Fang Hong glared at the young girl, "Who's the sucker here?"

"Of course, we have to pay for the materials," he replied irritably.

"Nonsense," Tianlan rolled her eyes, frustrated, "Brother Ade, don't treat me like a fool, okay? Of course, I know that, but do you realize that materials are materials, and market price is market price? These are two different things, okay?"

Being from the prestigious Twelve-Colored Iris family, she was naturally familiar with these matters. She started counting on her fingers as she explained to him, "They asked you to make a Magic Guided Conductor, and they must provide a complete list of materials, right? And that list doesn't specify loss rates, right?"

"I'm not an Alchemist, but I know that crafting in any life profession involves loss. If it's not specifically mentioned, it's usually assumed to be half the standard loss rate. But this standard is for commercial production, designed to calculate the approximate profit margins for the client—"

"That's just one aspect. How easy do you think it is to get a complete list of materials for a Magic Guided Conductor? Sometimes it involves hundreds of materials, some common, some rare, some in large quantities, some in small. Gathering and storing materials require human and physical resources, which save us an unknown amount of time."

"Generally, clients promising to provide materials is very rare. Simply put, Brother Ade, how many purchasers do you see supplying their own materials to a manufacturer?"

Fang Hong opened his mouth, only then realizing he had made a suggestion that seemed very strange to the other party, and even stranger, they agreed. He thought for a while before finding a reason, "But our level is just that, if they don't provide materials, wouldn't we have to wait forever,"

"Brother Ade, you're really counting the money for others while being sold," Tianlan sighed adorably, "Of course, they can wait. They've already entered into a long-term agreement with us, forming an alliance team. Can't they wait that bit of time?"

Fang Hong was stunned. He had been focused on Tabopolis's imminent push to become a second-tier guild and even used it to negotiate, but he hadn't considered this layer. It seemed that indeed, Tabopolis's approach to handling Luo Yu and Gita made it clear this was going to be a long-term cooperation. Why would they be in a hurry?

"But why would they do this?"

"The reason, of course, is to build a good rapport."

"Build a good rapport?"

Fang Hong was confused. He couldn't see any reason why the 'Lady Grey' would want to build a good rapport with him.

Tianlan couldn't help but chuckle, "My silly Brother Ade, this time the 'Lady Grey' is really making a flirtatious gesture at a Blind Man. She's trying to keep you by using this approach—it's a favor to you, but actually a way to nurture you."

Hilveld also covered her mouth and laughed softly before responding, "Lord Captain should be aware that artisans grow through accumulation of practical experience and knowledge. Why do real Genius Artisans often come from the Artisan Association and larger powers? That's because the process of an Alchemist's growth often also consumes a huge amount of resources."

"This 'Madam' wants to use such a method to have you actually supported by Tabopolis, molding you into a top Alchemist or Combat Artisan trained by Tabopolis. Recruiting straightforwardly like Miss Red Leaf is one way, but this subtle method is also an approach."

Her tone was very gentle, as always soothing and pleasant, but when she mentioned 'Madam,' Fang Hong distinctly felt she emphasized the word, and when she spoke of 'methods,' her sly smile almost spilled through her conspiratorial gaze.

Sure enough, Fang Hong didn't think this was Hilveld making a friendly gesture towards him. He hurriedly nodded like a quail in agreement with her explanation.

That showed his intense desire to survive.

"What should we do then?" he finally couldn't help asking, "Should we just reject them and find materials ourselves? Of course, it would cost more, but making ten pieces of equipment per quarter doesn't seem like such a big deal for us."

"Of course not."

The three opposing voices belonged to the three women of different ages.

"Brother Ade, are you an idiot?" That was Tianlan.

"Not only that, Lord Captain should also ask for some high-quality, rare materials from them, after all, you get what you pay for," Hilveld still explained unhurriedly and calmly on behalf of her captain.

Atira finally summed it up, "Tianlan and Hilveld are right, as long as we understand this, we really don't owe Tabopolis anything. We are allies, and between allies, it's naturally a mutually beneficial and equal interaction."

Fang Hong could only look silently at these three 'wise' ladies.

Suddenly, he wondered if he really was a mindless Savage.

However, by now, the group had already reached the other side of the Adventurers' Guild and met with Tabopolis's team in Golande, where they had already exchanged contracts but still needed to exchange a physical document.

Although exchanging documents wasn't particularly urgent, the two sides were not far apart, so they had arranged to meet here. There, Fang Hong and his companions saw for the first time the leader of this team—the renowned 'Lady Grey,' Miss Yugudola.

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