Chapter 3

"Such a rude thing to do, Lord Lucius."

Zens, the representative of the city's top alchemy guild, said.

This was the office of the guild master of the 'Golden Eagle' guild.

Lucius was negotiating with his familiar alchemy guild.

At the moment, he was trying to drive a hard bargain on the price.

"We have always supplied our products to the 'Golden Eagle' at rock-bottom prices. We have worked hard to meet your demands for price and delivery dates. We have never failed to deliver. After all the hard work we've done for the 'Golden Eagle,' this treatment is too much. We are already operating at a loss every month, waiting for you to repay our loans. If we have to cut the price any further, we really won't be able to keep going."

"Then it's settled. We will end our business with you today. In the future, we will place orders with other guilds."

Diana, who was standing by Lucius's side, said.

Lucius did not move, closing his eyes in thought.

The guild representative was at a loss for words.

Lucius's orders were always large, and if he broke the contract, he would not be able to support the many members he employed.

It was not just that.

He also controlled the market for weapons and metal goods, and if Lucius cut him off, he could be shut out of the industry altogether.

Diana looked down at the troubled representative with a contemptuous gaze.

She had a sadistic side to her.

When the representative turned to Lucius with a look of seeking help, Lucius suddenly turned his chair to face him and spoke with a smile.

"Mr. Zens, I don't want you to misunderstand, but we don't want to cut ties with you. We just want you to work a little harder for us in the future. That's all."

"..."

"200 gold per piece of Iron A. Can you do it?"

Zens trudged away.

Lucius sighed as he watched him go from the window.

"Oh dear. He is a stubborn man, isn't he? He can't defy us, you know."

"Absolutely."

Diana said, fawning.

"He can't survive in this city if he defies Lord Lucius. They should understand that better."

Lucius seemed to take pleasure in this.

"Well, what's next?"

"We are going out. To discuss a quest with the noble, Lord Elsen. He apparently has a case he wants to entrust to our guild, and he has made a direct request."

"Hmm. So Lord Elsen is desperate to have a relationship with us. Still, it's not bad to be relied upon by a noble."

Lucius stood up from his chair and put on his coat.

He turned to Diana as if he had just remembered something.

"By the way, how is Roland? Has he been properly excluded from the adventurer quests?"

The reason Roland could not take on quests was actually due to Lucius's influence.

He had used the power of his large guild to pressure the adventurer's guild not to give jobs to those who had left his guild.

"Yes, Roland seems to have started his own alchemy guild."

"An alchemy guild?"

Lucius frowned and then smiled wryly.

"Indeed. Of all things, an alchemy guild. He must know that we have the alchemy guilds under our control. Has he finally lost his mind?"

"Perhaps he hasn't realized yet that he has been shut out of the adventurer guild."

Diana also chuckled.

"We control the market for alchemy products. He has no capital and no way to access the market. How does he plan to run his guild in such a state?"

"The guild is called 'Spirit Workshop.'"

"Haha. A workshop. Does he plan to make weapons? I wonder how he plans to sell them."

(He is just a man who can only see through others' abilities. His thinking is too shallow.)

Lucius felt a threat from Roland deep down, and he was relieved to know of his shallow plans.

"Does he plan to come crying to you for help?"

"Indeed. That could be a possibility."

Lucius thought for a moment.

"Well, for old times' sake. If he comes crying to us, we might give him a job. But only at 100 gold per piece of Iron A. I won't pay a penny more. If he comes, tell him that."

"Understood. I will pass that on."

Lucius was about to leave the room but stopped and turned to Diana.

"By the way, how about dinner tonight, Diana?"

Diana quickly hid her sneer and blushed.

"Yes, I would love to."

"Then, around 6 PM, come to our usual place."

Lucius said and left the room.

Diana, still in a daze, sat on the desk, but then remembered something important.

"Oh, I forgot to tell him that Roland is receiving support from Lilianne."

Diana thought about chasing after Lucius to tell him but decided against it.

It would only upset him.

(Well, it's fine. We control the alchemy guilds in this city. I don't need to tell him.)

With that, she reluctantly started her work.

Roland was interviewing candidates for the guild 'Spirit Workshop.'

He found that being in a position to choose people was a pleasant experience.

Those who were out of work all desperately sought to be hired by him.

They tried to impress him by exaggerating their abilities to make a good impression.

They acted humbly, trying to flatter the interviewer and the guild.

The alchemist girl he was interviewing now was trying hard to make a good impression on Roland.

"I have connections with the 'Guardian of the Magic Tree' and I think it has great potential. I really want to do great work with such a promising guild and its staff. I applied because I want to work under your command in such a wonderful guild."

She looked up at him with a coy smile, trying to flatter him.

She was dressed in a work suit typical of an alchemist, carrying tools like a hammer, but she also tried to look feminine.

She seemed like a shy girl, and it was probably not easy for her to act this way. She had let down her usually tied-up lustrous brown hair to make a good impression.

She hoped to be hired based on her appearance.

If someone were to be flattered like this, it would be understandable for them to become arrogant like Lucius.

One might end up choosing people based on personal preferences rather than abilities.

(But I have the skill 'Appraisal.')

Roland used his Appraisal skill to see the current skills of the alchemist he was interviewing.

The alchemy-related skills of the interviewee, alchemist Arie, appeared in text around her.

Ore Mining: E → D

Ore Refining: E → A

Metal Shaping: D → C

Goldsmithing: E → D

Roland decided to ask her a question.

"Do you have a preferred role?"

"Yes, I would like to handle 'Metal Shaping.' It's what I'm best at."

Roland couldn't help but laugh inwardly.

Metal Shaping was the weakest in both her current ability and potential.

She probably wanted to handle it because it was a prestigious role with a higher salary.

"How about 'Ore Refining'? We are currently short of people to handle that."

When Roland asked, Arie smiled a bit awkwardly.

"Ore Refining... I'm not very good at it, so I think I'm better at Goldsmithing... But of course, if you hire me, I will do it."

Arie quickly corrected herself, fearing a bad impression.

Roland noted on his paper, "Arie, Ore Refining E → A."

"Understood. I will inform you of the interview results by next week."

Arie left looking dejected.

(She passed the interview, though.)

Roland thought it would be bad for her to leave feeling so down, so he immediately sent her a letter of acceptance to her address.