Hearing these two points, Austin was once again reminded of the fact that he was truly dealing with a female elf who had probably lived for centuries, unlike him.

This was because before he had arrived here, Austin had been meticulously working to ensure that his terms wouldn’t have any loopholes Rowena might exploit, but even with all his efforts, Rowena was still able to think a step ahead of him with the little amount of time she’d had to think things through, and even Austin couldn’t help but be impressed by this.

Her two terms had clearly been deeply thought out as a way to protect her assets.

Rowena was clearly saying to him that she would be giving him a room in her store building to work in, so the least she could ask in return was the assurance that his brewing activities wouldn’t destroy her property.

This was a fair concern because potion brewing in the past had been known to result in explosions mid-production, so if this were to happen, Rowena was clearly trying to reduce his earnings as a punishment for destroying any of her assets.

For now, Austin could only hope the system’s detailed procedure wouldn’t result in any explosions or anything like that.

"Would that be all?" Austin asked.

"Not really."

"There’s more?"

"Well, you listed six terms to me, can’t I have something similar as well?"

"Fair enough."

"Very well. Then I would like to say, I know you agreed not to supply any product to any competing party during the six months of our agreement, but if you do violate this, then I’ll need your word that you would continue working as we had agreed, without earning anything during the remaining period of our agreement."

Austin remained silent and Nora turned to him with a worried look on her face.

"I give you my word." He assured her, and Rowena nodded in response.

"Good. Then the last thing you need to know is that every batch of potions you make will be tested using a clarity stone. If three consecutive batches test below 20%, then I have the right to suspend sales, and you’ll also be without that month’s earnings share until the issue is resolved."

This meant that if three consecutive batches were to test below 20%, Rowena would withhold Austin’s earnings for that month until the quality issue had been resolved.

This was Rowena’s way of protecting her reputation and her customers.

If nobles and dungeon divers were to buy her products only to discover their low quality, these people would turn against her personally and not Austin, because it was her store acting as the distributor, so the least she could do was leave some kind of consequence for Austin to make clear what was at stake for both of them.

"I understand."

"Good. Then we have an agreement. Once you’re ready to start, we can...."

"I am ready to start now." Austin replied instantly, and Rowena was taken aback by his words.

"Are you sure about that?" She asked with her brows furrowed.

"Yes, I am."

"Alright. Then you’ll be working in my store in Tarot Town." This was the same town Austin and Nora had left that morning before arriving here.

Rowena continued. "Ingredients are there along with a few vials, but before you’re given more, I’ll need assurance that you can truly brew this potion. So that means I’ll be expecting to see a 20% impurity-free stamina-enhancing potion on my table within three days. Only then will you be given all the other materials you’ll need to make more."

"Understood."

"Good. Since you’re eager to get started, Cedric will help you two get our fastest horses ready for your carriage back to Tarot Town. Meanwhile, I should be able to draft our agreement with a seal for you tomorrow, so I expect to hear great things from now on."

"You will."

"I guess I’ll just have to wait and see then." Rowena replied, and Cedric guided them out of the room and toward the carriage. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Once the horses were ready and the carriage was set to leave, Cedric returned to inform Rowena, and she nodded in understanding before asking.

"Tell me, Cedric, do you think I should have accepted such an agreement so easily?"

Cedric was quiet for a brief moment before he replied in his usual calm tone. "In my experience, my lady, desperate men who come with nothing but a recipe and a set of terms rarely have the luxury of bluffing. If he were lying, he would have asked for far less to avoid the risk of being exposed. But the fact that he asked for so much tells me he believes in what he has."

"So you believe I made the right choice? You do not think I might have been a little hasty to accept his terms, despite not even seeing the potions yet? To be honest with you, Cedric, I feel I shouldn’t have..."

"Countess...." Cedric called softly, drawing Rowena’s attention to him.

The old elf had watched the young Countess grow for centuries, from the young girl who had inherited her father’s territory all the way up to the woman she was now, so he knew better than anyone when Rowena was about to make a face full of doubt about the choices she had made.

"Countess, I understand you might have made a hasty decision, but I feel you made that choice knowing that your territory would benefit from it. You know your people would be benefiting from this deal, and if there’s anyone who cares deeply about our people, then it’s you. So please do not beat yourself up for nothing."

Cedric continued. "You asked if you made the right choice, but I believe only time will tell what an amazing offer this is for you and your people, because we all know the hunting season is just six months away, so no matter how you look at it, this is certainly going to benefit you the most."

"Thank you so much, Cedric."

"You’re welcome, my lady." Cedric bowed respectfully before saying. "If there’s nothing else, then I shall escort our guests to their new workshop." Cedric turned around and headed for the door, but before he could step out of the room, Rowena called to him.

"Cedric, wait."

"What is it, Countess?"

"For the two elves who’ll be working with them, please brief Legolas and Elena on what’s expected of them during their stay with Austin and his companion."

Legolas and Elena were the names of the two elves currently working as clerks in Rowena’s store in Tarot Town.

They also happened to be the names of Cedric’s son and his son’s girlfriend.

"Understood, my lady. Then I shall be on my way." Cedric bowed one last time before stepping out.