Chapter Fifteen: Is Lux a Tsundere?

Lux smiled. "Mr. Roland, no one would let their guard down just because of something you said. I'm no different."

Jiang Chuan smiled wryly. "Looks like I shouldn't have told you so much. But if I can summon you in Demacia, I can summon you in the Immortal Bastion, too. Maybe I could even summon Darius in Demacia. What do you think?"

Lux smiled. "I don't believe you can summon Darius."

Jiang Chuan looked at the moon and smiled. "Miss Lux, if I were you, I wouldn't say that."

Jiang Chuan snapped his fingers. A burly man appeared before them—a man Lux knew very well. It was none other than Garen.

Garen had been on a mission in Noxus when he suddenly heard a snap. In an instant, he was standing in front of his sister, with a strange, unfamiliar man watching him.

Garen pulled the startled Lux behind him, raised his greatsword, and said to Jiang Chuan, "Who are you? What have you done to my sister?"

Jiang Chuan smiled. "Don't be alarmed. I mean you no harm. You can go back now."

Jiang Chuan snapped his fingers again, and Garen vanished in a flash of light.

Poor Garen had been gone again less than a minute after showing up.

Jiang Chuan smiled. "Miss Lux, your brother was on a mission in Noxus just now, wasn't he? Do you believe now that my claim I can summon Darius isn't just empty talk?"

Lux recovered from her shock, looked at Jiang Chuan, and said coolly, "What do you want?"

Jiang Chuan shook his head. "I don't want anything. If I had to name something, I need you to represent me in Demacia."

Lux shouted, "Don't even think about it! I would never betray my country!"

Jiang Chuan smiled. "I'm not asking you to betray your country. I'm a merchant, and I need your help connecting with House Crownguard. I'll also provide you with things to fight monsters. At its heart, this is a very worthwhile deal."

Lux looked at Jiang Chuan in confusion. "Then why did you choose me?"

Jiang Chuan gazed into Lux's blue eyes. "Because you're beautiful. That's a reason, isn't it?"

The real reason Jiang Chuan had chosen her was that he couldn't find anyone else suitable. The only heroes in House Crownguard were Lux and Garen. Garen was all brawn; he'd be great charging into battle, but as a merchant? Forget it. After considering it from every angle, Lux was the only suitable choice. Whenever Jiang Chuan needed to give her instructions, all he had to do was snap his fingers. Besides, Lux was a stunning beauty.

Lux looked at Jiang Chuan doubtfully. "That's it?"

Jiang Chuan looked shocked. "What else? Did you think there was some earth-shattering conspiracy?"

Lux couldn't find any holes in Jiang Chuan's story. She snorted and left. There was no point staying any longer; she wouldn't get anything useful out of him. She might as well keep an eye on him from a distance.

After Lux left, Jiang Chuan dropped to the ground and panted. Summoning two heroes at once had taken too much out of him. Just summoning Garen and then sending him back had drained all his strength, leaving him feeling completely spent.

Looks like summoning heroes and sending them back are both controlled by a thought. The reason I couldn't send them back the first few times was probably that I hadn't recovered from my injuries yet. Summoning two heroes is just too difficult. At least, I can't do it yet.

After resting in a chair until he'd recovered a little strength, Jiang Chuan returned to the banquet and said goodbye to Koster. Koster had wanted him to stay at the Crownguard estate, but Jiang Chuan declined, saying he had business to attend to.

Jiang Chuan went to the inn where Laurie and the others were staying. After giving them some instructions, he went upstairs to rest.

For the next few days, Jiang Chuan waited at the inn for news from Koster. A week later, Koster sent someone to tell him, "Mr. Roland, the heads of the family have all arrived in White Cliff City. Would it be possible for you to bring your machine over this afternoon so we can see how it works?"

Jiang Chuan smiled and said to his men, "Today's the day we close the deal. If it goes well, you'll all get a day off when we return to Bilgewater. Don't mess this up."

Laurie thumped his chest. "President, don't worry. We've kept a close eye on the machine these past few days. It's in perfect condition."

Jiang Chuan smiled. "Let's open the crate and inspect it one more time, just to be safe."

They checked it again, confirmed everything was in order, and set off for the jewelry store.

When Jiang Chuan and his party arrived at the jewelry store, both Koster and Lux were there. Koster introduced them. "Mr. Roland, this is my uncle, Gaster, of the Crownguard Family."

Jiang Chuan smiled. "It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. My name is Roland, and I'm from Bilgewater. We can test my machine at a mine. It was designed specifically for mining."

Gaster said, "Mr. Roland, we've already made the arrangements. This way, please."

Gaster led Jiang Chuan and his party to one of House Crownguard's mines in White Cliff City. He smiled and said, "Mr. Roland, I'll leave the rest to you."

After Jiang Chuan and his men had set up the steam engine, laid the rails, and positioned the carts, he said, "You can have someone fill all five carts with ore now."

Koster waved, and the workers in the mine loaded the carts. Jiang Chuan started the steam engine, and the chain slowly began to move. Before long, five carts rolled into view, full of ore. They came to a smooth stop right in front of the group.

Jiang Chuan smiled. "This machine can run around the clock. A single load can carry as much as more than ten workers, and it only takes one person to operate. It's very simple to use."

Gaster thought it over, then said, "Mr. Roland, I have to admit this machine is very tempting. How much does it cost?"

Jiang Chuan held up five fingers. "Ten thousand Gold Coins and ten craftsmen. I believe it's worth the price."

Gaster frowned and considered it before replying, "That's acceptable. House Crownguard can afford that price. I think we could work together long-term. You provide the machines, and we sell them in Demacia. How about you take sixty percent of the proceeds and we take forty?"

Jiang Chuan smiled. "Mr. Gaster, I'm afraid that plan won't work just yet. I only have this one machine at the moment. We could establish a Merchant Guild, either under House Crownguard's name or my own. I'll provide the goods, and you'll sell them. The steam engine would only be one of many products. We could split the profits fifty-fifty. What do you think?"

Gaster smiled. "Of course. Mr. Roland, this machine will cause quite a stir in Demacia. I'll have someone prepare the money for it. It should take about three days, and then we'll have it delivered to you."

Jiang Chuan smiled. "Then I'm much obliged to you, sir. I have one small favor to ask, and I hope you'll grant it."

Gaster smiled. "Go ahead."

Jiang Chuan turned to Lux. "I'd like Miss Lux to manage the Merchant Guild."

Gaster frowned. "Lux?"

Jiang Chuan explained, "Miss Lux is very popular in Demacia. We can use her popularity to break into the market and avoid a lot of trouble at the outset."

Gaster smiled. "You young people can discuss that among yourselves."

Jiang Chuan smiled. "Thank you, sir."

After talking with Jiang Chuan for a while, Gaster returned to White Cliff City. Jiang Chuan caught up with Lux and smiled. "Miss Lux, would you be interested in managing a Merchant Guild?"

Lux replied sharply, "You must be plotting something! I won't let your scheme succeed!"

Jiang Chuan shook his head. "Would you really pass up the chance to keep an eye on me? If you manage the guild, everything I provide to Demacia will have to go through you. Are you sure you don't want to?"

Lux lowered her head. "Then I'll accept your request. I'll see through you sooner or later, hmph!"

With that, Lux ran off, leaving Jiang Chuan standing there in a daze. "Lux is a tsundere? What kind of character setting is that?"