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‘Damn it, useless fools!’

There wasn’t anyone well-versed in commerce, so there was no one to lead this negotiation.

“You’re a young man with quite a bit of nerve. But a deal doesn’t always go the way you want. You’ve shown enough sincerity by coming this far, so we’ll offer you double the original price. That should be more than sufficient…”

Before he could finish speaking, Ghislain rose from his seat once again.

“Goodbye, then.”

“I meant to say that it wouldn’t be sufficient!”

“Is that so? I must have misunderstood.”

Hubert and the elders exchanged distressed looks.

Runestones were already expensive, and paying triple the amount would require an enormous sum of money.

Even though the tower had plenty of funds, such a large expenditure at once would shake its very foundation.

— Someone say something! Is there no other way?

— What if he actually leaves?

— Isn’t he just a madman?

Hubert and the elders continued exchanging silent glances for a while.

Ghislain patiently waited. After all, the conclusion was already evident, and as the victor, he didn’t mind showing a little courtesy.

In the end, Hubert sighed deeply, looking as if his life was draining away.

“Fine. We’ll purchase everything at triple the price.”

Belinda, Gillian, and Kaor gaped in shock.

The fact that such an outrageous and ruthless deal had actually succeeded was beyond belief.

However, Ghislain simply nodded as if the result had been only natural.

“Good. You’ve timed this well.”

“Timed it well, my foot…”

Hubert muttered under his breath, turning his head to hide his twisted expression.

Though he didn’t want to give in to this young man’s tricks, the situation left him no choice.

The other elders merely smacked their lips, unable to even consider opposing the Tower Master’s decision.

Watching the wizards, who looked like they had swallowed something bitter, Ghislain smiled inwardly.

‘You’d better buy it at this price now. It’ll cost even more later. It’s better than dying from a stroke, isn’t it?’

In just a little more time, even at five times the price, Runestones would become impossible to acquire.

This was because the Scarlet Tower would block distribution entirely by partnering with most of the merchant guilds.

Hubert would later collapse from the shock of this revelation.

‘In any case, I’ve secured plenty of money.’

Ghislain, who knew the situation and future of the tower better than even the tower itself, wasn’t about to let this opportunity slip away.

To him, these terms were reasonable enough.

“We’ll prepare the money right away. The Runestones you’ve brought will be purchased entirely by the Crimson Flame Tower. Please wait here for a moment.”

Hubert’s eagerness to pay and send Ghislain’s group away was plain to see.

But Ghislain wasn’t finished yet.

“I haven’t stated all of my conditions.”

“What?”

Hubert’s eyes widened in surprise.

The seller named their price, and the buyer agreed. The only thing left was the exchange of money, so what else was left?

Ghislain whispered in a subtle voice.

“Additionally, please dispatch ten mages to the Ferdium estate. The term is one year.”

“Mages?”

“Yes, they must be 3rd-circle masters or higher.”

In estates without resident mages, requesting a mage from the magic towers was common. The towers, in return, received an enormous sum of money.

Although it didn’t bring in as much as selling magical tools or scrolls, dispatching mages was still one of the significant sources of income for the magic towers.

“How much are you willing to pay? Our mages are quite expensive, you know.”

Hubert’s eyes gleamed, hoping to recover the money they had just been overcharged. He was determined to make up for the loss by charging that arrogant noble more than the price of a Runestone.

But Ghislain was far more ruthless than Hubert anticipated.

“Oh, it seems there’s been a misunderstanding. The price I mentioned for the Runestone is three times the market rate, including the mage dispatch. Hahaha.”

“What? You… you insane bastard…!”

Hubert’s face turned beet red as he grabbed the back of his neck and staggered.

“Tower Master! This bastard is clearly mocking us!”

“This is utterly unforgivable!”

“This is nothing short of an insult!”

The elders raised their voices, veins bulging in their necks as they shouted angrily.

Amid the tense atmosphere, Gillian quietly placed his hand on the sword at his waist.

Unlike Belinda, who was just watching with interest or glaring at the back of Ghislain and Kaor’s heads, he was prepared to respond immediately if Ghislain were attacked.

Despite the uproar, Ghislain calmly reiterated his terms.

