In the quiet atmosphere, Pekala's confidence gradually shifted from its initial abundance to a faint unease.
A moment later, when Claire pried open the fourth shell, Anvis finally smiled and nodded.
"I can work with you, Pekala."
But just as the girl breathed a sigh of relief, before she could show any excitement, Anvis suddenly changed tack. "However, I won't sign any contract with you. It will only be a verbal agreement. Can you accept that?"
In this world where magic was everywhere, signing a contract meant leaving behind evidence.
Although he valued the resources of the White Rose Merchant Alliance, as a descendant of a great noble house, privately reaching a cooperative agreement with a merchant guild was ultimately not something that could be brought into the open. It was best not to leave behind any leverage.
Pekala froze for a moment. Her soft pink lips pursed slightly, and a trace of hesitation appeared on her cute little face.
But she quickly understood Anvis's intentions. As she secretly bit down on her little canine tooth, she nodded firmly.
"Of course. I believe in your promise."
She recalled what her mother had told her before she left: find a way to establish ties with a true descendant of a great noble house.
Regardless of whether Anvis ultimately kept his promise, using the merchant guild's resources to gain his favor was indeed the best choice for her at the moment.
Although she currently had the authority to freely mobilize some resources, those were the resources of the Cromier Merchant Guild. They belonged to her father, the guild president, not to her and her mother.
Watching the girl's reaction, Anvis smiled faintly. He lifted the crystal-clear goblet filled with Azure Juice, its pale blue candlelight shimmering in the drink, and gestured to