I fear I have gravely underestimated Gibber's desperation for the elusive gray flowers—or, perhaps, I have misjudged the extent of his wealth. When I disclosed to him the exorbitant sum required for the materials I sought, I fully expected a drawn-out negotiation, perhaps even a complete refusal. Instead, to my astonishment, he agreed without hesitation.

And… that was it. I spent so much time preparing to convince him, and he just agreed. No questions asked.

I'm not used to this. Working for the Obsidian Towers in a field that is not very valued, I’m more used to fighting with people to get the necessary funding for my department. Thus, the ease with which Gibber agreed to provide the funds for my current undertaking felt profoundly alien. The sudden shift from grappling with financial gatekeepers to being granted my request without a hint of hesitation was disorienting.

This feeling was further compounded by Gibber unexpectedly providing additional funds, insisting I hire the entire team of engineers I had talked with. To make them part of the expedition team. Obviously, this would be greatly helpful. Having a team of skilled engineers on hand would ensure our equipment remained in working order amidst the strange terrain and unpredictable conditions. Yet, such a notion had not even crossed my mind; I had been focused on adhering to a reasonable budget, carefully weighing every expense. I might have hired a single engineer or two, but hiring a full team of engineers would push us well beyond the bounds of what could be considered reasonable. It seemed excessive—almost recklessly so.

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Yet, Gibber dismissed my concerns with a wave of his hand, telling me not to worry about the money—that such sums were of no consequence to him. His words hung in the air, a casual dismissal of what most would consider a fortune. In a single breath, the modest budget I had painstakingly calculated was swept aside and replaced with an amount that had suddenly expanded tenfold, with the promise of even more if necessary. It was a gesture that left me reeling.

Could a man from the textile industry really have that much money?

To see someone like Gibber toss around such a staggering amount of money with such casual disregard forced me to reconsider who he truly was. The question flickered briefly in my mind, only to be quickly discarded. Men who possess the ability to spend vast sums without a second thought are seldom benign, and probing too deeply into their affairs often invites danger. To ask who they really are or to pry into the origins of their wealth is to risk them showing you their fangs.

So, I left it at that.