Grace and Sarah stood in front of the academy's ornate gate. As the girls saw Will approach, they saluted "Reporting for duty, Commander!"

"That's enough of that, we just saw each other a breakfast, please don't be so formal," Will responded by returning the salute.

Handing the day pass to guard at the gate, Will and the girls left the academy grounds. Their first stop was the Merchant's Guild. It was better to negotiate prices with the Merchant's Guild than with individual shop owners. The Merchant's Guild was responsible for trade and already held contracts with many shop owners.

Returning to the Merchant's Guild felt like returning home. Theses were his people, he breath out and relaxed. This was his battle ground, and he was prepared for war. Will had not haggled since he left the barony, and he missed the verbal sparring.

Checking in once again with the front desk clerk. The desk clerk was slightly kinder, when Will presented his merchant guild card, and Guild Master Rolf recommendation letter. Operating as the Guardian's Quartermaster meant this meeting, could be lucrative for the guild. Politely, the clerk asked the cadets to sit, as she arranged for a meeting with a representative.

A few minutes later, Will heard, "Ah Sir Quartermaster vont Ballard, how may I be of service," Harold Murphy asked with a bow this time. "Follow me to my office where we may conduct business."

Following Mr. Murphy to his office, was a quick walk. Inside the office where three chairs. Will remembered those chairs and allowed girls to sit first, as etiquette required.

"Greetings Mr. Murphy, may I present Grace vont Allen and Sarah Taylor," Will said respectfully.

"Oh Ms. Taylor, I know your father, he is having quite the successful year. We here at the Guidon's guild are most certainly looking forward to his arrival," Mr. Murphy said smugly.

Sarah bowed her head slightly and greeted Mr. Murphy.

"Mr. Murphy, I come with good news that the Guardian Knight and Mage's Academy have expunged our contracts with local shops and solely wish to contract with Merchant's Guild," Will said graciously using his 23 points in diplomacy. "As Quartermaster, I am here to set the terms," Will said.

"Wonderful, it's about time. It seems promoting a merchant to Quartermaster was the correct choice. Based on Marshall Rolf's letter of recommendation, I can tell how serious you take this," Mr. Murphy said slyly. "We should be able to fill all your orders for 25 gold a month" he replied.

"Come on Grace and Sarah, we shall report Mr. Murphy's disrespect to Guardian Guild right away," Will said doing his best to fake anger.

Grace and Sarah stood up walking toward the office door, with Will.

"Sit, sit, let's not play games the goods you request are expensive the best I can do is 20 gold."

Will led the girls out the office, down the corridor and towards the door.

"Stop 18 gold" Mr. Murphy gritted.

"10 gold a month," Will replied stopping at the entrance to the Merchant's guild.

"Outrageous, people have to eat for a living, 17 gold" he said.

"Mr. Murphy are you not a patriot, don't you know protecting this kingdom is the mission of the Guardian Guild," Will responded with a straight face. Both Mr. Murphy and Will knew what he said was lie, but they were outside his office in front of the Merchant's Guild with people watching the discussion.

"I am certainly a patriot of this kingdom and this Merchant's Guild has always supported Guardian Guild."

"Then are you forgetting, you are not negotiating with me, but with the Mage and Knight's Academies. Yet, you continue to disgrace the academies by overcharging, how is that patriotic?" Will asked.

By now, Mr. Murphy was visibly upset, his face was red. Being called unpatriotic in front of being could ruin his reputation and hurt the Merchant's Guild. At this point, he knew he had lost the negotiation. He could not curse in front of two proper nobles, and noble tradesman. What if Mr. Allen heard about his outburst in front of his daughter and decided to bypass Guidon for the capital. Mr. Allen's contract was with the Merchant's Guild, he was contracted to sell his goods for a set amount, but where he had to sell was not in his contract.

"Fine 15 gold in the lowest I can go. May we head back to my office now to complete the contract," Mr. Murphy sounded defeated. He had been beat by a 13-year-old, he felt shame.

