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

but the highest I can do is sixteen

Stern frowned

was merely acting

reality, he was already fine with fifteen percent. He originally wanted to test

like

bit

that it was bad. He was sixteen after

percent? Is that

I shook my head.

"No, there's another condition"

condition, what is

frowned for

protect a couple

pause, I went straight to the

"Protect?"

guild resources to protect my parents. 24/7, at all times. With

security available'. Couldn't

was my main objective

the very beginning, I was prepared

with my parents at the moment, she couldn't

I needed her.

worse, now that the Monolith was also

was crucial, and I knew

the guild to

"Yes"

reply, on the hologram opposite to me, Edward Stern suddenly smiled. He instantly understood

purposely baited me, not

to ask for more profit. It seems like the flow

bad at all. In fact,

percent plus protection? that can

I smiled.

we've got a

*

that worked out

coming to an agreement on the terms of

off, I guess you're not as useless as you

soft voice. She was legitimately surprised. She

was never useless, to begin with', I softly muttered. I didn't say it too loud as I wasn't really too keen on arguing with

for me,

'”Ding!

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

do you estimate

bit as

second year. If there are complications, I'd say beginning

"I see..."

be

her current rate of improvement, I'd say I would still have to wait around a year or two before the

solve the efficiency loss problem, the rest was a breeze. Unfortunately for her, I didn't

today's deal, Melissa was able to procure enough funds to push

was sort of a bonus that she got to increase the pace of

'”Ding!

got out of the building. Waiting for us outside was the same limousine as

and headed back to

the negotiations came to

...

guild, top floor. Guild

chair. Before her, stood

have some peculiar

"mhm"

response to her father's words, Amanda nodded

not going to say goodbye

"No"

She shook her head.

them tomorrow, there was

I can't be there

a brief moment, there was an awkward silence between the two.

appearing in one of our areas, we have

I understand. I'm used to

bitter smile appeared on Edward's face as

I had