"He's a clever man." Xu Yi watched Murna Lifao walk away and sighed appreciatively.
Beside him, Haines rolled his eyes. "Obviously. Murna is the most gifted mage the Lifao Family has produced since Lifao Grand Archmage. They say he has the best chance of becoming the next Grand Archmage. How could he not be clever?"
"You know that isn't what I meant." Xu Yi smiled faintly. "Instead of asking for a direct payment in gold coins, he chose to use their research materials to establish a long-term partnership with our guild. I have to say, that was a very wise choice. Only that way can they secure a stable, lasting income. Their eventual returns will be far greater than a simple payment in gold coins."
Haines rolled his eyes again. "Hey, President Xu, should I take that as you blowing your own trumpet? Are you so sure a long-term partnership with your Xinfei Merchant Guild will earn them more?"
"What? Don't you believe it?" Xu Yi countered.
Haines faltered, unable to answer.
However much Haines wanted to argue with Xu Yi, he could not deny that the Xinfei Merchant Guild had tremendous prospects for growth, and that a long-term partnership with it would bring greater returns.
Seeing that Haines had nothing to say, Xu Yi glanced in the direction Murna Lifao had gone and narrowed his eyes slightly. "You said this Murna Lifao is a gifted mage whom the Lifao Family has high hopes for, someone who might become the next Grand Archmage?"
Haines gave Xu Yi another look. "Aren't you a mage too? Can't you tell that he's already very powerful? He's two years younger than me, you know, but he's already a Level Six Mage."
"Yes, being a Level Six Mage at his age does make him an