Chương 119: Boss Stella

[Raccoon Glass Bottle] Grade - D+ Creator: White Crystal Addict A small bottle made for storing liquids for Raccoon. The embossing details a raccoon drinking a potion on the bottle's body. [Mouse Glass Bottle] Grade - D+ Creator: White Crystal Addict A small bottle made for storing liquids for Raccoon. The embossing details a mouse drinking a potion on the bottle's body. [Raccoon and Mouse Glass Bottle] Grade - D+ Creator: White Crystal Addict A small bottle made for storing liquids for Raccoon.

The embossing details a raccoon and a mouse sitting side by side at the campfire. I inspected the bottles in awe. For them being called a 'prototype' these things sure have quality! They feel even more solid than the bottles I've been using and they look way better! These things should go in the Raccoon museum! I'm putting them in a display case immediately! Well, if I ever buy a display case.

"These are…" I said before Adam started to explain,"These were prototypes I made in a few hours; I'd have liked to used better raw materials for the glass but…That was a little out of my current budget. However, I think these are a good demonstration of what I can do." I turned my attention away from the bottles and looked at Adam, his expression was filled with nervousness and anxiousness.

"I really like these!" I exclaimed before raving about them, "The quality isn't bad whatsoever! I'd honestly love to test breaking one and see how much force is needed for the glass to shatter, but the designs are so cute that I can't bear to do it! The size is nice and small too, considering they're about the same as my other bottles, I already know that they'll fit perfectly in most containers! I absolutely love the caps too! They twist off so smoothly and it's nice and airtight so nothing can get in!

You did absolutely amazing with these, drug mister!" As he listened to my words, I saw him visibly start to shake. The corners of his mouth slowly turned upward as he bowed his head. I think I saw a few tears dripping from his eyes. Did… Did this mean that much to him? When I saw him crying, I didn't know what to say or do. Did I say something wrong? That can't be. I only have positive thoughts about these bottles. The only negative is that I can't bear to break them!

I didn't say anything and waited for him to calm down. After a little, he finally spoke.

"Thank you…Thank you for the recognition." He said quietly.

"It's only what you deserve! These bottles are amazing! I can't wait to start using them for my potions!" I cheerfully said.

"Then…The contract?"

"Of course you have it!" I said, since he already said before that he could make these in batches, there was nothing more to question, "I want you working for me full-time, are you okay with that?" I asked.

"F-Full time?" He repeated with wide eyes.

"Yes, in addition, I'll cover the cost of all the raw materials during the creation process. Plus! I'll even give you healthy bonuses and invest in helping you climb higher in the tower and in skills that could aid your production process at a later date." This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

"W-Wait, i-invest too? B-Boss, are you creating a company?" Adam looked completely stunned. He was stuttering like crazy!

"Hehe! Even better!" I proudly said.

"E-even better?" He repeated.

"A guild!" I smiled. … Luna ran on the treadmill at a consistent speed while imbuing mana throughout her body. This was the more advanced version of when Stella imbued only her legs to run faster. Instead of imbuing just one part of the body, Luna imbued everything. After another ten minutes of running, she slowed down and turned off the treadmill. Sweat dripped down her forehead. She wiped it with a small handkerchief Stella had made for her during her knitting arc.

"Phew…" She let out. With that done, she headed towards the next machine. The mana manipulation training machine. Being a mage, she had to make sure her manipulation was precise. Especially when working with melee awakeners, if she messed up, she could end up killing her teammate instead of the enemy. While she was walking into the room that housed those machines, she received a notification from the association app on her phone. [ElectricTypeMouse, we have found a spot for you in a party for a C- ranked gate. Details…] She didn't stop immediately, instead, she found a spot where she could sit down and read through the details.

"C- ranked gate… Terrain is mountainous with plenty of open area, cover is minimal…" She mumbled as she read through the rest of the details. After finishing it, she decided to hold off on accepting or denying it immediately. If it was before, she'd accept it after checking her party member's databases at the association, but now, she wanted to discuss it with Stella first. So, she decided to call it for the day at the AT room. She walked out of the building a little faster than usual.

Thinking of how'd Stella greet her when she returned home made her unknowingly smile. …

"U-Um…Boss…" Adam said.

"Yes! The reason I'm saying this is because I'd like for you to be a member of my guild! We're just starting out and you'd be the fourth member!"

"Boss…" Adam said again.

"Yes?"

