n

n

nThe Green Cloaks didn't have an easy time when they are fighting the rest of the group. They really underestimated the competition they have in this place.

nBut since they already provoked them, the rest of the contestants are not going to let them go easily. The fight went on and on for the rest of the day and it is almost evening.

nThe trio is in an extremely relaxed state now. There are some stray competitors that came to fight them and there are some new competitors that joined in, but they are still low in numbers and they are okay with handling them.

nAnyway, by evening not only did they finish making their own preparations in the forest, but they are also had enough time to rest and recover for a while and discussed their plans.

nThey should really thank Green Cloaks for taking the heat off of them.

nBy dusk, the rest of the contestants are either defeated or escaped to fight for another day, either way, the green cloaks became less busy and to the surprise of the audience, they started recovering immediately.

nThey are absorbing the wood elemental energy from the trees and grass surrounding them. To be precise it is almost like the trees and grass are giving their energy up to them.

nTheir recovery rate is also extremely high.

nSam who is sitting in the audience was intrigued. He is really looking forward to how the trio would fight off these green cloaks.

nThe whole afternoon, the trio set their own traps in the forest along with some more preparations, the rest of the arena didn't understand what they are doing, but Sam did.

nThese are the new results of their training. After they got their ass kicked by Sam, they came up with some techniques.

nEven though they didn't fight again, Sam could still guess their effects.

nBut his thoughts are interrupted by something else.

nAt this exact moment, another large group in another type of uniform is joining in on the fun. He frowned because he is familiar with the uniform. These people are from the one-star military unit.

nThere are thirty members of them entering and Sam even saw a familiar person within the group. Rogan. Even though he is not at the forefront of the group, he is only standing right behind the leader, he clearly has a higher rank in the unit.

nThey entered the forest and unlike the green cloaks, they are pretty aggressive in their moves. They all stuck together and started moving towards the green cloaks and the trio who are now in the same spot.

nThis is a new addition to the already excited crowd.

nCurrently, there are thirty green cloaks, thirty One-star soldiers, and around twenty to thirty individual contestants, in midst of all these people the trio who are the targets are standing together.

nThe green cloaks are pretty fast and they made their presence known to the rest of the forest in an aggressive way.

nBy the time the green cloaks healed themselves and got ready to deal with the trio, the first one-star soldier already entered the scene and the rest slowly followed.

nRogan who came a little later looked at the two parties and said.

n

"Why don't we wait for tomorrow? There are only a few minutes until the sunset, I am pretty sure it wouldn't be enough to finish this and it would be a pity to stop it in the middle.

"

nThe trio doesn't have any problem with that, they just sat there and started eating their food.

nThe green cloaks looked at the One-star military unit and cursed them for being nosy, but they still didn't attack and held their hand.

nThe day is over just like that.

nSam is really looking forward to seeing what the trio has newly picked up, but it seems like he doesn't have enough luck to watch it today, but he is still excited.

nHe came out of the forest along with Raunak as both of them walked towards another restaurant. Raunak seems to be a bit troubled. It seems like the situation with his girlfriend is not going anywhere.

n

"You are in the Arena the whole day. Why didn't you go meet her in that time? Her father and brother are here. You can work something out, can't you?

"

n

"It is protocol, every government official should be at the tournament.

"

n

"You really have no luck in this love. Everything is against you.

"

nRaunak didn't even know what to say about that. At this moment an elf came running towards them and whispered something to Raunak which created a frown on the latter's forehead.

nSam looked at him in askance and he replied.

n

"Professor, he wants to meet you.

"

n

"Meet me?

"

n

"Yes, it seems like he is intrigued by you too much. He wouldn't meet people that easily.

"

nSam shook his head and gestured for the elf to lead the way. Raunak also followed them as he had nothing to do anyway.

nSoon Sam arrived at the familiar street.

nThe very street that he visited last night.

nHe has a feeling that he already visited the place he is going to visit now and it turned out to be true.

nSoon enough he is right in front of the house which blocked the shadow mouse to enter. He took a deep breath and entered the house.

nBoth of them were led into an office room where an elf is waiting for them.

nSam and Raunak took their seats and looked at the smiling elf.

n

"Good to see you Raunak. How is life treating you?

