Chapter Six: The First Step Toward Power

The morning air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of damp earth and fading embers from his dying campfire. Raymond sat at the base of an old tree, rolling his shoulder experimentally. The wound from the bandit's cleaver still ached, but it was manageable now—a dull throb rather than the searing pain it had been the day before. His Aether had mended the worst of the damage, leaving behind only a fresh scar.

A scar he welcomed. A reminder.

The world was cruel, and strength was the only thing that mattered. Even now, with the boost the Aether Pill had given him, he was still far from the power he needed. Stage Two wasn't enough.

He needed more. More strength, more resources, and most importantly, people.

Raymond had learned through six past regressions that no matter how powerful he became, surviving alone was a death sentence. He had tried before—isolating himself, training relentlessly, hunting relics in secrecy. And yet, every time, he had been outmaneuvered, betrayed, or overwhelmed by the sheer force of the coming apocalypse.

He couldn't let that happen again.

This time, he would gather people of worth. Allies. Pawns. Pieces on the board that would help him prepare for what was to come.

And to do that, he needed money.

Gold ruled men just as much as steel and Aether did. With enough of it, he could buy equipment, information, and the loyalty of those who could be persuaded.

Luckily, Raymond had something no one else in this world did.

Knowledge of the future.

Raymond set out before the sun had fully risen, heading toward the nearest town—a small but bustling trade hub, one he had visited in a past life. The roads were uneven, and his boots kicked up dust as he walked.

This place would soon be a battlefield, though the people living here had no idea yet.

Within a year, the merchant lords who controlled this region would be overthrown, their coffers looted by an ambitious warlord. Raymond had lived through it before, seen the devastation unfold.

But before that happened, something else would take place—an event far more useful to him now.

A hidden opportunity only someone like him could exploit.

By the time he reached the town's outskirts, the first signs of morning life had begun to stir—smoke curling from chimneys, traders setting up their stalls, the distant murmur of people starting their daily routines.

Raymond ignored the crowd and headed straight toward a small but well-kept estate near the center of town.

This was where he would find the first person he needed.

A man whose talents had been wasted in past regressions.

A man who, if approached correctly, would become a valuable ally.

And if not?

Raymond would take what he needed anyway.

The estate was modest compared to the mansions of the noble families, but the wealth behind it was undeniable. The owner of this house was a moneylender, someone with enough influence to move coin through the shadows of the world.

More importantly, he was not yet bound to any faction.

In past lives, this man had been devoured by the greater powers at play—forced into servitude by warlords, manipulated by merchants, crushed under the boots of nobles.

But what if, this time, Raymond made his move before any of them?

He approached the gates, knocking twice. A moment later, a small slit in the wooden door slid open, revealing a pair of wary eyes.

"We're not open for business," a voice called out, sharp and impatient.

Raymond didn't move. "I'm not here for a loan."

A pause. Then, "Then what do you want?"

Raymond let the silence drag for just a moment, before saying, "I know about the land deal. The one that hasn't happened yet."

The slit closed with a snap.

But the door opened a second later.

The man who stood before Raymond was not what one might expect from a moneylender. He was young, no older than thirty, with a calculating gaze and the lean build of someone who had spent his life walking the fine line between wealth and ruin.

Ethan Hale.

Raymond knew the name well. In a past life, Ethan had been a forgotten player, swallowed by the chaos of war. But before that?

He had been brilliant.

A man who could manipulate the flow of coin like a general moved soldiers. A mind sharp enough to predict market collapses, land grabs, and faction betrayals before they even happened.

A dangerous man, if given the right pieces to play with.

And this time, Raymond would be the one handing them to him.

Ethan studied him for a long moment before stepping aside. "Come in."

Raymond entered, noting the controlled disorder of the room. Papers stacked high on wooden tables, ledgers filled with notes and figures, half-empty glasses of expensive wine. This was a man constantly thinking, constantly working.

Ethan leaned against his desk, arms crossed. "You mentioned a land deal."

Raymond nodded. "It happens in two weeks. A noble house from the north—House Valner—is going to buy out a section of farmland outside the city. The land is being sold at a fraction of its value because the owners believe the soil is failing."

Ethan's expression remained unreadable. "And?"

Raymond's next words sealed the deal.

"They're wrong. The land isn't failing. It's about to become the most valuable farmland in the region."

For the first time, Ethan's eyes sharpened.

"Explain."

Raymond already knew why. The next rainfall would bring minerals from the northern hills, enriching the soil. Within months, the land would yield the most abundant harvest this town had seen in years.

House Valner knew this. That was why they were moving in.

Ethan Hale, however, had never learned this in past lives.

Until now.

Raymond let the silence stretch before delivering his final move.

"You have the funds to outbid House Valner," he said. "And if you do, you'll control the most valuable farmland in this region for the next five years."

Ethan didn't speak immediately. He was a man who weighed risks. Who didn't believe in blind chances.

Raymond could see the thoughts racing behind his eyes.

Finally, the moneylender exhaled, shaking his head.

"You're either the best liar I've ever met," he muttered, "or you know something you shouldn't."

Raymond smiled. "Then let's say I'm both."

A slow chuckle escaped Ethan.

"Alright. You have my attention."

He extended a hand.

Raymond took it.

The first piece was on the board.

And the game had finally begun.