The Author's POV

Fifth floor, demon hunter guild. Inside an office space.

'”Tap! '”Tap!

The rhythmical tapping sound of my fingers echoed across the office space.

Opposite to me was Edward Stern's holographic image. Neither one of us spoke.

"What you proposed is 15% on all profits with no shares, am I correct?"

He was the first to break the silence.

"Mhm, that's my initial proposal"

I nodded my head in confirmation.

"Isn't that a bit too low?"

"I believe fifteen percent is extremely fair. Given that we're just borrowing your name for protection"

Throughout the exchange, neither mine nor Edward's expression changed.

To be a good negotiator one needed to be a good actor. That was what I had learned throughout my life.

If the other party knew about what you were aiming for, things became much easier for them.

Only through deception and indifference could one make a great negotiator.

"That's true, but we'd also be the ones facing the backlash from this situation"

Edward Stern calmly rebutted.

"What might you be referring to?"

Hearing his response, my brows knit for a split second. I then proceeded to feign ignorance. The slight twitch in my brows did not go unnoticed. Edward caught that.

Whether he thought I was acting or not, I did not know.

"Let's not play dumb. We can all tell the potential of this magic card system of yours. However, despite its perks, it also comes with its downsides"

"Like?"

"...Like for example making an enemy of all lower-tiered mages"

"Wouldn't the money you make up for the hate you accumulate?"

I quickly rebutted.

With enough money, what did it matter if the lower-ranked mages left? They could easily replace them.

"We are a guild. We can't just screw over our own members like that. Plus, we also need to talk long-term, what if a competitor pops up on the market? Or what if the cards don't function as well as you presented them to be..."

Edward Stern shook his head at my response. With no emotions on my face, I calmly nodded my head.

"Yes, but I've also offered a discount just for your guild members on all magic cards. Even if you're hated by the lower-tiered mages, you'd make up for it with the cheaper prices for the cards"

"What's the discount? selling at market price?"

In a pinching motion, a small gap appeared between my thumb and index finger.

"Just a tad bit above market price. You know that's already fair. Given the high demand coming from you guys, if we go market price we might make a loss since you'd be taking most of the production"

Edward Stern shook his head.

"That's not good enough. Raise the profit to seventeen percent and we've got a deal"

"Seventeen percent?"

I instantly shook my head.

"No, that's too much"

"I believe it's fair given all the backlash we will receive from this deal."

Adjusting the hologram angle, Edward Stern proceeded to explain.

"Despite being ranked number one amongst the other guilds, if we suddenly come up with such a revolutionary product, the other diamond-graded guilds won't hesitate to band together to stop us. You of all people should know how the world works. Everyone is full of jealousy. Once we cement ourselves as the number one guild, I don't doubt that the other diamond-graded guilds would sit still and do nothing..."

appeared on my face. Glancing at Edward Stern for a short moment, I massaged my

understand your troubles, but the highest I can do

frowned in

was merely

percent. He originally wanted

like

bit

that it was bad. He was sixteen

Is

I shook my head.

"No, there's another condition"

condition, what

time frowned for real.

to protect a

pause, I went straight to the

"Protect?"

you to use your guild resources to protect my parents. 24/7,

emphasize the words 'best possible security

aside, this was my main

prepared to concede one percent for

being with my parents at the moment, she

I needed her.

worse, now that

deal was crucial, and I knew

the guild to

"Yes"

on the hologram opposite to me, Edward Stern

he purposely baited me, not

him to ask for more profit. It seems like the flow of

at all. In fact, he was

plus protection? that can

I smiled.

got a

*

worked

agreement on the terms of the deal, Melissa and I got out

you pulled it off, I guess you're

voice. She was legitimately surprised. She didn't know

with', I softly muttered. I didn't say it too loud as I wasn't

for me, she

'”Ding!

led to the first floor. Suddenly, a thought struck me. I quickly turned to

long do you estimate you'd finish

bit

the second year. If there are complications,

"I see..."

seemed to be within

improvement, I'd say I would still have to wait around a year or two

problem, the rest was a breeze. Unfortunately

to procure enough funds to push the

that she got to increase the pace of the

'”Ding!

got out of the building. Waiting for us

and headed back

that, the negotiations came

...

top floor. Guild

father's office chair.

sure have

"mhm"

her father's words, Amanda nodded her head slightly.

you not going to say goodbye to

"No"

She shook her head.

would meet them tomorrow, there was no

I can't be there with

Amanda's reply, for a brief moment, there was an awkward silence between the two. In response, Edward

S ranked dungeon appearing in one of our areas, we

I understand. I'm used to

appeared on Edward's face

only I had