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Episode 44. An Unfair Contract

Rumble. The carriage stopped.

The knights who dismounted stood on either side of the carriage door.

"…."

A man with red skin and a long, slit-like mouth stepped out. He had a heavy, beast-like face and a large frame. His hand, braced against the carriage door for balance, was covered in calluses, hardly resembling a human hand.

"Are you the guild's director, Damian?"

A deep voice flowed from his mouth.

"I am Gover, from the Tulda family. I've come as the second son, representing the family."

Gover?

The name was familiar.

Soon, I realized that this man was a character from the original <Flower of Revenge>.

How could I forget him. Whenever he appeared, he was described as fierce and cruel — and above all, he was the one who killed Lapin's brother.

"I am Damian, director of the Bendon Guild. Beside me is my assistant, Lucy."

I simply nodded.

"Please come in. I'll guide you."

Damian entered the main building first and led him to the director's office at the very top.

"…."

Only the sound of footsteps climbing the stairs could be heard. I worried he might trip, but fortunately, nothing happened.

"Here we are."

We safely reached the office, and Damian and the man took their seats. The assistant standing behind each of us quickly sized each other up, gauging the atmosphere. He too remained vigilant, prepared for any situation.

"I'll get straight to the point."

Gover spoke first.

"I came here because I want an exclusive trade deal with the Bendon Guild."

Fortunately, Lapin's name didn't come out of his mouth.

"An exclusive deal… could you elaborate?"

"Exactly as it sounds — you trade only with us. Of course, we'll pay you handsomely. We'll provide enough funds to put your mind at ease."

"…."

"In return, we'd like you to share your excellent weapon-making technology with us. The contract term would be two years in total. What do you say?"

No way.

The words rose to my throat.

Setting aside a two-year exclusive contract, sharing Bendon's technology? That meant they'd extract and discard Bendon's unique advantages over two years.

"I appreciate your interest in the Bendon Guild, but sharing technology is a delicate matter."

Damian responded calmly. Surprisingly composed, contrary to my worries.

"After two years, the Tulda family could put out products imitating our technology."

"…."

"In that case, I could sue the Tulda family."

Scratch that about it being surprising. Damian's effort to smile while speaking was admirable, but the atmosphere grew cold.

"…Are you accusing our family now?"

The bastard who killed Lapin's brother — no, the Tulda second son — broke the silence with a low voice.

"Perhaps. I'm merely stating a possibility."

Damian made a remark that fully demonstrated the effects of the sedative and relaxant.

"Hoo—."

A deep sigh came from the man's mouth.

"I understand your concerns. Sharing technology is a sensitive issue."

"I'm glad you understand."

"Director."

The man's eyes flashed.

"Still, it seems you lack trust."

"I'm meeting the Tulda family for the first time today."

"…."

"Besides, I'm not one to enjoy taking risks. I'm not foolish enough to stake everything I've built on a family I don't trust."

Damian spoke eloquently.

"More importantly…"

He continued.

"The Tulda family is a knight family. Families with no business background often start by copying an easy target."

"Are you saying Tulda would do that?"

"Yes."

Gover's expression twisted fiercely.

We're doomed.

Though it was true, couldn't he have phrased it more politely and respectfully? Then again, the man who received guests with sarcasm and addressed members with brutal honesty wouldn't change overnight.

'We're in trouble.'

The Tulda bastard's face looked like he was calculating how best to kill Damian for satisfaction.

"Director does have valid concerns."

Unable to watch any longer, I interjected.

"If you could explain why the Tulda family needs Bendon's technology, I believe the misunderstanding could be cleared."

The Tulda bastard suppressed his anger and spoke.

"It's not that we don't admire Bendon Guild's excellent technical skills. But it's not about stealing. We're willing to provide high-value materials and personnel free of charge for two years to help develop better weapons."

"So you want technology sharing in return?"

"Wouldn't that benefit both sides? If that's not enough, I'm willing to provide materials for an additional year free of charge after the exclusivity ends."

He had his assistant hand us documents. Indeed, the listed materials were high-value resources that the guild would struggle to afford.

I didn't know if it was profitable, but it didn't seem like a losing deal.

'But sharing technology…'

The other party is the Tulda family.

As Damian said, during the exclusivity period, they could imitate not only the guild's technology but also its systems and rules, or poach capable members and blacksmiths. After the contract ended, they could use loopholes to avoid providing the promised free materials. There were countless ways to be betrayed.

They could even pull off all those worst-case scenarios.

'With the members already exhausted from the director's hysterics, this contract is even more dangerous.'

A Tulda family that had completely copied the Bendon Guild might even be able to poach its capable members.

"I heard the guild is struggling. I heard several families joined forces to cut off the guild's demand."

The man spoke quietly, observing Damian.

"Contracting with our family would bring many benefits. Even if you can't trade with other families during the exclusivity period, afterward, many families will want to trade with Bendon."

I wondered how Damian would take this proposal. Glancing at him, I saw his crooked eyebrow and stiff lips.

I'd forgotten.

Damian couldn't control his expressions.

There's no way the Tulda bastard across from him didn't see that.

"Still, I refuse. No matter how I look at it, the contract lacks credibility."

"…."

"To be honest, even Tulda's proposal seems full of verbal trickery."

"Just as the rumors say — truly rude, Director Damian."

The man's eyes flashed.

"Keep one thing in mind."

A low, eerie voice.

"If Bendon accepts this contract, it'll gain profit. If not, it'll be the opposite. You'll suffer great losses."

An obvious threat.

"Even if we signed the contract, transferring Bendon's technology to Tulda would be quite difficult."

Having observed the situation, I interjected again into their conversation. If neither of Tulda's options was acceptable, there was another way.

"Because Bendon's weapons come from its manufacturing facilities."

Namely, making Tulda realize the contract's losses and back out first.

What they wanted was Bendon's technology. They wanted it to do business. So I just needed to pour cold water on their fantasies.

"To set up those facilities would take at least two years and considerable cost."

I wasn't lying.

Bendon Guild's facilities had been equipped at great expense. The maintenance costs were absurdly high — even the monthly fixed expenses alone would make your jaw drop.

"The assistant is right."

Catching my drift, Damian took the baton.

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