Magical Tool Master Dahlia Never Compromises ~ Starting Today: Life as a Freelancer ~

"Dear, we have to return the favor."

"Yes. Starting next month, we'll raise the price of all the Oriental silk we wholesale to Mr. Fortunato by 10%."

"That sounds great."

Seeing the two talking with cold smiles, Ivano broke out in a cold sweat and squeezed out a voice.

"Well, I drank the potion and recovered quickly. Also, Lord Fortu gave me a ring, so there's no need to be so extreme..."

Although Ivano thought angrily, "Is this the aristocratic way?", he did not hate Fortu. If he did so drastically, it might worsen the relationship between the two sides in the future.

Just as he was desperately trying to organize his words to speak for the other person, those deep black eyes looked at him.

"Make no mistake, Ivano. This isn't just for you. I'm the head of the Commerce Guild and the guarantor of the Roseti Chamber of Commerce. Besides, the 'Master of the Jedda Family' won't stand by and watch his wife's 'apprentice' get hurt."

Only now did he realize that this man's voice could be so cold.

And he finally realized that the two people in front of him were genuine aristocrats.

Ivano has worked with them for many years, and perhaps he has always seen the way they treat civilians.

"I'm not familiar with 'noble style', so I'll leave that to him."

"Indeed, I'll take care of that. If Mr. Fortunato wants to play the noble game, I'm always willing to play along. Whether he wants to respond as the guild's guarantor or have the two guildmasters fight each other is up to him."

Viscount Jedda, who appears calm and composed at first glance, is actually quite belligerent. On closer inspection, someone who is too calm and lacks initiative wouldn't be able to hold the position of Trade Guild Leader for long.

But if things continue like this, Ivano might have to apologize to Fortu.

"Well, I'm very grateful for your kindness, but please let me return the favor to Fortuna-sama this time, please...!"

Seeing him continue to bow his head and beg, the two were silent for a while.

"Okay, then we'll just raise the price of Dongguo white silk by 20% starting next month."

"It always feels like it's not enough, but this is the only way."

"Excuse me... Eastern White Silk is the fabric used for aristocratic bridal attire, right?"

"Yes, high-ranking nobles all choose white silk."

"This is the best I can do. By the way, Ivano, from now on, please call me 'Leone'. Please tell Miss Dalia the same."

"What?"

Viscount Jedda rarely allowed others to call him by his name, but now he took the initiative to say so. As far as Ivano knew, even the heads of the trade guilds would only call Gabriela by her first name at most, and few people would call Leone by her first name.

"It's a well-known name among the nobles. I'm the guarantor of the Roseti Chamber of Commerce, so it's okay to call me that."

"thank you."

Ivano raised his head, then lowered it again, offering a heartfelt thank you. He'd thought he'd made some progress, but he realized his methods were completely inapplicable to the nobles. He didn't even understand the rules of combat.

Now their chamber of commerce is just a fledgling under the protection of Leone's wings.

"It's better not to tell Mr. Wolfefrid about this. Miss Dahlia might not be able to handle it. It's too early for them both to deal with this."

"Can't you tell Lord Wolf?"

"He's kind by nature, but his family isn't. The Costume Guild just had a new president last year, and another one would be very troublesome."

Leonie's words sounded serious, which Ivano found difficult to understand. Appearances aside, Ivano felt at ease with Wolff.

He didn't expect that the Scafarot family he came from would use such drastic methods.

"I apologize for interrupting you all. Leone-sama, it's almost time."

"Really? I should probably go to the royal city. I have a couple of more things to think about."

Leone stood up at the servant's call, feeling slightly cheerful. Ivano felt something was wrong, but he didn't dare to ask.

Finally, she and Gabriela watched the unusual man leave.

"Miss Gabriella, um, should I not have told you about Fortuna-sama? I think it would be too much..."

Ivano couldn't help but speak in a complaining tone because he felt that the two of them had just been so terrible.

"If you were deceived by Fortunato's words, or if you accidentally said it while drunk and surrounded by beautiful women, we wouldn't interfere. But adding truth serum to wine is different; it's against morality. Besides, a noble wouldn't sit idly by when their family reputation or their own is harmed. Fortunato probably anticipated our reaction."

"Nobles are truly extraordinary..."

After yesterday, he realized this deeply. He knew nothing about that world.

Even if you memorize the etiquette of the nobility, you still don't know the tricks of doing business and dealing with the nobility.

"Speaking of which, treating you to a truth-telling wine on our first gathering is truly a typical aristocratic welcome. I can't teach you this. Why don't you ask my husband to introduce someone who can?"

"No, I appreciate your kindness. But if you do that, your 'apprentice' will never be able to be independent."

Just now, Leone had said, "Master Jedda will not stand by and watch his wife's apprentice be harmed." They considered him one of their own, someone they must protect and shield him from the elements. He didn't want to rely on them any more.

Fortunately, although the Roseti Chamber of Commerce is still a fledgling, it can still find food on its own. In the future, they will have to crawl out from under the wings of Jedda and his wife and fly independently.

Perhaps one day, the wings of both sides will collide due to conflict.

"For the next period of time, we will serve as apprentices to President Zora and Lord Fortu. By the way, our first goal should be to be on equal terms with Lord Fortu, and to coexist and prosper together."

