The Great Mercator System

Chapter 7: The Birth of a New Spirit

To the south of Valford, vast fields of fertile land stretched beyond the city walls. For generations, the farmers there had cultivated sugarcane, selling it to local merchants who processed it into sweeteners and syrups. However, in a world where wine was reserved for the nobles and ale was the drink of the common folk, rum did not exist. Simeon saw an opportunity.

If he could perfect the art of distillation, he would create a product unlike anything on the market—a drink that could bridge the gap between nobility and commoners, turning sugarcane into gold.

The challenge lay in the production. While the sugarcane fields provided the raw material, the process of distillation required precision and expertise. To achieve this, Simeon carefully handpicked three individuals, each possessing the skills necessary to bring his vision to life.

Luthor Kane - The Exiled Brewer

A former master brewer from the northern provinces, Luthor Kane had once been a celebrated ale maker. His experimental methods, which pushed alcohol content far beyond the norm, eventually led to his exile when a failed batch caused an accident at a noble’s banquet. Disgraced and unwanted, he wandered from city to city, taking whatever brewing work he could find.

When Simeon approached him with a new challenge, Luthor was skeptical.

“You want me to create a drink stronger than ale?” the man asked, his thick arms crossed.

“I want you to create something unmatched in quality,” Simeon corrected. “A drink that will change the world of commerce.”

At first, Luthor hesitated—until Simeon offered him complete freedom in his craft. No restrictions, no nobles dictating his methods. He accepted, unaware that this decision would make him the father of a new era of spirits.

Helena Voss - The Fallen Alchemist

If Luthor Kane was the muscle behind the operation, then Helena Voss was the mind.

Once a rising star in the Royal Alchemy Guild, Helena had specialized in fermentation and chemical refinement. However, her radical ideas about purifying alcohol led to clashes with her superiors. Accused of “wasting guild resources on unprofitable research,” she was expelled and left to scrape together a living in Valford’s lower districts.

Simeon sought her out personally, finding her in a dimly lit apothecary where she sold homemade tinctures.

“I hear you’re interested in purity and gold,” he said casually, inspecting a vial of herbal extract.

Helena scoffed. “If you’re here for love potions, you’re in the wrong place.”

Simeon smiled. “What if I told you I needed someone to refine a new drink—something that could put the Royal Alchemy Guild to shame?”

Helena’s eyes flickered with interest. “Go on.”

He laid out his vision: a high-proof spirit, distilled from sugarcane, perfected through alchemical processes. The opportunity to craft something new, without the restrictions of guild politics, was too tempting to resist.

She was in.

Tobias Greaves - The Wandering Herbalist

The final piece of the puzzle was Tobias Greaves, an eccentric but brilliant herbalist and spice merchant. Unlike the others, he had never fallen from grace—he simply preferred to remain in the shadows, supplying rare ingredients to nobles and underground markets alike.

Tobias possessed an intimate knowledge of aging techniques, barrel selection, and flavor enhancement. He had crafted exclusive spice blends for aristocrats, making their wines and ales taste richer and more refined.

Simeon found him in a roadside tavern, watching from the corner as Tobias bartered over a crate of rare cinnamon bark.

“Imagine a drink that can be aged like wine, spiced like an exotic dish, and sold to nobles at a price they can’t refuse,” Simeon said, sliding into the seat across from him.

Tobias studied him carefully. “Befor doing any of that, you'll have to find the brewer and the alchemist, won't you?”

Simeon smirked. “I have. Now I need someone who can give it depth—a taste no other drink can replicate and did I mention gold coins.”

Tobias let out a slow chuckle. “You’re ambitious, kid. I like that.”

With that, the final member of the project was secured.

With Luthor, Helena, and Tobias onboard, Simeon established a hidden distillery within an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of Valford. Under the guise of a storage facility for spices, the operation began in secrecy.

Helena experimented with fermentation, Luthor worked on distillation, and Tobias tested aging methods using different barrels and spice infusions.

