The Grand Tour Requests Arrive
On a peaceful day with fluffy white clouds drifting across the clear blue sky.
Two magnificent carriages rolled into the Magic Tower.
The most striking detail was that the two carriages were completely different in shape.
One was a noble-style carriage decorated with white and gold embroidery, drawn by two magnificent white horses.
It looked so dignified that it felt almost excessive, as if the horses themselves were showing off their grandeur.
“Hum.”
The door of the carriage that had arrived at the Magic Tower opened.
The legs poking out were far thicker than those of the carriage itself, resembling the powerful limbs of a warhorse.
The thick mustache on the strong face looked like a mark of pride to the man.
**Marquis Pobis Licender.**
A noble from the Gérard Kingdom, one of the three nations that were called the land of knights.
“Uh-huh.”
A second carriage followed at a respectable distance.
It wasn’t really a carriage at all—it had the unmistakable shape of a longship. Only the wheels kept it from being called a boat.
The man who stepped down from it had an atmosphere completely opposite to Marquis Licender’s.
Thick muscles, broad shoulders, and a horned helmet.
**General Bearigal** of the Exstep Alliance, formed by Vikings and alchemists.
“Hmph, barbaric.”
Watching the carriage shaped like a boat being pulled by a drooling ox, Marquis Licender frowned.
To him, it looked not just ugly but outright dirty.
“Hah, the young lords are getting cocky because they think they can bully us.”
To General Bearigal, they looked like nothing more than noble brats who cared only about appearances and status.
Knights who valued honor.
Vikings and alchemists who valued real results.
Both sides had their strengths and weaknesses, so they were still locked in fierce competition.
Just then, one mage appeared to greet the two men.
“Good day. I’m **Garsin**, a formal mage of the Wind Magic Tower in charge of your tour.”
“Hmph, I suppose you’re Marquis Pobis Licender.”
“Bearigal here.”
The two men had come for only one reason.
To prepare for the Exchange Day by conducting the first negotiations with the Magic Towers.
With the Exchange Day only about a month away, they were here as scouts to figure out what the Towers would offer before the real talks began.
The two men who arrived together by coincidence followed Garsin’s guide toward the guest quarters.
Even though the building had three floors, they had to share it. The outsiders of the Magic Tower had no choice but to stay in the designated area.
“Please come this way.”
Garsin, who floated their luggage beside them with wind magic, smiled and led the way inside.
Inside, one woman was already waiting, sipping coffee.
**Major Jennifer Iba** of the Boulian Republic, who had arrived one day earlier than the Gérard Kingdom and Exstep Alliance.
“Hoo, you’re late.”
“Tsk, the world is so vast.”
“Uh-huh.”
Both Marquis Licender and General Bearigal looked uncomfortable as they gazed at Jennifer. They had arrived first, too—why had she beaten them?
Since the three nations constantly opposed and fought each other, it secretly rankled them that one nation had reached the Tower first.
Jennifer smiled and approached the two men.
As if she had been waiting for exactly this moment, she declared it openly.
“We will sign a contract with the **Iron Magic Tower**.”
“……!”
“Ha!”
Garsin, a member of the Wind Magic Tower, quietly slipped upstairs to assign rooms, knowing the conversation here didn’t concern him.
“Everyone’s talking about that incredible genius who entered the **Iron Magic Tower** recently, right?”
After all, they were all here to compete against one another.
They already knew what each other wanted before they even sat down at the negotiation table.
The Towers were also competing among themselves, but they still wanted contracts with these nations.
The nations, in turn, wanted contracts with the most outstanding Towers.
Normally the seven Magic Towers competed fiercely, but if several nations targeted the same Tower at the same time, the balance would flip.
The Towers would become the ones driving the deal instead of the nations.
From the nations’ perspective, that was far from ideal.
Why should they have to beg the Towers? They should be the ones making the offers.
“Let’s not spill any blood. The Iron Magic Tower is ours to contract. They’ll make a proposal we can’t refuse. That means you two stay out this time.”
“The Republic isn’t just about rank—it’s about free spirits! How dare you mock us!”
General Bearigal grinned, his powerful arm flexing with resolve.
“I’m sorry, but the Exstep Alliance has the Iron Magic Tower as our top priority. If you try to barge in and ruin our reputation, I’ll personally throw you out by the tail.”
