Cal didn’t know how long he had been drooling at the pond. He could think of plenty of possibilities with his new discovery, but none that he could test right now.

Forgetting how his mana core was already strained on the overnight use, he recalled how much worse it was when he formed the golem by using the hearthstone.

If he had accessed the pond at a level that required him to replenish his essential mana, he doubted if it would be possible to move his limbs from the exhaustion that would’ve set in.

That wasn’t acceptable when Maelor was set to arrive in several hours.

Still, reforming the golem so it had access to an element was tempting.

Later. Maelor is only returning to get the names. Nothing else.

Cal reluctantly tore his gaze away from the pond. “Did your pack get their daily sustenance?”

The wolf beside him sneezed, which he took to be an affirmative. Cal laid back beside his new companion and closed his eyes. He intended to use the time until Maelor arrived to relax.

***

Cal awoke to wolves howling. Loudly.

He sat up with a frown, ready for action, when he saw the pack leader still beside him with an annoyed look on his face.

“What are they howling for?”

The pack leader growled slightly before getting up with an almost annoyed sigh. This wolf acted more like an old man than a beast. Cal found that thought amusing.

He watched the pack leader stock to the howling wolves and snapped his teeth with a loud snarl. That shut them up.

They communicated silently before the pack leader suddenly became more alert. He made eye contact with Cal before staring at the back of his farm.

Cal already knew what was waiting for. He shifted positions to get a better look and saw Maelor standing leisurely at the border of his field.

The man was staring at the seeds he planted.

Cal didn’t try to mask his speed. He appeared before Maelor and waited for the man to stop looking at his field, which he must consider the most fascinating thing he had ever seen by his stare.

“Farmer Cal,” Maelor greeted. “I was in a rush previously and didn’t notice your work. Now I see why they chose someone like you to be a farmer.”

Cal pulled a folded sheet of paper on which Tavia had written the names and handed it to him. “This is what you need to complete my request.”

Maelor didn’t look fazed at how his observation was ignored. He accepted the paper and scanned it briefly. “I know these names. And I can get them for you.”

Cal tilted his head, waiting for Maelor to continue. He did, after a stare-down.

“That girl you’re helping, Tavia. She must really be important to you if you’re willing to trade your favor for her benefit.”

Cal didn’t flinch. If Maelor found him through a body that he was sure he had disposed of discreetly, it wasn’t a surprise that he also knew about Tavia and maybe even more of the people who were commonly around him.

“Again, that’s my business, and you don’t need to know.”

Maelor had the same flash of anger before it was crushed. “It seems that you feel there is still some animosity between us. You must think my nephew was more important than he was to me.”

Cal’s fingers twitched when Maelor reached into a pouch hanging on his belt. He pulled out something small. It was pale, with a bit of red at the end. It was familiar.

“Here,” Maelor tossed the thing he pulled out. “This is my niece’s penance for her rudeness yesterday.”

Cal knew what he saw almost immediately, but his mind couldn’t accept that it was true. It was a well-manicured pinky finger. He was speechless.

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That didn’t stop Maelor from continuing as if everything was normal. “If you feel this is not enough, I completely understand. I look forward to our future relationship, and if need be, I will bring her head to you as a show of appreciation. That should prove that I do not mind working with my nephew's killer. What you say?”

Lunatic. Absolute, raging, psychotic lunatic.

Cal seriously considered testing him on the offer, but he didn’t like the idea of it after some thought. That girl, no matter how rude, didn’t deserve to be killed by her own uncle. If Maelor was bluffing, that would push him too far and ruin any possible deal they could’ve made.

One thing was for sure: that finger was real. The last time he saw it, it was attached to the girl's hand.

“This is more than enough,” Cal was proud of his voice's stability. He was furious that he had to deal with a lunatic. It would be best if he could—

The gems. What if I introduce them to the Dominion through Maelor?

“Perfect! I feel we will both be very happy in the future as long as we work together,” Maelor smiled.

“That may be true, but that’ll have to wait until I see those names returned from the Dominion’s territory.”

