A New Deal
Dofnik had come to Joseph's mansion early that morning for another reason entirely.
He had witnessed the previous night's events unfolding from outside the Kerbe Merchant Guild.
When Alex had raided the guild.
This was a habit of Dofnik's that he could never quite shake.
Normally, once his mercenaries finished their work, one of his servants would simply confirm the aftermath.
But Dofnik refused to leave anything to chance.
He enjoyed watching the moment a challenger's nose was crushed right in front of him.
That was why he had been watching everything through the windows.
Right after Alex burst into the building, Dofnik spotted someone leaping out from the stairs.
It was Braham, he thought at first.
But the figure wore a shabby robe and gripped a staff.
It was unmistakably a mage.
*Why is that fool here?*
Dofnik clicked his tongue quietly.
He had known the mage lived in his own estate, but he had never imagined he would be at the guild this early.
If that was the case, he would have to hope Alex would somehow dodge the mage and finish off Braham on his own.
Up until that point, Dofnik had felt a flicker of sympathy for the unlucky mage.
But what could he do?
The mage was simply unlucky.
Caladon was not the kind of city that tolerated such things.
Yet.
Dofnik's feelings changed in less than five seconds.
The mage appeared on the stairs, and in the space of a single moment.
He swung his staff, and the next instant, the mercenaries were all sent flying and slammed into the walls.
Dofnik had witnessed the speed at which he could not even begin to understand what had happened.
*W-what the hell is that?!*
Dofnik nearly shouted when he finally noticed the glowing Mana Orbs hovering around the mage.
The rest unfolded with merciless one-sidedness.
Every time the mage flicked his staff, one mercenary after another was sent flying.
Alex had beaten Braham senseless, only to be struck in turn and collapse moments later.
*...What?*
Dofnik's head spun.
The mage standing there was the one who made Artifacts, wasn't he?
How could someone like that toy with Alex like this?
Alex might have been a dirty scoundrel, but he was proud of his combat skill.
As long as it wasn't a knight, he believed he could bring down almost anyone.
Yet this mage had brought him down before he could even land a proper blow.
What were those Mana Orbs?
None of the mages he had seen used magic like this.
Mages might claim to handle mysteries, but the ones he had witnessed were all ordinary.
Then a thought suddenly struck him.
Among mages, there were those who were completely insane about fighting.
Madmen who chased battlefields like meals, enjoying the slaughter of humans.
*...Combat mages?*
The moment the thought reached him, all color drained from Dofnik's face.
Combat mages.
Was one of them standing here right now? Why?
A creature that had no business in a merchant city like Caladon was at Kerbe Merchant Guild?
*Shit.*
Alex had survived.
He was Dofnik's sworn brother, but he would not keep his mouth shut even if it cost him his life.
Dofnik's name would spread easily among them.
But soon, Dofnik's mind began to clear.
*Wait, wait a second.*
He slowed his steps and took a deep breath.
This was not the time to be swept up in fear.
*If a combat mage is making a deal with Kerbe Merchant Guild...*
That was the key.
No matter how insane a combat mage might be, entering into a contract to create and sell Artifacts meant at least some level of rationality.
If they were simply madmen who killed without thought, such a transaction would never have been possible in the first place.
*In that case...*
Dofnik's eyes flashed.
If the deal went through, this would not be a disaster but an opportunity.
A mage strong enough to rival decent mercenaries while creating Artifacts.
If such a being fell into his hands, Kerbe Merchant Guild would experience unprecedented prosperity.
He could not let another person steal away this golden goose.
*Before the rumors spread... I need to move quickly.*
He could not silence Alex.
But before that, he could at least contact Joseph and repair their relationship.
Before other merchants came running with drooling mouths, he needed to strike first.
Dofnik quickened his pace.
This time it was not fear, but calculation.
*Even if I have to bet my life, it would be true defeat to miss this chance.*
He headed alone to Joseph's estate.
With nothing but an apology and a proposal.
The most dangerous bet he had ever made with his entire fortune.
And so, at Joseph's estate.
Joseph sat facing Dofnik.
"I am truly sorry. I should have checked where the mage was before sending someone."
Dofnik bowed his head deeply the moment he sat down.
"Regarding the raid on Kerbe Merchant Guild yesterday..."
"Yes. I did not know the mage would be there at that time."
At those words, Joseph's eyebrows rose.
Dofnik was apologizing, but the content was slightly off.
He was apologizing not for the raid itself, but for the fact that Joseph had been caught up in it.
*Braham didn't seem to attach much meaning to the raid itself.*
Braham had said that a raid was inevitable, and the real problem was failing to prepare in advance.
From Dofnik's reaction, it seemed that such raids were almost routine among the merchants of this city.
*This is strange in its own way.*
If he messed up, his head might explode, yet he was reacting as if it were just another game.
While thinking this, Dofnik took something from his pocket and handed it to Joseph.
*A pouch?*
When he opened it, it was filled with gold coins, all gleaming with high quality.