“Barbaric minds with such simple logic. How pitiful.”
Marquis Licender stroked his thick mustache and joined in.
“I’m sorry, but the Iron Magic Tower contract this time is ours. The two of you don’t seem to understand what they’re making.”
Marquis Licender was certain.
Because what they were making—
**Knight Armor.**
Using brand-new, ultra-pure iron, they were crafting something on the scale of a Knight Armor.
This was clearly aimed at the Gérard Kingdom—
“Ha! We wear armor too, you brute!”
“Armor is just a formality. What we want is ultra-pure steel and weapons made from it. I’m sorry, but your thinking is too shallow.”
**CRACK!**
The three men’s gazes collided so fiercely that sparks seemed to fly.
No one was backing down.
‘Hah, what fools.’
‘Those idiots—what do they really know?’
‘I’m sorry, but we’ve prepared thoroughly.’
All three were convinced they would secure the contract with the Iron Magic Tower.
---
“Look at this, Dam! The three nations have issued simultaneous requests for a tour and negotiations!”
Inside the Magic Tower, **Tower Master Beldora Millennium**’s office.
Beldora threw her arms high in a triumphant cheer.
Just yesterday, when all the nations had arrived, the real “Exchange Day” preparations had finally begun.
Depending on today’s direction, they could tell which Tower each nation had prioritized.
And the three nations had all named the **Iron Magic Tower**!
Beldora had called in Lee Dam and Theodore, and she was showering them with praise.
“It’s all thanks to you two! Dam succeeded in manufacturing ultra-pure steel as the overall manager! Theodore is the number-one contributor to the supply lines for all the necessary materials!”
“Thank you.”
Theodore bowed his head, his gentle smile worthy of the term “handsome.”
“Ha!”
In contrast, Lee Dam let out a fart and laughed.
“Why? You not excited? I don’t know how huge this is—it’s a legendary—”
“No, I’m excited!”
“Ah, see? Excited—”
“Thinking about how all those idiots will kneel at our feet is making me so pumped.”
“…….”
Dam’s outrageous boasting was so familiar that it would have been almost routine if it didn’t leave the others stunned every time.
“Uh-huh. How do you plan to schedule the visits?”
Theodore cleared his throat loudly and pretended he hadn’t heard, beginning his own point.
“I suppose we can only take one team from each Tower per day. That’s also proper etiquette.”
“Agreed.”
Both the negotiation itself and the tour would take a long time.
Since the nations were on the verge of open conflict, they had planned to call each one separately for a full day.
“The real problem is which nation we should call first.”
As Theodore said, the atmosphere and content of the negotiations would change drastically depending on the order.
Just as the nations had requested the Iron Magic Tower first thing, the Iron Magic Tower would also adjust its attitude depending on which nation they called first.
“Personally, I believe we should call the Gérard Kingdom first. Because what they’re building is, after all, **Knight Armor**.”
“Exactly. Knight Armor is ultimately for knights.”
“Correct. If we can convince them properly, the Exstep Alliance and Boulian Republic should understand as well.”
Theodore’s logic was sound. After all, it made sense to prioritize the nation most likely to use their research to its fullest—the knights’ support.
“…….”
“…….”
At that moment, both men looked at Lee Dam at the same time.
“Why are you so quiet? Say something!”
“Maybe you’re sick?”
“What’s up? You think I’m a rabid dog? If I don’t growl, I’m not sick.”
“…….”
“…….”
To the surprise of two men who thought they had read her well, Lee Dam responded calmly.
Beldora cleared her throat and asked.
“Dam, what do you think? If it were you, wouldn’t you call all three at once, show them everything, and challenge them to compete?”
Beldora laughed, and Theodore nodded, agreeing.
Lee Dam frowned.
“That’s the dumbest idea ever. We have to call them separately.”
A little disappointed by the unexpectedly plain answer, Beldora’s shoulders slumped.
Theodore, however, tilted his head curiously.
Lee Dam shrugged.
“That way we can negotiate without letting them know our real price. They don’t know how much we’ll ask, so we just keep raising the value.”
The product still had room for improvement, but **Knight Armor** already looked impressive.
Lee Dam’s eyes sparkled with greed.
If they made a big splash here, they could build the ultimate counter to the coming Black Sun.
Smiling wickedly, Dam’s body practically itched to get the guests ready.
* * *