste of what you have in store, I can’t wait to see what else you’ll come up with."

I simply shrugged, keeping my expression casual, though there was an undeniable spark of ambition in my eyes.

"Oh, you’ll see, Bastian. This world is full of opportunities, and I intend to seize every last one of them."

Bastian carefully placed the carbon paper back into the box, closing it with the kind of care one would give to a treasure chest full of gold.

"I don’t know where you get all these ideas, but I’m glad to be part of your plans. Thank you for this gift, Arkan."

I nodded, meeting his gaze with unwavering confidence.

This was just another step forward—and I had many more to take.