“Three times the market price, plus the dispatch of ten mages who are 3rd-circle masters or higher. Those are my conditions.”

“How dare you! Who do you think you are, demanding mages as a bonus? I’ve never heard of such a deal in my life!”

“Well, that’s strange. If you dislike it so much, feel free to walk away.”

Ghislain stood up abruptly.

“I came to the Crimson Flame Tower first out of consideration, but this is a bit disappointing. Oh well. Perhaps the Scarlet Tower would be willing to send them.”

Hubert was so furious that he was on the verge of tears. However, he had no choice but to go along with it despite knowing full well what was happening. Hurriedly, he rushed to block Ghislain’s path.

“H-Hey now! Why is a young man like you in such a rush? You should always listen to someone’s words to the end! I only meant that I’ve never seen a deal like this before, not that it can’t happen! There’s a first time for everything, right?”

“Oh, did I misunderstand again? I’m just a bit impatient by nature.”

Ghislain smiled slyly, sat back down, and elegantly crossed his legs.

‘If this guy won’t listen to reason, there’s no way to win.’

Hubert swallowed his frustration internally. Most people would try to stay on the good side of the tower, but this arrogant fool seemed to care less about it or anything else.

‘Is this guy seriously insane? He must be someone who lives only for today. If we didn’t have such a shortage of Runestones right now, I would’ve just burned his head off!’

However, Hubert couldn’t simply send him away just to preserve his pride.

‘If all those Runestones end up at the Scarlet Tower, the gap between us will widen even more.’

He absolutely couldn’t allow that, even if it meant putting dirt in his own eyes.

“S-So, ten 3rd-circle mages… Is there a major construction project happening at your estate? Or are you setting up a new barrier?”

“No, I need combat mages.”

“What?”

Hubert furrowed his brow slightly.

When mages participate in combat, they receive extra pay as danger compensation. But in this case, it looked like they would have to provide all of that for free.

“Are you planning to go monster hunting or something?”

When Hubert asked for confirmation, Ghislain shook his head.

“No, I need mages for war—specifically for estate warfare.”

Hubert’s expression turned rigid.

The elders, who had been silent until now, glared at Ghislain with cold eyes and shouted.

“What nonsense are you spouting?!”

A law had been passed banning mages belonging to the tower from participating in estate conflicts.

If a powerful organization like the Magic Tower were to take sides in an estate dispute, it could potentially lead to the entire kingdom falling under the tower’s influence. This law was enacted to prevent such a scenario.

If anyone were caught violating this law, both the mage and the tower they belonged to would face severe punishment.

“Mages from the tower are not allowed to participate in estate warfare. Are you telling me you don’t know that, even as a noble?”

Only free mages who conducted their own research or wandered the world could participate in estate wars.

“Surely, you’re not suggesting that you’ll expel the mages from the tower, have them fight in the war, and then let them return afterward?”

There had been nobles who used such tricks in the past. And when the truth came to light, an entire magic tower had been obliterated from the kingdom.

Ghislain nodded lightly.

“Well, something like that. I want them to thoroughly conceal their identities from the beginning and participate in the war. They must make sure they’re never caught. They’ll have to act as if they belong to our estate.”

There may have been instances like this in history. But it was too dangerous to trust a rookie like this with such a scheme.

Given the tower’s desperate situation, the deal for the Runestones could be conceded. They could accept charging a high price.

But this was crossing the line.

“How dare you…”

Hubert began drawing on his mana.

“You don’t think you’re walking out of here unscathed after making such reckless statements, do you?”

An overwhelming surge of mana filled the room, causing the entire space to tremble.

The elders also gathered their mana, intensifying the pressure on Ghislain.

“This brat needs to be taught a lesson.”

“Did you think we’d look like fools just because we agreed to all your demands?”

“We’ll show you what happens when you offend a mage’s pride.”

They had a valid excuse. Ghislain had made dangerous comments first.

As the atmosphere grew even more hostile, Belinda and Kaor gripped their weapons.

They were facing 6th-circle and 5th-circle mages. Even with everyone here, victory would not come easily.

Gillian prepared to rush forward.

‘If it comes to it, I’ll have to block them with my body.’

