Chapter 93: Foundations (I)

Dusk’s eyes widened at Dexter’s statement. “Is that…true?”

“Ron has promised to recognize us as joint developers if we solve the issue with the secondary control incantation array of the Wish Tower. Isn’t that correct, Ron?”

”…That is indeed true.”

With Ron’s confirmation, both Dawn and Dusk’s Tower Masters’ eyes sparkled with interest.

Dexter seized the favorable moment and continued smoothly, “As part of our rights as joint developers, the Wish Tower will allocate a portion of its revenue shares to your respective Towers.”

This proposition left the Tower Masters of Dawn and Dusk deep in thought.

Although Mental Energy Fragments hadn’t gained much recognition yet, it was undoubtedly groundbreaking research. However, compared to Ron’s secondary control incantation arrays, their value paled significantly. It was clear that even a small share of revenue from Ron’s invention would far exceed any earnings from Mental Energy Fragments, making this proposal quite enticing for both Dawn and Dusk Towers.

After pondering briefly, the Tower Master of Dusk turned to the researchers behind Mental Energy Fragments.

“What do you think about this offer?”

“…”

The researchers understood the situation based on the conversation they had overheard. Among them, Watt, who initially proposed the idea, addressed Dexter directly.

“May I ask why you’re doing this?”

“What exactly are you referring to?”

“In other words, why would you be willing to forgo such enormous profits from our research?”

Dexter responded with a grin and a question of his own. “How valuable do you think your research is?”

“What? Well…” Watt was momentarily at a loss for words.

Seeing him hesitate, Dexter continued for him. “Do you believe your research falls short compared to the secondary control incantation array?”

“No matter how proud we are of our work…isn’t that true?”

“Yes, it is indeed.”

“…”

“But let me tell you this: The Wish Tower values your research more than Master Ron’s.”

Dexter’s words came from his heart, and Watt appeared slightly moved by them. When he first started researching Mental Energy Fragments, everyone around him dismissed it as a waste of time on useless pursuits. Despite successful results, opinions were slow to change. It was truly gratifying for someone to recognize the value of his work.

Watt momentarily paused before turning to look at his colleagues who had been with him throughout this journey. Understanding his emotional turmoil, they smiled and nodded encouragingly. With their support, Watt addressed the Tower Masters of Dawn and Dusk.

“If you allow us…we would also like to enter into a technology-sharing agreement with the Wish Tower.”

“Heh-heh, who am I to deny or permit anything here? This is your research after all! How could we stop you if this is what you desire?” The Tower Masters of Dawn and Dusk nodded in support of Watt and his colleagues.

It was a win-win situation for both the Wish Tower, Dusk’s Tower, and Dawn’s Tower. With everyone benefiting from the deal, it seemed to be progressing smoothly.

However, there was one party dissatisfied with the arrangement.

“Hmm…” Ron, who had been silently listening until now, finally spoke up.

“But tell me…” Ron’s low voice captured everyone’s attention.

“What would you do if we decided not to proceed with this deal?”

His serious tone resonated throughout the room, indicating he was not joking around.

Louis, who had been observing the situation closely, subtly scratched his cheek.

…As expected, it won’t be that easy.

Feeling disappointed, Louis glanced at Ron as their eyes met head-on.

Meanwhile, Ron’s question caught everyone off guard except for Louis. Dexter was particularly flustered.

I-I didn’t anticipate this turn of events.

Dexter hadn’t foreseen such a scenario unfolding. Striving to maintain composure, he asked Ron:

“What do you mean by that?”

“As I said, under these conditions, our Tower of Brilliance has no interest in this deal. Why should we pursue something from which we gain nothing?”

“But you would gain a solution to the issues with the secondary support control incantation array!”

“Is that all there is?”

“Pardon?” Dexter’s eyes widened in surprise.

“It certainly would be beneficial for us if the Wish Tower provided a resolution.”

”…But why do you feel that way?”

“Firstly, it’s uncertain whether such a solution even exists or if it will indeed resolve the issue. Even if it does, losing out on it wouldn’t bother us much because given time, we could find a solution ourselves. Moreover!”

”…?”

“It seems everyone has forgotten, but Mage Frost, who collaborated on researching spiritual energy conversion materials, belongs to our Tower of Brilliance. Furthermore, our tower has also invested heavily in that research.”

The vice tower master nodded as Ron quickly continued his explanation.

“If we hand over exclusive rights to the Wish Tower for this research, Dawn and Dusk will acquire shares of the secondary control incantation arrays, but what do we get out of it? Those shares should rightfully belong to us from the start.”

“Well…you’re right.”

Ron’s argument was sound. At a loss for words, Dexter glanced at Louis, who quietly sighed and sent him a message telepathically.

Don’t panic, old man.

Dexter looked back at Louis with a questioning gaze, as if asking what he planned to do next. It seemed Louis had anticipated this outcome all along.

I thought it would be easier than this.

But that clearly wasn’t going to happen.

So this is how it goes down, huh?

Louis inwardly smiled before speaking aloud.

“You’re absolutely right. One should never enter a losing deal. Therefore…as the current Master of the Wish Tower, I would like to continue these negotiations on behalf of my predecessor. Please excuse me for now, former Master Tower.”

“I…I see.”

The crowd’s attention shifted toward Louis as he unexpectedly interrupted the proceedings. Ron’s gaze was particularly sharp, as he alone knew who had truly been leading the negotiation thus far: not Dexter but this young Tower Master from the Wish Tower. Dexter had merely served as his proxy. Consequently, Ron couldn’t simply brush off Louis’s intrusion.

However, the vice tower master of the Dawn Tower reacted differently.

“This is no place for you—” The vice tower master began reprimanding Louis, only to be cut off by Ron.

