‘Isn’t this too straightforward from the start!’

The assistant standing behind the Guild Master, maintaining a heavy atmosphere, held back the voice that was about to burst out.

He strained his eyes to make sure he wouldn’t misspeak.

‘What on earth is this woman?’

Who comes to a negotiation table and introduces themselves like they’re reading from a textbook?

‘Besides, the content is completely useless!’

Her height, which can be estimated at a glance, and her extremely selfish and personal desires are things he doesn’t even want to know.

Roel, the Guild Master’s assistant, hid his bewilderment and glanced at the Guild Master.

Normally, he would have coolly uttered a single word, “Nonsense,” and stood up, but for some reason, he was unusually quiet.

“……”

“An 8:2 ratio is fine. Of course, you take 8. I’ll just take 2.”

8 to 2?

Roel wondered if he had misheard something.

He had often seen cases where people demanded the opposite, but this was the first time someone came in and openly said they’d take only 2 and let the other side have 8.

‘What’s this, a trap?’

Or is she a sucker or a fool?

Roel looked at the woman wrapped in a dull-colored cloak with serious eyes.

‘Pink hair?’

It seems familiar, like I’ve seen it somewhere before.

Roel’s head tilted slightly.

“Ah, I’ll only provide the business item and raw materials, so in exchange, you’ll be handling everything else including sales, distribution, promotion, packaging, oh and fund management, that’s why I mentioned that ratio.”

“……”

“……”

What’s with this confidence?

‘Is she crazy?’

Roel couldn’t help but think rudely.

What kind of person who’s making a business proposal says they won’t be involved in operations and sales at all!

‘Is she really a sucker?!’

Roel seriously thought again.

‘How does she plan to manipulate the books?’

Isn’t it possible to give much less than if you were to lie about the amount and take it?

Of course, this is very good for Roel.

It was convenient for them to take the lead if there was someone so ignorant of the ways of the world.

In these negotiation tables, the one who gets fooled is worse than the one who fools.

He glanced at the Master.

The Master, wearing the black robe he always wears when meeting clients, was still silent, wearing a pure white and bizarre mask.

‘Strange.’

It’s about time he should say something.

With the Master keeping his mouth shut, Roel was the one feeling awkward.

“I’m not saying we should start right away, I need to find a place to stay, get materials and a lab, so how about starting in earnest in about three months? I can guarantee it will be groundbreaking.”

Roel looked at the woman who was steadily spitting out her words, regardless of whether there was a reaction from in front of her, whether she was given an answer or not, or whether she was being ignored or not.

‘This woman is something else.’

To be able to say what she needs to say so calmly in this atmosphere.

‘Is it impressive or is she just dull….’

Usually, even when experienced people come, they become at least very tense when they enter here and face the Master wearing a pure white mask.

That’s how heavy the air was.

“I haven’t made a prototype yet, so I’ll bring it within a month.”

“……”

“We’ll split the cost of materials equally. I’ll prepare the lab along with the house.”

What are this woman’s nerves made of?

“And including what I’ve just told you, if there’s anything the guild wants to propose, I’d like to create documents, set up a notary, and proceed.”

Now, Roel found not only the Master who wasn’t speaking as firmly as usual strange, but also the woman with her uncommon pink hair fluttering as intriguing.

‘…That pastel pink hair, I really feel like I’ve seen it somewhere.’

With a feeling of something about to come to mind, Roel furrowed his brows under the half-mask he was wearing.

“As long as you properly settle my share, I won’t interfere with how you sell it or how much profit you make.”

‘…What’s this, why is this person so nice?’

Roel thought the woman he had been observing for a while was closer to a philanthropist than a sucker.

She seemed to know well what happens when the books are left to the other party.

She’s saying she’ll turn a blind eye to whatever they do as long as they settle her share properly.

“Ah, of course, since we’ll be starting the business together, please put my name on it. I mean, put my name as a co-owner on the business license.”

“……”

The woman fell silent, perhaps having finished what she wanted to say.

“Let me know when you’ve thought it through.”

‘…Why is she being so generous?’

Roel now became a little scared of the woman’s relaxed attitude.

It seemed as if she thought the reason for the other party’s silence was that they were definitely thinking.

“…Master.”

Roel finally gently shook the shoulder of his superior, who was still sitting as if in a daze.

“…I know you.”

The Master opened his mouth at Roel’s request.

A magically altered voice flowed out, deep and low as if echoing in a cave.

Roel was a bit impressed.

