Reborn As A Beastman With A System

Chapter 166: The Long-awaited Vacation

At Kasha Hotel, the atmosphere was calm but charged with anticipation as Fisher turned to Logan with a thoughtful expression.

"Are you interested in heading to the No. 1 base of the Windrunner United Mercenary Group? It's just outside the city," he asked, his voice casual, but his eyes gleaming with curiosity.

Beside him, the elf Pleti and the imposing lion-man David also looked expectantly at Logan. The trio seemed eager, as if waiting for his decision to set things in motion.

Beyond the walls of Canyon City, the world was dotted with various mercenary bases. These bases were hubs of activity for different groups, each too vast and influential to be housed within the city's walls. Of course, establishing such bases wasn't done haphazardly. Each one had to receive approval from the Lord of Canyon City, a mark of both legitimacy and power.

Logan had heard plenty about the Windrunner United's No. 1 base. It wasn't just any outpost; it was home to twelve elite, tenth-level warriors, over three hundred formidable fighters ranging from sixth to ninth levels, and a staggering seven thousand mercenaries, each with a minimum combat skill of the third level. A base of this scale was nothing short of breathtaking.

To see it up close would be awe-inspiring, a testament to the group's sheer might.

But despite the grandeur of it all, Logan only smiled and shook his head.

"Forget it. I don't have any ties with the Windrunner Mercenaries. It won't make much of a difference if I go or not," he replied, his tone dismissive.

It didn't matter how powerful they were. Logan wasn't the type to envy strength that wasn't his own. There was no point in getting caught up in someone else's glory.

Fisher raised an eyebrow but didn't push. He shrugged, smiling as if he'd expected this answer. "Alright, suit yourself," he said, turning to leave with Pleti and David in tow.

As they disappeared from view, Logan allowed himself a quiet chuckle.

Thirty-two thousand kilograms of perfume. That's how much Fisher, David, and Pleti had just bought from him, a transaction that translated to thirty-two thousand gold coins straight into his coffers. Not a bad deal at all. In fact, it was better than he'd anticipated.

He had already secured a sizable portion of his profits upfront, and with next month's dividends, he could expect at least another thirty-two thousand gold coins.

The perfume business was proving to be incredibly lucrative, especially since the production cost was minuscule; barely a thousandth of what he was charging. As he thought about the profits, a slow, satisfied smile spread across his face. It was a rare moment of indulgence for him.

But his mind didn't linger on wealth for long. Practical matters soon took over. He had to think about how to allocate those gold coins wisely. Half would go directly to Canyon City's winery, where production of white wine and brown sugar had skyrocketed.

More funds meant more supplies; he needed to purchase several million kilograms of grain to keep the operation running smoothly, especially with the tribe's population nearing seventy thousand. They were consuming more than ever before.

Logan mulled over the logistics. He'd need Fisher's help, not just for this one purchase, but to establish a more permanent solution. After all, as a chief, he couldn't be running around buying food himself. That had worked in the past, thanks to the convenience of the system warehouse he used, but things were changing. His tribe was growing, and so were its needs.

It was time to think bigger, much bigger. He needed a reliable, long-term supply line to keep his people well-fed, one that could handle the increasing demand. The system warehouse could store immense amounts of food, and if necessary, it could be expanded with gold or reputation points. But why wait until the last minute to scramble for resources?

It was time to ensure that every need was met far ahead of time.

As he considered his next steps, Logan knew one thing for sure: the days of handling everything himself were over. He was building something much larger than he had ever imagined, and it was time to start acting like it.

"Master Chief!"

Logan, caught off guard, looked up from his thoughts, blinking at the two figures before him. "Huh? What's going on?" he asked, recognizing the familiar faces of Tyton and Cadia. There was a warmth to his smile, but his curiosity was piqued.

Tyton, standing a bit nervously, cleared his throat. "Master Chief, it's about the funds..." His voice trailed off, clearly hesitant to deliver the news.

Cadia, less patient, gave Tyton a sideways glance, full of exasperation. "Spit it out already!" She scolded. "The Chief can't help if you're dancing around the point." Turning to Logan, Cadia bowed slightly and respectfully added, "Master Chief, the winery... well, we're out of money."

Logan raised an eyebrow, but before he could respond, Cadia continued, "We've had to buy food on credit from Greymane's grain store for the last two weeks."

"Ah!" The realization hit Logan like a bolt of lightning. Of course. He remembered seeing it in the transaction records just a few days ago. That lingering debt; over a thousand gold coins. He had meant to address it but had been so caught up in other affairs that it slipped his mind.

"Right," he chuckled, shaking his head at his own forgetfulness. "I get it now!" Looking at Tyton with an easy smile, Logan added, "Next time, just say something if we're low on funds. No need to be shy about it."

With a wave of his hand, a shimmering pile of gold coins materialized on the ground in front of them. Fifteen thousand in total, no more, no less. The sheer volume gleamed under the light, a small fortune to most.

"Fifteen thousand gold coins," Logan said, gesturing to the pile. "That should hold you over for now. If you need more later, we'll sort it out. Go ahead, take it."