"Wonderful, let us finalize the paperwork, we do have other guild business to attend," Will said proudly. He asked Grace and Sarah to wait outside while to contract was drawn.

Inside Mr. Murphy's office, he set the contract in front of Will. The Guardian Guild would pay 15 gold coins a month, for 10 years.

"Thank you, Mr. Murphy but the Merchant's Guild will not be trading directly with Guardian Guild, but with the Silver Phoenix. My company the Silver Phoenix will act as the middleman. I believe my guild card, entitles me to a 20% transaction of all dealings with the Merchant's Guild. Which equates to 12 gold coins a month," Will over excited. This battle had been a slaughter.

Mr. Murphy stood up and glared at Will finally realizing Will's plan all along. He exploited both the Merchant's Guild and the Guardian Guld. He was a true merchant, he had no morals, he purely sought profit. Mr. Murphy realized that he had lost the moment Will walked through the door. This person gave made him shiver, and smile. This young noble would bring great profit to the guild in the future. He would earn 3 gold a month, guaranteed profit for the next 10 years. That was 420 gold over 10 years, his profit would continue even after his graduation.

Moreover, after Mr. Murphy's previous decision to exempt Will from his first-year taxes, the Silver Phoenix would be on firm financial footing.

"I admire you cadent, you've gotten over on me twice, I will not allow this to happen again," Mr. Murphy sounded resolute.

"I thank you Mr. Murphy for all your help, you truly are my benefactor," Will said, allowing Mr. Murphy to save face.

"Fine, fine, let's leave it at that, now scram, if I ever see you again it will be too soon," he replied feeling a headache beginning.

Will left the Merchant's Guild, proceeded to dominate the negotiation at the Blacksmith and Alchemy Guild. He was slowly building a name for himself as a tyrant in negotiations. As the rumors spread shop owners began to fear meeting Will.

Will, Sarah, and Grace ate lunch at restaurant near the Knight Academy. The celebrated their victory and cheered on the future of the Quartermaster Office. Each guild was met Sarah and preferred to work with her in the future than Will. As Will listened to Sarah and Grace talk about the command post with excitement. Will thought about his profit. In his dealing today, he secured 15 gold coins, three from the merchants, seven from the blacksmiths, and five from the alchemy. 'It's a pity the inns, and taverns don't have a guild.' Will thought.

Will opened his screen and looked at his diplomacy stats.

Name: William vont Ballard Race: Human Rank: 0 Class: Merchant Subclass: Attribute: Constitution-21 Strenght--25 Dexterity--24 Intellect--32 Charisma--12 Rank Skills: Management (23), Diplomacy (23+7), Accounting (43) Class Skills: Appraisal (1, 100) Abilities: Apprentice Swordsmanship (12, 25), Apprentice Terramancer (10, 25)

After lunch, Will, Sarah, and Grace walked to the guild floor in the pagoda, and handed over the contracts to Marshall Rolf. He looked at the contracts and was amazed at the cost savings, but he was curious about the Silver Phoenix part.

"What's this with the Silver Phoenix?" he asked.

"The Silver Phoenix is the name of my business," Will said, handing over his Merchant Guild card. "I used my business as an intermediary to drive the prices down. Without my merchant card, it would've been more difficult to negotiate the lower."

"Our guild pays you, then you buy the good and deliver them to us. What's your cut?" he asked suspiciously.

"My cut? No, guild master, by me negotiating on our guild's behalf, if there was ever a problem the Silver Phoenix not the guild would be blamed. Any profit I earn represents my negotiation ability and future risk," I said.

"Argh, I hate dealing with merchants. Fine take your cut, if the guild saves money, quality goods are delivered on time, and less mess comes to my office, I'm fine" he said.

Will bowed to Marshall Rolf and left. The rest of the day blurred by and Will found himself in bed. Tomorrow was the weekend, and he would spend the day with his sister.