Becoming the Tang Family

Once the atmosphere became more familiar, Nico stood up and opened the conversation with a serious tone. "Alright, listen up, everyone. In this mission, we will be disguising ourselves as the Tang family."

Nico looked at Malik. "Malik, you will be my son, a member of the Tang family. Your name will be Cheng Min Tang." Firmly, Nico patted Malik's shoulder. "Call me Mr. Tang."

Malik nodded confidently.

"Sana, you will be my wife, Mrs. Tang," Nico continued, glancing at Sana with a mischievous smile. "I'm sure you can play this role well, considering your age suits it perfectly."

Sana raised an eyebrow, her face showing slight annoyance. However, Nico maintained his playful smile, which only made the atmosphere livelier.

"And you all," Nico turned to the servants, "will remain the Tang family's servants. Use your current names."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Okay, let's practice. Call me!" Nico shouted.

"Master Tang!" they answered in unison.

Nico smiled in satisfaction. "Good! Now try this: Young Master Tang!"

"Young Master Tang!" they responded again in unison.

"And this," Nico turned to Sana with a mischievous grin, "Madam Tang."

"MADAM TANG!" they all shouted together.

Sana, growing irritated with the situation, sighed heavily and furrowed her brows. She crossed her arms, her gaze piercing as if trying to put an end to the annoying joke. "I'm going upstairs. My ears hurt from this nonsense," she said, rising from her seat with slightly stomping steps.

As she walked away, Nico stood and said teasingly, "Now, that's exactly how Madam Tang should act. What did I say? She plays her role perfectly."

Sana paused on the stairs, took off her sandal, and threw it at Nico. "Watch your mouth!" she snapped before running upstairs.

Laughter once again filled the room. Their camaraderie grew stronger, forming bonds that would support them in the difficult mission ahead.

Nico surveyed everyone in the room with a sharp gaze that seemed to pierce their thoughts. The cool morning air filled the space, but the intensity in his voice kept everyone focused.

"Remember this well, everyone," he said in a firm, almost commanding tone. "Our mission is not just to establish a powerful trading company. There are three main goals we must achieve," Nico said as he scanned the faces of his listeners. The previously calm atmosphere turned tense with the weight of his words. "First, to gather as many resources as possible to strengthen the empire. Second, to gather information from every region we explore. And third, perhaps most importantly, to help the oppressed."

His words hung in the air, echoing through their minds. Faces that had been relaxed now turned serious, each realizing the gravity of the responsibilities just placed upon them. The meaningful silence brought them into a collective understanding of the mission that was not only ambitious but also fraught with risks.

The night before, they had gathered to plan until late. After a cup of warm drink, fatigue crept in, and one by one, they drifted off to sleep. But this morning, a new energy filled the air. Nico had woken up early, reviewing the list of necessities he had compiled overnight. As the sun slowly climbed, he gave orders to the servants and soldiers to purchase the required supplies.

In the main hall, the atmosphere was more relaxed. Sana sat comfortably near Nico, enjoying a cup of warm coffee. The freshly brewed aroma blended with the morning air, creating a peaceful atmosphere that contrasted with the tension of their previous discussion.

Nico took a sip of his coffee, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. "Sana," he said teasingly, "I bet you're curious about our business discussion last night. Can you guess what it was about?"

Sana placed her cup down calmly, looking at Nico with a slightly raised eyebrow. She thought for a moment before responding. "I think you..."

Before she could finish, Nico raised his hand to stop her. "Hold on," he grinned challengingly. "Let's make this interesting. How about a bet? If you guess correctly, I'll do all the work today, and you can relax. But if you're wrong, you'll have to work even harder. Deal?"

Sana narrowed her eyes, her face showing a hint of annoyance, but she couldn't hide the challenge in her expression. "Alright," she said with a smirk. "I'm confident I can guess."

Nico gestured for her to continue. "Go ahead."

Sana took a deep breath, carefully formulating her answer. "With everything you did last night—your decision to buy a shop near the market and downtown—I think you'll sell spices, agricultural products, and maybe some clothing."

Nico laughed heartily, ruffling Sana's hair like an older brother teasing his younger sister. "Haha, you lost, Sana! Today, you have to take care of the business permits at the town hall."

Sana sighed, holding back a small smile she couldn't suppress. "So, what kind of business are you actually going to run?"

Nico leaned in, his expression turning serious. "A bank," he answered briefly. "A place for lending money and pawning goods. This will strengthen the empire's finances and help the people with a fairer system."

Sana remained silent for a moment before nodding slightly. "Alright, I'll go to the town hall," she said as she stood up.

"Be careful on the road. Don't forget, we're the Tang family now," Nico reminded her.

After Sana left, Nico returned to the house he had just purchased. The building was old and empty, with dusty floors. Taking a deep breath, he began cleaning the table in the corner of the room.

"Looks like I'll need to build a few more storage rooms," he muttered, staring at the empty space that would soon be filled with grand plans.

Through the window, he watched the bustling street, filled with people carrying goods. A small smile formed on his lips as he imagined the big steps he was about to take. Every second was preparation for a major change, not just for himself, but for the people who pinned their hopes on him.

After hours of arranging items in his new building, Nico let out a deep sigh. The room was starting to feel like home, even though it was still empty and quiet. However, the silence did not bring comfort. Something gnawed at his instincts, as if a shadow of threat lurked behind the walls.