The result?

A bold, golden-hued spirit with a deep, complex flavor—one that warmed the throat and lingered on the tongue.

Simeon took the first sip. It was perfect.

Creating rum was one thing—selling it was another.

The nobility had never tasted anything like this. The common folk had never had access to something so refined. To succeed, Simeon had to be careful in how and where he introduced his creation.

Would he market it as an elite drink, rivaling wine among the aristocracy?

Or would he first let it spread through the underground, building demand before making it a luxury item?

Regardless of his approach, one thing was clear:

House De Long would become rich beyond imagination.

And no one—not his father, not his brothers, not even the rival nobles lurking in the shadows—had the slightest idea what was coming.

Simeon had just created the foundation of an empire.

Rum was no longer just an experiment. It was a weapon.

Simeon had always known that money alone wasn’t enough to secure House De Long’s future. Influence mattered. Power mattered. And nothing in the world swayed power like desire and exclusivity.

With Sky Dragon Rum, he had created something that nobles lusted after, merchants scrambled to acquire, and commoners fought to taste. Now, all he had to do was tighten his grip.

Every merchant contract came with a single bottle of Sky Dragon Rum—a ‘gift’ of appreciation. A carefully placed seed of addiction. The moment they took their first sip, they belonged to him.

The aroma was rich, warm with hints of oak and spice. The burn was smooth, leaving behind a lingering sweetness that demanded another taste.

Some compared it to wine, others to a refined version of ale, but all agreed—it was unlike anything they had ever known.

Rumors spread. “A drink of the gods.” “House De Long’s secret elixir.”

By the time the nobles caught on, it was already too late.

While the elite whispered about Sky Dragon in their gilded halls, the common folk roared its name in the streets.

Simeon’s contests started in the taverns. A single bottle of Sky Dragon stood as the grand prize. Drinking duels, arm-wrestling matches, horse races—every event fed the hunger.

At first, the competitors came just for the thrill. Then, they came for the taste.

Men brawled for a chance to win. Stories were born of those who conquered the contests and drank the legendary spirit.

“I won a bottle at The Broken Keg!”
“My brother’s friend’s cousin tasted it once—he says it’s better than noble wine.”

Simeon smirked. The best kind of marketing was the one people did for you.

It was inevitable. The nobles couldn’t ignore it forever.

At first, they dismissed Sky Dragon as a passing fad, a drink for commoners.

Then, they saw the demand.

Taverns were selling out. Merchants were doubling their offers for shipments. Even some of the royal guard officers had begun requesting Sky Dragon over ale.

That’s when House Lancaster of Braesford—one of the most powerful trading families—came knocking.

“We want an exclusive contract,” Lord Lancaster declared, seated across from Simeon at a lavish dinner.

Simeon swirled his own glass of Sky Dragon, the amber liquid catching the candlelight.

“Exclusive?” he mused. “That would be… unfair to the other nobles.”

Lord Lancaster frowned. “Name your price.”

Simeon smiled, letting the silence stretch. Letting them sweat.

By the time he finally spoke, House De Long’s terms were already set in stone.

Wealth breeds enemies. And with Sky Dragon turning House De Long into a rising force, it was only a matter of time before rival houses took notice—and decided they wanted a piece.

House Thornwell of Ironmere.
House Bellmont of Fairhaven.
House Everard of Storm’s Crest.
House Castillon of Blackridge.

Four powerful noble families, each controlling major trade hubs across Eldoria. Each one watching House De Long with growing interest—and growing envy.

Simeon received the first warning from Sebastian, his ever-loyal butler.

“My lord,” he said, voice low. “There are rumors… Certain families believe House De Long is becoming too ambitious.”

Simeon leaned back, exhaling slowly. So, it begins.

He had expected this. Power was never taken—it was stolen, clawed away from those who had grown comfortable in their thrones.

