The First Legendary Beast Master

Karl thought about any possible issues that might arise from this arrangement before asking questions.

"The Overlord Ranked masterpieces that we produce. Would you like them as well, or should they still be sent to the auction? And we currently have some apprentices from Lared Academy learning Runic Arts during the semester break. That doesn't violate any agreements, does it?" He asked carefully.

The Lord waved his hand. "They're fine. Even if you teach them the basics of Runesmithing, the Duke of Lared won't let them mass produce weapons. It's part of our arrangement.

But the Overlord Ranked weapons are a unique challenge, I do admit. While they're not a strategic national treasure like a Totem Ranked staff or blade would be, they're still very high on the danger scale.

Both of the items that sold at the auction today are going to other Islands, well away from us. But the only way to ensure a fair market value is to auction them. So, I am willing to compromise. If I do not want the item making it to the open market, I will purchase it from the auction house before it reaches the auction block.

No need to get your own hands dirty.

However, that does lead me to an important question. Will you be producing large quantities of Overlord Ranked items?"

Karl shook his head. "One or two a month was the plan. So that our master craftsman doesn't feel that the employment agreement is a financial loss to him, when he was planning to go inland and set up his own shop.

The apprentices can turn out enough Ascended and Commander Rank items to keep the shop running at a profit.

Well, for now. Not having inventory of the same standard at the shop for sale will put a significant damper on business."

That made the Lady of Drodh laugh. A single Commander Rank ring would pay an average shop's employees for the month.

The Lord looked contemplative. "I see how that could be an issue. Custom orders, not more than two sets of accessories or one set of weapons and armour per customer per month, would be acceptable to the Kingdom. Even if they are Overlord Ranked, it is fine."

Karl nodded in acceptance. That would be a bit of a pain, but they could work with it. It wasn't like he could win a fight with the Lord of Drodh or otherwise force him to change his mind.

"Wonderful. I will have the butler draw up the agreement." The Lord decided.

While the men seemed content to wait, the Lady of Drodh had different ideas. Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

"As you are here, would you be averse to doing a small favour for me? You see, I could use a few little upgrades made to the nursery." She asked, knowing that Karl was a Runemaster.

"Not at all. What did you have in mind?" Karl asked.

"Young Demons grow best in an extremely high mana environment. I am told that your items are capable of storing mana and self recharging. Would it be possible to put that sort of enchantment on a nursery?" She asked.

"Turn a nursery into a training room, with dense mana condensing on every surface? I would think it should be possible. Even if it's not everything you might have hoped, I should be able to raise the mana level to two or three times what it is in the rest of the city." Karl cautiously agreed.

"Oh, that would be wonderful. You know, mana is essential to the childhood development of Demons, but it's so hard to find a nanny who has the rare skills and the gentle touch to maximize their potential. Without that early start, it can take centuries to catch up."

The Lady dragged Karl out by his hands, leaving Dana facing the Lord of Drodh. The unintentional pressure of his aura had sobered her up instantly after they entered, but unlike Karl, who Dana was certain was missing whatever portion of his brain was responsible for determining threat levels, she was keenly aware of how dangerous this Demon was.

But the Lord was smiling, and ordered another tray brought out.

"Fruit juice and finger sandwiches. They will take some time, my wife doesn't stop until she gets what she wants. Now, I'm sure that you have a fun background story as well. How did you end up leaving your home continent with a Dragon Cursed man like that?"

Dana was confused by the phrase. "Dragon Cursed?"

The Lord smiled at her. "It's a phrase we use for other species who have a bit too much favour of the old gods.

They tend to die of stupidity at a very young age, and if my aura sight isn't lying you should both be coming up on your seventeenth birthdays, yet you are a Monarch-Ranked Human.

That sort of thing doesn't happen accidentally. More likely, it happened by proximity to him."

Dana smirked at him. "You know, Karl is a human as well. Or at least I'm reasonably sure he was at one point."

The Drodh Lord shrugged. "I never knew him then, but I can say for certain that he isn't now. At this point, I would wager that both the Naga Queen and the Void Badger have a stronger genetic relationship with humanity."

With those words, Cara came out to sit on Dana's lap. If they were talking about her, she was certainly allowed to have juice.

She gestured with her nose, and Dana poured her a small glass.

The Lord cocked his head to the side with a curious look.

"That Void Badger has wings."

Cara extended them as she finished her drink, and Dana nodded.

"Yes, she is a Winged Void Badger. Is there another kind here?"

Lord Drodh nodded. "Yes. In fact, the wingless kind is much more common. I've never personally seen a Void Badger with Wings. Even without them, they're already a menace to society. Tell me, does this one have [Void Shift] as part of her skills to escape confinement?"

Dana shook her head, while Cara looked intrigued. She hadn't known that was an option.

Why didn't she get that option?

Karl was slacking.

"No, her specialties are [Disintegration] and [Nullification]." Dana explained.

The Lord looked shocked. "Anti-magic? That is just insidious."

Cara nodded happily, and the old Demon smiled.

"It seems that she is well aware of the fact. Once she reaches Overlord Rank, she would most likely be able to shut down entire armies and naval fleets with a thought. Overlord Ranked Nullification would leave them dead in the water.

Perhaps I need to find one for my darling wife? She hates it when the boys play pranks on her, and this one appears to be quite well socialized."

Cara gave Dana a warning look, daring her to say otherwise.

"Yes, definitely well socialized. You should see how gently she cuddles our Nature Priestess."

Cara nodded. The Dana Mage knew what answers to give.