Gawain nodded enthusiastically. "She’s right!"

I stopped struggling as I turned my head—still being held like bread dough—towards Agatha.

"...Repeat that."

Agatha didn’t even flinch. "When you frown, you look like you’re about to fire someone... or kill them."

"...I don’t even employ people."

"You emotionally terminate them."

Gawain gasped. "THAT’S EXACTLY IT!"

"I DO NOT—"

"Smile, My Lady!" he insisted, lifting my cheeks again.

"Like this!" He forced a wide grin on my face.

I looked like a deranged merchant.

Agatha nodded thoughtfully. "...Slightly better. Less murderous."

"LESS?!"

Gawain beamed. "See? Improvement!"

"I WILL IMPROVE YOU INTO A GRAVE."

"Violence! That’s the face again!"

"I CAN’T CONTROL MY FACE WHEN YOU’RE TOUCHING IT!"

"Exactly why I’m fixing it!"

"This is not fixing, this is harassment!"

Agatha sighed. "My Lady, perhaps allowing him to finish will shorten this ordeal."

I stared at her in disbelief. "You’re literally siding with him?!"

"I am siding with your future reputation."

Gawain nodded proudly. "I’m investing in your brand image."

"I will invest you into the ground."

"See?! That! That’s what I’m talking about!"

I finally managed to yank his hands off my face and jumped back, covering my cheeks. "...Don’t touch me again."

He raised his hands in surrender. "Fine, fine... But at least try smiling when you reply to clients."

"I type. They can’t see my face."

"...They can feel it."

Agatha nodded. "...That is unfortunately true."

I stared at both of them then scoffed.

"...Ridiculous."

I turned back to my OmniSync.

"..."

Then, very stiffly, I forced a small smile. "...Like this?"

Gawain leaned in. "...You look like you’re about to scam someone."

"...I’m going to kill you."

"There it is again!"

I inhaled deeply, ignored them, and continued reading the ratings.

————————————

Rating: ★★★★★

"Absolutely worth it. She’s rude but the craftsmanship is GOD-TIER."

Rating: ★★★★★

"I cried during checkout but the product healed me."

Rating: ★★★★★

"Emotionally damaged. Financially ruined. Will buy again."

————————————

I finally released Gawain’s OmniSync and smirked up at him. "...Other than my face, I don’t see the problem."

Gawain stared at me like I just said something illegal. "You don’t see the problem?!"

"They still bought from me."

"That’s not the point!"

"It is exactly the point."

Agatha, who had quietly walked over, glanced at the reviews. "...Your reputation is... unique, My Lady."

"Unique means memorable."

"Unique also means intimidating."

"Good. Less annoying customers."

Gawain pointed at one review. "You told someone to ’read properly before wasting my time’!"

"They weren’t reading properly."

"You told another one ’your request makes no sense.’"

"It didn’t make sense."

He clutched his head. "You’re bullying your customers!"

"I’m educating them."

"That’s not education, that’s trauma!"

I crossed my arms. "And yet—" I pointed at the screen. "Sold out."

Gawain opened his mouth, closed it, then opened it again. "...You’re running a successful business through fear."

I smiled. "Respect."

"That is NOT respect!"

"It is when they still pay."

Agatha covered her mouth slightly. "...My Lady is... efficient."

"I need a moment."

I went back to my OmniSync like nothing happened. "Anyway, I have a guild to dominate."

"...Please don’t talk to them like your customers," he groaned.

"No promises."

Just in time, the guild replied back.

————————————

From: Quantum Core Guild

We appreciate your interest. However, our prices are fixed and reflect the quality of our materials. Discounts are not currently available.

————————————

"..."

I stared at the message then slowly smiled.

Gawain leaned back. "...That’s the smile of someone about to commit business violence."

Agatha quietly stepped closer. "Shall I prepare tea, My Lady?"

"Yes..." I cracked my fingers. "This may take a while."

————————————

To: Quantum Core Guild

I understand.

However, I am offering your guild the opportunity to secure a long-term client whose production volume will exceed your average buyers combined.

————————————

Ping.

Instant reply.

Oh?

That was fast.

Now they were interested.

————————————

From: Quantum Core Guild

We have lots of rich clients who are willing to pay higher than the actual rates we listed so why should we adjust our rates just for you? Who are you anyway?

Do you know how many famous beastmen line up just to receive high-grade energy stones from us?

————————————

I clicked my tongue in excitement. ’Now this... this was fun.’

Gawain tilted his head. "...You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?"

I grinned. "I missed this."

The negotiation, pressure, ego, and power.

Agatha quietly placed a cup of tea beside me as I began typing a reply.

————————————

To: Quantum Core Guild

I understand you have clients willing to pay ten times your listed rates—especially for high-grade energy stones.

However, I am not interested in competing with them.

What I am interested in are your low-grade energy stones.

————————————

I hit send and not even a second has passed when I immediately received a reply.

————————————

From: Quantum Core Guild

Can you elaborate the details further?

————————————

I leaned back, satisfied. "The hook is set."

Gawain frowned. "...You’re fishing now?"

"No," I corrected. "I’m about to buy the entire pond."

Agatha nodded slightly. "...As expected of My Lady."

————————————

To: Quantum Core Guild

Low-grade energy stones are your most abundant supply.

They are often distributed freely—to beastmen who cannot afford higher grades,to the Imperial Stone Archives,and to the Imperial Artificers Academy for training purposes.

In other words—

they generate little to no profit for your guild.

So let me propose something different.

☐ A long-term purchasing agreement.☐ Bulk acquisition at a mutually beneficial rate.☐ And a structured discount based on volume.

And in return, you convert a non-profitable resource into consistent revenue.

But if you reject this offer, you are just not losing a buyer for premium stones but you are also losing a client that is fully willing to pay for what you currently give away for free.

