It didn't take long for Elder Ming's expression to shift to the business front. He brought out Gale's letter of appeal and flashed his eyes over it.
"It is an interesting ti in the military right now," the elder said. "There are chances of it going chaotic. We do not feel like letting one of our most capable weapon producers go."
Gale clicked his tongue. "I've already ntioned I'll complete my portion of the work even when I'm on leave and provide them on ti."
"You have," Elder Ming said, narrowing his eyes. "However, with a 12 to 1 ti dilation in place, it becos impossible to follow through with your promise."
"I assure you I have taken the ti dilation into account when I wrote the letter," Gale said.
"How are you going to follow through with the production," Elder Ming paused, a frown creeping up on his brows, "unless you're leaving for soplace with similar ti dilation in place, or you have already completed your future tasks..."
A smile was tucked on his lips. "You are awfully quick about this stuff, Elder Ming," he said. "Anyway, I will leave how I complete my work to your imagination... The bottom line is that you'll receive all loads on ti."
"If you have already completed the job," Elder Ming cut in, "shouldn't you—"
"I have said nothing of that sort, Elder Ming," Gale grinned, knowing if he were to admit it, they would likely give him more work to get more of his service.
"You know how dire the need for weapons is right now," the elder tried to waver his resolve. "And you'll still leave knowing you can do more?! Do you know how many soldiers could use your help?"
Gale snorted. "I hear there's a Transcendent in the camp... Now, I may not know about transcendent power as much as you, but I'm pretty sure they could frighten off all the demonic creatures with a couple of their farts... There's no need for poor to involve myself more than needed."
Elder Ming sighed.
"Besides, I won't be gone for long," he continued and paused. "Well, considering the ti dilation, it would be a couple of months within the frontlines..."
It would probably be less than that if he took into account the ti he would be inside the frontlines, but he wouldn't be anywhere near the regi of the empire.
"You still seem reluctant," Gale sighed. "How about this... Hmm, you have seen so of the unique ways I design scripts, which is far more efficient than anything used here as far as I have discovered. I'll teach Jenni whatever she can learn..."
Elder Ming's expression changed, as the calculating look appeared on his face.
"Of course, I wouldn't teach her the formula for the other runes you guys don't have access to," Gale added. "Unless I took her as a disciple and kept everything under an oath or sothing..."
He smiled, letting the elder know what was on the table. However, the old man was more suspicious than he let others on...
"Why are you agreeing to put out so much just to get a vacation?" the elder asked. "And also, you have already helped Jenni so much in the subspace..."
Before the elder could be more suspicious, he added, "Maybe I feel sorry for how poorly you guys have it in here... I feel bad for my runesmith brothers and sisters," he laughed. "Don't think I'll be giving away all this for free... I'm going to patent all my ways and going to earn royalties from them for hundreds of years..."
Elder Ming scratched his beard. "I should have known that already," he sighed. "Fine, let's discuss it further over lunch, so that we do not leave any loose ends that are going to bite either of us in the back."
"I'm glad you asked..."
****
In the end, his plans for a holiday got into a complicated turn, though not without perks. After discussing all of it with the elder over an hour, it had kind of turned into a paid leave.
The only issue he would have to take care of was that instead of only Jenni, he would have to teach half a dozen adepts. Well, he was already doing that twice a week; it would just be a little more than that. Thankfully, the adepts he had chosen weren't so awfully bad that he would have to instruct them all the ti.
With this, he would have more ti to himself. Moreover, patenting rune designs was a hard thing to get through... And he already hated paperwork just thinking about it. Elder Ming was very experienced in this subject. He had pointed out that if Gale could complete his teaching with the adepts, especially with his daughter, he would help with the patenting process.
Last but not least, he would get paid for all this, and it wouldn't be any worse than what he gets paid for producing artifacts. Not to ntion, it would also count into his punishnt.
He smiled, looking at the letter of approval, when a figure ca from behind. Dawn was still in her white shirt and pants he had seen her leave in, no form of wear or tear could be seen in her impeccable appearance.
"So how's your day?" he asked. "How was Jenni? Did she manage to tire you out?"
"She is very sweet," Dawn said, "reminds of an old acquaintance."
Discover more content at mvl
"Yours alone, or do I know this acquaintance too?" he couldn't help but ask.
Dawn shot him a pointed look for several seconds. She hadn't taken his amnesia openly, though she never voiced out any of her opinions.
"I believe you're so good to Jenni because she's alike the acquaintance," she said.
His expression turned sombre, unable to recognize any of it. He sighed.
"Is that what I think it is?" she asked, her eyes pointing at the letter.
He nodded. "Yes! There's a little change in plan, but we'll leave early tomorrow."
Reviews
All reviews (0)