Chapter 57
Chapter 57: If You Don’t Like It, Just Say So. (4)
Hubert looked at the elders. But the elders were stuck in a dilemma, only wearing awkward expressions.
“Damn it, useless fools!”
With no one knowledgeable about business affairs, there was no one to lead such a transaction.
“The young friend has quite a bit of nerve. But a deal doesn’t always go exactly as you wish. You came all this way, and we can trade comfortably, so let’s start with the two times I mentioned earlier. This should suffice…”
Before he could finish speaking, Ghislaine stood up again.
“Goodbye.”
“I said that won’t be enough!”
“Is that so? I must have misunderstood.”
Hubert and the elders exchanged glances, their faces distraught.
Runestones were already expensive, and at three times the price, it would cost a fortune.
Even if the Mage Tower was wealthy, parting with that amount of money all at once would uproot its foundation.
– Someone, say something! Is there no way out?
– What if we try again?
– Isn’t he just insane?
Hubert and the elders communicated through gestures for quite some time.
Ghislaine waited comfortably. After all, the conclusion was pretty much decided, so there was no reason not to show consideration as the winner.
Finally, Hubert sighed with an expression as if he were dying.
“Very well. I’ll agree to buy at three times the price.”
Belinda, Gillian, and Kaor were left speechless in shock.
How could such an outrageous and ruthless deal actually succeed?
But Ghislaine nodded, as if it were the most natural outcome.
“Good. Your timing is excellent.”
“Excellent? Hell…”
Hubert mumbled as he turned his head to hide his grimacing face.
He didn’t want to fall for this young punk’s tricks, but the situation was dire.
The other elders could only lick their lips, unable to speak out against the decision of the Tower Master.
Ghislaine smiled inwardly at the wizards wearing faces like they’d eaten something sour.
‘It’d be better to buy a bit more expensive now, as it’ll only get pricier later. Better than dying of stress, right?’
In just a bit, the price may reach five times what it is now, making it impossible to acquire Runestones.
The Tower of the Bloody Flame would join hands with most merchant groups to cut off the distribution entirely.
Hubert would later learn this fact and succumb to stress.
‘Well, at least I managed to gather enough money.’
Ghislaine, who knew more about the Tower’s situation and its future than the Tower itself, would not let this opportunity slip by.
For Ghislaine, these were reasonably generous conditions.
“I’ll prepare the money immediately. The Runestones you’ve brought will all be purchased by the Tower of the Bloody Flame. Please wait here for a moment.”
Hubert was visibly eager to pay quickly and get Ghislaine and his party out of sight.
But Ghislaine’s conditions didn’t end there.
“I haven’t stated all my conditions yet.”
“What?”
Hubert’s eyes widened.
The seller had named a price, and the buyer agreed. It was a matter of just exchanging the money, so what else was left?
Ghislaine whispered in a subtle tone.
“Additionally, please dispatch ten mages to the Perdium Territory. The duration is one year.”
“Mages?”
“Yes, they must be at least 3rd Circle Masters.”
Territories without an Exclusive Mage often request mages from the Mage Tower.
In return, the Tower demands a hefty sum.
Though it wouldn’t be as much as selling magical tools or scrolls, sending mages was still one of the Tower’s major income sources.
“How much will it cost? Our mages are quite expensive.”
Hubert’s eyes sparkled with the hope of reclaiming the money he just lost.
He aimed to charge the nobles, who had audaciously haggled when the price for Runestones was already set, even more than that.
But Ghislaine was much tougher than Hubert imagined.
“Oh, it seems there’s been a misunderstanding. The price of the Runestones is three times the market rate, including the dispatched mages. Hahaha.”
“What? This crazy bastard…”
Hubert’s face turned beet red as he clutched his neck and staggered.
“Tower Master! This guy seems to truly underestimate us!”
“It’s completely unforgivable!”
“This is nothing short of an insult!”
The elders, too, raised their voices, veins popping in their necks.
In the tense atmosphere, Gillian quietly reached for the sword at his waist.
