The atmosphere in the office buzzed with excitement as all the blacksmiths gazed intently at the two blueprints floating in mid-air.
Their faces lit up with eager anticipation, after all, if they could bring this revolutionary bicycle to life, they would bask in its glory!
How could they not be thrilled? This wasn't just any bicycle; it had the potential to transform how people travel and make history. The fame that would follow was irresistible!
"Boss, when do we start making this bicycle?" A deep voice rumbled across the room.
Felix raised an eyebrow and turned toward the source of the voice.
Standing confidently was Thormir Stonebeard, a stout dwarf known for his impressive physique.
At about five feet tall, he was muscular with a long, braided beard that nearly brushed the floor.
His large eyes sparkled with enthusiasm beside his massive iron hammer adorned with glowing runes.
Felix recognized him instantly as the only 4-Star Blacksmith in their midst.
Thormir's calloused fingers rubbed together in excitement, mirroring the eagerness of all the blacksmiths present who were practically bouncing in their seats as they stared at those blueprints like kids peeking at presents on Christmas morning.
Felix couldn't help but smile at Thormir's enthusiasm.
Dwarves might seem rough around the edges, but their blacksmithing skills were unparalleled, arguably some of the best in the world!
That's why Felix had insisted on hiring more dwarves; their mechanical expertise was invaluable even if he wasn't ready to forge weapons just yet.
"Don't worry everyone," Felix said reassuringly. "Production will begin soon! But remember: you've read the contract before signing it, right? Leaking these designs is not an option, there will be consequences."
A hush fell over them as they absorbed his words.
"Don't worry, Boss! None of us are foolish enough to leak blueprints," Thormir declared confidently while patting his chest.
"I hope so... otherwise..." Felix smirked menacingly, his gaze turning icy. Instantly, a chill swept through the room as everyone lowered their heads under his intense stare.
"Good! Now let's get down to business!" Felix brightened up again as if a switch had been flipped. The tension melted away like ice on a warm day.
"The production will be split into two categories: Ordinary Bicycles and Mana Bicycles. Apprentice-level Blacksmiths will handle ordinary ones while our Starred Blacksmiths take charge of producing Mana Bicycles. Thormir will supervise this factory." He laid out his plans clearly.
Everyone nodded in agreement; no one questioned Thormir's leadership,his skill warranted it!
Felix nodded thoughtfully and turned to Thormir. "You'll need to supervise this closely. I'm leaving the division of labor in your hands. Choose someone to head the Apprentice Blacksmiths; all I care about are results, not the process. If you can't handle this, I'll find someone who can."
"Understood, boss," Thormir replied, his expression serious.
"The blueprints are already here," Felix continued. "You can start whenever you're ready. Once you finish the first bicycle, I'll come by to test it."
"Don't worry, Boss! I promise we'll have a prototype ready for you soon!" Thormir said, flashing a confident smile.
As they left, Felix leaned back with a satisfied smile and continued sipping his wine leisurely.
"Big bro," Nixie began thoughtfully as she moved closer to him from behind her desk. "Why partner with the Maywraith Noble Family? We could handle everything ourselves!"
Felix turned serious and explained patiently: "Nixie, life isn't that simple. Do you really think those greedy nobles will let us thrive if we produce bicycles? This invention has the potential to transform lives, it could revolutionize transportation itself! The temptation for power over such innovation would attract countless people eager to monopolize it."
He paused for a moment, then continued, "You know these Nobles are so greedy that they want all the good stuff for themselves. Just imagine if we start producing and selling bicycles! Once people discover their advantages, everyone will want one. Can you picture how much money we could make? If we sell each bicycle for ten silver coins and just one million commoners buy it, what do you think our earnings would be?"
Nixie fell silent for a few moments, her eyes wide with disbelief. "That's 10 million silver coins! And if converted into gold coins, that's 1 million gold coins!"
"Exactly!" Felix replied. "And that's only a fraction of the kingdom's population. Imagine if a billion commoners decided to buy a bicycle! We'd be raking in billions of gold coins from just this one product alone."
He locked eyes with Nixie and added, "Now let's consider the mana version of the bicycle. If we sell it for 100 gold coins and again attract 1 million mana cultivators, how much do you think we'll earn?"
"That's 100 million gold coins!" Nixie's breath caught in her throat as the shock deepened.
"Right on target! And remember, there are hundreds of millions, if not billions, of mana cultivators in Avalonia alone, not to mention across the entire Lunaris Continent," Felix said calmly.
"So whoever controls the source will naturally reap all the benefits from these bicycles," Nixie mused thoughtfully.
"Exactly! If we recognize this immense potential for profit, don't you think those Nobles will too? They're not foolish; trying to go it alone could land us in serious trouble," Felix warned with a narrowed gaze.
"We need to align ourselves with a powerful ally, someone who can deter those greedy Nobles.Quill's Maywraith Noble Family seems like the right choice, doesn't it?" Nixie suggested.
Felix nodded. "Yes! While their family might not be the strongest in the kingdom, they're definitely among the top five and shouldn't be underestimated. Partnering with them could save us from a lot of headaches, and maybe even our lives."
"What percentage of shares are you thinking about offering them?" Nixie asked curiously.
"I'm considering 30% for them and 70% for us, but I've asked Claire to negotiate down to around 20%," Felix explained.
"Why didn't you handle it yourself?" she questioned.
"I wanted to see how she'd manage this kind of business deal," he chuckled. "She'll likely encounter bigger deals in the future and needs some practice."
Taking a sip of wine, he continued with narrowed eyes, "It might sting a bit to share profits with them but looking at it strategically, we could end up profiting more than we realize."
"You're absolutely right about that," Nixie nodded thoughtfully. "But are you talking about sharing the entire stake in Origin Technology, or just the profits from the bicycle?"
Felix smirked, rolling his eyes playfully. "Of course, it's just the bicycle profits! Do you have any idea of all the amazing inventions we're going to create? I can't just hand out a massive slice of this cake, I want to enjoy it all by myself!"
Nixie stifled a giggle, covering her mouth with her hand. "Big bro, you really are quite greedy!"
Felix chuckled softly and raised his wine glass. "Everyone has their moments of greed; it's part of being alive! After all, isn't greed one of those original sins we're all born with? Sometimes, you need a little greed to get what you truly desire."
He narrowed his eyes playfully, adding with a hint of mischief, "But Nixie, you have no idea how powerful greed can be. It can lead to things that might just send shivers down your spine."
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