"We’re here for the Guildmaster," Hollen said calmly.

The receptionist nodded immediately.

"He’s expecting you."

That alone already revealed something important.

Laurent anticipated their arrival personally.

Actually, even the process moved faster now.

No waiting.

No written request.

No questioning.

The receptionist quickly guided them upstairs once more while several nearby clerks glanced curiously toward Ernest.

Word probably spread internally already.

A child inventor proposing industrial manufacturing naturally attracted attention inside a commerce-focused institution.

As they walked through the quieter upper floors again, Ernest noticed something else too.

People stared less dismissively now.

Before, the looks carried skepticism.

Curiosity.

Confusion.

Now?

The expressions looked more cautious.

Like the guild employees heard something.

Probably from Laurent himself.

Eventually they arrived before the Guildmaster’s office once again.

The guards opened the doors almost immediately this time.

And the moment Ernest entered the office...

He immediately noticed the difference.

Laurent looked genuinely enthusiastic.

Not outwardly emotional obviously.

The man still carried himself like a composed executive.

But compared to before?

The difference was obvious.

The Guildmaster sat straighter behind his desk while several soap bars rested near his documents already.

Used soap bars.

Actually used.

Interesting.

Laurent gestured toward the chairs immediately.

"Sit."

Even Hollen raised one brow slightly afterward.

Because apparently the Guildmaster’s mood improved dramatically.

As Ernest and Hollen sat down across the desk, Laurent picked up one of the lavender soap bars casually.

Then unexpectedly...

A small smile appeared on the older man’s face.

"I must admit..."

He rotated the soap slightly between his fingers.

"...this product impressed me."

There it was.

Validation.

Real validation.

Actually, Ernest already suspected the soap would succeed once properly tested.

Still, hearing it directly from the Guildmaster of Helmarte’s Merchant Guild felt satisfying.

Very satisfying.

Hollen leaned slightly forward afterward.

"And the experience?"

Laurent let out a quiet breath before answering.

"At first, I thought it was exaggerated merchant enthusiasm."

The Guildmaster glanced toward Ernest briefly afterward.

"But after using it for several days..."

He slowly placed the soap back onto the desk.

"...the difference became obvious."

Laurent leaned back slightly in his chair afterward.

"I bathe every single day already."

Then his eyes narrowed slightly.

"As expected of someone in my position."

Fair.

A wealthy guildmaster obviously possessed far better hygiene access compared to ordinary laborers.

Still, Laurent continued.

"But despite daily bathing, there is always lingering odor."

Actually, Ernest understood exactly what he meant.

Water alone removed surface dirt.

Not oils.

Not sweat residue.

Not strong body odor buildup.

Especially in a medieval world where people constantly walked, worked, rode horses, and lived near smoke and poor sanitation.

Then Laurent suddenly lifted one hand slightly.

"After using the soap..."

He paused briefly.

"...my skin genuinely felt cleaner."

That statement immediately interested Hollen.

"Cleaner?"

"Yes."

The Guildmaster’s tone became more analytical afterward.

"Not merely washed."

Then he looked directly toward Ernest.

"The grease-like feeling disappears completely."

Exactly.

Soap chemically bonded with oils and dirt.

Even if Laurent did not understand the chemistry itself, he experienced the effect directly.

Laurent continued calmly.

"And the scent remains subtle afterward instead of overpowering."

That part clearly mattered to him too.

Actually, Ernest intentionally designed the fragrance balance carefully.

Too weak and customers noticed nothing.

Too strong and it became unpleasant.

Especially among wealthy customers.

Then unexpectedly, Laurent let out a short laugh.

"My wife confiscated two bars already."

Even Hollen chuckled slightly hearing that.

Interesting.

The exact same thing happened among forge workers.

Women especially seemed to react strongly toward the scented variants.

Potential household market confirmed further.

Laurent crossed his arms afterward while observing Ernest carefully again.

"I must credit this boy for this good invention. It would be a shame if I allow such a product to disappear into obscurity. I am going to give you the permits to trade this soap in this country."

Ernest slowly looked toward Hollen afterward.

Meanwhile Hollen stared back at him for several seconds.

Actually, the forge owner still looked slightly stunned.

Probably because even he did not expect the Guildmaster to approve things this quickly.

Then suddenly, Hollen grinned.

A real grin.

Not the small amused smirk he usually gave.

An actual satisfied grin.

"Well kid..."

The forge owner slowly held his hand up sideways toward Ernest.

"...looks like we just became business partners."

"Yes sir, it’s time to make that manufacturing soap plant."

When Ernest and Hollen finally left the Merchant Guild headquarters later that afternoon, the atmosphere between them felt completely different now.

Not employer and assistant.

Not forge owner and laborer’s son.

Business partners.

Actual business partners.

Even while walking through the crowded business district again, Hollen occasionally glanced toward the leather satchel carrying the official permits inside.

Guild-approved.

Stamped.

Recognized.

Legal.

Ernest still found the entire situation surreal internally.

Several months ago, he was nearly collapsing from exhaustion pumping bellows inside the forge.

Now?

He possessed official authorization to establish a manufacturing business in the capital city of an entire kingdom.

Life moved fast.

Very fast.

"Tomorrow, I’ll begin contacting builders and river surveyors," Hollen said while walking beside him.

"We’ll also need suppliers."

"Animal fat suppliers especially," Ernest immediately added.

Hollen nodded.

"Large quantities too."

Actually, once production scaled upward, raw material supply would become critical.

Soap manufacturing consumed enormous amounts of fat and ash.

A factory producing thousands of bars monthly could not rely on random market purchases anymore.

They needed contracts.

Stable supply chains.

Predictable delivery schedules.

Ernest already planned for that.

Then Hollen suddenly smirked slightly.

"You realize you’re now officially a registered merchant?"

"Yes I do, and this is just the beginning sir," Ernest said. "I plan to make a business so huge it could rival an empire."

Hollen chuckled. "Well, so long that I am the primary investor, and I earn a huge amount of money, I can support that. I wonder what products you have in mind? Surely, you won’t just build your legacy through making soaps? Eventually, competitors will rise and then compete with you."

Hollen was right, in a world where there’s not even a patent protection, anyone could steal his product. But so long they don’t know the exact formulation and chemistry of the soap, he has the advantage.

And what’s more, he is not stopping from soap. He’d build his industrial empire here in Helmarte from soaps to heavy industries.

"I’ll tell you when I have one in mind," Ernest simply replied.