Zora slowly raised her head, her gaze drifting between Liya's face and the handgun in her own hand.
The barrel seemed to be made of some special material, etched with strange yet delicate red patterns, winding across it like veins.
And at the grip, on the matte-textured handle, a deep black rose was carved, giving off a hint of mystery and nobility.
Her thoughts briefly went blank, her eyes filled with disbelief.
'What exactly is this small thing? Is it magic?'
Just now, she hadn't even seen it clearly. In a single instant, that wall had been blown apart by her.
Feeling the slight recoil coming from her arm, even now Zora still felt like she was in a dream.
'Just now, Viktor's fiancee said this thing is called… a "gun"?'
She really couldn't see why this thing would be called a gun.
Right at that moment, Liya pointed at the small object in her hand, a gentle smile on her face as she explained.
"The thing in your hand, in my understanding, should be called a magic-powered assembled propulsion launcher."
Simply put, you load black bullets into this launcher called a handgun.
Then use stored natural magic as kinetic energy to propel and fire them.
The power it produces is enough to blow down a wall.
"This is the first-generation product from our family."
After obtaining that firearm from the Rayser family, and going through a series of assembly improvements, it ultimately became a first-generation product of the Clavenna family.
'First generation?'
Hearing Liya's words, Zora's body couldn't help but tremble.
She immediately realized the value hidden within this.
Because she caught what Liya had said.
This wasn't some standalone magic item, nor was it a weapon that was extremely difficult to produce.
This was a "product."
As long as it was a product, then it had the potential for mass production.
And the power of this small weapon was plain to see.
Moreover, it was extremely suitable for a merchant guild.
Setting other things aside, within the Cassidra Merchant Guild, there were many important figures who were just ordinary people.
Perhaps it was because their talent for making money conflicted with their talent for combat.
Or perhaps it was the curse left behind when the gods departed.
In any case, many of the wealthy people in the Cassidra Merchant Guild didn't possess strength themselves.
So these wealthy individuals had to spend more money to hire strong fighters as guards to ensure their personal safety.
In fact, that was the guild's original intention.
Why bring Viktor into the Cassidra Merchant Guild?
As things stood, the strength Viktor displayed was absolutely at the level of a world-class mage.
If such a mage joined the Cassidra Merchant Guild, even just in name, it would be enough to intimidate the guild's enemies.
And from beginning to end, the Cassidra Merchant Guild had never forgotten.
The threat of the gods back then made everyone feel that it wasn't just a simple joke.
To stand against gods, one needed power.
And right now, the person most likely to stand against the gods, they could only place their hopes on Viktor.
At the same time, Zora came back to her senses.
Just as Liya said, a transaction was essentially mutual benefit.
If they wanted Viktor, and even the entire Clavenna family, to join the Cassidra Merchant Guild, the guild had to provide corresponding returns.
Likewise, what was the value of the Clavenna family? What could they bring to the guild?
The answer was obvious.
The weapon in her hand, called a "handgun."
A small weapon meant for self-defense.
It was simple to use, but its power was anything but simple.
And when taken by surprise, no one would guard against this weapon.
Extremely practical.
This was the unique bargaining chip in the Clavenna family's hands.
However, once Liya revealed this chip, the guild almost had no choice but to consider bringing the Clavenna family in.
As a result, what they would have to give would likely be far more than originally expected.
Zora narrowed her eyes slightly and asked with curiosity and probing intent, "Miss Liya, can this weapon really reach the standard for mass production?"
Liya smiled lightly, crossing her legs, one hand resting gently before her abdomen while the other elegantly lifted a teacup, taking a slow sip.
The moment Zora asked this question, it meant the negotiation with the guild was gradually moving in a favorable direction.
"Miss Zora, although we would very much like to tell you that this weapon can be mass-produced, but…"
She gave a somewhat helpless smile.
"Due to materials and engineers, our production capacity is insufficient."
"Each day, we can only make a few dozen at most."
A few dozen was already quite a lot.
But if this weapon were truly to be sold as a product…
Liya seemed to see through Zora's thoughts and said calmly, "I'm sorry, Miss Zora. I understand what you're thinking."
"But even if we could mass-produce it, we don't plan to sell it to the public."
Zora was slightly stunned. Before her mind could even begin weighing the pros and cons, Liya continued, "You must understand, the one in our family is a member of the Mage Council."
The Mage Council had always been known for its extremely high standards of justice and morality.
And one must not forget, even the Goddess of Justice had manifested in the City of Mages.
Zora thought it over. She understood a little, but not completely.
