Lord of the Time: I Can Reincarnate Infinitely

After a heartfelt farewell with his teammates, Caleb made his way back to the inn where he had been staying. The adventure had been taxing but rewarding, and he was looking forward to a good night's rest in his familiar room. However, as he stepped through the door of the inn, he was met with unexpected news.

The innkeeper, a man with a knack for business rather than hospitality, approached Caleb with a tight smile. "Ah, Mr. George, I was hoping to catch you. There's been a bit of a situation with your room," he started, his tone overly casual.

Caleb raised an eyebrow, sensing where this might be going. "Oh? What sort of situation?"

"Well, you see, someone has offered to pay quite a bit more for the room you're currently in. It's just business, you understand," the innkeeper explained, his smile fixed.

Caleb, still wearing his travel-worn cloak, straightened up. He wasn't in the mood to be pushed out of his lodging, especially not after such a long mission. "I see. And if I were to offer a better price, would you still consider this person's offer?"

The innkeeper's eyes lit up with the mention of a higher offer, and he leaned in slightly. "Certainly, Mr. George. If you can match their price, I'd have no reason to favor the new guest."

The negotiation was on. Caleb, fresh from his successful negotiation at the guild, was well-prepared for another round. "What if I offered you not just a matched price, but a small advance on the next few nights? Stability in your bookings is valuable, isn't it?" he countered smoothly, knowing that innkeepers valued guaranteed occupancy.

The innkeeper hesitated, clearly tempted by the security of Caleb's offer but still thinking about the higher price from the other guest. "Well, that's a compelling offer, Mr. George, but—" Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire

Caleb didn't let him finish. "And let's not forget, a satisfied repeat customer brings more long-term value than a one-off guest. I've been quiet, no trouble, and I spend regularly at your establishment."

The innkeeper, now cornered by Caleb's logical and appealing points, struggled for a moment, his business instincts warring with the opportunity for immediate profit. Just as he was about to concede, his expression changed slightly, a sign that he was about to play his final card.

"Well, Mr. George, while I appreciate your points and your business, there is one thing we need to consider..." The innkeeper paused, a clever gleam in his eye, ready to turn the tables in this negotiation once more.

The innkeeper, sensing an opportunity to tip the scales further in his favor, laid out a series of demands that were not just high but bordered on the unreasonable. "In addition to matching the offer, I'd need a commitment for a longer stay, paid upfront, and a non-refundable deposit. Market conditions are tough, you understand."

Caleb felt a twinge of irritation at these blatant attempts to squeeze more out of him, but he maintained a calm exterior. His years of experience in dealing with tricky negotiations served him well, and he didn't let his annoyance show.

"Interesting points you make," Caleb responded, his voice steady. "However, let's consider the broader implications of your demands. The reputation of your inn, the trust and credibility you've built—these are at stake here. Guests talk, and word spreads. If it becomes known that you're willing to displace long-term guests for a slightly better offer, you might find yourself losing more than just one steady customer."

Caleb paused, letting his words sink in. He then added, "Think about the long-term business, not just the quick profit. Reputation is a cornerstone of any successful establishment. Is it worth risking for a small gain?"

The innkeeper's confidence wavered a bit. He had always prided himself on the inn's good standing in the community and knew that Caleb's points hit close to home.

Caleb, sensing the shift, decided to push a bit further, using tactics often seen in political arenas back on Earth. "Let's look at this situation as a potential campaign. You're the candidate promoting reliability and ethical business practices. Your voters, or in this case, your guests, trust in your manifesto. Would you risk a scandal over this? The news of your decisions could spread like wildfire, impacting future elections—or bookings, in your case."

The innkeeper mulled over Caleb's analogy, clearly struggling with the decision. Caleb, seeing an opportunity to close the conversation in his favor, leaned in and lowered his voice, adding a final strategic push. "And remember, I have connections with various merchants and traders who frequent your inn based on my recommendations. It would be a shame if they were to look elsewhere due to sudden changes in management's approach to loyalty and fairness."

This last point seemed to hit a nerve. The innkeeper's face paled slightly, the realization of the potential fallout dawning on him. He opened his mouth to respond, his usual composure slipping, showing a hint of nervousness that had not been there before.

In the face of Caleb's calculated arguments and subtle threats regarding the broader impact on the inn's reputation and business relationships, the innkeeper finally relented. His face conveyed a mixture of frustration and resignation as he nodded slowly. "Alright, Mr. George, you can keep your room. The terms will remain as they were."

As the tension in the air began to dissipate, Caleb's curiosity got the better of him. Leaning slightly across the counter with an intensity that belied his usual calm demeanor, he asked, "Just out of curiosity, who was it that wanted to take over my room? Must be someone quite influential to prompt such a shift in policy."

The innkeeper's demeanor stiffened immediately, and he hesitated, a clear sign that the person in question was indeed a significant figure. After a moment of uncomfortable silence, he merely shook his head, choosing his words carefully. "I'm afraid I can't disclose our guests' private information. It's a matter of confidentiality, you understand."

The hint of killing intent in Caleb's voice hadn't gone unnoticed, and it added an unspoken weight to the conversation. Realizing he wouldn't get more information, Caleb nodded, letting the matter drop for the moment. He turned and made his way to his room, his mind buzzing with unanswered questions.

Once inside his room, Caleb began a meticulous inspection, checking every nook and cranny—from the seemingly innocent fixtures to the shadows cast by the afternoon light through the window. He was looking for anything out of place, any sign of why someone would specifically want his room when it was already occupied. His search, however, turned up nothing unusual. The room was exactly as he had left it, with no hidden devices, no unusual marks, or any disturbances.

This absence of any tangible reason only deepened his confusion. "Did I offend someone unknowingly?" he pondered aloud, though he quickly dismissed the thought. After all, he was just a blacksmith, albeit one with a recent history of significant involvement in adventurers' affairs. Could his actions during the mission have inadvertently made him a target or piqued someone's interest?

These thoughts swirled in his mind as he settled down for the evening. The lack of clarity was unsettling, but for now, there seemed to be no immediate threat. "Surely not," he concluded softly, trying to reassure himself. "After all, I'm just a blacksmith."