————————————

Gawain stared at me like I had just willingly thrown gold into a river. "My Lady... you’re willing to pay for stones that are basically free?"

I nodded without even looking at him. "Yes."

"...Why?!" he looked personally offended. "If you can just get them for free?!"

I finally turned to him, deadpan. "Because I’m not running a charity. I’m running a business."

He blinked.

So I explained—slowly, like I was talking to someone who just discovered money yesterday.

"It would take too long to gather free stones," I said, counting on my fingers. "Imperial Stone Archives? Ten per day. Academy? Restricted to students. Black markets? Don’t care. Legit markets? Overpriced and already carved."

I crossed my arms.

"It doesn’t make sense to request free bulk materials without offering something in return. That’s not a transaction—that’s just begging."

"...Oh."

"So the only logical move," I continued, "is to buy them at a very low price—but in massive volume."

Gawain slowly leaned back. "...My Lady... were you a business tycoon in your past life?"

I was much more ruthless back then but I didn’t answer as I simply picked up my tea and took a sip.

’Lowering my standards was already me being kind.’

Ping.

All three of us turned to the screen at the same time.

Gawain whispered like we were opening a cursed artifact. "...This is it."

I clicked the message.

————————————

From: Quantum Core Guild

After internal discussion, we are willing to proceed under the following conditions:

• Bulk supply of low-grade energy stones will be arranged• Pricing will be adjusted based on volume tiers• Minimum order requirement will be enforced

However—

We require assurance of consistent demand and long-term commitment from your side.

If agreeable, we may proceed to contract drafting.

————————————

I smiled. "They’re in."

Gawain leaned forward. "...That’s it? You won?"

I shook my head slightly. "No."

My eyes sharpened. "This is just the opening round... Now comes the decisive phase."

"What’s that?" Gawain asked, confused.

"In short, the contract," Agatha rolled her eyes at him.

————————————

To: Quantum Core Guild

Initial order: 500 low-grade energy stones per week.

Proposed rate: 1,500 IC per batch

Given that these materials are currently distributed without profit, this offer guarantees consistent revenue with zero additional processing on your end.

Should this arrangement prove efficient, I am open to increasing volume in the future.

————————————

Gawain’s jaw dropped. "...FIVE HUNDRED?!"

Even Agatha looked genuinely shocked. "1500... for a batch of 500 stones?" she repeated slowly, like she was double-checking if she read my message right.

I sighed, watching their reactions like they were the unreasonable ones here. "As I thought... I should’ve proposed 1,000 Imperial Crowns only..."

Both of them snapped their heads toward me.

"My Lady..." Agatha said carefully, "1500 is already... low."

"Uh-huh."

Gawain pointed at me like I was committing a crime. "You’re offering them a VERY low rate for 500 stones!"

I shrugged. "I don’t care. It’s up to them if they accept it or not."

"..."

"..."

The kind of silence where both of them were mentally questioning my morality.

Ping.

I simply reached forward... opened the message... scanned it once, then leaned back.

————————————

From: Quantum Core Guild

...After internal consideration, we are willing to accept your proposed rate for an initial trial period.

However, future adjustments may be discussed depending on volume consistency.

Attached to this message is the contract.

————————————

"...Checkmate."

Gawain looked at me like he was reconsidering his life choices. "...Remind me to never be on the other side of a deal with you."

I didn’t answer as I was already reading the contract, line by line, clause by clause.

My eyes moved quickly, scanning for traps—hidden fees, vague conditions, delayed penalties, or supply loopholes.

Nothing.

The contract was clean and professional so I signed it without hesitation.

Ping.

I opened the next message.

————————————

From: Quantum Core Guild

Thank you for collaborating with us, dear client!

May we kindly request your name, shop name, and address so we can ensure the delivery of your items tomorrow?

We look forward to serving you!

————————————

I typed immediately.

————————————

To: Quantum Core Guild

Name: Blanca Frostine

StrataLink Shop: Crimson Snow Atelier (currently no physical store at Regional Network District)

Home Address:Celestial Haven, Floating Island District, Sector 7, Nimbus Row 42Latitude: 45.67°N, Longitude: 89.34°E

By the way, do not mention any of this to Soren.

Refer to the confidentiality clause.

Any violation will result in legal action to the fullest extent.

————————————

Send.

Gawain leaned closer. "...You threatened people so casually."

"It’s called reinforcement."

"Of fear."

"Of compliance."

Ping.

————————————

From: Quantum Core Guild

You’re the leopard cub?

And you own Crimson Snow Atelier?

Why didn’t you just say from the start that you were the leopard whose Commander Soren was holding?

We’re sorry if we made things difficult for you.

————————————

I scoffed.

————————————

To: Quantum Core Guild

Where’s the fun in that?

And besides, I don’t want Soren to know anything about this.

EVER.

————————————

Gawain blinked.

"...You enjoy making things harder for yourself."

"It’s called integrity."

"That is NOT integrity."

Ping.

————————————

From: Quantum Core Guild

As a sign of apology, we will waive all charges and provide the stones free of charge.

We can just make the contract void.

————————————

"..." My expression darkened instantly.

————————————

To: Quantum Core Guild

I HATE HAVING THINGS THAT ARE JUST HANDED TO ME FOR FREE.

Soren helped me out of circumstance, not obligation.

I don’t intend to remain indebted to anyone.

We keep the deal. No changes.

————————————

A few minutes passed—

Ping.

————————————

From: Quantum Core Guild

We sincerely apologize, Miss Blanca.

We will honor the contract and maintain confidentiality.

Additionally, we will include 100 high-grade energy stones as compensation for the misunderstanding.

————————————

I let out a sigh, finally satisfied. "...Now that’s acceptable."