Discussing a Partnership

Four people entered the restaurant. At the front and center walked a plump, almost perfectly round middle-aged man. The three following him, however, caught Xu Yi by surprise: Qimiro, Reno, and Vena.

What surprised Xu Yi even more was Qimiro's attitude.

Qimiro had always been arrogant because his magical ability ranked second in the research lab. Yet before this plump middle-aged man, he stood with his back slightly bent and an ingratiating smile on his face. He was not quite groveling, but he had made himself remarkably deferential, almost the opposite of the impression he usually gave Xu Yi.

Reno, behind him, was less obvious about it, but his manner toward the middle-aged man carried the same hint of flattery. He looked nothing like his usual easygoing self in the lab.

Vena alone remained as cold as ever. Xu Yi even caught a trace of contempt on her face.

Whether that contempt was directed at the middle-aged man or at Qimiro and Reno, he could not tell.

Stille noticed Xu Yi's strange reaction and turned toward the door. She, too, froze.

The little restaurant was not large, and Xu Yi and Stille were sitting near the entrance. As they spotted the four newcomers, Vena, who brought up the rear, spotted them.

"Xu Yi? Stille? What are you doing here?" Vena asked in surprise.

Qimiro had been trying to persuade the middle-aged man to have lunch somewhere else. Hearing Vena suddenly say Xu Yi's and Stille's names, he stopped short.

He turned and saw Xu Yi and Stille sitting across from each other at a table, with no one else beside them. His expression darkened.

Damn Xu Yi! What was he doing, having lunch alone with Miss Stille in a place like this? Damn him!

"Hey, Vena. What brings you all the way out here?" Xu Yi raised a hand in greeting to Vena and Reno, pointedly ignoring Qimiro. "It's quite a distance from the Magic Tower. You didn't come all this way just for lunch, did you?"

Vena glanced at Reno. He smiled awkwardly and replied, "We... came here with a guest."

"A guest?" Xu Yi looked over the middle-aged man. He radiated the shrewd air of a businessman and did not look remotely like a mage. "I take it he isn't a guest of the Magic Tower? Could you introduce us?"

"An introduction would be easy enough, but Xu Yi, what makes you think you're qualified to meet him?" Qimiro cut in with a sneer. "This is Guildmaster Fasak, who has traveled here from Sartan City. His Fasak Merchant Guild is one of the largest guilds in Sarta City, far beyond the likes of certain little guilds." He deliberately glanced at Xu Yi, leaving no doubt what he meant. "If you want to meet him, at least wait until your magical ability reaches my level."

Xu Yi watched Qimiro look down his nose at him and listened to his pompous reply. Rather than angering him, it struck him as funny.

This fellow kept saying he wanted to court Stille, yet he pulled a stunt this clumsy right in front of her. Did he really expect her to see him differently because he knew the head of some big guild?

Sure enough, Stille gave a soft snort and her pretty face hardened. "What's so impressive about the head of a big guild? I wonder how he compares with my grandfather. And Qimiro, you don't need to boast about your magical ability in front of Xu Yi. He's simply studied magic for less time. Give him enough time, and I guarantee he'll surpass you!"

Camiro had never imagined Stille would rebuke him so bluntly in front of everyone, much less stand up for Xu Yi without a moment's hesitation.

Then he remembered that the two of them had been having lunch alone. Anger surged through Camiro, and his gaze turned razor-sharp as it fixed on Xu Yi.

Xu Yi met his stare with a smile, showing no sign of backing down. There was even a glint of amusement in his eyes.

"Qimiro, surely whether I'm qualified to meet Guildmaster Fasak is for Guildmaster Fasak to decide, not you."

Qimiro gave a heavy snort. "Do you think someone as distinguished as Guildmaster Fasak would waste his time meeting a nobody like you, who hasn't even passed the Qualification Certification Examination?" He turned to the plump middle-aged man, composed his expression, and gestured toward the door. "Guildmaster Fasak, let's have lunch somewhere else. Staying here might spoil the mood. Bunta City has several fine hotels, and it's not too late to go to one."

