Pillar of Yita

”Once a year task, what else?” Miss Atira flipped through the contract — those were the Light Pages sent by Tianlan via the tourist system — and asked without looking up.

Fang Hong felt really embarrassed: ”We also need to help make Magic Guided Conductors.”

Having moved away from the loud source of differential engine gears, the team reached the other side of the Adventurers’ Guild hall, where it was much quieter. After congratulating Luo Yu and Gita, Miss Atira, with Tianlan’s help, began checking the contract.

Fang Hong, feeling guilty, hung his head and followed behind Elf Miss like a quail.

”Make Magic Guided Conductors?”

”To offset the rental fees —”

”Rental?”

”Such rental relationships are very common among guilds, Sister Atira,” Tianlan interjected, but curiously asked, ”Just what is the term of the rental, and what about the ownership? Brother Ade, you didn’t mess up on this, did you?”

Fang Hong shook his head; although he had suffered a setback, there was still no problem on the broader front, especially concerning the ownership issue between the two parties — he was clear on that.

As Yugudola had assured him specifically, and the contract also had special clauses restraining and specifying, Luo Yu and Gita, while in the Adventure Group, were actually considered members of the Adventure Group, and their guild statuses were only a potential identity.

But Fang Hong knew the ’Lady Grey’ proposing such a deal wasn’t to give him an advantage but to create a connection between the Adventure Group and Tabopolis.

This was something Red Leaf had talked to him about in Dolifen.

This mutually beneficial alliance forced him, on some occasions, to lean towards Tabopolis, just as Yugudola said — after all, Oak Knights were Gita and Luo Yu’s ’maternal home’ —

Only then did he realize, this was their intention.

No one would be happy about being on the losing side of a sneak attack, and Fang Hong naturally came to understand this after realizing it, filled with regret. He wasn’t unvigilant, but he also understood that this was actually because he didn’t have the power to lead negotiations, for his own strength and the Adventure Group’s were still not strong enough, lacking a bargaining chip.

Ultimately, the decision regarding Luo Yu and Gita’s stay was still in the hands of the other party, a relation of trainee and guild that Fang Hong clearly understood.

”I’m sorry.”

Fang Hong apologized quietly to the others, his face slightly flushing — indeed, he hadn’t been short of losses along the way. Initially, Miss Sicape had played him with an all-expenses-included trick. But today was different from those times; today, he was a team leader, now not only responsible for himself but his decisions also responsible for others.

”It’s okay,” Tianlan shrugged nonchalantly: ”Actually, it’s not that big of a deal, and we might still think of something about this contract —”

She hadn’t finished speaking when she was glared at by Elf Miss, who silenced her. Tianlan, frightened, stuck out her tongue and could only give Fang Hong a look, indicating she had tried her best.

Miss Atira looked at Fang Hong and then said, ”No need to apologize. After all, we all hope that Gita and Luo Yu can stay, just remember not to be so hasty next time in making decisions.”

Fang Hong nodded; he had deeply understood this, Miss Atira, Tianlan, and Hilveld were to be remembered next time during negotiations.

It was probably after successfully bargaining with Miss Sophie in the Dragon’s Trial that he became somewhat inflated. Now thinking about it, Miss Sophie was truly a righteous good person.

And he himself was not cut out for this —

He also knew why Miss Atira suddenly became very serious; maybe it was because she thought of Kid, they were probably very alike, both equally rash — just as his cousin described him, a savage.

He sighed. Only then did he remember Miss Ship’s Officer, these matters were originally supposed to be handled by her — he turned around just to see Hilveld standing there, slightly tilting her head with a small smile at him.

Those eyes that could talk seemed to say she didn’t mind.

But no way —

Fang Hong was gradually getting to know this Lady Noble’s disposition better; when she said she didn’t mind, she most likely minded a lot, and she was probably already prepared to give him the cold shoulder.

He couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat.

In comparison, the others were much more straightforward.

’Lady Papamo’ quietly complained about the other party’s cunning, causing Luo Yu and Gita considerable embarrassment at one point, but was soon scolded by both Miss Atira and Tianlan and became an ostrich, not daring to speak anymore.

Xiangzi, however, appeared just as usual, opening his mouth to demand justice for their Captain, as if afraid that Fang Hong hadn’t lost enough face, and it took some coaxing from others to calm him down, preserving some dignity for their Captain.

And Miss Atira awarded the two a roll of her eyes before continuing with other concerns: ”Who provides the materials for making the Magic Guided Conductor, and what are the requirements?”

”Of course, they provide the materials, where else would we get any?” Fang Hong answered as a matter of course.

He appeared somewhat helpless: ”The requirements aren’t too high, just twenty units per quarter...”

In Yugudola’s view, twenty units of A-grade or above quality per quarter was already considered ’a lot.’ Yet, Tianlan beside him let out a soft ’huh.’”

”Strange,” she murmured softly: ”It seems like the other party showed some mercy, if I were ’Lady Grey,’ I would definitely trick Brother Ade as a fool.”