Chapter 8

"Such a shabby workshop."

Diana glanced around and said mockingly.

Roland felt his confidence waver just by her attitude, reminiscent of his days at the 'Golden Eagle.'

"Diana, what is it you need...?"

"Oh, what's with that attitude? Can't this workshop even properly welcome a guest?"

Roland felt cornered.

He couldn't argue back.

"What's the matter, Roland? Has something happened?"

Ranjou poked her head in.

Diana shot her a cold look.

"Ranjou, this is a guest. I need to talk to her. Could you bring some tea?"

Roland led Diana to the reception room.

She looked around and adopted a mocking attitude again.

After scanning the room, she crossed her legs and arms, a cold smile playing on her lips.

Ranjou, while serving the tea, felt increasingly uncomfortable with Diana.

(What's with this girl? She's so arrogant. She seems to know Roland, but what kind of person is she?)

Ranjou sat next to Roland and glared at her.

Roland, wanting to protect Ranjou from Diana's influence, told her to step back, but she refused.

Instead, Ranjou confronted her.

"So? What brings a high-ranking member of the 'Golden Eagle' to our workshop?"

Ranjou's eyes were sharp and confrontational.

Diana ignored her, snorting dismissively.

Ranjou glared at her even more intensely.

"Diana, what do you need?"

This time Roland asked, but Diana ignored him too, looking at the refined iron in the corner of the room.

(Iron D. It's probably a subpar product. This is the best Roland's workshop can do, I guess.)

Diana decided this was the limit of the workshop.

(Since the big stores won't take it, they must be barely getting by, selling subpar products to small adventure guilds. Poor things. At this rate, the workshop will be out of business by the end of the month.)

She concluded with a strangely satisfied smile.

"Let me be frank. We, the 'Golden Eagle,' could take you under our wing."

"What?"

"In a shabby workshop like this, I'm sure you're struggling to make ends meet. That's why we want to help you."

"We don't need your pity."

Ranjou said, her fighting spirit showing.

Diana ignored her again.

(Hmph. So full of themselves. As if they can resist us.)

"Roland, are you interested in doing business with us?"

"That... of course, it depends on the terms..."

Ranjou's face twisted in disgust at his response.

She clearly didn't agree.

"Very well. How about this: 100 gold for Iron A?"

"100 gold for Iron A..."

"The other guilds sell it for that price. Can you do the same?"

She adopted a threatening expression.

(Hmm. What do you think? A price like this, your workshop can't possibly meet, can it?)

She imagined Roland desperately saying, "That's impossible," and begging for a higher price.

In the end, he would even prostrate himself.

After toying with him, she would push his workshop off the cliff.

This was how she and Lucius had always risen to power.

"Roland, can you sell Iron A for 100 gold?"

"Sure, I can."

Roland agreed easily.

"Of course. I knew you couldn't. But if you insist, maybe a bit higher... Wait, you can?"

"Sure, no problem."

Roland answered with a smile.

To be honest, the 'Spirit Workshop' had no intention of competing with iron.

Their main product was 'Earthcraft,' and iron was becoming a nuisance.

They had been storing it in the warehouse, and Ranjou had been urging Roland to decide what to do with it.

When Diana showed up, it was like a boat coming just when they needed it.

"Thanks. If you can buy it for 100 gold, it would be a big help."

Roland said with a full smile.

"How do you want to handle the delivery? We're short on hands. It would be great if you could come and pick it up."

Ranjou said bluntly.

Diana was taken aback.

(What's with these people? They're being taken advantage of, yet they're so confident. Do they even understand their position?)

Her original plan was for Roland to beg for a higher price, and she would offer a slightly better deal.

After thoroughly breaking him, she would find fault with him at the guild and break the contract.

Seeing him beg, "Please buy it," would make even Jil lose faith in him.

But now, she was thoroughly confused.

"What's the matter, Diana?"

"You look pale. Are you okay?"

Roland and Ranjou, seeing Diana's pale and silent face, looked at her with concern.

