The woman’s eyes widened in astonishment as an array of monster carcasses materialized before her, each more exotic and fearsome than the last. The pungent scent of preserved flesh and magical reagents filled the air, a testament to the freshness and quality of Lucavion’s wares. Experience tales at empire
A massive, scaled appendage unfurled across the polished wooden floor, its iridescent hide shimmering with an otherworldly luster. The woman’s breath caught in her throat as she recognized the distinctive patterns of a Frost Wyrm, a creature found only in the frigid peaks of the Northern Reaches, far beyond Stormhaven’s borders.
Beside it lay the hulking form of a Sandstorm Behemoth, its rough, sandy exterior a stark contrast to the Frost Wyrm’s sleek scales. The woman’s gaze darted to its massive, crystalline claws, each one easily the size of a broadsword. Such a beast hadn’t been seen in these parts for decades.
“By the gods,” the woman breathed, her professional demeanor momentarily forgotten. Her eyes roamed over the impressive collection, taking in the shimmering scales of a Thundercloud Serpent, the wickedly curved horns of a Shadow Stalker, and the pulsing, ethereal core of what could only be a Void Elemental.
Lucavion’s smirk deepened, satisfaction glinting in his dark eyes. “I trust this qualifies as an opportunity worth your time?”
The woman’s gaze snapped back at him, a newfound respect evident in her expression. “Where did you get all this?” she asked, her voice hushed with awe and a touch of wariness.
“A gentleman never reveals all his secrets,” Lucavion replied smoothly, his smirk never faltering. “Let’s just say I have my methods and leave it at that.”
The woman’s eyes narrowed slightly, but the allure of the rare materials before her was too strong to ignore. She straightened, her business acumen reasserting itself. “Very well. What exactly are you proposing?”
Lucavion’s gloved hand swept gracefully over the array of monster parts. “These materials are precisely what your adventurers need for the Duke’s expedition. Rare, powerful, and most importantly, available right here, right now.”
He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Imagine the advantage your guild could offer its members. While others scramble for scraps, your adventurers could be outfitted with the finest gear, crafted from materials most have only heard of in legends.”
The woman’s eyes gleamed with interest, her mind clearly racing with the possibilities. “You make a compelling case,” she said, her tone measured but unable to fully mask her excitement. “But such rare materials… the cost would be exorbitant.”
Lucavion’s smile widened, a predatory glint in his eyes. “Ah, but that’s where things get interesting. I’m not looking for just coin, my dear.”
The woman’s brow furrowed. “No coin? Then what do you want in exchange?”
“Nothing much. There are some materials that I need, that are really hard to find.”
“Some materials?”
“Yup.”
The woman’s gaze sharpened as she processed Lucavion’s proposal, her hands resting lightly on the counter. “Is that the reason you came here?” she asked, her tone steady but laced with intrigue.
Lucavion’s smirk widened, his dark eyes gleaming with amusement. “You catch on fast,” he replied smoothly, reaching into his coat once again. From within, he produced a folded parchment, its edges worn but the ink bold and precise.
Unfolding it with deliberate care, Lucavion laid the parchment flat on the counter, revealing a detailed list of rare herbs and materials. The woman leaned in, her sharp eyes scanning the elegant script. With each name she read, her expression shifted—from curiosity, to astonishment, to disbelief.
“This…” she murmured, her fingers tracing one of the names on the list. “These are—”
“Outrageous?” Lucavion supplied with a raised brow, his tone playful yet firm. “Yes, I thought you might say that.”
The woman’s eyes darted back to the collection of rare monster carcasses sprawled across the floor. Then to the list, and back again. “You’re offering us a ten percent discount on some of the most sought-after materials we’ve seen in years… and in exchange, you expect us to procure these for you?”
Her voice rose slightly, disbelief creeping into her otherwise professional tone.
Lucavion’s smirk didn’t waver. If anything, it grew sharper, like a predator toying with its prey. “Precisely. Consider it a mutually beneficial arrangement. I provide your guild with an edge, and in return, you acquire what I need.”
The woman shook her head, incredulous. “Do you even realize what you’re asking for? Some of these—” she jabbed a finger at the list, her eyes narrowing “—are not even that cheap for you to find! Aetherium shards from the Calamity Peaks? Do you have any idea what lengths we had to go to just to locate these?”
“Heee…..So you already knew their location…..that saves a lot of time already, doesn’t it?”
The woman’s face flushed as she hastily covered her mouth, realizing her slip of the tongue. The weight of recent pressures and exhaustion had worn her down, leading to this momentary lapse—an embarrassing mistake for a guild master to make. She straightened, her professional composure quickly returning. “But still—”
Before she could finish, Lucavion moved, his steps deliberate and slow as he began gathering his materials. The fluidity of his actions spoke volumes, each motion a carefully choreographed display of dismissal. “I see,” he said smoothly, his voice tinged with feigned disappointment. “You’re not interested. It’s a pity, really. I had hoped to work with the Adventurer’s Guild, considering I, myself, am an adventurer. But…” He glanced over his shoulder, his smirk returning. “I suppose I’ll take my business to the Merchant’s Guild. They’ve been known to make better offers already.”
The woman’s eyes widened in alarm as she realized he was serious. Panic flared within her, the implications of losing such rare materials to their rivals flashing through her mind. Without thinking, she rushed forward, her hand darting out to grab his arm.
