Those who had betrayed Runewright Workshop for money were made to face the consequences of their actions. However, employees who had been coerced through threats were granted leniency.
Once the internal turmoil was resolved, the workshop restructured.
Experienced staff who had served Runewright for years were promoted to team leaders, each placed in charge of new hires and entrusted with overseeing specific stages of the enchanted process.
Suddenly, every veteran had beco a leader, a testant to the workshop's rapid expansion.
But growth had to be carefully managed.
While current demand for the enchanted shields was overwhelming, it wouldn't last forever. Shields were not consumables;
once purchased, they served for years, aning the pool of new buyers would inevitably shrink. To sustain montum, Runewright would need to expand its market to other cities—a formidable task.
Still, Walter, the head of Runewright, was hopeful. With word spreading, buyers from other regions would eventually seek out the legendary Runewright shields.
He believed that interdiaries would appear to handle the distribution naturally. For now, the workshop was poised to rake in profits like never before.
anwhile, the atmosphere within the Dark Workshop was suffocating.
Core operatives were nursing serious injuries, and several capable enforcers had been lost in the recent debacle. Yet these losses were secondary. The true crisis stemd from the wrath of Abby, the master of the Dark Workshop.
Since their humiliating defeat during the public competition with Runewright, Abby had been consud by fury.
He couldn't let it go. He wanted retribution, and his trusted subordinate, Peter, scrambled to find a way to appease him.
Abby entertained thoughts of crushing Runewright through brute force but quickly dismissed the idea. The workshop had secured a supply contract with the city governnt; any direct move against them would draw too much attention. In fact, the city's authorities were now unusually protective of Runewright—sothing Jacet found maddening.
Then ca a new plan. Abby's eyes burned with renewed focus. The mage.
During the competition, the Runewright mage had been a thorn in his side. Abby had wanted to crush him then and there. Now, he saw an opportunity. If they could capture that mage, they could extract the secrets of the shield's enchantnts.
"Once the shields keep flowing without issue, no one will care about a missing mage," Jacet muttered to himself.
The workshop's future hinged on innovation, and if Runewright lost its key enchanter, their expansion would falter.
But capturing the mage wouldn't be easy. Peter soon returned with troubling news.
"He's not alone, master," Peter reported. "Jas Pridden is watching over him."
Abby froze at the ntion of Pridden, one of the Five Great Families. His rage was swiftly replaced by cold calculation.
"Why would a Pridden associate with so no-na mage?" Abby asked.
"It seems Jas Pridden has taken a special interest in him. They et frequently."
Abby's eyes glead with a dangerous light. "So… he's no ordinary magician. Interesting."
Peter handed over a file with detailed information. Abby reviewed it with care.
"Pridden provided monster carcasses and artifacts to this mage? Invited him to his estate afterward?" Abby murmured, his brow furrowing.
"Confird," Peter replied. "Several key figures from the Pridden family visited West Ham the sa day."
Abby pondered for a long mont. The shield's craftsmanship exceeded anything his own workshop's experts had ever produced. The hidden trap within its enchantnts had been masterfully designed.
"They didn't just create a shield; they built a fortress of secrets," Abby whispered, shaking his head.
"Shall we give up on this plan, then?" Peter asked, though his tone hinted at an alternative.
"Not yet," Abby replied.
Peter grinned knowingly. "I've been tracking the mage's schedule. His broker, Jay, handles most of his assignnts. We're monitoring their every move. Once we learn what contracts he accepts, we'll strike."
Abby nodded slowly. "Good. No mistakes, Peter. We can't afford to tip off the Priddens."
"Understood," Peter replied confidently, bowing before retreating into the shadows.
Elsewhere, Gin was having an entirely different conversation with Jay.
"House?" Jay exclaid, staring at Gin like he'd grown a second head.
Gin had said only one word—house—but Jay had jumped to conclusions.
"You've only just gotten back to work, and now you want to take ti off to go ho again?" Jay groaned.
"No," Gin said calmly. "I want to buy a house."
Jay's expression shifted instantly. "Oh! Well, why didn't you say so? You've co to the right guy.
We've got money—big money! What kind of place are you looking for? Secure? Luxurious? Convenient?"
Gin raised a brow. "We?"
"Hey, we're partners, right? You and ! One heart, one soul, united in—"
"No. Keep the accounts separate. I won't warn you twice," Gin said dryly.
Jay sighed dramatically. "Fine, fine. But seriously, have you checked your account lately? We're rolling in gold!"
Gin hadn't checked and didn't plan to. He had more important things to do than monitor his finances.
Jay clapped his hands together. "Alright! You want a house, huh? I've got just the place in mind. It's perfect!"
Suspicious, Gin narrowed his eyes. "Why do you sound so eager?"
"Trust !" Jay said, feigning innocence. "Co on, hop in the car. You'll love it."
Forty minutes later, Gin stood before an estate that left him quietly impressed.
It wasn't as vast as Jas Pridden's mansion, but it was still a proper estate with sprawling grounds. The main residence was separated from the gate by a landscaped path that took several minutes to traverse.
There were multiple structures on the property: a grand central house, several guest residences, and facilities for staff and security. The design and craftsmanship of the main building exuded elegance and taste.
Gin wandered through the estate, taking in every detail. Jay bead proudly beside him.
"Well? What do you think?" Jay asked eagerly.
"Not bad," Gin remarked, taking in the estate.
"And it's vacant," Jay added enthusiastically. "That's the best part. You could move in right away."
"That's convenient," Gin replied with a nod.
Jay bead, knowing he'd made his case. "Right? But you'll need to act fast. There are others eyeing this place, and I've been holding them off for you."
Gin raised an eyebrow. "This seems expensive."
"Of course!" Jay chuckled. "We're talking pri real estate here—an estate this size, close to the city center? It's bound to cost a fortune."
Gin crossed his arms, mulling it over. "How expensive?"
Jay leaned closer, his voice dropping into a conspiratorial tone. "We'll need to cover about 70% with a loan.
Maintenance won't be cheap either, but it's doable."
"Seventy percent?" Gin echoed, his tone sharp. "You expect to take out a loan that large?"
Jay grinned sheepishly. "Look, it's a ten-minute walk to the city's main district. Just the land value is astronomical.
Even with all the gold we've made recently, a loan's the only way."
Gin's mind raced.
He had instantly seen the estate's potential: a perfect location for a research lab, ideal quarters for both guests and staff, and ample space for magical experints. But the loan was a concern. Gin had tangled with bureaucracy before while preparing his café wizard venture and knew loans weren't a trivial matter.
Jay clapped him on the shoulder, sensing his hesitation. "Relax! Banks will line up to lend us money. We have a 64% stake in the Runewright shield project, rember? You're practically royalty in the trade world."
"You keep saying 'we,'" Gin pointed out.
"Co on," Jay whined. "Don't sweat the small stuff! Aren't mages supposed to be above worldly attachnts?"
"Who told you that?" Gin snorted. "Mages are obsessed by nature. Without obsession, there is no progress in magic."
Jay threw up his hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay! You're the world's greatest mage. Happy? Now, can we seal the deal on this house?"
Gin paused for a mont, then nodded. "Let's do it. We'll need a secure base from now on."
Jay grinned like a man who'd just won the lottery. "Smart move. Let's finalize everything today. The staff's already in place, so we can just keep them on."
"That's convenient," Gin agreed.
Within an hour, everything was handled. Contracts were signed, keys exchanged, and an imposing loan secured. Gin found himself staring at his account balance, which had plumted to near zero.
He sighed deeply. "Looks like I'll need to take on so new contracts."
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