He looked nothing like Kaor or Belinda, who merely watched with interest and shot glances at Ghislaine.
If Ghislaine were attacked, he was ready to respond immediately.
Regardless of what the others thought, Ghislaine recited his terms once more.
“Three times the market rate, plus the dispatch of ten mages who are at least 3rd Circle Masters. These are the conditions I want.”
“How dare you say such things here! Asking for mages as a bonus? I’ve never seen such a deal in my life!”
“You’re quite the strange one. If you dislike it so much, just back off.”
Ghislaine stood up again.
“I came here thinking I was being considerate, but it’s rather disappointing. It can’t be helped. I wonder if the Tower of Infamy would dispatch them instead.”
Hubert was so furious he nearly shed tears.
But right now, he had no choice but to endure. He rushed forward, blocking Ghislaine’s path.
“Hey! Young man, why are you so impatient! You should listen to the end! It’s just that I’ve never seen such a deal, that’s all! It can happen in the future!”
“I seem to have misunderstood again. I can be a bit hasty.”
Ghislaine chuckled and elegantly crossed his legs as he sat down again.
‘There’s no way to win if we can’t communicate.’
Hubert swallowed back tears inside.
Normally, people try hard to make a good impression on them. Yet this arrogant punk acted as if the Mage Tower and everything else were irrelevant.
‘Is he really insane? He’s surely someone who only lives for today. If only Runestones weren’t in short supply, I would have burned him alive!’
But he couldn’t simply send him away for the sake of pride.
‘If that many Runestones get into the Tower of Infamy, the gap will widen even more.’
That was something that absolutely must not happen, no matter the cost.
“W-well. Ten 3rd Circle mages… Are you planning some sort of massive construction in your territory? Or maybe creating a new barrier?”
“No. I need combat mages.”
“What?”
Hubert’s brows furrowed slightly.
When mages participate in combat, they receive more money as risk compensation. But right now, they would have to provide them all for free.
“Are you planning to go monster hunting?”
Checking, Ghislaine shook his head.
“I need mages for war, specifically for the territorial wars.”
Hubert’s expression hardened.
The elders, too, glared at Ghislaine with menacing eyes.
“What do you mean by that!”
Mages affiliated with the Tower cannot participate in disputes between territories. It was a law set in place.
If such a powerful organization as the Mage Tower took sides with a specific territory, it could lead to the entire nation being dominated by the Tower, hence the established law.
If they were caught violating this law, both the mage and the Tower they belong to would face severe punishments.
“Mages belonging to the Tower cannot participate in territorial wars. Do you really not know that, despite being a noble?”
Only free mages who research on their own or roam the world can engage in territorial wars.
“Surely you don’t think you can kick the mages out of the Tower, fight a war, and call them back afterward?”
Indeed, some nobles had tried such tricks. When the truth was revealed, one Tower was completely buried within the kingdom.
Ghislaine casually nodded.
“Well, something of that sort. I hope you can keep your identity thoroughly hidden while participating. Please ensure you’re not caught. You’ll have to act as if you belong to our territory.”
There must have been such cases in history. But trusting this rookie to attempt anything like that was far too risky.
The Runestone deal was something the Tower was in desperate need of, so they could agree to buy it at a high price.
But asking for this crossed the line.
“How dare you…”
Hubert gathered his magic.
“You don’t think you’ll make such a reckless statement and leave this place unharmed, do you?”
The entire room began to tremble with his tremendous magic.
The elders also began to draw up their magic, pressuring Ghislaine.
“You must be taught a lesson to come to your senses.”
“Do you see us as a joke for fulfilling every demand?”
“I’ll show you what happens when you offend the pride of mages.”
The justification was ample enough. Ghislaine had initiated this dangerous declaration.
As the atmosphere turned menacing, Belinda and Kaor also readied their weapons.
Their opponents were none other than 6th and 5th Circle mages.
None of them could easily win even if they all charged at once.
Gillian prepared to leap forward.