That night, a sealed bottle of Sky Dragon was delivered to House De Long—an anonymous gift from a ‘business partner.’

Simeon lifted the bottle, studying it.

Something was off. The wax seal was perfect. The label was pristine.

But when he unstoppered the cork and took the faintest sniff…

Poison.

A message.

Simeon smirked, twirling the bottle in his hands.

So, someone had already made their move.

“Interesting,” he murmured. “Let’s see who wants me dead.”

Sky Dragon had made him rich. Now, it was going to make him enemies.

***

With Sky Dragon Rum dominating the trade routes, House De Long had transformed from a once-fading noble house into one of the wealthiest families in Valford.

The influx of gold, silver, and bronze coins was unprecedented. The household coffers, once dangerously shallow, now overflowed with wealth.

But wealth came with consequences.

Simeon’s mother, Lady Fiona De Long, had always possessed a refined taste for luxury. As a noblewoman, she had spent years maintaining the illusion of grandeur, even when their family had been on the brink of collapse. Now, with real wealth at her disposal, she could finally indulge without restraint.

The De Long estate underwent an opulent transformation. Expansion of the Mansion: A west wing was added to accommodate esteemed guests, adorned with imported marble, golden chandeliers, and velvet-lined halls. Lavish Gardens: A once modest courtyard was reshaped into a breathtaking botanical masterpiece, filled with rare flowers from across Eldoria. Private Theatre: She commissioned a theatre hall, where musicians, playwrights, and dancers from the capital could perform exclusively for the De Long family. Exquisite Dresses & Jewelry: Lady Fiona became a patron of the finest tailors and jewelers, ensuring she and her daughter, Selene, were always dressed in gowns of the latest fashion, studded with gemstones from distant lands.

Simeon didn’t mind his mother’s excesses—so long as they served a purpose. Wealth attracts admiration, and admiration builds influence.

Still, he made sure to keep track of every coin spent.

Unlike his wife, Earl Bryan De Long had no desire for personal luxury. As the ruling noble of Valford, he saw the wealth as an opportunity to strengthen the city and its surrounding lands.

Simeon, despite his secret control over House De Long’s underground dealings, respected his father’s wisdom. Where Lady Isabella spent to increase their prestige, Bryan spent to solidify their foundation.

City Development Projects

Fortifying Valford: Earl Bryan expanded the city walls, reinforcing them with stone battlements and iron gates, ensuring that the once-small city could withstand both bandit raids and potential sieges. Improved Trade Routes: Bridges and roads were repaired and expanded, ensuring that merchants could travel safely, further increasing the city’s prosperity. Irrigation & Farming: With Valford’s fertile lands to the south, the Earl directed funds to irrigation systems, improving crop yields, particularly for the sugarcane fields that had become the foundation of their newfound wealth. Education & Craftsmanship: He invested in schools and artisans, encouraging the training of blacksmiths, tailors, and engineers, ensuring that Valford could compete with larger cities in more than just trade.

Simeon couldn’t deny it—his father, despite his honorable nature, was not a fool. He understood that power wasn’t just about money, but about the strength of the people who followed you.

The De Long name, once dismissed as minor nobility, was now spoken in the same breath as the great houses of Eldoria.

Valford had grown from a modest city into a bustling trade hub. The streets were filled with merchants, scholars, and travelers, all drawn by the booming economy and security under Earl Bryan’s rule.

But success painted a target on their backs.

Simeon knew that House De Long’s rapid ascent would not go unnoticed forever.

And soon, those who resented their rise would come knocking.

One evening, as Simeon overlooked the estate from the balcony of the newly built west wing, Sebastian approached him, a sealed letter in hand.

“My lord,” he said grimly. “This arrived today… from the royal court of Rexedoria.”

Simeon’s eyes narrowed as he broke the seal.

The message was short, but the weight behind it was clear.

“House De Long is summoned to the capital. The king wishes to discuss your… growing influence.”

Simeon’s smirk faded.

The game had just changed.