He was prepared to sacrifice himself to protect Ghislain.

On the other hand, Kaor’s eyes gleamed with murderous intent, and a sly grin spread across his face.

‘I’ll take care of this bastard first.’

He lowered his stance, focusing on Hubert as his target.

With all eyes focused on Ghislain, Kaor planned to strike the moment mana was unleashed, aiming to sever Hubert’s head.

Once Hubert was dealt with, the remaining elders would be much easier to handle.

‘Our crazy employer is competent enough, so he’ll manage on his own. If he dies… well, there is nothing we can do about it. I’ll just write on his tombstone: “Here lies a fool.”’

Meanwhile, Belinda alternated between glaring at the back of Ghislain’s head and nervously glancing behind her.

‘I’ll use Kaor as a shield, and in the chaos, I’ll grab Young Lord and flee. I won’t survive this! My lord! You’re picking the wrong fight here! Why couldn’t you just be reasonable?!’

She subtly moved behind Kaor, preparing herself.

‘Hmm, I’ll have to kick him hard enough so he lands right in front of the Tower Master.’

Kaor didn’t even notice Belinda’s repositioning behind him, as his full attention was locked onto Hubert.

The situation was on the verge of exploding.

But at that moment, Ghislain’s voice expertly disrupted their focus.

“Are you sure you won’t regret this?”

“What?”

His attitude was audacious, as expected of a madman.

“We’ve discovered a Runestone deposit in our estate. There’s far more of it than what I’ve brought today. Quite a lot more, in fact. Hahaha.”

The shocking revelation made Hubert and the elders momentarily forget about releasing their mana.

“In fact… there’s over ten times as much left as what I’ve brought today. Would you… really not need it? Next time, I could offer it at the market rate.”

Ghislain raised three fingers and waved them. Hubert could no longer contain his fury.

‘How dare this bastard try to insult me with mere Runestones!’

…Except the amount was far too significant to dismiss with anger.

While he stood speechless, the devil’s whispers continued.

“I could ensure a stable supply of Runestones after that as well. We could even offer an exclusive deal to the Crimson Flame Tower, depending on the terms. Have you ever heard of a monopoly contract?”

It was an irresistibly tempting proposal. The mages, their pride momentarily forgotten, flared their nostrils in interest.

“What a snake!”

“How dare you wag that sly tongue at us…”

Despite their harsh words, the hostility in their voices had already softened.

“If you receive a steady supply of Runestones, the Crimson Flame Tower would soon rise to the top in the north. No, perhaps not just in the north—you might even become the greatest tower in the entire kingdom.”

A stable supply of Runestones was precisely what they desired most.

Moreover, Ghislain skillfully poked at their aspirations and insecurities.

By now, the mages had completely lost their earlier drive to be angry.

It was precisely the outcome Ghislain had aimed for.

“Oh dear, it seems my offer isn’t to your liking. In that case, I’ll take my leave and visit another tower.”

“H-Hey! Why are you so impatient, young man? Who said we’re not interested?”

Just as Ghislain was about to rise again, he looked at Hubert indifferently and spoke.

“Didn’t you just try to intimidate me with your mana because you weren’t pleased? I have a weak heart; I don’t think I can handle this.”

‘Bullshit. Weak heart, my ass… this guy probably has a Dragon Heart installed or something!’

Despite cursing Ghislain internally, Hubert awkwardly widened his eyes and put on a clumsy act.

“That was just… a way to test if you’re someone we can trust for such an important deal. Isn’t that right? You all back me up here.”

Hubert desperately dragged the elders into the conversation.

The mages, who had been momentarily stunned, quickly nodded in agreement when they saw the Tower Master’s fierce glare.

“Yes, yes. We just wanted to see if you were trustworthy.”

“To remain unshaken by our mana pressure shows you’re a man of considerable stature.”

“Young man, you’re quite good at negotiating, hahaha.”

Ghislain glanced around at the elders awkwardly, laughing and smiling brightly.

“So, do I pass your test?”

Hubert hesitated for a moment before, with a resigned expression, he nodded weakly.

“Yes… now, tell us more about this estate war…”

For some reason, he felt like he was handing over the entire Crimson Flame Tower to the hands of the devil.