Was the reason for his superior’s silence because he was recalling who she was?

‘As expected of the Master!’

Roel’s respect increased a notch.

But that was a bit different from the reality.

Because Magnus, the Guild Master, had already recognized her as soon as she entered.

However, he was unable to organize his thoughts because he had just recently ended up cursing himself with words like ‘some random dog bone from who knows where’ and ‘trash-like bastard’.

‘Why the information guild?’

He felt a bit dumbfounded.

What does she know to smile faintly as if she knows the information guild master so well and say he’s a trustworthy person?

‘This guy is more trustworthy than me?!’

Magnus was somewhat angry.

Of course, he completely forgot the fact that ‘this guy’ was ultimately Magnus himself.

“…Why did you come to me?”

“Because you’re the most famous in the empire.”

“…You, ahem. You… No. You’re the Duchess of Kelahinum.”

“No, I’m not.”

The woman frowned as if to say ‘what are you talking about’ in response to Magnus’s words.

That expression was so scathing that Roel almost blurted out a sound of disappointment.

“You’re not?”

“No.”

“But you are, with that pink hair!”

“I’m not.”

“…Alright, then you must be the daughter of Marquis Lavernia.”

“I’m not?”

“Eck… Hup…”

Roel finally couldn’t hold back and made a mistake.

He was somewhat flustered by the sight of his superior getting it wrong twice after setting up the atmosphere.

“…Why are you lying?”

“Because I’m not.”

She said calmly.

At those words, Magnus became even more upset.

He didn’t like her going around saying a relationship that hadn’t even ended was over.

“You’re underestimating my information network. Go back, I don’t deal with people who lie as easily as they breathe.”

“It’s not a lie, I’m saying this because I’ll be a common civilian by the time the deal starts in three months anyway.”

“You’d be better off asking the Duke of Kelahinum. Isn’t he better than me, considering you don’t even know me?”

“I prefer you.”

Magnus’s shoulders stiffened.

His pure white mask turns to her, seeming a bit flustered.

“…When have we met before?”

“We haven’t. I’m just saying you’re better than the Duke.”

Serena finished speaking and nodded once as if to confirm.

In truth, Serena preferred to meet under the guise of strangers rather than acknowledging their awkward past as ex-husband and ex-wife.

Serena already knew what the Duke of Kelahinum was called behind his back from <Lucky Saintess>.

That’s why she came.

If they met as strangers, there would be no misunderstandings later.

‘Being a villainess is hard.’

Because no matter what you do, you’re bound to be cursed.

Serena thought as she shook her head.

“…You say I’m… better than… the Duke?”

Magnus asked, stumbling over his words.

“Don’t you think so?”

Because no matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t compare the name Duke Magnus von Kelahinum with the name of the information guild master.

Isn’t Magnus the overwhelming winner to anyone who sees it!

“I don’t want to hear that I’m obsessed.”

Serena shook her head.

As a villainess, no matter what she did, various bad rumors tended to follow her.

‘I should nip it in the bud from the start.’

She thought.

“……”

There was a cracking sound, as if something was breaking.

“Ah, Ma, Master!”

When she turned her head at Roel’s startled voice, he was pointing at the armrest of the sofa.

“Ah.”

Magnus clicked his tongue softly and removed his hand. It seemed the frame inside the leather sofa had broken.

“It’s too old.”

Magnus said, looking at the sofa made of premium buffalo leather that had been brought in less than a month ago.

Roel gaped at him, but Magnus didn’t even glance in that direction.

“So you don’t like it?”

“What I said remains unchanged. I don’t deal with nobles. As I said, it would be better for you to talk to your husband.”

Serena nodded with an expressionless face.

“Is that so? I understand.”

She stood up without any lingering attachment.

“Ah, aah…”

Roel’s eyes showed great disappointment.

But Serena truly left without any lingering feelings.

“Why did you do that… Master.”

Magnus glanced at Roel, who was whining.

Roel doesn’t know that he is the Duke of Kelahinum.

And Magnus couldn’t say.

That he couldn’t admit that ‘such an unidentifiable guy’ was better than himself.

He was at least aware that it was somewhat childish.

But there was no reason for a husband who had known her for 16 years to lose to some information guild master.

‘…She’ll bring it up again soon.’

Then it’s fine to proceed.

He doesn’t mind giving her all the shares in that measly business.

He was already overflowing with money he earned from both legal and illegal sources anyway.

But Magnus didn’t know.

The fact that the planner Serena always has Plan B and Plan C with her.