"We should be equals, coexist and prosper together..."

Gabriela narrowed her eyes like a cat and stared at Ivano.

He didn't know when he began to understand that this look did not represent suspicion, but worry.

"But I want to defeat him before I die of old age."

"Can it be accomplished while I'm still alive? I also want to see my apprentice completely defeat him before I die."

It seemed that Gabriela had high expectations of him. Ivano smiled wryly and replied:

"You may have to wait at least twenty years, Master."

Volume 4: Fried Chicken and Older Male Friends

"Long time no see... Can I say that, Mr. Marcella?"

"No problem. But can I really talk to you in a casual tone?"

On the second floor of the Green Tower, Wolf and Marcella sat facing each other on the sofa.

The sunlight coming in from the window has become a little dimmer, and soon it will turn into the red color of sunset.

"That's how Dalia and I talk, and I'm not one for formalities by nature. Too much formality would be tiring."

"Okay, then I won't be polite. If I've offended you in any way, tell me. But how about your address? Should I call you Lord Wolffred or Lord Wolf?"

"Can we just call each other 'Sir'? I always feel uncomfortable hearing people call me 'Sir' in the Green Tower."

"Understood, Mr. Wolfe."

Is Green Tower your home?──Marcella resisted the urge to tease the other party and answered.

Today he and his wife Irma visited Dalia's home. Since all four of them were free, they decided to have dinner together.

Dalia and Irma were cooking in the kitchen. The two men wanted to help, but his wife said with a smile, "You can clean up after we finish eating." There was nothing she could do, since she didn't trust his cooking skills.

Marcella met Wolff's gaze during the casual conversation and felt something strange.

"Those glasses look weird to me... could you take them off for a moment?"

"……good."

The man in front of him was stunned for a moment, then took off his glasses.

For a moment, Marcella was speechless.

Those eyes were no longer a gentle green, but a gleaming golden yellow. The gentle temperament just now disappeared without a trace, revealing a beauty that would stun even men.

It seemed that those glasses were a magical tool for disguise. Now he understood why Wolfe looked so melancholy.

"Thank you for your hard work. No wonder you need magical tools. Your popularity with women must be a real problem, right?"

"I don't want to either."

Seeing that he didn't deny it at all and was disgusted from the bottom of his heart, Marcella couldn't help but say:

"I understand, but every man wants to have this kind of trouble."

"Um, Mr. Marcella, behind you..."

After Wolfe finished speaking with a hint of concern, something pressed against Marcella's back.

"Please explain what 'every man wishes to have this kind of trouble' means~"

"Well, I'm talking about ordinary people. I don't envy him. I have you."

Marcella's beloved wife came up behind him unknowingly.

The deep voice next to his ear made him quite, no, a little nervous, but he tried not to show it.

"Nice to meet you, Lord Scafalot. I am Irma Nuvolari, Marcella's wife."

Irma left behind him and lowered her head toward Wolff.

"Hello, I'm Wolffrid Scafalot—just call me Wolf, and please be at ease when speaking to me. I just said this to Mr. Marcella."

"Really? Isn't that disrespectful?"

"Won't."

Irma stared at the man with her reddish-brown eyes. That confirming look made Wolff tense.

"Golden eyes are rare. They're so beautiful."

Irma said lightly.

She just admired Wolfe's eyes with interest, without a trace of longing or desire in them.

"Thanks……"

Wolff breathed a sigh of relief. Marcella sensed his feelings and felt a surge of sympathy.

"You're so popular that you have to be on high alert even at a time like this? It's really hard..."

"Sorry, I'm too self-conscious..."

Wolfe apologized awkwardly, and Marcella shook her head.

"Not excessively. You're so handsome, of course you have to protect yourself. Especially for the nobles, you'll probably run into a lot of trouble."

Although Marcella was a commoner, she had heard stories about aristocrats. Attractive nobles were often exploited or faced unwanted blind dates. Wolff, being so handsome, must have suffered greatly for it.

"Mr. Marcella, you often go in and out of noble houses, right?"

"I'm a porter for the Transport Guild, and sometimes I deliver things to noble mansions. I've heard that some beautiful women have suffered greatly because they were favored by nobles..."

He ended the topic vaguely and no one asked any further questions.

"Mr. Wolff is indeed very handsome, but to me he is just an 'ordinary man'."

"I hope you don't mind. She only says that because her preferences are too specific."

Before Irma could finish, Marcella rushed in to explain. Wolf looked at them in confusion.

"The only 'handsome man' I've ever considered is Marcella."

Irma spoke easily and readily, and this was her most natural way.

Irma, a beautician, sometimes observed the hair, eye color, and skin of men and women, but that was about it.

Ever since they met, Irma has been looking at Marcella with great enthusiasm, and it is incredible that she has remained so until now.

But Marcella was still a little embarrassed to hear her say it so directly.

"Oh, see? This is the power of love!"

“…I’m so envious.”

That sentimental whisper made Marcella's shyness disappear.

The man narrowed his golden eyes and smiled sadly.

He obviously has Dahlia, so why would he have such an expression?

"What's the matter, Mr. Wolf? You're so handsome, you must have had at least a dozen or twenty lovers so far, right?"

"Marcella, did you get the wrong number?"

"Or maybe one or two hundred?"