Chapter 57

Chapter 57: If You Don’t Like It, Then Forget It. (4)

Hubert looked at the elders. However, the elders were just standing there awkwardly, unsure of what to do.

‘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.

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.