Elwin's reminder was well-intentioned, of course, but he had no idea that the Xinfei Merchant Guild of today was an entirely different proposition from the Xinfei Merchant Guild at this time last year.
When Xu Yi had come last year, the Xinfei Merchant Guild had only just gotten started. It had barely made a name for itself even in Bunta City, and no one in Anvilmar City had heard of it at all. Xu Yi had therefore needed to approach the mages taking the assessment one by one, putting on his most sincere and enthusiastic manner to invite them to work for the Xinfei Merchant Guild.
Even then, Xu Yi had met with countless cold rebuffs.
A year later, however, Great Mage Camilla joining the Xinfei Merchant Guild had caused a sensation throughout the Lampari Kingdom's mage community. Its reputation had soared, drawing mages to it in droves.
Earlier, Xu Yi had even been forced to turn some away because too many mages wanted to join the Xinfei Merchant Guild.
Moreover, thanks to the accounts of the mages present who already worked for the Xinfei Merchant Guild, the others had learned that it offered excellent pay and benefits. Working there also meant dealing with novel magic arrays all day and being required to master how to construct them, which was actually a great help in improving their magical abilities.
For many mages, especially these lower-level ones, working for the Xinfei Merchant Guild had thus become quite an attractive option.
Xu Yi did not need to approach them at all. These mages came to him on their own.
Elwin had barely paused his conversation with Xu Yi before several mages who could no longer contain themselves approached him.
Whether they made roundabout inquiries or asked him outright, they all conveyed the