Rei Valen was a man of simple goals.
Avoid attention.
Sell herbs.
Drink tea.
Don't get stabbed.
He was not, by any means, someone who wanted to start a business empire.
Unfortunately, the universe had other plans. And most of them began with Fluff.
---
The Day After the Tournament
The sun had barely risen over Orenth when Rei unlocked the wooden shutters of his herb stall.
There were already twelve people waiting outside.
Nobles in silk robes. Merchants in travel gear. A few adventurers pretending not to look excited.
One of them—an old man with a long mustache—stepped forward eagerly.
"Are you the Beast Whisperer?"
Rei blinked. "I'm an herb vendor."
"But the bunny—"
"Likes naps. That'll be three copper for a tea pouch."
"But I need advice on calming my flame wyrm. It's started chewing buildings."
"Have you tried talking to it nicely?"
"It set my house on fire."
Rei sighed. "Then maybe try moving."
The man left, unsatisfied. Another customer came forward with a scroll.
"I want to invest in your beast-training franchise."
"I don't have a franchise."
"Yet. But you will."
"No."
"I've already designed your logo. Look—" He unrolled the scroll to reveal a poorly drawn bunny sitting on a throne of gold coins, wearing sunglasses.
At the top, in bold red ink:
> FLUFF CO. – MASTER OF BEASTS, HERBS, AND BUSINESS
Rei stared at the image. Then at Fluff, who had fallen asleep on the counter with a stalk of mint in his mouth.
"...That's actually pretty good."
---
Later – Inside the Back Room
Rei held the parchment in one hand, the investment contract in the other, and a headache in between.
Kreg stood nearby, holding a giant sack of silver like it was a newborn. "You're telling me someone just gave you 200 silver to start a business you don't even want?"
"I said no," Rei muttered.
"Then why are you holding the money?"
"I forgot to give it back."
Kreg tilted his head. "So what now?"
Ellyn, bouncing on a barrel, grinned. "Now we make it official. 'Fluff Co.' sounds amazing."
"It sounds like a laundry detergent."
She handed him a form stamped with the Orenth Merchant Guild seal.
"You can register any business type, so I wrote you down as a 'Tamer Resource & Consultation Guild.'"
"You forged documents?"
"No! I just pre-filled your name, your pet, your seal, and your intended monthly revenue projection."
"That's literally everything."
"Also you signed it."
"I did not—!"
"You were half-asleep. I said it was a snack order."
Rei groaned and dropped his face into his hands.
Fluff, from his perch, released a sleepy brrrffft that made a shelf wobble.
---
Hours Later – At the Merchant Guild Registry
The clerk looked down at the form, then up at Rei.
"So let me get this straight… You want to open a guild called 'Fluff Co.'… that sells beast-related goods… and offers training services... and doesn't have any actual trainers except a rabbit?"
"Yes," Rei said tiredly.
"Approved," the clerk replied immediately, stamping the paper. "We've had worse."
Rei stared. "You didn't even check my references."
"Sir, we registered a traveling goose last week."
---
And Just Like That… Fluff Co. Was Born
It started as a joke.
Rei listed a few herbs for sale and posted a sign:
> "Fluff Co. – Beast Supplies & No Nonsense Taming Advice. Walk-ins Welcome. Weirdos Will Be Ignored."
But within three days:
They were selling out of tonic mixtures by noon.
Ellyn had organized a customer punch card system ("10 consultations and Fluff might blink at you!").
Kreg accidentally recruited two low-level tamers who mistook him for a hiring officer.
Someone mailed them a hand-carved statue of Fluff.
Rei wanted to scream. But screaming was loud. And loud brought attention.
So instead, he went back to sipping tea and pretending none of it was happening.
---
Trouble Arrives, Again
A week later, a man in dark robes walked into Fluff Co. He had the kind of face that belonged to someone who said "you'll regret this" at the start of every fight and lost anyway.
Rei looked up from his ledger. "Welcome to Fluff Co. Are you here for advice, potions, or soul-crushing disappointment?"
The man sneered. "I am Varlen of the Crimson Chain, an official recruiter for the Royal Tamer's Authority."
Ellyn, at the counter, whispered, "Why do evil guys always announce their full name and employer?"
"Compensation," Rei said.
Varlen stepped forward. "We've been watching you. Your… beast… does not behave like anything registered in the tamer archives."
"That's because he's a rabbit."
"He stares and things faint."
"Some people just have intense eye contact."
"The Guild believes he may be a sealed creature of ancient origin."
"Everyone keeps saying that."
"Because it's true!"
Rei leaned forward. "Look, do you want herbs or are you here to kidnap me?"
Varlen pulled out a glowing red binding scroll.
"By royal decree, I am authorized to test the nature of your beast. If you resist—"
Rei held up a finger. "Fluff."
The bunny, still half-asleep, opened one eye and blinked.
Varlen's scroll burst into flames.
He dropped it and shrieked like a startled chicken.
Behind him, his shadow warped and twisted in terror.
Varlen fled the shop, tripping over a broom and sobbing.
Rei calmly blew out the candle on the counter.
"That," he said, "was my last nerve."
---
Later That Night – Emergency Staff Meeting
The staff of Fluff Co. gathered in the back room:
Rei, exhausted and deeply regretful.
Ellyn, proud and sketching new merch designs.
Kreg, eating a meat pie.
Fluff, asleep on a pillow made of donation letters.
Rei set down a small chalkboard with three words written on it:
> Keep. It. Small.
"From now on," he said, "no more expansions. No banners. No guild branches. No heroic sponsorships. We stay tiny. Anonymous. Invisible."
Ellyn raised her hand. "What about the royal banquet invitation?"
"Shred it."
Kreg held up a box. "We also got fifty crates of Fluff-shaped stress dolls."
Rei opened one, stared at the beady black eyes, and groaned.
"I'm living in a nightmare."
Ellyn grinned. "You're living the dream, boss. You're building an empire."
Fluff rolled over.
A spark of divine energy rippled through the floorboards.
Rei ignored it.
"I'm going to bed. Wake me if we get assassinated."
"What should we do if it's just a spy?"
"Tell them we sell hats."