‘If it comes to it, I’ll simply have to block it with my body.’
He intended to protect Ghislaine, even at the cost of his life.
On the other hand, Kaor wore an expression of thrill, an eerie smile creeping onto his face.
‘First, I’ll take care of that guy.’
He slowly lowered his stance, focusing on Hubert.
With everyone’s attention on Ghislaine, he planned to strike as soon as Hubert unleashed his magic, aiming for a quick kill.
Once Hubert was out of the way, dealing with the rest of the elders would be much easier.
‘Our eccentric employer has some real skills, so he should manage. If he dies… well, it can’t be helped. I’ll at least write “fool” on his tombstone.’
Meanwhile, Belinda kept glancing at Ghislaine while stealing glances behind her.
‘I have to use Kaor as a shield and sneak the Young Master away to escape. I can’t survive this, really! Young Master! You’re picking the wrong fights! Just be reasonable for once!’
She subtly moved behind Kaor.
‘Hmm, I should kick hard enough. That way, it’ll right drop in front of the Tower Master.’
Kaor was too focused on Hubert to notice Belinda had repositioned herself behind him.
In this extremely tense situation, Ghislaine’s voice cleverly disrupted their rhythm.
“Are you sure you won’t regret this?”
“What?”
With a swagger that was crazy even for him.
“I’ve discovered a resource site for Runestones in the territory. There are way more Runestones than the ones I’ve brought. Quite a lot, indeed. Hehe.”
At his shocking words, Hubert and the elders forgot their magic, stunned.
“There’s at least ten times what we’ve brought this time. How… could you not need them? Next time, I’d be willing to sell them at market price.”
Ghislaine wiggled three fingers. Hubert could no longer hold himself back.
‘How dare he insult me with something like Runestones!’
…But the quantity was just too much to scoff at.
While he was dumbfounded, the demon’s whisper continued.
“After that, I can continue providing Runestones at a steady rate. Depending on our contract terms, it could be supplied solely to this Tower of the Bloody Flame, not to the Tower of Infamy. Have you heard of a non-compete contract?”
What a tempting offer this was. The mages forgot their pride and started to drool.
“What a sly snake you are!”
“How dare you… with that devilish tongue…”
Yet even as they verbally denied, their hostility had lessened.
“If we can securely receive a steady supply of Runestones, then it will only be a matter of time before the Tower of the Bloody Flame becomes the premier Mage Tower in the North. No, perhaps not just the North, but the finest in the entire kingdom?”
Receiving a steady supply of Runestones was precisely what these mages dreamt of.
Moreover, Ghislaine had poked at their desires and insecurities.
The already subdued mages found it hard to kindle their anger once more.
Exactly as Ghislaine intended.
“Oh no, it seems my proposal doesn’t sit well with you. Then I guess I’ll have to go see another Tower.”
“Hey! Why is this young man so impatient? Who’s saying no?”
Once again, Ghislaine tried to stand, but Hubert shot him a gloomy look.
“Weren’t you just trying to intimidate me with magic because you’re not pleased? I’m not sure my heart can handle that.”
‘What a load of nonsense. He’s acting like he has a Dragon Heart or something!’
While Hubert mentally cursed Ghislaine, he widened his eyes and forced a fake mask of sincerity.
“That was merely… my way of checking if you’re someone we can work with. Isn’t that right? You all should speak up too.”
The moment he directed his gaze at the elders, they quickly agreed, snapping out of their daze.
“W-well, yes. We were just seeing if you’re a trustworthy person.”
“To not falter under our magic and to hold your ground, you truly are a person of great caliber.”
“This young friend is quite skilled at negotiation.”
Ghislaine, with a beaming smile, surveyed the awkwardly laughing elders.
“So, am I qualified enough?”
Hubert hesitated for a moment before responding with a dejected shake of his head.
“Alright, please tell me more about the territorial war…”
Somehow, it felt like he was handing over the entire Tower of the Bloody Flame to the grip of a devil.
