Chapter 106 - 106. Now You Know The Fury Of A Red Mage

"Good Day Mister and Missus Macleod, what can I do for you today?" Angus greeted us as we knocked on his door and entered. The sight of gold that was hanging in his neck and wrists are normal but he also has added a golden crown that was too small for his head.

I wonder... Which cartoon character did he represent when he wore that golden, shimmering crown. Nyeehh... That's not important because later on, some readers would be commenting on how the walls were being pulled down or something like that. Heh...

We took a seat first and found that his office chairs were of top plush quality and our butts simply sank when we sat on it. Must be from David Decor's I suppose.

"Hmm... I wanted to know about the history of House of Keating. When it first started, it was a small cottage, right? How much did it cost that time?"

"Oh... We do not have a record of those but as far as I know a small cottage is smaller than a small house here that's being sold. If I'm not wrong it only costs 150 credits that time which is equivalent to 75k credits in this time."

"Have you any records on how many times did the House of Keating underwent upgrades and renovations?"

"Haiya, Mister and Missus Macleod, quit asking about upgrades and renovations since I frankly wasn't even born during that time. Stop beating around the Bush since there's nothing for you to gather there."

"Just get to the point and I could get more commission... Oops... I mean, you would get more reputation by buying more lands and transforming them into factories and such."

"Heh... You sure know how to be direct nowadays, eh Angus. No wonder you got all the commission from my husband and you start flaunting them. What's next? A golden body?" Patricia rebutted in as she saw what this member of the Council Chambers was up to.

"Maybe my husband here does not know how to bargain like a lady in the market... Look at the commission this guy is raking from him so far. I think its better for me to step in."Patricia thought in her mind and when I glanced over I could see her thought bubble above her head and I couldn't agree more with her.

"Alright Angus, show us the blueprints for a castle and what is the base price for it. Furthermore, my husband here has already made quite a few purchases from you so I'm sure he would be entitled to a discount, am I right?" Patricia eyed Angus and he seemed to be smaller when he shirked in his swivel armchair that had a sheepskin draped over it.

"Ah yes... Heres the blueprint... What kind of castle do you need to build? Is it over the present House of Keating where it stands now?" Angus asked as he had lost his composure and felt slightly defeated at Patricia's demeanour.

Later on, Patricia explained to me that she had used Insight and Perception traits on Angus and she learned that he had taken a 30% cut from the lands that I purchased. In short to say, all the lands I had purchased and built upon had been jacked up 30% cost over value.

"I will tell you what we need and you just punch in the required data and then show us the 3D model of the castle and the surroundings."

"The ground surface would be enlarged on all the 4 sides meaning it is going to be double of what the present land House of Keating is sitting on. I also need a courtyard in front of the castle which means it's inside within the compound."

"The courtyard would have a seating capacity of 210 pax and it would on either the left or right of the courtyard. It would be a covered area and there should be several drink stands and some pushcarts so vendors could sell their food there. 2 of each for each side would be sufficient for now."

"I need you to allocate 5 training grounds, and each training grounds would have these features; Wingchun statues, archery targets, a practical shooting and duelling arena, a protected place surrounded with protective walls and an obstacle course all around the castle."

After some time designing the courtyard with the features, the design of the castle comes next. "The dungeon remains where it is right now, the Great Hall would be expanded and the kitchen would be enlarged as well. A small study room would be on the ground floor next to the kitchen and there would be two entrances from the great hall to the kitchen.

"The second floor would have 10 bedrooms equipped with attached T&B with a shower and a bathtub in every room and there would be 2 staircases leading to the second level from the great hall."

"The great hall would also have a seating area for 10 pax, a dining area for 10 pax as well as a cosy corner to have coffee during breaks. It would be meant for 10 pax too and it would be best to have the fireplace and mantle to be placed where the cosy corner is."

"The interior flooring would be parquet floorings, while the exterior walls would be masonry. There should be 2 chandeliers for the kitchen, 4 chandeliers for the great hall and all rooms would have chandeliers and small bathroom lights."

"Stained glass windows would be fitted for all the rooms and for the castle interiors, which means it would be a floor to ceiling height kind of Victoria windows."

"Two grand wooden sliding doors would be at the main entrance of the castle and at the main gate as well. The walls surrounding it would be a low wall of about 2 meters in height."

"Two watchtowers would be included at the rear castle areas here and on the third level, there would be a figure 8 swimming pool with a winding water slide about 10 meters from the ground and a hot and cold jacuzzi. There would be 2 changing rooms for the boys and girls."

"Some deck chairs would be nice to place around the area and there would be a low wall surrounding the pool area. A retractable roof is needed to cover part of the deck area and swimming pool. The access to the 3rd floor is from the towers at the back of the castles. The second floor within the castle would be accessible using a proximity card."

