At the edge of the Gray Sea Marsh, beneath the walls of Newly Town, Velin waited quietly.
A messenger from Cohen had delivered a message yesterday: the Vice President of the Golden Sail Commerce Association, Caroline Channing, would be visiting in person.
A convoy of carriages rolled to a stop, kicking up dust.
An attendant pulled open the door of the lead black carriage. An ankle clad in a black boot emerged, followed by a slender calf from beneath a pleated traveling skirt.
Caroline stepped down with the help of an attendant. Her long, silver-white hair fluttered in the wind as her eyes scanned her surroundings, sweeping over Velin and the vine-wrought wall behind him.
Velin stepped forward to greet her.
"Vice President Channing, welcome to Newly Town."
She didn't respond to Velin's welcome, instead calmly sizing him up.
This man looked even younger than the reports described. He had a handsome face and a tranquil demeanor, showing none of the unease one might expect when meeting a person of her stature, only a scholar's composure.
"Lead the way, Knight Klein." Her voice was cold and devoid of emotion.
Passing through the town gate, what lay before Caroline and her retinue was not the chaotic filth they expected of a pioneer settlement.
The streets were paved with packed earth and stone, with clearly visible drainage ditches on either side. The buildings lining the streets were all painted white, their uniform architectural style creating a strong sense of order.
What caught her attention more was that as her group passed, the working townspeople would stop what they were doing, cast gazes of genuine respect toward Velin, and then silently bow.
It wasn't the fear one has for a lord, but a purer form of devotion.
'It seems something she had not anticipated has truly been born from this barren marsh.'
The reception room on the second floor of the Lord's Mansion was simply furnished but didn't feel shabby.
Caroline unceremoniously took the main seat, tossing her traveling cloak over the back of the chair. Her crossed legs revealed the taut curves outlined by her pleated skirt.
She didn't even give Velin a chance to sit.
"Knight Klein, my time is precious."
Caroline's fingers tapped lightly on the tabletop as she got straight to the point.
"The Stone Skin Soft Vine."
"Based on our previous transaction records and a brief assessment today..."
"...we've concluded that it's an interesting alchemical creation, but not a viable business."
Her gaze shifted to the seemingly magnificent wall outside the window, her tone laced with pity.
"Its impact resistance is less than seventy percent of second-grade Sea Cliff Rock. It has decent flexibility, but insufficient hardness. And more fatally..."
She paused, a flicker of mockery in her emerald eyes.
"It's flammable. Knight Klein, a single torch could turn your 'Newly Town' into the world's largest pile of charcoal. A building material that isn't even fundamentally fireproof is, in my assessment, worthless."
There was no threat in her words, but they were filled with condescending judgment, like an elder pointing out the flaws in a naive child's simplistic creation.
"However, I do admire your 'creativity'."
Caroline retracted her gaze and let it fall back on Velin's face, her posture like that of a queen bestowing alms upon a beggar.
"The Golden Sail Commerce Association can purchase its cultivation technique. My offer is three hundred Golden Suns."
"A buyout for your 'creativity,' not your 'wall'."
The air fell silent.
Velin didn't respond immediately. Instead, under Caroline's scrutinizing gaze, he unhurriedly pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down with composure.
The act itself was a silent refusal, a declaration that pulled them back to equal footing.
"Your Excellency, the Vice President."
Velin smiled, his eyes showing no trace of anger at the offense.
"Your perspective only sees the 'wall'."
"You're using the standards of the old world to measure the technology of a new one. It's rather pathetic."
The lazy smile on Caroline's face froze.
Velin ignored her chilling gaze and continued.
"The Stone Skin Soft Vine is merely the first bonsai in my garden."
"Today, I am not selling a product."
He spoke each word deliberately, his voice low.
"I am giving you an opportunity, an opportunity to invest in the future. I provide the core technology; the Golden Sail Commerce Association provides the capital and channels."
"We will establish a laboratory with me at its absolute core."
Caroline leaned back slightly, as if she had just heard the funniest joke of the year.
Velin met her gaze and stated his terms.
"As for the profits... I take seventy percent."
The air in the room fell silent once again.
Cohen's face was ashen.
"Ha."
Caroline let out a laugh of pure absurdity and disdain.
"A Pioneer Knight from some remote marsh wants to take seventy percent of the Golden Sail Commerce Association's profits?"
She rose to her feet and walked step by step until she stood before Velin, looking down on him. Her shadow completely enveloped him.
"Knight Klein, your confidence... has certainly been an eye-opener for me."
Her voice was very low, laced with a dangerous undercurrent.
"Fine. I'll give you a collaboration proposal as well."
"I'll provide everything you mentioned, including your personal safety."
"The profits: ninety for me, ten for you."
"This is my final act of generosity, and it is your only chance."
Velin leaned back in his chair noncommittally, looking up to meet her gaze.
"It seems we have a significant disagreement on the perception of 'value'."
"How about this, Your Excellency. Tomorrow."
"I will show you something new."
"At that time, perhaps we can revisit the discussion of... who is qualified to define generosity."
...
Night fell over Newly Town.
The daytime clamor subsided, leaving only the low moan of the wind as it blew past the vine walls.
In the reception room on the second floor of the Lord's Mansion, a knock sounded at the door.
"Come in."
The door was pushed open, and Xiaolan entered with Cohen.
Seeing that Velin didn't rise to greet him, he hesitated for a moment before walking closer, a rather large box in his arms.
"Lord Klein," Cohen said apologetically. "I'm very sorry to disturb you so late."
He carefully placed the box on the table, undid the wrapping, and opened it.
Revealed within was a precision instrument made of brass and crystal.
"This is the alchemical equipment you ordered through the Association. The crystal was ground by a master craftsman in the Royal Capital, according to the blueprints you drew."
Velin did appreciate the favor. Without Cohen pulling some strings, this microscope would have likely taken another week to be ready.
Cohen rubbed his hands together, seemingly gathering his thoughts.
"About today... the Vice President's attitude, I hope you won't take it to heart."
"She wasn't intentionally targeting you."
Cohen gave a bitter smile. "The Association has run into major trouble recently. Every single expenditure must be handled with extreme caution."
Velin gave him a questioning look.
Cohen understood and replied, "There's been a problem at the Stone Bridge City fisheries..."
He proceeded to describe the disaster, which had been named "Black Scale Dissolving Sickness," in the most objective terms possible.
From the blackening and dissolution of the fish scales to the current situation where no medicine or treatment could cure it.
"Master Valerius's conclusion is that it's not a plague, but a... complete collapse of the life form itself."
Cohen's voice was filled with helplessness.
As Velin listened to the description, the symptoms sounded increasingly familiar.
He rose from his chair and walked over to Cohen.
"I have a theory. Bring out a sample."