Sensing someone else enter, Ron looked toward the door. When he saw Mason, he immediately smiled and stood up from the recliner.
Before he could greet him, Mason asked, "Your Highness, Prince Ron, that man was so rude. Why didn't you teach him a lesson?"
Ron chuckled. "I introduced him to the flowers in the shop and told him the prices. Since he wasn't going to buy anything, why should I waste my breath and energy?"
After explaining, Ron looked at the person behind Mason and said, "Mason, aren't you going to introduce us?"
"Oh, right..." Only then did Mason remember why he had come. He quickly stepped half a pace aside and introduced him to Ron. "This is Professor Hicks of the Magic Academy, a high-tier Tier Six mage."
"Hello, Your Highness, Prince Ron." Hicks smiled and nodded, then extended his hand to Ron.
With his status as a Tier Six mage, Hicks didn't need to take the initiative to offer his hand, even when meeting a high-ranking noble.
If Ron had been no more than a powerless Seventh Prince, Hicks would never have been so courteous.
"Hello, Professor Hicks. I've always been eager to see what life at the Magic Academy is like. It's a pleasure to meet you." Ron lightly shook Hicks's hand and greeted him with an unassuming smile.
"If you have the time, Your Highness, you're welcome to visit the Magic Academy," Professor Hicks said politely. Then he got straight to the point and explained why he had come. "Mason told me about a plant called the Nether Orchid, so I came here specifically to discuss a business deal with you. Do you have time, Your Highness?"
Ron raised an eyebrow, thinking that his main quest looked set to be completed ahead of schedule.
"Of course. We can talk upstairs." Ron readily agreed. Then he looked at Mason with an apologetic expression. "Mason, could you watch the shop for me? If anyone wants to buy Nether Orchids, just leave the payment on the counter."
Professor Hicks nodded, so Mason promptly replied, "No problem. Leave it to me."
"Sorry for the trouble." Ron thanked him, then led Professor Hicks to the sitting room on the second floor.
They sat facing each other on the sofa.
Professor Hicks didn't bother with small talk. He got straight to the point. "The Magic Academy would like to purchase a large batch of Nether Orchids from you, Your Highness. We hope to establish a partnership with your flower shop."
"In principle, that's no problem," Ron said with a nod. "However, the Nether Orchid is a plant for which we've only just found a way to cultivate on a large scale. Its growing conditions are also rather demanding, so there aren't many available right now."
As far as Ron was concerned, the Nether Orchids' numbers weren't a problem at all, as long as he exchanged for enough Cultivation Space.
But this was a business negotiation, after all. He had to talk up his goods a little to raise the price.
Professor Hicks nodded to show he understood. "That won't be a problem. We can buy according to your output."
Hearing that the Nether Orchids were scarce actually made Hicks more willing to accept it.
With a miraculous plant like the Nether Orchid, even if they had found a way to grow it on a large scale, that was bound to be relative.
It would be downright bizarre if they were as abundant as ordinary rice.
Before coming, Hicks had already prepared himself for that possibility. He was even willing to pay a premium.
The Magic Academy wasn't short of money, anyway. The yearly contributions from the great families alone were more than they could spend.
Those families were never stingy when it came to sending their children to the academy to study magic.
Hicks had no qualms about spending their money.
"There are about a hundred Nether Orchids in the shop right now," Ron said.
"A hundred is quite a lot," Professor Hicks replied with a smile. "Could you sell them all to the Magic Academy first? It would be a good start to our partnership."
Ron raised an eyebrow. He hadn't expected to be able to complete his main quest so soon.
"Of course." Ron nodded. "You can take those Nether Orchids today."
"Then let's call this our first deal." Professor Hicks smiled and held out his hand. Silver light flickered faintly across the embroidery on his sleeve, and a Gold Depository note appeared on the coffee table. A magic pen appeared in his hand as well.
Ron found it fascinating, his gaze wandering over Professor Hicks's sleeve.
It was probably a kind of spatial enchantment that could store a limited number of items—a piece of enchanted clothing.
Ron had read about similar things in books, but this was his first time seeing one in person.
Professor Hicks's was a high-end version, engraved directly into his sleeve and seamlessly integrated with his entire mage's robe.
The mage's robe was itself a powerful enchanted item, so there was little need to worry about it getting damaged.
More basic storage spaces took the form of rings, necklaces, and bracelets.
Of course, some people had unusual tastes and liked to commission storage spaces in the form of close-fitting garments. They were both secure and discreet.
Professor Hicks wrote "2000" on the note and promptly handed it to Ron.
Ron looked at the note on the coffee table in front of him, then met Professor Hicks's gaze and smiled without changing his expression. "I can see you're sincere, Professor."
"Although this is our first time meeting, I feel confident doing business with you, Your Highness," Professor Hicks said with a smile. "So, shall we discuss a longer-term partnership?"
"I'd be delighted."
The shop's first floor.
Mason took the twenty gold coins from his colleague. As he explained why he was there, he placed the coins on the counter.
Most of the people who came to buy Nether Orchids were from the Magic Academy.
After Mason was promoted to Tier Four, he had written a promotion report in accordance with the academy's usual requirements.
The report detailed his insights into the breakthrough and the things to keep in mind during the process. He had also added a note about the Nether Orchid at the end.
Because Mason had only managed to advance after failing four times, his report attracted considerable attention at the academy.
This was especially true of the mages who were stuck at the same threshold. They all hoped to find some clue that would help them advance.
And so, word of the Nether Orchid spread through the academy.
The academy reviewed promotion reports, so there was no chance of one being sent out by mistake. As soon as the mages who read Mason's report saw it, they were moved to act.
The academy's teaching assistants in particular had monthly reimbursement allowances to fall back on, so they paid the twenty gold coins for a Nether Orchid without hesitation.
Even the better-off mage apprentices still studying at the academy gritted their teeth and came to buy Nether Orchids at the flower shop.
As for those who couldn't afford them, most could only feel regret and hope that the Magic Tower might open rooms containing Nether Orchids to the public.
Still, some people had tried to cheat the system, such as the mage apprentice who had hired three thugs to steal the flowers yesterday.
"Hm? Why are you here!?"
Mason had just said goodbye to a colleague when he heard a startled, grating voice from the shop entrance. He immediately looked toward the door.
"Well, well. If it isn't the doorman?" Mason raised an eyebrow. His expression turned rather interesting as he looked at Old White the goblin, hesitating in the doorway.
Old White glared at Mason, his face dark. He couldn't figure out why the other man was in the shop.
After reading Mason's promotion report, he had hesitated for several seconds before gritting his teeth and pulling his twenty gold coins in savings from the sock beneath his pillow. He had decided to buy a Nether Orchid.
And now he'd run into Mason of all people at the flower shop!?
Remembering how he had mocked and sneered at Mason, only to come scurrying to buy Nether Orchids today, Old White felt his face burn with embarrassment.
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