"Have you got it so far, Mister Angus?" I finally asked as he fervently set all the designs and managed to complete and furnish it within the same time when I stated the requirements.

"A three-storey castle on a current House of Keating along with the expansions on all the sides here. It's done, but let me advise you Mister Macleod, a castle is set at a different price than the largest house here in Ingmery and it might set you back quite a considerable amount of credits. Just the castle and courtyard would set you back 15 million credits per floor and it's 45 million credits."

"The furnishings and the third-floor swimming pool and all would set you back for another 8 million credits, making it a grand total of 53 million credits."

*BBBBAAAAMMMM* The top of Angus' table was slammed hard with Patricia's flat hand causing some of the decorative ornaments on the table to topple over and also caused some pieces to fall on the floor.

The aftershock of the slamming on the table surprises Patricia as well but she managed to control her composure. The shock waves of the slammed palm shook some of the pictures and testimonials that were hanging on the wall behind Angus as it became skewed at an odd angle.

The goldfishes inside the small glass aquarium beside the table had been affected as well and it all hid inside the small clay castle underwater.

"UTTER HORSESHIT..." Just these two words that spewed from Patricia had caused some members of the Council Chambers entering Angus' office, and when they saw Patricia was there, they all backed away as they knew once a woman flares into a temper, Anyone who stood her way would be steamroller at high speed.

"LAND PIRATES..." *BBBBAAAAMMMM* another two words came out from Patricia as she slammed the top of the table with her palm once more. (she could ask for a discount without doing all those inconveniences right? Hah hah hah)

As she raised her hand for the third time, Angus suddenly cried out in despair as he was too shaken by the ferocity of Patricia right now. "Alright... Alright... I acknowledge that I am a Land Pirate and also my boots smelled like horseshit when I stepped on it en route to work today..."

"Look... Err... Missus Macleod, I think I've made a miscalculation here a while ago... Ahem... The total figure would come to a round figure of 47 million credits. This..." Angus let the words hand in midair as he saw Patricia was holding to her Mark Of Magi and right now the staff's head was glowing in a blinding white aura and was as if it was going to unleash a frost bolt or a lightning bolt.

"EEHH... AAHH... M... MISSUS MACLEOD... W...WAIT... AAHH..." suddenly Angus was spluttering like a blubbering fool as he was reeling back in his swivel armchair when he saw that danger is imminent and the intense glow from the Mark of Magi was blinding that he searched for his shades and clipped it on over his glasses.

"I think there's terribly wrong with the price again, Mister Angus." I spread out my hands as if I'm saying that his life is hanging by a frayed thread at this moment and he quickly snatched the device and readjusted the price for the second time.

"Err... No, Missus Macleod, the price is actually rounded off as 42 million because I thought you wanted polished marble flooring instead of parquet." Angus finally said as he wiped the beads of cold sweat that was pouring down from his forehead.

The air crackled around the Mark of Magi and suddenly the temperature inside the office dropped and cold vapours seemed to appear when Angus exhaled. The goldfishes are now wearing winter jackets underwater inside the fish tank as the temperature dropped drastically.

Angus was shivering uncontrollably as he took the sheepskin behind his back and covered himself with it. I had activated Black Fire and it was dancing on the palms of my hands, warming me and when Angus saw what both husband and wife were doing in front of him, he thought that he might be smitten with heat and cold at the same time...!!! "

"ALRIGHT... ALRIGHT... 35 million credits... Sign here, pay now or pay later it doesn't matter. Once the signature is there, the castle would be delivered and the old House of Keating would be towed away within 24 hours... Sign and leave, please... Oh. My. God... I think I'm going away for a very long time after this... " Angus was on the brink of desperation as he cried out the moment he saw flames dancing on the tips of my fingers, flitting from one finger to another as well as on my palms.

Patricia finally let the menacing aura from the Mark of Magi dissipate as I extinguished the black flame as well from my fingertips. So much for showing some 'threat' in front of a corrupt Council Member right now... Hah hah...

"Trish, sign it since it is under the Keating's. No matter because I've signed too many of them and now it's your turn. It's the House of Keating and not the Macleod's." I pushed the device in front of her and she looked at me. "Are you sure, my dear husband that you are doing this for us and not for our sake alone?"

"That's right, just sign it, dear and hand him the 30 million credits first. The balance would be 24 hours right after you had acknowledged it."

The moment Patricia acknowledge the order of a 3 storey castle with all the mentioned facilities and amenities, 30 million credits were automatically deducted and went into the treasury of the Council Chambers. She was left with only a paltry 2 million credits.