“Vice Tower Master, despite his youth, he is indeed the legitimate Tower Master entrusted with full authority by his predecessor! Show some respect.”

”…My apologies.” The vice tower master bowed his head sheepishly and retreated at Ron’s angry outburst. Even then, Ron’s gaze remained fixed on Louis.

”…Please speak your mind, Master of the Wish Tower.”

Ron’s firm demeanor prevented anyone else from interfering as they observed the situation unfold.

Louis stood atop his chair and bowed to Ron, meeting his intense stare with confidence.

“As you said, Master Ron, proceeding without addressing this issue would likely cause more harm than good for the Tower of Brilliance. I agree with that assessment… However, I cannot concur with dismissing our proposed solution outright.”

“Why not?”

“What if another Tower develops an even better secondary control incantation array while the Tower of Brilliance is struggling to identify issues?”

“Even if that happens…I wouldn’t care.”

”…”

“If they put in such effort and surpass us, I would congratulate them.” Ron’s voice was filled with pride.

He knew firsthand how challenging it was to create a secondary control incantation array, let alone improve upon one within a short period.

“I see.” Louis grinned at Ron’s response.

Louis then retrieved a staff from his pocket dimension and rolled it across the table toward Ron.

Clack-clack.

The staff slowly reached Ron, leaving everyone puzzled by this turn of events.

With a stunned expression, Ron picked up the staff.

“This is…?”

It was nothing more than a crudely shaped metal rod.

“It’s a mana stick,” Louis explained, gesturing for Ron to give it a try.

As Ron channeled Attribute Power through the staff, an empty chair nearby slid toward him. His face shifted from bewilderment to astonishment.

“Huh?!”

“T-Tower Master?” The vice tower master, who had never seen Ron so surprised before, shared his shock.

As if he couldn’t believe it after just one try, Ron repeatedly swung his staff at the empty chair.

Shhhk-shhhk.

The chair moved back and forth between being pushed away and pulled toward him. After several attempts, Ron finally set down his staff with a dejected look on his face.

Louis then spoke up. “Have you tested it thoroughly?”

“…I have.”

“Then may I congratulate you?”

Louis’s voice sounded genuinely cheerful, helping everyone else grasp what was happening.

Could it be?!

No way!

Everyone strained their ears to hear every word exchanged between Ron and Louis.

“The overheating issue… Have you resolved that?”

“Of course.”

“…And the control speed is more than twice as fast now?”

“That’s correct.”

The vice tower master had been anxiously listening to their conversation but brightened upon hearing this news. He urgently asked Ron:

“But if it’s twice as fast… Wouldn’t that mean its performance is inferior to the secondary control incantation array?”

Ron shook his head firmly. “Vice Tower Master, when I said ‘twice,’ I meant…” His voice trailed off, sounding somewhat defeated. “…it’s twice faster than the secondary control incantation array.”

Given Ron’s testimony, the negotiation room turned icy cold, as if doused with water.

The secondary control incantation array had already demonstrated three times better performance compared to existing ones. In other words, the humble mana stick held by Ron…

“S-six times more effective?!”

“What?!”

Louis seemed to relish their stunned reactions and elaborated, “This mana stick incorporates the auxiliary control incantation array developed at the Wish Tower.”

“When…when was this created?”

“We’ve been researching it for quite some time and recently completed it.”

Dexter mentally scoffed at Louis’s explanation.

Researching it for some time?!

That couldn’t be true. Dexter had never seen anything like this before, which meant there could only be one possibility:

Was he working on that all night in his room?!

After the academic conference ended yesterday, Dexter had shared with Louis the original version of the secondary control incantation formula. Based on that, Louis managed to create this device overnight.

Though his heart was pounding wildly, Dexter tried not to show any emotion. It made more sense to believe Louis’s lie about the Wish Tower developing it over years than accepting that such an incredible invention was created in just one night.

Ron seemed somewhat convinced as well.

Aha! No wonder he spotted the flaw in my research so quickly!

If the Wish Tower had been researching the same thing for quite some time—especially if they’d developed something superior—it would make sense that they understood the issue with Ron’s work.

Moreover, since they had created something superior to Ron’s invention, it was reasonable to assume that they had already identified and resolved the issue with the secondary auxiliary incantation array. Still, the shock of seeing years of research rendered obsolete wasn’t easy for him to overcome.

Looking slightly dazed, Ron muttered as if under a spell, “If this existed all along…then why didn’t you present it at the academic conference?”

“You mean instead of unveiling the Transcendence Engine?”

“…Yes, indeed.”

“We believed it was more valuable to pursue that line of research—at least from the perspective of the Wish Tower.”

“…”

“Of course! I was surprised too. We never expected you to reveal our research at the academic conference.” Louis smoothly lied without batting an eyelid.

Ron appeared resigned to his fate.

The sudden change left everyone else at a loss for words, but Louis internally smiled to himself.

If only we could have compromised after resolving the overheating issue, right?

Louis had spent countless nights researching control-assist incantations and perfecting his mana stick. He pondered how best to utilize it effectively. Eventually, he decided to observe from afar while using the unsuspecting Dexter as his proxy. His plan was to reveal the third control-assist incantation as his trump card after achieving his desired outcome with the mana stick. However, Ron’s involvement forced him to expose his hidden ace prematurely.

Unfortunately, since his secret weapon was already revealed…

I might as well make the most of this situation.

Louis’s eyes sparkled, and he grinned widely.

The others found Louis’s innocent smile somewhat unsettling.

“Well then…”

From the moment Louis revealed his trump card, he had taken control of these negotiations that would determine the fate of the continent.

“Let’s start over.”

No one returned Louis’s smile.