Another world, Celeste

Chapter Thirteen, pt 3

Lord Dumont release a long sigh the moment he sits down in the study room of his family's mansion where he spends most of his time working. The butler enters the room a moment later; announcing the arrival of the guild master of the Commercial Guild. They discuss the contract and development plans in great details which is to be finalised by tomorrow. Once the discussion is coming to a close, the butler pours two cups of tea with a light snack. The flow of the conversation changes to Chief's lack of reaction during their late-night conference.

"Chief is not blaming you for the incident."

Guild master reassures the nobleman sitting across from him.

"How do you know that? He barely says a word of it."

"Because the incident is taken care of. There was no need for him to say otherwise."

"I will take your word for it as the person he trusts. Speaking of which, how did you manage to get on his good side?"

"I was working at an auction house and came across several counterfeited items posing as valuable pieces. When I reported the matter to the director, he accused me when I could not provide evidence and I was immediately fired me. Others always viewed my eyes as a curse." Guild master says while touching the edge of his right eye, "It had brought nothing but trouble and yet, I never did learn to refrain from speaking out when they showed me the truth."

He continues his story. "Afterwards, the auction house went under and the director was arrested when multiple items were appraised to be counterfeits. Unfortunately, I was suspected as an accomplice too when the director brought up my name during an interrogation. Master Hovel was in town chasing Chief when they heard of the rumours and went to hear my story. I suspected they were one of the customers whose merchandise was counterfeited. As soon as Chief saw me, he stared at my eyes and offered me a position as a guild staff before I had anything to say. Imagine my surprise to hear those words."

Guild master chuckles as he relives a life-changing moment.

"I see. For the guild master, they are your saviour."

"They were the only one who believes me when no one else did. For merchants with greed for profit over quality, my eyes are poison. Chief helped clear my suspicion then I stuck to him like a child even though I was a full-fledged adult."

"In a short period, you raise your rank from a guild staff to guild master. An unprecedented event in the history of the Commercial Guild."

Lord Dumont summarises the event of the guild master's life with those words.

"Even so, every time a guest with high-standing comes to my office, they could at least hide their patronizing gazes. They keep on coming and insisting to meet me because of the rumours of me raising to my position on the sole reason that I gain favours with Chief."

Guild master shakes his head in disappointment.

Lord Hans Dumont empathises with him, understanding full well what he is going through as the same occurrence has happened countless time to him as the lord of the mining town. Chief's name is attached whenever the matter is anything related to the mining town. Those parasites' desire to take advantage of the additional power in obtaining a connection with this town, however, any possibility of foul play is destroyed before they have the chance to sprout. The Dumont family and the guild masters along with the residents would never allow an outsider to corrupt the land bestowed by a sage.

"Underestimating my capabilities as a guild master and their desire to take advantage of my connection with the dwarves. It's amusing to see them sweating and slowly losing spirit when they realised I had the upper hand. When they beg to renegotiate..." A dark smile form on the guild master's face.

"Your dark thoughts are leaking, guild master."

The butler says and the guild master returns to his senses.

"Oh, my apology." Guild master says while casually sipping on his tea.

Lord Hans Dumont remind himself to never make an enemy of the man in front of him. This man rises to become the guild master in the short span of five years. On top of that, his eyes have the skill to detect fabrication whether it be verbal or material articles and distinguish them amongst excellent quality goods of any kind. Those who make a fool of him have suffered brutal decline to their business and social standings. He spares no mercy towards privileged and nobility clients either. Before his official election as a guild master, government officials compete to recruit him into their sectors. A rumour is still circulating that at the time, he was offered the position of the head of the financial department of several governing lands but he rejects them all and remains working for the Commercial Guild. In addition, his reputation as a merciless merchant spiral out of control; an example would be he has the capability of bankrupting a town if you so much as utter a piece of misinformation to procure a loan from the guild.

The appearance of the young lady Iris further left a startling impression on the lord. Especially when she manages to suspend the guild master from pursuing an eye-catching business opportunity. Lord Dumont suspect the guild master has an underlying reason for accepting defeat, though, his nonchalant behaviour is proving otherwise. Truly, the people who catch Chief's recognition possess frighteningly remarkable talent. Hans Dumont's forefather was one of those people as well.

"I must not falter behind."

Lord Hans Dumont mumbles with newfound determination.