They Called Me Trash? Now I'll Hack Their World-Chapter 192: Plan

{Third Person POV}

----

The late afternoon sun painted Thornhaven’s streets in shades of amber and gold as merchants began closing their stalls and workers headed home after long shifts.

Birds chirping over the orange sky, going back to their nests.

In a private room above one of the town’s more expensive taverns, five figures sat around a table covered in ledgers, contracts, and what looked suspiciously like surveillance reports.

Master Corwin, head of the Thornhaven Alchemist Guild, which was a separate entity from the Adventurer’s Guild, set down his wine glass with enough force to make the others look up.

"Three days," he said, his voice tight with controlled anger. "This boy has been operating openly for three days, and he’s already undercut our prices by forty percent."

A woman sat across from him, Lydia Marchant, who was the owner of Marchant’s Medicinal Supplies, leafed through one of the reports with a frown.

"Forty-seven percent, actually. And his quality is..." She paused, clearly unhappy about admitting it.

"Actually better. I had one of my people purchase samples. And the purity levels are extraordinary."

"How is that possible?"

The third figure, a thin man named Petras who ran the largest ingredient supply operation in the region, leaned forward. "We’ve been producing for decades. We have the best alchemists, the finest equipment, exclusive formulas—"

"And he’s still better," Lydia interrupted flatly. "I don’t know how. But the compounds don’t lie. His stamina restoration works faster, lasts longer, has fewer side effects. His purification solution is more thorough. Even his basic antidotes outperform our premium line."

Silence fell over the table.

Then, the fourth person present, a noble named Lord Verick who’d invested heavily in the local alchemy trade, spoke up.

"So, what do we do? We can’t compete on quality if he’s genuinely superior. And we can’t compete on price, he’s already selling below our cost of production."

"Then we’ll make it impossible for him to operate at all," Corwin said bluntly. "Deny him access to ingredients. Spread rumors about his products being contaminated. Make sure the right people know he’s an unlicensed amateur operating without proper certification. While we figure out the formulas he’s using."

"We can’t do that... he’s working with the Adventurer’s Guild now," the fifth person said quietly.

Everyone turned to look at her.

Ely Ashton sat at the end of the table, her expression neutral. She was the newest member of their informal consortium, a merchant who’d risen quickly through careful investments and strategic partnerships.

"What?" Corwin’s voice sharpened.

"I have contacts in the guild administration," Ely explained calmly. "They met with him and negotiated down to a supply agreement."

"Shit," Petras muttered.

Lord Verick’s jaw clenched. "Then we can’t touch him directly. The Adventurer’s Guild also is powerful. If we move against one of their suppliers openly—"

"We don’t move openly," Corwin interrupted.

"We make his life difficult in ways that can’t be traced back to us. Like ingredient suppliers suddenly run out of stock when he orders. Or transportation ’accidents’ delay his deliveries. Or quality complaints from anonymous sources that require investigation."

"That could take months," Verick protested. "Meanwhile he’s stealing our customers."

"Then you have any better idea?"

Silence fell again.

Ely spoke up again, her tone thoughtful.

"There might be another approach. Instead of trying to destroy him, we should absorb him."

All of them looked at her.

"Explain," Corwin said.

"He’s young. Talented, yes, but inexperienced in business. If we offer him a better partnership. Bring him into the consortium. Let him think he’s getting a good deal while we gain control of his formulas and production methods."

Lydia was nodding slowly. "Make him dependent on our infrastructure. Once he’s integrated, we have leverage."

"And if he refuses?" Petras asked.

"Then we know he’s more than just a talented alchemist," Ely said. "We know he has backing or plans we haven’t identified. Which tells us we need to be more careful."

Corwin considered that, swirling his wine.

"I don’t like it. But it’s less risky than direct confrontation." He looked around the table. "Who approaches him?"

"Not you," Lydia said immediately. "You’re too obviously threatened. It needs to be someone who seems neutral."

All eyes turned to Ely.

She smiled slightly. "I can be very friendly when needed."

"Make it generous," Verick added.

"Partnership terms," Ely said, already planning. "Profit sharing, resource access, minimal restrictions on his independence. Make it seem like we respect his autonomy while gradually making him reliant on our support."

"Or..." Her smile widened. "He’s just a young guy. How can he not be pursued by a woman’s charm?"

They spent another hour hammering out details, what to offer, how to approach, contingencies if things went wrong.

By the time they dispersed into the evening, they had a plan.

----

[Meanwhile - Oakmere]

Chief Zen sat in his private study, reading a letter that had arrived that afternoon by courier.

The handwriting was familiar, his granddaughter’s neat script, though rushed.

"Grandpa,

Guess what?

I have a good news for you...

Jin made a deal with the guild. We’re setting up alchemy production in Oakmere. This is good for the village. Jobs, income and protection through association with the guild.

He wants to use village resources and people for production. I told him you’d probably be fine with it. Was I right? Don’t I? Well whose beautiful granddaughter am I afterall?

Hehehe!

Oh, and by the way. I’m learning so much. Jin’s teaching me techniques I never imagined existed. I think I’m actually good at this.

Also tell Rowan I’m fine and to stop worrying.

Love, Tessa

Zen set down the letter, a slow smile spreading across his weathered face.

Production facility. Guild contracts.

"Heh! The boy works fast."

He pulled out fresh paper and began writing a response.

His future grandson-in-law would need support for this venture. And if it meant tying Jin even more tightly to Oakmere—to his family—then so much the better.

The wedding would happen eventually. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Zen was patient.

And he was very, very good at long-term planning.