So Liya gave a simple explanation, "Once this weapon is sold openly, anyone could obtain it, regardless of status or intent."
"If lords obtain this weapon, their rule will become more stable, but it will be built on violence."
Indeed, whoever disobeyed could simply be shot.
Bullets were far cheaper than hiring guards.
"And if enemies obtain this weapon, all they will think about is which enemy to strike first the next day."
For ordinary civilians without power, this weapon was extremely lethal.
Weapons have no eyes, and this kind of gun only required pulling the trigger to kill someone from a great distance.
"If everyone has guns, the outcome will only become more chaotic."
Everyone having weapons did not mean no one had weapons.
Ordinary people without extraordinary power would gain a tool capable of killing those with power.
What would they do?
The human heart was impossible to predict, like a dog without a leash.
You might say it won't bite, but will it really not bite?
That's why a leashed dog, with its mouth bound, is the safest.
By the same logic, this kind of weapon must never appear in the hands of civilians or lords.
Simply put, it must never be sold publicly.
"We don't want our weapons to throw some village or city into chaos."
"There are many people in this world who crave money, but we won't do such a thing for money."
After speaking, Liya gently placed the teacup on the redwood table.
Seeing Zora sitting there blank, unable to say a word, she smiled slightly.
"I hope you can understand. But if we do join the guild, these weapons may appear among the guild's higher ranks."
"As a small gift for personal protection, I think nothing could be more suitable."
Zora came back to her senses and finally understood what Liya meant.
They wouldn't sell this weapon, but they were willing to give it freely to those important figures who needed protection.
But was it really free?
Don't forget, this weapon existed only in the hands of the Clavenna family.
And Liya had just said, this was only the first generation.
There would be a second, a third.
Even if those important figures didn't need Viktor's protection, after experiencing the sense of security brought by this weapon, they would inevitably draw closer to the Clavenna family and maintain friendly relations.
As long as no one else could develop such a weapon, the Clavenna family would achieve a monopoly.
And perhaps they had already developed the second and third generations.
What she was seeing now was only what Liya wanted her to see.
At this point, whether the Clavenna family could join the guild was no longer something Zora could decide.
She lowered her head, looking at the delicate, compact handgun in her hand that could unleash immense power.
As long as this small handgun appeared in the homes of those important figures that very night, by the next morning, they would all be begging the Clavenna family to join the Cassidra Merchant Guild.
Zora had been completely controlled.
She couldn't imagine that the woman in front of her, who looked about her own age, could crush her so thoroughly with just a few words.
It even made her heart move deeply.
Zora suppressed the emotions inside her, her hands trembling, and carefully placed the handgun on the table, as if afraid it might go off.
Only then did she raise her head and speak solemnly to Liya.
"Miss Liya, I need to ask my father, President Nannad, about this matter."
"I think I'll need to stay in the Empire for a few days. After that, we should discuss the rest in more detail."
At that point, she intended to leave.
Because the level of this negotiation was too high. She had been led by the nose the entire time.
On her own, she could no longer control the situation.
If this continued, she feared she might end up handing the entire guild over to the Clavenna family.
But Liya had no intention of letting her leave. Covering her mouth, she chuckled softly, the smile in her eyes unchanged as she said, "In that case, why not stay in Braeston for a few days?"
"You know, that is the territory of our Clavenna family, and also the only territory in the Empire granted to an outsider family."
"My original intention was to have a detailed discussion with you in Braeston. I just didn't expect you to arrive so quickly. We happen to need to return there as well, so we can go together."
Zora thought about it. Braeston was quite far from the royal capital, so she was just about to say there was no need and that she would visit in a few days.
But Liya suddenly called out upstairs, "Viktor!"
Zora's heart trembled sharply.
That completely unceremonious tone felt exactly like the way her own mother would give orders to her father, whose authority was like a mountain, back at home.
That was a tone only intimate partners could have.
No wonder. After all, Viktor was even willing to let the woman in front of her manage everything in the household. Their relationship must be extremely loving.
With that thought, she looked expectantly toward the staircase upstairs.
Until the moment that familiar black coat appeared, Zora suddenly froze.
That cold-faced man was holding a sleeping girl in his arms.
The girl didn't look very old, small in stature, her head resting on Viktor's shoulder, her face unseen.
Only that her ears seemed long and pointed, though otherwise she looked no different from a human.
But in that instant, perhaps the pressure of being led around by Liya had reached its limit.
Her mind completely short-circuited, and without thinking at all, she blurted out, "Your child is already this big!?"
Liya, "?"
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