Chapter 427: New Plans for Esta Seven million dollars per month meant eighty-four million annually in passive income alone, not counting the one-time cash infusion of one hundred eighty million. Combined with his existing shop revenue from the interdimensional business, Noah would be operating with financial resources that exceeded most small nations’ budgets. More importantly, this income was completely Earth-based and legitimate from a legal perspective. It provided cover for his other wealth sources and gave him influence in normal society that magical power alone couldn’t achieve. "Acceptable," Noah said simply, as if he’d just agreed to a minor business arrangement rather than acquiring nearly a billion dollars in assets. "I want detailed documentation of all holdings, account access credentials, and legal transfer papers signed by your attorneys within the timeframe you specified." Jake nodded quickly. "Of course, of course. Everything will be prepared properly. My legal team will work through the night if necessary." He hesitated, then asked carefully. "May I... may I know what you intend to do with the family’s remaining ten percent? We’ll need some resources to maintain basic operations and—" "That’s your concern, not mine," Noah interrupted flatly. "You keep ten percent to do with as you wish. Whether that’s enough to maintain your lifestyle or forces you to downsize is your problem to solve." The message was clear: Noah didn’t care about their comfort or status. They would survive with ten percent or they wouldn’t. Either way, it wasn’t his responsibility. Sand, still leaning against the wall recovering from his injuries, felt a strange mixture of relief and resignation. They’d lost almost everything, but they were alive. And perhaps, if they proved useful enough to Noah in the future, there might be opportunities to rebuild under his protection. Jake seemed to reach a similar conclusion. "Understood. We’ll make it work with what remains." "Good," Noah said, turning toward the door. "I expect the first documentation delivered to this address within twelve hours." He pulled out his phone and sent Jake contact information. "The full cash transfer and remaining legal papers within twenty-four hours as agreed. If there are delays or attempts to hide assets, I will return. And next time, I won’t be offering partnerships." The threat hung in the air like the ghost of the fire Noah had conjured moments ago. "There won’t be any delays," Jake promised fervently. "You have my word as head of this family." Noah nodded once and walked out of the ruined study without another word, leaving father and son to contemplate how drastically their lives had just changed. As Noah drove away in his GTR, he allowed himself a small smile. Today had been remarkably productive. His family was protected with magical amulets. Master Tanaka had been avenged and given healing. And Noah had just acquired nearly a billion dollars in assets plus seven million monthly in passive income. ’Not bad for a day’s work.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​’ Returning back home, Noah took a long shower and washed up thoroughly. The hot water helped ease the tension from the day’s confrontations, washing off his thoughts down the drain. Initially, he’d wanted to simply rest after everything that had been happening in Esta—the hunting expedition, the grandmaster Manticore fight, the extensive business negotiations with nobles, and the barter transactions that had netted him valuable treasures. But with the day just starting on Earth, between visiting his aunt’s family, the situation at Master Tanaka’s dojo, and then dealing with Sand and his father, that planned rest had been continuously delayed. Noah glanced at the clock as he dried off the water from his body. It was still relatively early afternoon, with the sun still high in the sky. His body didn’t particularly need sleep given his enhanced vitality attribute, but his mind could benefit from some genuine downtime to reset. He still found joy in doing the mundane things that he used to do as a normal human. ’No matter how strong I get, sleep will always be on my checklist.’ He decided to sleep for a few hours anyway. This way, when he did return to Esta, the time differential would work in his favor. Enough hours would have passed there for most items to be back at full stock, and King Aldric would have had sufficient time to complete the required bureaucratic procedures to start the wholesale distribution of enhancement items. As Noah settled into bed, his mind was already working through updated business plans based on his new financial situation. With the massive wealth acquisition from Sand’s family—nearly nine hundred million in total assets plus seven million monthly passive income—Noah’s strategic position had fundamentally changed. He no longer needed to maximize every transaction for pure profit. He could afford to be more generous with pricing, which would paradoxically increase his influence and market penetration whilst also leveling up his auto makers. He had decided to lower prices significantly for most items sold within Esta itself. Cutting prices roughly in half would make his products accessible to a much broader customer base—minor nobles who currently struggled to afford even basic tier-1 items, wealthy merchants who could now purchase in larger quantities, and middle-class practitioners who had been completely priced out of the market. The reduced margins wouldn’t matter financially. Seven million dollars monthly from Earth plus his existing shop revenue already provided more money than he could realistically spend. What mattered now was building goodwill, expanding his customer base, and establishing himself as an indispensable resource to Esta’s entire society rather than just the wealthy elite. For items sold to other continents and kingdoms, however, the plan would remain unchanged. Those distant markets would pay original prices, with the added option of monthly payment installment plans that King Aldric was arranging. Distance and scarcity justified premium pricing in those regions, and the installment system would still make products accessible while generating sustained revenue streams. The two-tier pricing strategy made strategic sense. Esta would become his showcase kingdom—a place where his generosity and fair pricing built unshakeable loyalty and demonstrated the transformative effects of his products. Other kingdoms seeing Esta’s rapid advancement would be willing to pay premium prices to access the same advantages. It was a long-term approach focused on influence rather than immediate profit maximization. And with his Earth-based passive income securing his financial foundation, Noah could afford to play the long game. ’Lower prices in Esta to build loyalty and market saturation,’ Noah thought as sleep began pulling at his consciousness. ’Premium prices elsewhere to maintain profit margins and perceived value. Monthly payment plans everywhere to expand accessibility and create sustained customer relationships.’ ’The Elemental Sword restoration can wait a few days. The mithril ingots and Stormglass Orb aren’t going anywhere. First priority is implementing the new pricing structure and wholesale partnership with Aldric.’ 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞 His thoughts gradually became less coherent as genuine sleep overtook him despite his enhanced attributes. Even master-rank practitioners benefited from proper rest, especially after the kind of day Noah had experienced. He slept deeply and dreamlessly for the next four hours, his body using the downtime to fully integrate the recent experiences and prepare for whatever challenges awaited in Esta. When he woke in the early evening, refreshed and mentally reset, Noah would return to the magical kingdom and begin implementing the next phase of his expanding influence. But for now, he simply rested. The business empire could wait a few hours.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​