Tyton's eyes widened only slightly as he nodded, calmly pocketing the coins into his space ring. Gold was gold, but the two of them had grown accustomed to such sums. After all, the liquor trade had netted them millions in gold coins recently. In comparison, this fifteen thousand seemed modest, though still essential.

"Thank you, Chief," Tyton said, tucking the coins away without hesitation.

Cadia, too, showed no outward sign of amazement. They had seen larger sums pass through their hands, especially with the booming success of the winery. Just today alone, they had moved over 520,000 kilograms of liquor, transactions worth more than they ever dreamed of.

Logan watched them, amused. "Have either of you ever thought about going back to the tribe?" he asked, his smile widening at the thought. He knew their answer but wanted to hear it from them.

Cadia was quick to respond, as always. "Chief, I dream of it! Every time I'm here, I can't stop thinking about home," she said earnestly, her voice carrying a hint of longing.

Tyton, ever the steady one, nodded. "I feel the same way, Chief. The tribe is still my home."

Logan chuckled, noting the difference in their responses. "And what's wrong with staying here?" he asked, teasing Cadia especially. "The food at the Kasa Hotel is good, isn't it? You have meat every day here. Do you really miss the old days of foraging for scraps?"

It was true. The Kasa Hotel, where they often found themselves, was well-stocked. The meals they enjoyed were far superior to what their tribesmen back home could access. Meat was a luxury in the tribe, while here, it was a staple. This lifestyle of plenty had come at a cost though; their food expenses had skyrocketed to several hundred gold coins a month.

Cadia smiled, but her longing for the tribe was still clear in her eyes. "Chief, it's not just about the food. It's about the people back home. They deserve to have what we have."

Tyton remained quiet, but Logan could tell he shared the sentiment. The tribe was their heart, their people, and no amount of gold or lavish meals could replace that.

Logan nodded thoughtfully. "You're right. We need to make sure the tribe has everything it needs. And we will," he said, his voice filled with quiet determination. His mind was already working on ways to ensure his people back home would prosper just as much as they had here.

He would see to it that no one went without, not while he was their Chief.

If Second Uncle Lotte and the other leaders of the Silver Mane Tribe caught wind of this, there would be an uproar, no doubt about it.

The amount of gold the Canyon Brewery was burning through; over two or three hundred coins each month, could buy hundreds of thousands of kilograms of food. Enough to feed the entire tribe for six or seven days. And here they were, using it up monthly, just for the 3,000 people working at the brewery.

"No meat left at all?" Cadia exclaimed, visibly taken aback.

It had been nearly five months since he left for Canyon City, and back then, the tribe had been focused on expanding their livestock breeding. Things were supposed to be improving, not worsening.

Tyton was equally surprised. Logan had mentioned two months ago that the tribe's population had increased to 20,000, but beyond that, he didn't know much about the tribe's current condition.

Logan sighed and explained, "The tribe now has nearly 70,000 people."

"Seventy thousand?" Both Tyton and Cadia were stunned into silence. Your next chapter awaits on ???

"More than 10,000 are soldiers," Logan continued. "And almost 2,000 of them are cavalry. There's barely enough meat for the wolves we ride into battle, let alone the rest of the tribe."

Tyton and Cadia exchanged bewildered looks. It felt like a tidal wave of information. Just two months ago, the tribe had expanded to 20,000 people, and now it had nearly tripled in size? How was that even possible? And more than 10,000 warriors, with 2,000 cavalry? The tribe's strength had increased at an astonishing rate.

Logan couldn't help but chuckle at their disbelief. It wasn't unusual for people to react like this, he had been through it himself when the growth first began. But seeing their jaws drop now, after months of being away, was amusing.

"Chief, I need to go back!" Tyton's voice was resolute, his face set in determination.

The tribe had changed so drastically in such a short time. He couldn't just stay here and do nothing, he had to see it for himself.

"Me too!" Cadia chimed in, her eyes pleading, as though the very idea of being away any longer was too much to bear.

Logan laughed heartily. "Alright, alright!" He nodded, relenting. But then, with a teasing smile, he added, "But if both of you go back, who's going to manage the brewery?"

That question hung in the air for a moment, and suddenly, the excitement between Tyton and Cadia fizzled out. They exchanged a quick glance, realization dawning on them.

You're not going to let us go back, are you?

The room fell quiet, and Logan could see the disappointment written on their faces. He let them stew in the silence for a few seconds before breaking into another grin. "I can't let you both vanish completely. The brewery won't run itself," he said, shaking his head. "But how about this? I'll give you each half a month off.

You'll have to take turns, though. One goes back first, then the other."

Both Tyton and Cadia's faces lit up with gratitude. "Really?" Cadia asked, her voice tinged with hope.

"Thank you, Chief!" they said in unison, bowing deeply, clearly relieved. They knew that it wasn't realistic to expect a permanent return to the tribe, especially with their responsibilities here. A half-month vacation was already more than they had hoped for.

Logan watched them, smiling as they stood straight again. It was a compromise, but one that worked for all of them. The tribe might be growing, but the work here in Canyon City was just as vital to that growth. And soon enough, they'd both be back home, if only for a little while.