Their attitude further unsettled her.

"Wh-What? I'm fine. I'm fine."

"Good to hear."

"So, how do you want to handle the delivery? You want to buy the iron, right?"

Hearing Ranjou's words, Diana's blood boiled.

"What? Are you kidding? I'm not buying it. Who would do business with such a shabby workshop? I'd rather not. 100 gold is too much. I was just teasing. Don't get the wrong idea."

With that, she fled the workshop.

Roland and Ranjou remained silent, looking at the spot where she had been sitting.

"Roland, what was that about?"

"What do you mean?"

"What was she doing here? She said she wanted to buy, but then refused. It doesn't make sense."

"Sorry, I don't understand either."

Roland looked at the iron piled in the corner of the room.

The subpar iron emitted a dull, lonely light.

After leaving the workshop, Diana tried to calm herself and make sense of what had just happened.

(What was with that attitude? So confident.)

She walked down the street, fuming.

The more time passed, the angrier she became.

What bothered her most was that she had lost her composure to such people.

(100 gold for iron? It's not even profitable.

They probably have no intention of doing business. Roland must be a kept man, relying on Lilianna. He must be getting a lot of support from her, so he's just running the guild as a hobby. Ugh, I hate women who support men.)

She tried to maintain her composure with this thought.

On his way back from the banquet with Lord Elsen, Lucius sat in the carriage, looking disgruntled.

He recalled the conversation with Lord Elsen.

They had dined together several times, engaging in polite conversation, but today, Lord Elsen finally got to the point.

"Actually, my daughter is getting married soon."

Lord Elsen said.

"Oh, that's wonderful."

"I want to prepare some special silverware for the dowry. I'm looking for a good alchemist, but I can't find one. Then I heard you hold a leading position in the city's alchemy guild."

"Leading position? I just help organize things when asked."

"I called you here for a specific reason. I want the guilds under your umbrella to participate in the silverware competition I'm hosting."

"A competition...?"

"Yes. And not just this year. I plan to make it an annual event, the biggest in the region. Don't you think it's a great idea? All the alchemists in the city will gather to showcase their best work. This will boost the skills of the alchemists in my territory. The competition itself could become a tourist attraction. If that happens, my territory will become a major city for alchemists."

Lord Elsen gestured grandly, as if already envisioning a bright future.

"Ah..."

"I plan to make the competition open to all alchemists, regardless of status, origin, or skill. I'll prepare many different awards to give opportunities to even less skilled alchemists and guilds. If alchemists who are currently unknown see a chance to gain fame, they will be eager to participate. The event will be exciting. New, innovative ideas might emerge. Don't you think it's a great idea? I want the guilds under your umbrella to participate. Of course, the grand prize will be substantial. I'm looking forward to your best work."

Lucius was disappointed, thinking he would get the noble's seal of approval for the 'Golden Eagle.'

(These nobles. They just indulge in their hobbies and meddle in unnecessary things. After all the effort to unite the city's alchemy guilds. If free competition starts, it will be a huge loss.)

He was also unhappy with Lord Elsen's low evaluation of him and his guild.

He was treated as just another participant, not given special treatment.

Lucius remained sullen throughout the carriage ride, but by the time he reached the 'Golden Eagle' headquarters, he had regained his usual composure.

(Well, it's a chance to show my strength. I'll make it clear that this city doesn't need any guilds other than those under the 'Golden Eagle.' I'll show that all other guilds are just small fry. If I keep pushing this idea, Lord Elsen will eventually have no choice but to give the 'Golden Eagle' his seal of approval. Once I get the noble's seal, it will be easy to take down the 'Guardians of the Magic Tree.' We're almost there, complete control of the city.)

As soon as he returned to the 'Golden Eagle' headquarters, Lucius immediately ordered the alchemy guilds under his control to prepare silverware for the competition hosted by Lord Elsen.

He also didn't forget to issue an order that no guild could participate in the competition under any name other than the 'Golden Eagle.'