“So cautious,” Maelor teased as if they were friends. The scary part was he almost pulled it off.

Cal realized the man might be a lunatic, but he was a charismatic one.

“Well, that should be it for now. I’ll get in contact with you in a few days. The transfer should be done by then—“ Maelor halted, his eyes widening as if he remembered something. “Ah, I almost forgot! You were a regular Trainee recently, and now you are—“ Maelor looked him up and down with an impressed look. “—Very accomplished! What’s your secret? If you want to share, of course.”

Thank you for asking the perfect question.

Cal crossed his arms and thought it over. Or pretended to. “Some gems I found that greatly boost my growth.”

Maelor’s eyes flashed with suspicion, immediately sniffing out that something was wrong with how easily he got his answer. Cal expected this.

“Gems, you say. I’m not doubting you, but it’s hard to believe such a simple thing can have such great of an effect. You don’t have one of these gems to show me, do you?”

Cal frowned, visibly hesitating to answer. “… I have one spare with me at all times. But I can’t allow you to touch it. I was told it might contaminate the effects it could give me.”

“Simple, I’ll buy from you.”

When Cal didn’t look moved, Maelor seemed to get more interested.

“Let’s not for ourselves here, Farmer Cal. You told me about this gem to try and sell it to me. Now, I don’t see anything wrong with doing friendly business between future partners, so don’t hesitate to tell me what you require for each gem.”

“One guildmark.”

Maelor burst out in unrestrained laughter. It went on for several seconds before he wiped his eye with a finger. The laughter had calmed down to a chuckle, and he said, “If it’s one guildmark you want, then that’s what you will get. However, keep in mind that it won’t be a good look if I find that you tried to swindle me right at the start.”

Cal grimaced. “I wouldn’t have bothered to reveal this if you weren’t so willing to return the people named on the paper. I almost want to take back the offer.”

Even though he said that, Cal used his robes to avoid contact with the gem he pulled from the storage pouch and offered it to Maelor.

“Calling it a gem is extremely generous, don’t you think so?” Maelor had an amused look as he took it in his bare hands.

“That’s exactly what I said when I first saw it.”

Maelor chuckled before becoming silent. He focused all his attention on the gem and connected it to his mana pathways.

I hoped this lunatic was reckless.

Cal might be cheering on Maelor in his mind, but he was also interested in what would happen. Unfortunately, there was nothing notable at the moment.

It finally changed several minutes later. The gem disintegrated as it seemed to be absorbed into Maelor’s body.

“Where did you get this?”

Cal concluded that the gem did more than enough to convince Maelor of its effectiveness. He kept his mouth shut.

Maelor winced before putting on an exaggeratedly apologetic face. “I apologize, that was abrupt to me. All I ask is that you bring these gems to me first. I’ll gladly give you a guildmark for every single one.”

“You say that as if I have a surplus at all times. I’ll see if I can get more, but I can’t promise that the price will stay at one guildmark. From what I understand, it’s an ordeal to obtain these.”

“Completely understandable,” Maelor nodded solemnly. “This has been a welcome surprise, Farmer Cal. You have shown your initiative, and now I must return it in kind. We shall speak again after I do my part.”

Cal didn’t move as he watched Maelor swiftly leave his sight. He was taking an enormous gamble in showing Maelor the gem. Now, he might need to walk a tightrope.

Still, using Maelor as a test subject appealed to him greatly. He would be doing the world a favor in getting rid of Maelor. Conveniently, he would also gain knowledge of the gem at the same time.

Cal knew that he had to secure Benan and somehow convince the shady merchant to only work with him. Surprisingly, he didn’t think Benan was in any danger. It felt to him like Maelor would be of no match.

It didn’t escape him that both could easily overpower him with how he currently was.

Cal’s main goal was to delay any significant action from either of them and quickly grow in power until they simply didn’t matter.

I never thought I would be dealing with addictive materials in the dead of the night. I have come a long way from being a respectable core guild member.

He stretched before releasing a relieved sigh and returned to the house. He put the detached finger in the same hole as the owner's cousin.

After giving the pack leader a slight nod, Cal turned in for the night.