I walked out of the shower and wore a suit before looking at the mirror.
The paleness and weakness had vanished. I now feel fine and complete. I had nearly recovered; the small part won't stop me from projecting my full strength.
Still, I am refraining from using the skills and the aura. I won't use them unless necessary, at least until I leave this city.
Archmage City is the safest place on the continent.
It is a thousand times safer than my city. If it had been Greltheaven, I wouldn't have been able to control myself for more than a few days before activating the skill.
Still, it made things more challenging, especially when the other party used the skills.
Here, I interact with powerful people. Without Jon and Margaux, I would have had no choice but to activate my aura and skills to defend myself.
I glanced at the mirror, adjusted my suit and hair, and headed downstairs.
Twenty minutes later, I found myself sitting in a parlor with the two men—one the host of the legacy, the other its guardian.
"Sure, the mist-forged goods won't be a problem. I can sell them to you, complete with enchantments and all, but..." I replied, leaving the sentence hanging.
The middle-aged orc with dark hair was Dular Stonemaw, Master of Maw Grill—a Grade IV legacy.
The blue-haired half beside him is its guardian. They are from Navr.
They want everything—grill grates, knives, tongs, trays, and anything else we could offer them.
"We can pay you above the market price," said the half-elf, but I shook my head.
"I do not want the money, Lord Jarys," I replied.
"We cannot give you essence. It is off limits," he said, to which I shook my head.
"I don't want the essence either. I have my own legacy," I said. "Though, I would accept it if you offered it—after all, it's a Grade IV essence. But that won't happen."
So, I want something else. Something I've desired for quite some time.
"I want liquor—the aged ones. You've been holding back on that," I replied, and a smile spread across their faces.
Since the Velvet Garden ascended to the legacy, I've had access to the finest liquor. I've amassed bottles from the top hundred liquors, some of which are incredibly rare.
Even among them, there are distinctions—certain ages or batches are considered the best. I've managed to get my hands on liquor aged up to a hundred years, but nothing older. Even for a hundred-year-old bottle, I had to pay a steep price.
Money isn't an issue. As long as I have the liquor, there will always be people willing to pay for it.
Most importantly, it will help me advance my vision of providing the best experience to my patrons.
"I think that shouldn't be a problem, Lord Silver," said the half-elf.
"Good. Please send your people to Greltheaven to negotiate," I replied.
Such negotiations are complex. We can only initiate things; others will handle the actual negotiation.
"Lord Silver, the higher-ups have asked me to inform you that we are interested in essence and are willing to exchange rare items in return," he said.
I smiled at that instead of replying.
The merchant state had asked me not to sell a single drop to Navr.
I plan to follow it because Navr is an enemy who will eventually attack, and I need the merchants and don't want to displease them yet.
A minute later, I walked out of the parlor with a smile showing on my face. I have made many such deals with other masters of legacy.
They want mist-forged goods because they are best for the legacies.
Few legacies produce them.
Most would focus on weapons, so I concentrate on kitchen goods instead. Most legacies are recreation-type, and they have kitchens.
Not only the legacies want them, but everyone: nobles, powerhouses, and even the royals.
I had years of orders before coming here, and now they have increased even more. I anticipated that and made Gagarin expand.
"Anything?" I asked as I got out of the parlor.
Today is the ninth day of the synod. The new council will be announced soon, yet there has been no reply from the Grand Mage.
There are only a few hours before the announcement, and I am getting worried. The academy is extremely important, and funding will help tremendously.
Funding it ourselves will create a lot of problems.
We need money for other essential things, especially one that will require an insane amount of money in a few months, given the city's growth.
"There is no response, but Miss Dawnstar is waiting for you in the office," replied Davis.
I had an appointment with her.
I hope she agrees; the news of her joining alone will help the college tremendously.
…..
Myrathra Dawnstar
Click!
The door opened, and the young Lord walked in. He was alone, but I could faintly sense another presence.
The rogue with aura.
I want an aura. It is one of the reasons I am going to Greltheaven.
As 99% of people reach Lv. 50 have an aura. Some people considered it a condition to reach Lv. 50.
A whore had awakened an aura. The news of Carla Salt awakening the aura made me seriously consider Greltheaven an option.
"Lord Silver," I greeted.
"Miss Dawnstar," he said and sat down before looking at me and awaiting my answer.
"I will join the college to take a teaching position, but I have a few conditions," I said, and I could see a small smile appearing on his face.
It wasn't an easy choice. I have thought about it a lot.
When I told Halbis about it, he laughed and told me not to accept, which is something, seeing the man dreaming about me leaving. So he could control everything.
I asked the people I trusted and valued their opinions, but they, too, had asked me to reject the offer.
Saying it is disrespectful and beneath me, given my level.
I wanted to reject it and nearly did, but I decided to read about it in complete detail before deciding.
I learned everything: how they operate, what they teach, and many other things. The more I read, the more my opinion changed until I made the opposite decision.
"What are your conditions?" he asked.
"First, I will need an early termination clause. I could leave if I want if I don't feel the job isn't suitable for me or I feel there is a threat to my life,"
"The second is that I will need the position of the vice-headmistress."
"Third, I want my…"
I listed one condition after another, and he listened without interrupting me—not once.
I looked at him once I finished and saw him deep in thought.
"I could agree to the termination clause, but it would only apply for the first six months. You can leave if you don't feel it's the job you want."
"As for the termination due to danger, I will only add a war clause."
"As for you getting the position of vice-headmistress, the answer is no. The position needs to be earned; the head of the department is the most I can offer," he said.
"I will accept your condition on housing, but..."
He responded, accepting some terms outright, modifying others, and rejecting a few altogether.
I countered them, and he countered back. The back and forth continued for over twenty minutes before we finally agreed.
"You will not regret this decision. Miss Dawnstar," he stated. "I hope so, my lord," I replied.
"I will have a contract drawn and sent to you this evening," he said.
"I will be waiting," I replied.
"I know, I should be saying this after contracts are signed, but welcome to Velvet Garden, Miss Dawnstar," he warmly stated. "Thank you, Lord Silver," I replied and shook his hand.
This decision is daunting and scary, but I have to take it. I hope it will be worth it.
…
I watched the woman leave, and a big smile couldn't help but appear on my face.
Getting her is a significant victory.
"There is a response from the office of Grand Mage. They want you to meet Great Mage Xarafis at twelve," said Davis, and the smile on my face grew even bigger.
Great Mage Xarafis is Grand Mage Asin's aide and secretary of the synod council.
If the council had agreed to my proposal, then Xarafis would be the man I should meet. So, it is very likely that they would have accepted it.
Still, I did not let myself get too excited.
"Inform, Lady May. That I will not be able to attend her soiree," I said. A few minutes later, Oakley came, and we drafted the contract.
I had prepared contracts, but given her level, we would need to craft one suitable for her. It might take some time.
Thankfully, I had kept the morning free.
I had done that intentionally. I knew if I got a response. I must meet in the afternoon before the council election results are announced.
"Done," he said as he finished drafting the contract.
I read through it once more carefully. Looking at any flaw that might come to bite me.
When I saw there was none. I activated the power of legacy and Lord's Contract, using a skill for the first time since coming here.
I wouldn't have, but this contract is too important.
"Sent it to Miss Dawnstar in a few hours," I said before getting up. I would have liked to send it now, but I don't want to seem desperate.