“No!” she exclaimed, her voice more forceful than she intended.
Lucavion stopped mid-step, turning his head to regard her with a raised brow. His smirk shifted into something almost teasing, his dark eyes gleaming with amusement. “My lady,” he said, his voice low and smooth, “what should I take this for? An invitation for the night?”
The woman froze, her face reddening further as she quickly let go of his arm and stepped back. “Ahem…” she cleared her throat, fumbling to recover her dignity. “That was not my intention.”
Lucavion’s smirk widened, his gloved hand brushing his coat with exaggerated care. “Ah, I see. My apologies, then.” He inclined his head, his tone polite but still tinged with amusement. “So, what might I take it as, Guild master?”
“You knew.”
“Of course.”
“…Sigh…”
The woman straightened, regaining her composure. “Consider it…” She paused, choosing her words carefully. “A signal of our willingness to negotiate.”
Lucavion tilted his head, his smirk softening into something more neutral but no less calculating. “Well, in that case, I believe we can continue our discussion.”
The woman nodded curtly, relief flashing in her eyes as she gestured back toward the counter. “Let’s return to the matter at hand. I’ll need more specifics on your requirements and what adjustments we might consider for this… arrangement.”
“Of course,” Lucavion said, smoothly following her lead. As they resumed their positions at the counter, he leaned in slightly, his tone turning serious. “Now, about those Aetherium shards…”
Inwardly, he mused at how easily the balance of power in negotiations could shift. Vitaliara’s voice echoed faintly in his mind, carrying an edge of amusement. [You really do enjoy this, don’t you?]
Always, Lucavion thought with a smirk. The dance is what makes it fun.
The guild master gestured toward a quieter corner of the guild hall, a small room enclosed by glass panels etched with intricate designs. “Let’s discuss this in private,” she said, her tone professional as she led Lucavion inside.
The room was modest but functional, with a heavy wooden table at its center surrounded by well-worn chairs. A single lamp cast a warm glow over the space, illuminating the stack of ledgers neatly piled on one side. Lucavion settled into a chair with his usual easy grace, his dark eyes following the guild master as she placed her own papers before her.
She adjusted her spectacles, her fingers deftly flipping through the list of materials he had provided. “Now,” she began, glancing at the array of monster hides still spread out in the main hall, visible through the glass panels, “let’s recount everything you’ve brought.”
The guild master ticked off each item on her list, her voice steady as she listed their properties and value. “A Frost Wyrm hide, practically flawless. The scales of a Thundercloud Serpent, imbued with latent electricity. A Sandstorm Behemoth’s claws, crystalline and still resonating with its elemental magic. And this…” She paused, her gaze resting on the ethereal core of the Void Elemental. “This alone is enough to fetch a small fortune.”
Lucavion leaned back in his chair, his smirk faint but ever-present. “Impressive inventory skills. Now, what’s your offer?”
She glanced up from her papers, her expression carefully neutral. “For the lot, I’d propose 5,000 gold pieces. A fair price, considering the market and the rarity of these materials.”
Inwardly, Lucavion’s smirk sharpened, though he showed no sign of emotion outwardly. Five thousand… ambitious, aren’t we?
[Vitaliara,] he murmured in his thoughts, [what do you think? Is she bluffing?]
Vitaliara, perched ethereally beside him, flicked her tail with a touch of amusement. [Her vitality is stagnant—steady and calm. But it spiked briefly when you were about to leave. She’s being cautious, but she’s not lying.]
Lucavion nodded subtly, filing the observation away. This method, developed through his partnership with Vitaliara, had proven invaluable. By sensing fluctuations in a person’s life force, they could gauge emotional spikes akin to how lie detectors on Earth monitored physical responses. He had proposed the idea after recalling stories of Earth’s interrogation methods, though he hadn’t revealed the source of his inspiration.
At first, Vitaliara had dismissed the concept as absurd. [Measuring lies through vitality? That’s nonsense.] But as Lucavion tested the technique repeatedly, and the results consistently aligned with his suspicions, even she had begrudgingly admitted its effectiveness.
[It’s uncanny,] she had once remarked. [I still don’t know how you thought of it.]
Lucavion’s smirk deepened. Some secrets are best kept close, my dear.
Returning to the present, Lucavion’s dark eyes met the guild master’s unflinchingly. “Five thousand,” he repeated, his tone calm but carrying an edge of negotiation. “It’s a reasonable starting point. But considering the uniqueness of these materials, especially the Void Elemental core, I believe we can push for… refinement of terms.”
The guild master arched an eyebrow, intrigued despite herself. “Refinement? Such as?”
Lucavion leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, his gloved hands clasped. “You’ve evaluated the lot well, but we both know the market demand for materials like these has surged. I’ll agree to the five thousand if, and only if, you commit to securing everything on my list until the expedition starts.”
The guild master hesitated, her fingers drumming against the table. “That’s a tight timeline.”
“Indeed.” Lucavion smiled faintly, his gaze steady. “It’s tight because it’s necessary. These materials aren’t for mere decoration, Guild Master. They’re tools for survival.”
“Survival? How are these related to survival? You seem perfectly fine.”
“Well, someone else is not. But let’s keep that confidential, shall we?”