Mani was stunned.
"How did you…"
"You are not the only one good at digging. You are decent when it comes to the realms like these, but when the true players come from outside, you wouldn't even be able to see how small you actually are.
So, be calm and make sure that you do everything I ask you to without any flaws. Otherwise, your daughter in that inn would be dead."
"Yes, I will do it." This time, her voice is a bit more assertive and she really did agree to do this. Maybe it is to make sure that everything will be over as fast as it can.
Grivon made her sign the soul contract so that she would do everything she said she would and left her to go.
She sneaked into the woods once again and disappeared for three days.
On the third day, she reappeared back in the city and went straight to Gwan's residence.
"Elder Mani? Did you get the info?"
"No."
Elder Mani replied and gave the advance back to him.
"Why? What happened?"
"The other party is way too dangerous. You cannot go and clash with him in a confrontation. Even our organization would have a really, really tough time. So, if you really want to get that blueprint, the best way is actually through the gamble.
But if I were in your place, I wouldn't gamble too much. I will find one proper gamble in which I would definitely win. I will win that blueprint and leave this place, going back to the capital.
If you want to do it, this is the best approach.
Don't contact me again for a while. I am busy with something else now."
Before Gwan could ask more questions, she simply disappeared from his sight and left. He slumped into a chair and started thinking about how to proceed and after a long time, he finally got an idea.
He took a scroll and a pen as he started writing things down.
For the next two days, he didn't even come out of his room as he kept on planning something big.
Only after two days, did he come out and he directly went to get some beasts that he needed for this big plan which took another two days.
Finally, he met with Grivon at the arena.
"Where have you been young master? You are disappearing a lot lately, which I suppose is not common. Where did you go?"
"I was planning something really big."
"Oh really?"
"Yes, I have a very big event planned if you are interested."
"Tell me what it is."
"A big beast fight. Ten of your beasts and a ten of mine. Within the forest outside of the city. I will prepare a temporary arena and the one who loses all of his beasts first loses. The competition just goes on until all the beasts on one side die."
Grivon stayed silent for a moment. There are a series of thoughts going inside his head.
He couldn't understand why it took four days for Gwan to get this idea. After all, there is not much to think about this. The betting method didn't really change.
Their beasts will fight and the winner gets the wager.
"It is not a bad idea."
"Yes, but the bets cannot be as small as they are now. We need to bet something big."
"What do you have in mind?" Grivon asked with a smile.
"How about that blueprint you have with you?"
"So, you are really not going to give it up, huh?"
"I cannot let such a good thing go and since you were being so mysterious about how you got it, I can only think of this way. Why don't we gamble?"
"I am actually down for that. But you need to give me something of an equal amount if you lose. What are you going to bet for this?"
"I…"
"Come on young master Gwan, you and I both know that there is nothing in your possession that you can offer. Your resources are not enough to buy that one blueprint. All of your personal property comes short by a large margin."
Grivon said it with a smile. There is a slightly mocking expression on his face. Gwan gulped nervously as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath before speaking.
"I will bet all of my property and the property of my family within the organization."
"Your family?"
"My immediate family. My father is currently on a long expedition, so I am the current person in charge of the family. I don't have any siblings so it is mine by the right to inherit. So, I would bet all of the property of my immediate family.
I am sure, that I would be able to match the price of your armor."
"Really? Why are you so sure it would be enough?"
"It is a big amount. That is the personal property of all of my immediate family. We even supply the regular consumption of the organization and its properties with the extra resources and have some really big businesses based on them. It is bound to be enough."
Grivon thought for a moment and said.
"I am game. I will take that bet."
"That is great. I will start the preparations for the arena."
"Wait, before you proceed, I want you to sign the contract before the bet. I don't want you to renege on it later."
"Why would I renege on it?"
"Maybe I will renege on it. Just make a contract for every step of this process. Just to be sure that we wouldn't screw over each other. After all, this is a big thing."
"Then, I would also add a clause. You shouldn't be saying anything about this blueprint to anyone. Our organization might be strong, but it cannot handle enough heat that this blueprint brings. Some organizations that are stronger than us, including the big clans, might come for us."
"Of course, I know that. Why do you think I kept it with myself without selling it? Even selling it off would be a big problem without proper preparations.
Anyway, good luck to you. I don't think you would have a real victory no matter if you win or lose. This blueprint might just be your bane."
"I would like to see it for myself."
As they were speaking, the manager came, made them sign the contract before Grivon left with the group while Gwan went away and started making preparations.
He went to the forest with a bunch of artisans, earth elemental users, and wood elemental users and started making a large arena.
Of course, it is temporary and it barely has the walls leaving the inside terrain mostly the same without any changes.
The wall is long, spanning over a few kilometers in circumference.
The whole process went on for two days and meanwhile, Grivon made a visit to meet Giyon.
"So, how is the situation here?" He asked as they sat for another meal.
"Not much. These people are trying to go after the small businesses I contracted with, but their people are disappearing one by one. It is a good thing that the head of the organization is only at Peak of transcendence. We can roam around freely here. If we are doing this to a stronger organization, things would be hard.
I wouldn't feel as safe as I am now." Giyon said calmly.
"It is true. Anyway, I managed to hook that guy. Gwan is now betting all of his fortunes on this one big gamble."
"All of his fortune?"
"Yes, all the personal property of his immediate family. Of course, I would have liked it if he bet all of the organization's properties under their control. But this is good enough for now.
This would garner enough attention to spark some serious dispute and this guy actually wrote a contract that he would make sure to try his best from preventing his organization from attacking me because of a bet.
This would be a fun thing to watch."
"Yes, it would be. But be careful."
"I am alright. I just wish that things would go a bit faster. We can get out of here in a month."
"I do too. But my end needs a bit more time. After the initial and foundational objectives are achieved, I will leave it to one of my subordinates."
"Anyway, I also got a chunk of official properties of the organization from an elder. They are not many, but they are definitely worth something."
"An Elder? You are on a streak aren't you?"
"I am trying. Anyway, I just wanted to warn you that things might get chaotic on my end after this, so be careful."
"Don't worry about me. These people wouldn't even know what hit them. My second product is already on the market now and this time the launch is big enough to attract a lot of attention in all of the places.
I earned a lot and didn't take as much time as the first one.. I am now waiting for something regarding that Tangerine Orchard."