The idea of having this sum of money was unthinkable to him. As a marketing executive, he was paid $2500 a month pre-tax and he managed to live from month to month with some luxuries in between and the occasional overseas trip to Bali or Batam.

Now, he had an immense fortune, well potentially immense fortune at least. He needed a way to convert everything to this world’s currency.

What are the businesses that he could dabble in?

He had proficiency in pretty much all the life skills, from being a herbalist to construction to crafting and smithing and even animal training.

A shop? But he wouldn't be able to get any business out here and Lawrence was loathed to move from this village now that he had a roof over his head here as well as potential friends here.

Scratching his nose, a thought came to Lawrence. He was always taught to diversify his investments and that money should grow money.

However, there was no index funds, government bonds or S&P 500 stocks that he could put his money in.

Even for his business, he needed capital for it in this world's currency.

That was when he remembered, the herbs that he had, seemed to be extremely precious in this world, especially the Blue Glowing Mushrooms that had Craig treating him like an honoured guest in no time.

Opening his construction interface, he quickly selected an extra-large cellar that cost 1 million gold coins, dividing it into two sections, one where he could forge items and work on carpentry, while another was filled with massive barrels, known as The Ageing Barrel.

With the size of these barrels, Lawrence estimated that he would be able to produce up to 2000 bottles every three months. Even though The Ageing Barrels sped up the process of fermentation, for it to reach the standard of that of a bottle of wine that has been aged for at least 10 years. He had enough health boosting Korin berries that he wasn’t even sure existed in this world that he would try to use for fermentation.

Lawrence had no idea how it would taste, but he knew that this was something he could do and Lawrence’s Fine Wines sound amazing.

As for smithing, Lawrence wanted to try his hand at making a collection of fine swords intended for the use of knights once he finds out what is normally the type of equipment used by knights. He would make maybe 10 with Solingen Steel that he carried in his inventory, decorate it and have them sent free of charge as gifts to knightly orders if he could find them.

Then, hopefully, word of mouth would allow him to be able to outfit just a few select knights and he would be able to live his life comfortably as one of those artisan swordmakers.

Lawrence had long heard of people waiting for an extremely long period of times just to get one of the few living katana smiths to make them an actual katana with the traditional methods compared to mass-produced factory garbage.

Ah… This was shaping out to be a good life indeed. However... He missed his parents.

Lawrence sighed, munching on a bread dry ration that he had taken from his inventory, which tasted very much like a croissant, exceeding his expectations. The only thing that was honestly troubling Lawrence now was his parents’ reaction to seeing their son’s body in a VR machine.

Thinking about the happy times he spent with his family, a single drop of tear fell from Lawrence’s eye but he quickly wiped it away.

Now that he was all alone, he had to be strong. He felt extremely sorry for his family, but he was sure that the life insurance would take good care of them. Not only that, his investments locked away in a trust should be good for them for an extremely long time.

If by some miracle, he would be able to return to his former world, he would do so. Maybe... What if he found someone able to cast the legendary spell, Wish? What if--

As the moonlight set in, the candles and fireplace in the house immediately leapt to life, leaving a surprised but pleased Lawrence.

Should he turn in early for the night? A knock on the door brought his mind that had wandered off back to reality.

Standing up and opening the door, Lawrence saw a beaming Craig.

“The Honourable Lawrence Carstein it seems. You did a… May I just say you did a fantastic job fixing this place up. Where did you get all these furnitures?” Craig asked, popping his head in and taking a look around.

“Ah, come in, please, let me get you something to drink. Tea?” Lawrence said, welcoming the hunter in. He looked weary and he entered the abode gratefully, laying down his bow and quiver of arrows against the wall beside the door.

“That will be lovely, my dear friend!” Craig smiled, sitting down carefully on the rosewood chair, that seemed as if it was carved by a master artisan.

“It is shameful of me, but I carried all of them in my bag of holding.” Lawrence lied, setting down a warm pot of rosemary tea between them and placing a teacup in front of Craig.

“A bag of holding, you say!? You must really be a rich man to afford that, my dear Lawrence!” Craig exclaimed and Lawrence almost breathed out a sigh of relief, at least he did not expect that an item such as a bag of holding existed.

“How are the bandits?” Lawrence asked, pouring the tea for Craig, who thanked him profusely as he drank it. On Lawrence’s interface, he could tell that the temperature was about 21 degrees Celsius. Cooler than what Singapore usually is, a comfortable temperature but a little cold nonetheless.

“This tea… Where did- Ah, the bandits. They fled even further after some encouragement from me, but I highly doubt they will dare attack us again after what you did.” Craig said, holding the cup preciously between his hands, examining the peacock engraved on the teacup.

“Well, I was lucky. Very lucky.” Lawrence replied with a smile, going for a tone as humble as possible.

“Where did you learn to fight like that? The Crusades? Ah, let me guess, the First Glover War?” Craig asked enthusiastically, leaning forward as he asked but Lawrence shook his head.

“I have never killed a live person until today.”

A silence fell over the house, only broken by the crackling of the fireplace.

“Then don’t you know that makes what you did today even more admirable? I best tell my wife and Quenya once I get back. The whole town should know by noon.” Craig grinned, raising his teacup and downing it all at once, helping himself to another piping hot cup.

“Please don’t do that! Anyway, I have something that I would like to ask your honest opinion on, Mr Tumbleton.” Lawrence said, making to stand up and go to the bedroom. He waited there for a moment, before taking out a fistful of Agrimony, a herb in Ever Dawn that was well known for its healing properties. He placed it into a small decorative urn and took it out, placing it on the table.

Sitting back down, he gestured for Craig to open it.

“Is this a rare herb in these parts?” Lawrence asked as Craig held up one of the leaves.

“Ah, very much so!” Craig exclaimed, holding it up, his eyes scrutinizing it as if doubting the leaves’ authenticity.

“When I was in Ludium, ah, the nearest city from here, it was only sold for use among knightly houses and the church, not something that people like you and I had. Well, maybe just me.” Craig grinned, placing the leaf back into the urn.

Lawrence nodded slowly as he contemplated what Craig said.

“Is Ludium under Lord Black as well?”

Craig nodded his head a little before continuing.

“Lord Black’s dominion is well, on paper, smaller than the size of any lord’s dominion. He has Black Bay Village, Ludium and the fortress Everett. They are small, but Ludium is a bustling city full of life, where nobles go to for a holiday as well. It is a shame that Black Bay Village hasn’t benefited much from land…” Craig nodded slowly as if having said something deep and profound.

“Actually when I came here, I noticed something. The ports… Seem to be bigger than what a fishing village actually needs, if they even need one. What is it for?” Lawrence asked, pouring Craig another cup of tea.

“Ah, you are sharp for an outsider!” Craig beamed, Lawrence was unsure whether he was really happy that Lawrence was so sharp or the fact that Lawrence was pouring Craig what he perceived to be good tea so often.

“Well, it’s a story. Someone from around here may be able to tell you more. Well, I came from Goodman’s Hill many leagues from here anyway, just for your information. Apparently… Sirens were the cause of it.”

“Sirens?” Lawrence sat up, blinking several times. Well, it seemed that monsters existed in this world as well, not just unlawful hooligans.