Lord of the Time: I Can Reincarnate Infinitely

Chapter 539 539: I'm Just a Blacksmith

After a heartfelt farewell with his teammates, Caleb made his way back to the inn where he had been staying. The adventure had been taxing but rewarding, and he was looking forward to a good night's rest in his familiar room. However, as he stepped through the door of the inn, he was met with unexpected news.

The innkeeper, a man with a knack for business rather than hospitality, approached Caleb with a tight smile. "Ah, Mr. George, I was hoping to catch you. There's been a bit of a situation with your room," he started, his tone overly casual.

Caleb raised an eyebrow, sensing where this might be going. "Oh? What sort of situation?"

"Well, you see, someone has offered to pay quite a bit more for the room you're currently in. It's just business, you understand," the innkeeper explained, his smile fixed.

Caleb, still wearing his travel-worn cloak, straightened up. He wasn't in the mood to be pushed out of his lodging, especially not after such a long mission. "I see. And if I were to offer a better price, would you still consider this person's offer?"

The innkeeper's eyes lit up with the mention of a higher offer, and he leaned in slightly. "Certainly, Mr. George. If you can match their price, I'd have no reason to favor the new guest."

The negotiation was on. Caleb, fresh from his successful negotiation at the guild, was well-prepared for another round. "What if I offered you not just a matched price, but a small advance on the next few nights? Stability in your bookings is valuable, isn't it?" he countered smoothly, knowing that innkeepers valued guaranteed occupancy.

The innkeeper hesitated, clearly tempted by the security of Caleb's offer but still thinking about the higher price from the other guest. "Well, that's a compelling offer, Mr. George, but—" Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire

The innkeeper mulled over Caleb's analogy, clearly struggling with the decision. Caleb, seeing an opportunity to close the conversation in his favor, leaned in and lowered his voice, adding a final strategic push. "And remember, I have connections with various merchants and traders who frequent your inn based on my recommendations. It would be a shame if they were to look elsewhere due to sudden changes in management's approach to loyalty and fairness."

This last point seemed to hit a nerve. The innkeeper's face paled slightly, the realization of the potential fallout dawning on him. He opened his mouth to respond, his usual composure slipping, showing a hint of nervousness that had not been there before.

In the face of Caleb's calculated arguments and subtle threats regarding the broader impact on the inn's reputation and business relationships, the innkeeper finally relented. His face conveyed a mixture of frustration and resignation as he nodded slowly. "Alright, Mr. George, you can keep your room. The terms will remain as they were."

As the tension in the air began to dissipate, Caleb's curiosity got the better of him. Leaning slightly across the counter with an intensity that belied his usual calm demeanor, he asked, "Just out of curiosity, who was it that wanted to take over my room? Must be someone quite influential to prompt such a shift in policy."

The innkeeper's demeanor stiffened immediately, and he hesitated, a clear sign that the person in question was indeed a significant figure. After a moment of uncomfortable silence, he merely shook his head, choosing his words carefully. "I'm afraid I can't disclose our guests' private information. It's a matter of confidentiality, you understand."

The hint of killing intent in Caleb's voice hadn't gone unnoticed, and it added an unspoken weight to the conversation. Realizing he wouldn't get more information, Caleb nodded, letting the matter drop for the moment. He turned and made his way to his room, his mind buzzing with unanswered questions.

Once inside his room, Caleb began a meticulous inspection, checking every nook and cranny—from the seemingly innocent fixtures to the shadows cast by the afternoon light through the window. He was looking for anything out of place, any sign of why someone would specifically want his room when it was already occupied. His search, however, turned up nothing unusual. The room was exactly as he had left it, with no hidden devices, no unusual marks, or any disturbances.

This absence of any tangible reason only deepened his confusion. "Did I offend someone unknowingly?" he pondered aloud, though he quickly dismissed the thought. After all, he was just a blacksmith, albeit one with a recent history of significant involvement in adventurers' affairs. Could his actions during the mission have inadvertently made him a target or piqued someone's interest?

These thoughts swirled in his mind as he settled down for the evening. The lack of clarity was unsettling, but for now, there seemed to be no immediate threat. "Surely not," he concluded softly, trying to reassure himself. "After all, I'm just a blacksmith."