Gold coins were currency, after all, and they would wear down over time if used everywhere.
Yet there was not a single scratch on these.
It seemed he had carefully selected them.
*This amount is more than my entire fortune right now.*
Joseph's eyes widened at the sum, swallowing hard inside.
He was certain Dofnik had no intention of clashing with him.
"I would like to make one thing clear. I did not intend to ambush the mage. I was not trying to kill the Kerbe Merchant Guild leader either. I simply wanted to beat him as a warning."
"...Understood. If that is the case, I will not hold it against you."
Joseph quickly pocketed the pouch and nodded.
He was not in a good mood after being raided, but he already knew they had not targeted him.
If they were apologizing so thoroughly, there was no need to press further.
"However... it does not seem you came here simply to apologize."
Joseph asked Dofnik.
He knew Dofnik had come to apologize.
But it was hard to understand why he would come all the way to Joseph's house alone at this hour just because of that.
If he did not want to clash with Joseph, he should have at least curled up quietly until the anger cooled.
From Dofnik's words, it seemed he already knew Joseph was the mage trading with Kerbe Merchant Guild.
If that was the case, coming the day after the raid was even stranger.
Joseph glanced at him sideways.
Dofnik was so large that his face was like a ball, with eyes rolling around.
"I would appreciate it if you would stop beating around the bush."
Joseph spoke first, seeing the chance.
He knew he was not very good at this.
The other party was, after all, the owner of a large guild. If he answered everything clumsily, he might get swept up in it.
"Yes, understood."
Dofnik hesitated briefly before speaking.
He had been watching Alex's raid the previous night.
He had realized Joseph was not an ordinary mage.
And he had judged that he could not afford to miss Joseph.
He explained all of this honestly.
Joseph inwardly clicked his tongue at that.
*Are all the merchants here like this?*
It was not simply a business-minded head.
They were clearly men who bet their lives on commerce.
To summarize, they had wanted to make Joseph abandon business by threatening Kerbe Merchant Guild, then inherit the deal with Joseph.
But when things went wrong, they had honestly apologized and made a business proposal.
*Was I not angry enough here? Did they really intend to kill me?*
Joseph glanced toward the window or door out of habit, but of course there was no presence anywhere.
*Was he bold, or was money more important than life...*
Joseph also liked money, of course, but he was not the type to gamble with his life like this.
Yet yesterday Braham and now Dofnik.
These merchants seemed to have gone slightly mad over money at some point.
*It doesn't sound like they're lying.*
Honestly, Joseph had wondered if they had come to pick a fight using yesterday's incident as an excuse.
Perhaps there was some assassination group he did not know about, and they were trying to target him...
Such wild imaginings.
It was an absurd thought, but Joseph was a mage.
A human who could actually realize someone else's delusions.
It was inevitable that such thoughts would arise.
But unlike Joseph's imagination, Dofnik seemed to be coming quite seriously to propose a deal.
*What to do...*
It would be welcome to maintain a good relationship with Joseph.
Especially if such a "heavyweight" came first and bowed his head.
For a comfortable life like in modern times, money and stable income sources were essential.
The deal with Kerbe Merchant Guild was good, but if he partnered with a large, aggressive guild like Dofnik's, they could reach their goal much faster.
Of course, they needed to be wary of their "madness for money," but Joseph thought it was easier to handle someone who openly revealed their desires so blatantly.
To establish a foothold in this city and live stably, he would inevitably have to get involved with this kind of human.
Joseph stared quietly at Dofnik and fell into thought.
He did not need to think for long.
"Very well. Please tell me your proposal. What kind of deal do you want?"
At those words, Dofnik's expression brightened.
Not just bright, but with a strange gleam in his eyes.
The face of someone who had succeeded in a big bet.
"T-then regarding the existing Artifact trade..."
"Ah, I have no intention of moving the ice Artifact distribution partner."
"Eh? W-why?"
Confusion crossed Dofnik's face.
He had believed that since Joseph accepted his apology, he would naturally accept the business proposal.
After all, he had planned to offer conditions incomparable to other guilds in Caladon.
However, Joseph's firm attitude made Dofnik's mind spin rapidly.
Was he trying to keep the "favor" with Kerbe Merchant Guild?
It was an unheard-of reason in this underworld, but the man before him was no ordinary person.
Joseph pondered for a moment, then waved his hand in the air.
A Mana Orb rose up.
"Hic!"
Dofnik instinctively shrank back.
He gave a bitter smile after checking Joseph's expression for a moment, then stood up.
Joseph took a small quartz fragment from his pocket and threw it onto the table.
It was the material for an ice Artifact he had been carrying for personal practice.
Then he immediately began to chant.
"Fire. Granted."
Immediately, the Mana Orb was sucked into the quartz fragment...
Fwoosh—
A small flame bloomed on the table.
"Hah!"
Dofnik's eyes began to spin in circles at that sight.