President Fasak seemed not to hear Camiro. He studied Xu Yi carefully from head to toe several times before speaking under the others' puzzled gazes. "Excuse me... are you Mr. Xu Yi of the Xinfei Merchant Guild?"

Everyone froze.

From the look of it, Guildmaster Fasak, whom Qimiro had described as so distinguished, actually knew Xu Yi?

Xu Yi was briefly taken aback, then smiled. "That's right. I'm Xu Yi. Do you know me, Guildmaster Fasak?"

At Xu Yi's confirmation, President Fasak laughed and reached out both hands. "We haven't met before, but I've heard so much about you, Guildmaster Xu. I've wanted to meet you for quite some time. To be frank, aside from a few minor matters, the main reason I came to Bunta City was to have a proper talk with you. I wonder if you..." He paused and glanced at Stille. "I wonder if you have time now? Would you do me the honor of joining me for afternoon tea?"

The others were stunned by how courteous—almost deferential—Guildmaster Fasak was toward Xu Yi.

Stille, Reno, and Vena kept looking between Xu Yi and Guildmaster Fasak, their faces full of curiosity.

Qimiro's face had gone ashen. He had never expected Guildmaster Fasak, whom he had counted on as an important connection, to treat Xu Yi, a man he had always looked down on, with such courtesy.

It was a slap in the face!

And it had happened right in front of Stille!

"You're too kind, Guildmaster Fasak. What would you like to discuss?" Xu Yi did not agree immediately, choosing to sound him out first.

"Just a possible partnership. I believe you'll be interested, Guildmaster Xu," President Fasak replied.

"Oh?" Xu Yi gave President Fasak a curious look. After a moment's thought, he turned to Stille. "Stille, it looks like I have business to attend to. I can't stay with you for now."

Stille waved a hand. "Business comes first. Go ahead."

Xu Yi nodded. He rose, smiled at Reno and Vena in farewell, then left side by side with Guildmaster Fasak.

As Fasak departed, he did not even bother to say a word to Qimiro and the others.

Stille glanced at the dumbstruck Qimiro and gave a cold laugh. Then she acknowledged Reno and Vena with a nod and walked straight out.

Reno and Vena exchanged a look, sighed together, and left as well. Camiro remained alone in the little restaurant, his face drained of color.

After leaving the restaurant, Fasak and Xu Yi found a quiet café. The moment they sat down, Fasak said, "Guildmaster Xu, it wasn't easy to meet you in person, and time is precious, so I'll get straight to the point. The partnership I have in mind concerns Magic Fans."

Xu Yi smiled faintly. The Magic Fan was the only product the Xinfei Merchant Guild sold right now. Of course any partnership would involve it.

"How would you like to work together, Guildmaster Fasak? If you want to buy large quantities from us and take them back to Sartan City to sell, that's simple. The Xinfei Merchant Guild already has a complete process for that. You need only place an order," Xu Yi said.

President Fasak shook his head. "It isn't that simple, of course. If that were all I wanted, I wouldn't even need to seek you out, would I?"

Xu Yi nodded. "All right. Please tell me what you have in mind, President Fasak."

"Here's the situation." President Fasak cleared his throat lightly, as though choosing his words. "Buying Magic Fan in bulk from the Xinfei Merchant Guild and taking them back to sell would bring in a decent profit, but it's terribly inefficient. Losses along the way are considerable. To my mind, it simply isn't worth it. After careful consideration, I'd like to work with your guild to set up a factory producing Magic Fan directly in Sartan City."

Xu Yi raised his eyebrows slightly. President Fasak thought further ahead than most merchants.

The plan would be more troublesome to carry out, but if it went smoothly, it would solve the problem for good. The profits would also be far greater than those from purchasing fans here.

"President Fasak, if I remember correctly, a guild in Sartan City already produces Magic Fan. They aren't Xinfei Magic Fans, of course. But as far as I know, that guild has a monopoly on Magic Fan sales in Sartan City. How can you be sure a new Magic Fan factory there would be able to sell its products?" Xu Yi asked.

A gentle-looking smile spread across President Fasak's plump face. "If we were producing the same Magic Fan, we couldn't. But if they were Xinfei Magic Fans—and the new generation of them at that—I don't think it would be a problem."