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..."

a 'troubled' look appeared on my face. Glancing

understand your troubles, but the highest I can do is sixteen

frowned in

was merely

fine with fifteen percent. He originally wanted to test the waters to see if he

looks like

a little bit

that it was bad. He was

Is

I shook my head.

"No, there's another condition"

what is

this time frowned for

protect a couple of

I went straight to

"Protect?"

to use your guild resources to protect my parents.

possible security available'. Couldn't be having useless bodyguards

aside, this was my

was prepared to concede one percent for

the moment, she

I needed her.

Matthew still at large, I knew that my parents weren't safe. Even worse, now that the Monolith was also targeting me, I knew that my

crucial, and I

you want the guild to protect your

"Yes"

reply, on the hologram opposite to me,

he purposely baited me, not

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

bad at all. In fact,

protection? that can

I smiled.

got

*

worked

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

you pulled it off, I guess you're

murmured in a soft voice. She was legitimately surprised. She didn't know that I was quite

I was never useless, to begin with', I softly muttered. I didn't say it too loud as I

for me, she didn't

'”Ding!

the first

way, how long do you estimate you'd finish the

bit as she stared

nothing goes wrong by the end of the second year. If there are complications, I'd say beginning or end of the

"I see..."

to be within

I'd say I would still have to wait around a year or two before the card would officially be commercially usable for

solve the efficiency loss problem, the rest was a breeze. Unfortunately for her, I didn't know this, hence why she was on her

thanks to today's deal, Melissa was able to procure

of a bonus that she got to increase the pace

'”Ding!

I quickly got out of the building. Waiting for

it and headed back

that, the negotiations came

...

guild, top floor. Guild

her father's office chair. Before her,

have

"mhm"

father's words, Amanda nodded her

not going to

"No"

She shook her head.

them tomorrow,

can't be there with

brief moment, there was an awkward silence between the

ranked dungeon appearing in one of our areas, we have no choice but to keep guard

understand. I'm used to

face as

I