Dijamant, sitting at the head of a massive merchant guild at an age that could be considered young, how could he not know the meaning of the gesture his son made before speaking. The small tests he subjected his guests to weren't limited to this, and his answer just now was related to the conclusion he drew from the sum of all of them, but he couldn't help falling into thought after his father's words.
Somewhere else, inside the borders of the Turquoise Leaf Guild, there was someone else at least as thoughtful as him, and this person wasn't as tight-lipped as Komad Dijamanta when it came to putting what went through her mind into words.
"If you ask, they are all the chosen ones of their great societies, but come and see they are nothing but spoiled brats. As if it wasn't enough that they drain my resources like field mice, I also have to deal with their complaints repeating every second."
While her servant, combing her turquoise hair with a comb made of stone of the same color, nodded confirming her every word, the ten people lined up before her were also imitating her. Their leader was an angry old woman; if they behaved contrary, she wouldn't hesitate to take all her wrath out on them.
Compared to the Golden Leaf Guild, the situation of the Diamond and Turquoise Leaf Guilds was slightly better. They didn't have to personally host the leader of those who came to help like Zlato did, because Godfrey neither wanted to meet with anyone nor mingled with the others.
Even though his residence was inside the Diamond Leaf Guild where the Companions of Light were, he communicated only with Franz to relay his orders to the others. There was no one who found this state of his odd; everyone knew very well that he shut himself between four walls under the effect of the humiliation he experienced after his mission on the Orc Steppes.
"What are you standing before me for? Tell me, what are the brats the Lands of Light sent to our lodge doing?"
Of course, this didn't mean everything was a bed of roses; even if the Guild Leaders didn't interact directly, they deeply felt the troubles created by the guests materially and morally. It was reckoning time for the Turquoise Leaf Guild; her advisors, lined up like a group of soldiers before Tirkizna, were beginning to relay the latest developments.
"Mighty Tirkizna, Nympha, the leader of the military power of the Companions of Water, spends the majority of the day in the pool behind the residence allocated to them. She demands the water be refreshed every two hours, and if there is even the slightest delay, she doesn't hesitate to injure the servants making it look like an accident.
What she does aren't such big things, but you can appreciate that even if they are servants, having her appearance ruined isn't a pleasant thing for a woman. Other than this, since they don't leave their residence, I can say they haven't caused any more problems!"
The priests of the Societies of the Companions of Water, Earth, and Fire were staying as guests of the Turquoise Leaf Guild. The joint decision was for the Lands of Light forces to stay in the capital until the orc forces arrived at the Death Pass, but go to the front when the enemy threat knocked on their door.
"Look at this diva! Open the Swallow guest house to their service too, and refresh the pool of both mansions alternately. This way at least we won't have to put up with her unnecessary whims, even if the expenses will double, whatever!"
Tirkizna, one of those defending the idea of hosting them in their headquarters to please their allies, might not be satisfied with her decision, but it was too late for regrets. If they wanted to use their powers in war, they had to pay the price, because what they too did to other civilizations in time was nothing else.
"Sir, I have come to a state where I don't know what to do about the Companions of Earth. I need your sublime ideas, please guide me!"
Tirkizna could expect her advisor to whine, complain, maybe even rebel, but it wouldn't cross her mind that he would ask her for help. She looked up and down at her advisor, who had embroidered the collar of his turquoise clothes with white pearls; it was as if she was looking at a gift box whose inside was unknown what would come out of it; she couldn't help feeling both uneasy and excited.
"What is the subject that makes you so audacious to ask me for advice?"
Tirkizna was the only woman at the head of the four major merchant guilds. Every move, every attitude of hers was done being conscious of this. If anyone off the street attempted to ask her for advice, she would have to do the jobs of her advisors herself in the future.
She watched with cold eyes as her subordinate dropped to his knees and put his forehead on the ground; this was at least the attitude that had to be adopted before consulting her.
"Great Tirkizna, Solo, the Leader of the Companions of Earth, and the mages with him haven't left the set table since the moment they arrived. They neither sleep nor rest, all they do is eat and drink. The meals they desire aren't such ordinary things, each plate costs at least ten gold, and it takes them only a minute to finish it.
The budget you allocated for their accommodation is almost depleted, we spent it all on the ingredients of the cooked meals. If another day passes like this, we won't be able to afford neither the personnel to cook nor the ingredients, this is the situation even though we haven't paid the wages of the private chefs!"
The Turquoise Leaf Guild Leader's eyes rolled up, and her turquoise-colored sclera completely revealed themselves. The hands of the woman, resembling a ghoul summoned from the spirit world, were trembling; had she rejoiced too early when Godfrey stayed at the Diamond Leaf Guild?
She couldn't stay on her feet any longer, moving towards her throne placed right across the large window with a view of the Golden City. The servant combing her hair and her advisors were also in pursuit in a single file like ducklings following their mother.
"I approve the use of an additional budget. You will record everything; I want to see the invoice for even the slightest expense. When everything is over, if I don't get my money back down to the last penny, my name isn't Tirkizna!"
She couldn't hide the veins on her old hands in normal times either, but at these moments they were screaming 'we are here, we exist'. They continued to be in plain sight until she unclenched her tight fists, until the Turquoise Leaf Guild Leader turned to her last advisor.
"Tell me Glare, what kind of damage do the Companions of Fire group manage to cause us!"
The young girl, who hadn't tainted her radiant face with another color, took one step forward, clasped her hands on her chest, and bowed her head to greet her leader. There was no detail on her white outfit except her eyes living up to her name, but one couldn't help looking at that pair of jewels.
"Her Excellency Tirkizna, Ignis, the leader of the military power of the Companions of Fire, and the subordinates he brought with him, said they would seal the mansion allocated to them to strangers and meditate. After saying they didn't want to be disturbed for neither food, nor entertainment, nor anything else, they haven't yet come out of their residence they entered.
A few of the servants trying to approach the mansion out of fear that they wouldn't be satisfied with our hospitality were exposed to burns due to the hot air wave hitting their bodies, but other than this, no incident was experienced."
The girl, giving her greeting and retreating just as she did before entering the conversation, began to wait for the words to come from her leader, ignoring the gazes upon her. Facing a face that began to brighten moment by moment before the words, Glare relaxed, seeing the positive reflection of the news she gave. From here on out was the part where she didn't need to fear, only needed to keep the given instructions in her mind.
"Finally a good piece of news, finally something is happening that doesn't make me lose money. No one will approach the residence of the Companions of Fire, you will act as if they don't exist unless they ask for something themselves. Understood?"
"Yes, ma'am!"
The young girl's voice was full of confidence; even if it was entirely out of luck that there was no problem only in the part she dealt with, the saying 'every person creates their own luck' was a truth. While the Four Major Merchant Guilds prepared for the struggle they would wage, they poured their focus inwards, but in a not too distant place, their enemies were about to exhibit a completely outward-facing attitude.