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..."

'troubled' look appeared on my face. Glancing at Edward Stern for a short

but the highest I can

Stern frowned in

merely

percent. He originally wanted to test the waters to see if he could increase

looks like he

a little bit wet

bad. He was

percent? Is that

I shook my head.

"No, there's another condition"

what is

this time frowned for real. Another

protect a

a short pause, I

"Protect?"

resources to protect my

made sure to emphasize the words 'best possible security available'. Couldn't be having useless bodyguards protecting

this was my main objective

beginning, I was prepared to concede one percent

moment, she couldn't

I needed her.

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

crucial, and

guild to

"Yes"

on the hologram opposite to me, Edward Stern suddenly smiled.

baited me,

think that he purposely enticed him to ask for more profit. It seems like

all. In fact, he was

protection? that

I smiled.

we've got

*

that worked

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

you pulled it off, I guess you're not as

in a soft voice. She was legitimately surprised. She

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

me, she didn't

'”Ding!

at the elevator, I pressed the button that led to the first floor.

the way, how long do you estimate you'd

bit as she stared

the end of the second year. If there are complications, I'd say beginning or end of

"I see..."

to be

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

the rest was a breeze. Unfortunately for

was able to procure

a bonus that she got to increase the

'”Ding!

the elevator, Melissa and I quickly got out of the building. Waiting for

it and

the negotiations came to

...

hunter guild, top floor. Guild master

her father's office chair. Before her,

sure have some

"mhm"

to her father's words, Amanda

not going to say

"No"

She shook her head.

them tomorrow, there was

can't be there with you

reply, for a brief moment, there was an awkward silence

know, with a new S ranked dungeon appearing in one of our areas, we have no choice but to keep

understand. I'm

bitter smile appeared on Edward's face as

I