“Conditions?”
“Ah, nothing major.”
Gilbert let out a whistle.
Letters began appearing on the previously blank sheet of paper. After confirming that even the signature line was neatly filled in, he turned the document toward me.
“The condition is simple. Potion deliveries will go through Raymond’s merchant guild only—no other trading company.”
“And the rest?”
“A portion of the delivered potions will be sold exclusively through a single location. Of course, that place will still pay you compensation.”
“Where is that place?”
“I’ll tell you later.”
“Hmm.”
I held the densely written contract and scanned it quickly. Nothing particularly alarming stood out.
“So… that’s really it?”
It was almost too simple. Contracts like this usually had at least one hidden clause designed to bite you later. But whether it was Raymond’s style or some other motive, this document was unusually clean.
The only thing I was curious about was that “exclusive location.”
“Is that really all you need?”
I asked with a doubtful expression. Gilbert pressed down on his eyelids as if massaging away fatigue.
“It’s better for me to step back than to lose the deal to another company. Tell me your terms too, Lady. As long as they aren’t outright robbery…”
“Revenue split: 9 to 1. Nine goes to me, obviously. Export terms are separate.”
“Yeah, not that kind of robbery.”
“Tch.”
I had only asked just in case.
“Be reasonable. Even royalty couldn’t get a 9-to-1 split like that.”
“I know. I was just asking.”
“If I had accepted it, you’d have gone along without complaint anyway.”
“Of course I would!”
In most business deals, a 6:4 split was common. If you were generous, maybe 7:3. Newcomers didn’t get mercy at all—especially here, in the underworld. People would cheat you blind if they could.
But 9:1? Like Gilbert said, even royalty would struggle to get a deal like that.
Unless you were some hidden mastermind.
But I was just a minor character in the original story. I decided to accept the offered ratio without complaint.
“So what ratio were you thinking?”
“Seven to three. I’d also waive all distribution and export fees. In exchange, a ten-year exclusivity contract—with fixed deadlines and quotas.”
“Hmm… can it be five years instead?”
“I’ll also provide a generous signing bonus every year. Starting from 1 billion gold.”
“…How about 150 years?”
Good heavens. That meant I’d be getting 1 billion gold just for signing, and more income on top of that. I quickly started doing mental math.
If I received that signing bonus for even ten years…
Damn it.
Mom, I’m rich.
A wave of cathartic joy ran through me.
So this is why high-grade potion makers are all nobles or filthy rich.
Money floods in every year, enough to buy titles and become actual aristocrats, gaining even more privileges afterward.
As expected of a rare skilled profession.
I felt myself grinning. Money, just falling into my account every year. I suddenly wanted to run into a plaza, strip naked, and shout.
No. Calm down.
Now wasn’t the time to lose composure. It was better to stay low-key than to get careless and end up dead.
“Lady, you really are grabbing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Very few places offer signing bonuses like this.”
I tilted my head.
“Why not? I thought top-tier potion makers would all get huge signing bonuses.”
“How many places here do you think can actually afford that?”
“Ah.”
Now I understood. Every market here was a battlefield hidden beneath the surface.
Even on normal streets, people were fighting tooth and nail.
So what would a place like this be like?
“This place is all about taking and being taken from, Lady. Accumulating wealth here—and keeping it—is extremely difficult. In that sense, I’m very competent.”
Gilbert twirled a long finger. The contract flipped in the air, then returned to him—and when it came back to me, a clean signature had been added.
I checked it again just in case.
Insurance habits die hard.
Gilbert murmured as he watched me carefully reread every line.
“You know… this is fascinating.”
“What is?”
I asked, holding the quill.
“Normally, when people receive an offer like this, they immediately sign in excitement. Then they come back later after discovering a hidden clause and start complaining.”
“……”
Damn it. That stung a little.
Especially since I had just been ready to dance naked in the plaza a moment ago.
“But you’re calmly reading every line.”
“Well…”
I couldn’t exactly say, I’ve seen too many stories where people die over a single clause the size of an ant’s turd, so I just cleared my throat instead.
“You have to be careful with contracts.”
“Fair enough.”
Gilbert snapped his fingers. A second identical contract appeared instantly.
“One copy for me, one for you.”
“And if anything needs adjustment later?”
“We’ll amend it.”
He smiled in satisfaction and rolled up the document, popping a cookie into his mouth.
“Ha… I can finally breathe. Let’s work well together. If you need a workshop or anything, just say so.”
“A workshop too?”
“Of course. Do you think I built this place this big for nothing?”
He added that he could even provide lodging if I wanted. I shook my head.
“A workshop is enough.”
“Why? Honestly, this place is probably better than your home.”
“I’m living with someone right now. They handle cleaning and everything. Even fixed the floors.”
“Living with someone? A roommate?”
“Something like that.”
Gilbert seemed impressed, saying kids these days moved fast.
“They trustworthy?”
“Yes. We even made a mana contract.”
“Good.”
Normal contracts relied on trust. Mana contracts, however, staked life itself. Break it, and you could lose your mana—or even your life.
Gilbert agreed it was the safest option.
“Still, be careful. Lady. Life can turn in an instant.”
“Of course. That’s why I haven’t told them I can make potions.”
“Good. Skills like that are best kept secret.”
He lowered his voice slightly.
“So that’s why you want a workshop?”
“Yes.”
I nodded.
“I’ll prepare a highly secure room for you. Ask for anything you need. I can even send a carriage.”
“Thank you!”
Great. Now I wouldn’t have to work in secret anymore.
With my goal fully achieved, I felt lighthearted as I popped a cookie into my mouth. The sweet chocolate chip flavor melted pleasantly on my tongue.
Ah. Sweet things really are the best.
I was going to be coming here often from now on, so I’d get to eat plenty of these.
Just thinking about it made me happy.
Then—
“By the way, Guildmaster,” I said.
