"Don't think about mass production yet." Su Li sheathed the owner-bound dagger at his waist. "These three are samples. We need people to see the real things first."
The next morning, Talia arrived with Violet.
She turned the three finished products over and examined them, then used a guide needle to test the stability parameters of their circuits.
"The structure is simple." She set the thermostatic pot back on the table, her tone even.
Su Li waited for the rest of her assessment.
"But the stability is very high." Talia ran a fingernail along the circuit on the bottom of the pot. "Four nodes, two main lines, no unnecessary branches. Low output loss, long service life. Even if the aether is completely exhausted, it won't collapse."
She lined up the three finished products side by side.
"Suitable for mass production."
Coming from Talia, those three words carried more weight than ten compliments.
The tradition of Elven Magic Forgers was to pursue complexity and refinement. In the entire association, there was not a second person who would treat simplicity and practicality as selling points.
That afternoon, the Elven Merchant Association held a small internal review for the batch of samples.
Three high-ranking Magic Forgers circled the insulated lunch box for a long while. Two of them frowned.
"Household enchanted goods? We're putting this sort of thing on the counters of our association?"
"It damages our dignity. The Elven Merchant Association should be selling weapons, protective gear, high-grade circuit products—not pots, bowls, and pans."
Elvin sat at the head of the review table and had not spoken a word.
Once the two opposing Magic Forgers had finished, he picked up the insulated lunch box, opened the lid, and took a sniff.
Inside was half a pastry Violet had secretly placed there.