"

nRaunak didn't answer and just looked at him. For some reason, he felt the question was a bit sarcastic. But he doesn't know if he was just being a bit sensitive.

nThen the professor looked at Sam and spoke.

n

"You must be the infamous Sam. I wanted to meet you for a long time, but I never got a chance.

"

nSam shook his hand with a faint smile and replied.

n

"Nice to meet you too.

"

n

"I heard Braman visited you last night. Did you think about what he said?

"

n

"Said? More like threatened. I think I am pretty clear with the answer.

"

nProfessor chuckled at the reply and spoke.

n

"I am really sorry if Braman has spoken anything out of line and I am sure he is regretting it now clearly. The One-star unit just wanted to make a deal.

"

n

"And why are you discussing this, instead of them?

"

n

"The person in charge is my student and he is a bit busy with something. So, I can only take it upon myself to aid him.

"

n

"What would the deal be?

"

n

"Well, from what I heard from them. Your research base has a new product and they are willing to buy it. But they just want some discount in exchange for your friends' safety tomorrow.

nThey survived four days, it would be a pity to get seriously harmed in the last day and it is an open secret that their escape tokens are not working even if they want to give up.

"

n

"So, your deal is that I sell whatever product I have in my hands to the military unit at a cheap price and the unit will save my friends.

"

n

"That's right.

"

n

"What if I don't accept that deal?

"

n

"Well, the one-star unit will be just normal contestants in the battle.

"

nSam chuckled as he looked at the professor right in the eyes,

n

"Do you even know what my product is?

"

n

"No, but from your record, I am pretty sure that it would be another revolutionary product.

"

n

"My dear Professor, I heard you are a great teacher. But today give me a chance to teach you something about making business deals.

nThe first thing you have to do before starting the negotiation is to verify whether what you can offer is credible or not, worth it or not, and if the other party needs it or not.

nYou can bluff with it if you are not sure and if you think that the other party is also not sure.

nBut you can't bet on it too much when the stakes are high. Otherwise, you will lose everything for being greedy.

"

n

"Does that mean, you still don't want that deal?

"

n

"Of course not. Anyway, the next project in the base is actually a personal interest of mine and I don't plan on selling it anytime soon. As for this deal, we can continue the discussion tomorrow afternoon. I will meet you in the arena then and you can once again offer different conditions.

"

n

"Afternoon? Do you think your friends will survive until then?

"

n

"Do you want to make a bet?

"

n

"Bet? What bet?

"

n

"If my friends don't survive until tomorrow noon, I will give you the next three products for free. Not only the design, but I will also let my staff train yours, a plan for the factory layout. Machines needed for the factory. Everything you need.

nBut if they survive and if you come to me by noon with a different deal, then you guys will have to pay double the price for the next three products

nAre you down?

"

nThe professor chuckled and shook Sam's hand.

n

"Deal.

"

n

"I hope you keep your word. If you don't, I will shut my company down and will just join faction 2 as a normal artisan.

"

n

"You don't have to do that, I am a man of my word.

"

n

"That better be the case. While you are at, call that shadow of yours back and keep it safely with you. It is an insult to do that to a fellow necromancer.

"

nThe professor froze in his actions and looked at Sam with narrow eyes. Under the table, a shadow just moved from Sam's shadow and merged with the professor's shadow.

nSam stood up from his seat and said.

n

"Lesson two. Stop underestimating the other party in a negotiation. So, you can recall the shadow that was with Raunak too.

"

nRaunak who sat on his chair was already sweating at the exchange and when heard this, he sprung up from his chair and looked down. He could see the shadow leaving from his and merging with the professor's shadow.

n

"Goodbye professor.

"

nWith that Sam and Raunak left the place.

nThe professor looked at Sam's back with a deep gaze.

n