Negotiations

"We'll publish one issue a week. We can't make it too frequent."

Astaroth sat at the table reviewing the submitted spell manuscripts. His work was of paramount importance. He had assumed no one would submit anything, yet twenty manuscripts had arrived on the very first day.

His share of the revenue was the same as Lister's. The resounding nine hundred gold coins from yesterday had greatly astonished the archmage. Astaroth's research funding for half a month amounted to no more than nine hundred gold coins. Almost instantly, he had boarded Lister's ship and become the editor-in-chief responsible for the spell section.

This job was an unadulterated feast. He could openly enjoy the fruits of others' labor. Anyone who submitted a manuscript received five gold coins, and if it was accepted, they would be paid an additional hundred. As for the selling price, the mage determined it himself. The newspaper would gather requests from interested buyers, bring the mages here to conduct the transactions, and then take a commission.

"We must tell the truth. Integrity is the foundation of business." Lister faced Old Ain, Mei Francis, Kalanduna, Professor Parin, Bramod, Valadin Silverblade, and the others. They were all prominent figures in every walk of life in Dalaran, and quite a few were powerful mages themselves. "False advertising is impossible."

Yet Lister showed no fear, because Kel'Thuzad sat beside him drinking red tea. This archmage, who had just obtained ample funding, already had several experiments brewing in his mind, yet he had to waste time here. The impatience on his face kept everyone from speaking loudly, and only Lister's voice echoed through the room. "I only hope everyone can make money in harmony. On this point, we are in agreement."

"I am a member of the council myself." Kael shrugged before Antonidas. "In fact, wouldn't it be a good thing to stir up this stagnant pool that hasn't changed in so long?"

"Mm." Antonidas sighed. Perhaps he really had grown old. But after receiving Lister's "tuition" yesterday, he understood that he had indeed aged a great deal. If Lister paid his taxes in full every month and could also give him three thousand five hundred gold coins in tuition, then all parties' interests would be satisfied to the fullest. What reason did he have to play the villain? "I understand. But for the Kirin Tor, the most serious issue is the issuance of spell qualifications."

"How to determine whether a spell is dangerous, and what circle it belongs to, is Dalaran's authority. Of course, it is also Quel'Thalas's authority. Your strength and Master Astaroth's are sufficient. But here, that authority can only belong to Dalaran, not to individual organizations." Antonidas said sternly, "Therefore, the Kirin Tor Council will assign an additional council member specifically to handle this matter. The spells you are permitted to publish cannot exceed the third circle. This is also the council's bottom line."

Kael'thas nodded. "This was my oversight. I did not notice this point, but I wonder who will be responsible..."

"Councilor Alex will be specifically responsible for this matter. He has a highly professional team, and Mage Astaroth's workload will be greatly reduced." The shrewd archmage had placed the person best suited to the position in the proper place, perfectly protecting his private library. "Of course, you must also pay Alex's team an appropriate salary. If I remember correctly, it is nine hundred gold coins per week?"

"Our salaries are drawn from our income according to different divisions of labor, as a percentage. But we can guarantee their team a base salary of one thousand gold coins per month. How it is divided will be up to them." Lister spoke at the right moment. Astaroth sneezed, still unaware that more than half his income had been carved away.

"Then that is good." Antonidas revealed a sly smile. "Of course, to ensure the safety of this publication, you must send me a sample for review at the first opportunity."

"What exactly happened in that demon attack?" Lister asked. Even now, lingering fear remained in his heart. That had only been one demon. It was hard to imagine how terrifying the Burning Legion would be in swarming hordes. No wonder countless worlds had been destroyed.

"A mutated felhound. It could use its own flesh and blood to contaminate other lifeforms, then control them. We have already locked it in the Violet Hold." Antonidas sighed. "This was Dalaran's negligence. We will strengthen our patrols. As compensation, on behalf of the council, I have shared with you the authority to review third-circle spells. Originally, we had intended to allow you to publish only first-circle spells."

"Also, you have spent far too much time recently on your side business, Prince Kael'thas. Since he is going to study rune knowledge with you, please keep an eye on him for me. This is an enormously vast field of study. It includes herbalism, inscription, alchemy, and even the study of ores and forging."

The reason he had been busy for so long was to solve the great problem of runology. Crafting runes required nothing else, only all kinds of rare magical materials: mithril, adamantite, agate, amethyst, fire coral, peridot, elementium ingots, and so on. There were simply too many. The cheapest, mithril, cost eleven silver coins per gram, or around 1.1 gold coins.

Perhaps one might ask why. Mithril was obtained by magically tempering pure silver. Only one-tenth of silver could be refined into mithril, and with the crafting fee added on, it was naturally that expensive.

"Of course. I will begin teaching runology tomorrow, provided it does not affect his main courses." Kael'thas smiled gently. "I will teach him everything I know."