The main door of the mansion swung wide open, courtesy of Apollo, revealing a long line of carriages queuing up from the blue cobblestone path that extended from the entrance of the estate to the mansion doors. The blue path was adorned with a multitude of incredibly colorful and ancient trees around it. Yet, the beauty of the trees was overshadowed by the neglected state of the estate's courtyard. Overgrown grass invaded the grounds, reaching knee-high. For the moment, Apollo's budget wasn't expansive enough to worry about the courtyard's condition.
Upon reaching the mansion doors, one could spot a large tree with yellow bark and blue leaves, placed right at the entrance, creating a grand circle. This tree was identical to the one used for condemning wizarding hopefuls at the Ministry of Magic. Like all the trees on the estate, it was quite old.
—Gosh darn, look at that line of carriages. Ain't that a sight to behold?—Apollo exclaimed with excitement, clutching his head in amazement at the sight of so many carriages—These folks really outdid themselves!
—No! We can't accept them!—Orrin yelled, sticking to his point.
—Why on Earth wouldn't I accept them? It'd be downright impolite to send them back home after they've gone to such lengths—Apollo responded firmly.
—My lord, I implore you to verify the contents of the carriages!—Orrin shouted, not backing down. To him, accepting the proposal from these "traders" was sheer madness.
Apollo noticed his butler's agitated state, so he approached the first carriage in line and looked at its driver, asking:
—Boy, how many crystals are you asking for these goods?
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Apollo surveyed the carriage and noticed they were covered with sheets, which was customary. It was part of the arrangement he had with the guards: all goods entered under wraps, hidden from prying eyes. What caught Apollo's attention, though, was the bulging shape of the sheets on the carriages. He realized that nearly all of the carriages were overflowing with goods, which wasn't a common sight.
—We gave the butler the offer letter. We're just drivers, noble sir—the driver explained with a protocol nod from inside the carriage.
—Something don't smell right about this, Orrin!—Apollo squeaked with a higher pitch than usual. Seeing the perfectly executed nod from the driver and the mention of a written offer, he knew these weren't your regular traders. Their awareness of protocols was a bad sign. These goods might be too expensive!
—Thank the ancestors, you woke up...—Orrin muttered with a smile, looking at the young noble's worried expression—We need to send them back: The offer they made is an insult!
—We'll see...—Apollo muttered, giving a threatening glance to the carriage drivers—Where's the offer?
—Here you go, my lord! Just give the order, and I'll send them back—Orrin replied, pulling a rolled parchment from his pocket and handing it to Apollo.
Apollo took the rolled parchment and, after one last painful look at the long line of carriages seemingly brimming with furniture, he proceeded to unroll the parchment and read its contents:
> "Dear Magician, Apollo of the Black Forest:
>
> I have heard of your tireless skill in accumulating various goods for your magical research. According to reports from merchants in the inner of Ring City, it seems any object can be useful to you, as long as it's in acceptable condition, regardless of its origin or age.
>
> That's why I dare make you the following proposal: If you accept the entirety of the content sent in the carriages, we will grant you a total of 1000 magic crystals. Upon accepting, you'll be responsible for disposing of the contents at your discretion. I hope these goods aid your magical research and kindly understand that accepting them would be doing a great service to the empire. The carriage driver can provide further information and make the payment.
>
> Yours Truly, Minister of Urban Affairs, Macario of the Deep Mines"