41 – Successful negotiations
“Please accept this as a token of my appreciation.“
The next day after we all rested, Alistair wanted another meeting with us. Currently it was just me and Rose. Leona and Rusalka were playing games with Charlotte to help her get back on her feet and also get her smile back. Saphira wanted some time alone, so I asked Rose to stay by my side. I was too nervous to meet him just by myself.
As for the token of appreciation he mentioned, just like a fairy tail, he brought up a chest similar to those used by pirates. And the contents… filled to the brim with gold, silver and bronze coins.
“This is…”
“50 million eris. It's yours.”
“I couldn't possibly *ouch!*”
I couldn't finish my sentence because I felt a sharp pain. To be more precise, Rose stepped on my foot. At the exact same time, she leaned over to me, grabbing my arm and sandwiching it between her breasts.
“My dear adventurer, I know what you're thinking. This can't possibly be all there is to it. But it would be bad manners to refuse this gift. I am sure mister Alistair isn't so cheap as to put such a small price on his daughter.”
Seeing how sharp Rose’s tongue can be, Alistair responded to her words.
“You are correct. These are merely the funds I have access to during travels. I have my pride and I don't intend to insult you with such a small amount. I would have given you a billion eris if we were at my main headquarters. But for now, please accept this. And naturally I await to hear what your wish is.
I am a man of my word. If it's within my power, whatever request you may have will be granted.”
Seeing all these events Rose placed her hand behind my back apparently to support me. In reality though, she was pinching my tail beneath my robe. Her intent was clear. “Don't you dare refuse this money. It's mine.”
To be honest it's the first time I’m stimulated by both pain and pleasure. It's weird. But I got the message so I brushed Rose aside.
“Ahem! Very well, sir Alistair. I shall accept this. And as far as requests go, I do happen to have one.”
“Very well. Name it.”
“Me and my friends want to travel to Ephiria.”
“Ephiria? What madness would drive you to that place? Everyone knows that island is under the rule of an ancient monster. Nobody has ever returned from that place.”
I need to treat this subject carefully. There’s no way I’m dumb enough to tell him that I want to take over that place. As a merchant, I’m sure Alistair would see that as a business opportunity and ask for a partnership in mining mana crystals and other valuable resources Ephiria might have. But what if other countries hear about it? That the monster was vanquished? Everyone might just invade it. Assuming all goes well, I will require a lot of time to consolidate defenses. Not to mention the fact that I don’t even know if the population of Ephiria will acknowledge me.
I took a deep breath, carefully considering my words. "You see, Sir Alistair, as a mage, I have always been fascinated by the unknown, particularly the essence of magic. Ephiria is shrouded in mystery and legends, many of which speak of powerful, ancient magics that have yet to be fully understood or documented."
I paused, ensuring I had his attention.
"My desire to travel to Ephiria is not driven by recklessness, but by a profound need to delve deeper into the arcane. I believe that the island holds secrets that could greatly enhance our understanding of magic. Studying these secrets could potentially lead to advancements that benefit all of humanity. Think of the knowledge that could be gained, the potential breakthroughs in magical theory and practice."
Alistair's eyes narrowed thoughtfully, and I continued, "Of course, we are well aware of the risks involved. But my companions and I are prepared to face those dangers. With the right preparation and support, I believe our expedition can succeed where others have failed. And in doing so, we can uncover and preserve the arcane knowledge that Ephiria holds. Besides, the legends say that Ephiria is the birthplace of lady Senya."
“Lady Senya? You mean the Arcana Witch? The first one in history to ever achieve 10th tier magic? That’s just a story for children.”
“True. There is no proof that lady Senya existed. Yet legends are always based on facts. And as childish as it sounds, every mage dreams at one point to follow in her footsteps.”
Alistair leaned back, his expression contemplative. "An ambitious goal, to be sure. And one fraught with peril. But I cannot deny the potential value in such an endeavor. Very well. I did say you can ask for anything. Despite nobody wanting to set sail over there, I do have the power to procure a ship that can get you there. But that ship will only leave you to shore and will quickly return. Are you fine with being stuck there?"
"Of course, Sir Alistair," I replied, tilting my head respectfully. "After all, it’s a decision we carefully analyzed."
“In that case, I will also give you an additional gift.”
He reached into a bag beside him and produced a sleek, black velvet pouch embroidered with golden runes. Opening it, he revealed ten intricately designed envelopes. Each one shimmered with a faint, magical glow, their surfaces adorned with delicate silver and gold filigree.
"These are Flyff Courier Envelopes," Alistair explained. A luxury item, indeed, but given his status, it is no wonder he has access to such things.
“With these, you can write a letter and, by addressing the sender’s name with a focused thought, the envelope will teleport directly to them."
He handed the pouch to Rose, who accepted it with a nod of gratitude. I examined one of the envelopes, feeling the subtle hum of magic coursing through it.
"These will be invaluable," I said, looking up at Alistair. "Thank you. With these, we can maintain communication, ensuring you receive regular updates on our progress."
Alistair smiled slightly. "I expect nothing less. Remember, these envelopes are not to be wasted. Use them wisely, as they are not easily replaced. And keep at least one of them for when you want to call a ship back to pick you up."
I nodded, understanding the significance of the gift. "We will. Thank you, Sir Alistair. Your support is greatly appreciated."
Not that I plan to return to the mainland unless I am forced.
“Feel free to rest and enjoy what the town has to offer until I make all the necessary arrangements. From Bellvola it will take 6 days and 6 nights to reach Ephiria. So I must also gather provisions for you and the crew for such a long journey.”
Both of us nodded and with that, we left Alistair and went on our own way. And after nobody was around to see us, I put all the money in my dimensional storage room. Despite Rose not wanting to let go of it, it was weird to carry it around like that. And by this point she acknowledged me as her wallet anyway.
“I gotta hand it to you, Magnus, you handled that one smoothly. My impression of you has changed. Investing into you was totally worth it.”
“Thanks. I guess. But I was still nervous. It could have gone either way.”
“That just means you’ll have to grow further. You’ll be faced with challenges like this when you'll be a ruler. Thankfully you’ve got me and the others to support you.”
She then got close and once again grabbed my hand sandwiching it.
“Work hard, my precious customer. Who knows. You might just grow into the kind of man that I would be willing to give a very special service to.”
For a moment my heart raced and I think I blushed. But in the next…
“Ouch!!!”
She once again slammed her foot on mine.
“What's that for?”
“A reminder. If you ever try to refuse money again in my presence… I’ll show you more pain. Understood?”
“Yes…”
“Good. Now that that's fucking settled I can drop this act already. It's tiring keeping up appearances. Let's go. We have our own supplies to buy for the trip. Leave the haggling to me.”
Never a moment of boredom with her around.
“What's with that smile now?”
“Nothing. I just thought… how lucky I am to have you in my life, Rose-san.”
“...”
Huh? Is it just me or did she… slightly blush? I couldn't see it clearly because she turned her head away and picked up the pace.
“A-anyway… enough with idle chit-chat. We’ll have more time to talk on the ship. After all, it's gonna be a fucking boring long trip. So save the talk for later. Business first!”
“Alright.”
And so, I followed Rose into the marketplace to get the supplies we would require. I wonder what's gotten into her so suddenly, though? Maybe I should just leave her be. The last thing I want is to get on her bad side.