"… I'd absolutely love to join, but…" He appeared hesitant with his next words, after a moment, he ended up just saying them, "Can you… Can you afford to run a guild?" He said before quickly following up, "I'm not calling you poor or anything! B-but, it's very expensive to run a guild and even though you're one of the most famous production classes at the moment, you're just starting out…" Everything he said was true. I know that running a guild is a lot of money, it's way more than I can afford at the moment.

Especially since I'm also trying to afford a house at the moment. There's just no way I can afford all of this! And there's no 'but' to that! However! There's one caveat!

"Hehe, well…" I scratched the back of my head, "It's not actually a proper guild right now. It's just in name at the moment. In a way I'm just trying to reserve you so that you don't join another guild while I earn money. For now, at most, we can party together when I reach your floor. Oh! But, I'm still paying you properly for the bottles, don't worry about that!"

"Pfft!" He let out with a smile before coughing, "Ahem!" He cleared his throat and the smile was gone, "I understand, that makes sense." He nodded, "I'd love to join your guild when it's officially created." Huh? Did he just laugh at me? I glared at him through the screen, though he couldn't see it. Well! Whatever, maybe I imagined it!

"Good! Good! So, how much of these bottles can you make per day?" I asked.

"If I push myself probably around 300. I can do 200 comfortably though." Adam replied.

"And is that 200 of each type? Or 200 total?"

"Total," he said, "I can make as many of each type as you want."

"Then! I want you to make 95 of the raccoon type, and 95 of the mouse type. The remaining 10 can be raccoon and mouse versions!"

"Huh? So you want to make the duo one rarer?" He asked.

"Hehe, well, the more special type obviously has to be rarer!" I smiled.

"I understand…Alright, I can do that for sure."

"Great! So, let's discuss your salary!" … A little later we both settled happily. Once per week, Adam would send me 1400 hundred bottles total, 665 of them would be raccoon bottles, 665 of them would be mouse bottles, and the remaining 70 of them would be raccoon and mouse bottles! I'd cover the cost of the materials and pay him bi-weekly! The investment into him and his skills would wait until he joined my guild. Hehe! This was my first time having someone work for me! It was quite exciting!

But, it's also a little nerve wracking. I now have someone who's salary I'm paying. If I can't make enough money… No! Those are useless thoughts! As long as I make potions to sell, there's no way I won't be able to afford it!

"Have a good sleep for the rest of the day," I said, "You really need it."

"T-Thank you, boss…" Adam smiled, it looked like his most honest one yet, "Really, thank you…I'll start making the bottles tomorrow. For now…I'm going to sleep."

"Good." I nodded, "Sweet dreams, drug mister…"

"…What is 'drug mister'…?" I ended the call.

"Haah…" I stretched in my chair. Professional matters are so tiring! I just want to make potions! But, it's definitely necessary. Currently, we didn't actually have a contract signed, it was just verbal and based on trust. But, from my understanding Adam seemed like a good person, and that was the reason I want him in my guild in the first place. So, I paid him two month's salary in advanced. He said he was struggling to pay rent with two part-time jobs, so, I obviously have to look after my future guild member!

Standing up, I headed to the bedroom and flopped down, sinking into the mattress.

"So… Comfy…" I mumbled. If I wanted to I could fall asleep right now. But, I really need to lock in and start making money. Taking a deep breath, the scent in the blankets comforted me. It's a shame that the silverbin blanket isn't here, I had already traded that to panda gramps for him to work on. I told him to surprise me and not send progress pictures of it. Though, he would still send simple updates. Flipping over to lay on my back, I stared at the ceiling.

For minutes, I simply laid there like a starfish and enjoyed the comfort of my bed. I only snapped back to reality when I heard the front door open.

"Mm…?" I let out, sitting up. Was Luna home? I thought she was going to be training at the AT Room until dinner?

"Bin, I'm home!" Luna's familiar voice echoed throughout the apartment. I jumped off the bed and speed-walked towards Luna.

"Mouse! You're back so early?" I asked as I approached her. When I got with arm's reach, I embraced her.

"Yeah, I wanted to talk to you since I got an offer for a gate clear."

"Mwah!" I kissed her before stepping back, "You did?" I asked.

"Ahem," Luna cleared her throat, "Mm, I did." She pulled out her phone and showed me the notification she got. [ElectricTypeMouse, we have found a spot for you in a party for a C- ranked gate. Details…]"I wanted to discuss it with you before doing anything."

"Oh my goodness, I love you so much!" I hugged her again, "Then, let's go over it on the couch."

"Mm…I love you too…" Luna hugged me back and even gave me a shy peck on the cheek.

"Hehe!" After that, we headed to the couch and sat next to each other. Let's see…I wonder what details the association actually gives you before the gate.