Chapter 136: The GUILD’s Future
"Chief Professor..."
Lucius met the dwarf woman outside the heating room.
She was wearing another pair of spotless lab clothes.
Once again, Lucius didn’t know where she was pulling these outfits from...
Was there some secret wardrobe that was in the lab which he didn’t know about?
"I’m not wearing the lab coat," Lucius said as he brushed past her. "You can continue the normal stuff."
Villy blinked once, then smiled softly.
"Alright... my lord."
She fell into step beside him as they entered the main lab.
"Was the crafting a complete success? It doesn’t matter if you failed, my lord. I know you’ll get it right eventually."
Lucius sighed like a man who had endured centuries of suffering.
"We did it on the first try," he said, placing the glowing silver ring onto the main table. "How could someone of my genius possibly fail something this simple?"
He knew he was stretching it... but who cared about a little self glaze?
Villy’s eyes sparkled with pride.
Lucius turned the ring in his hand and opened his system interface, scanning its stats.
The notification floated before him in blue light.
[Item Name: Space Compression Ring]
[Item Rank: A]
[Item Description:]
[A ring containing a personal spatial pocket dimension where items can be stored and retrieved with a thought. Especially useful for awakeners with space affinity, but also compatible with those without it.]
[Storage Capacity: 5,000 cubic meters]
[Note: Once equipped, the ring permanently links to its user’s mana signature and cannot be stolen or re-used.]
Lucius smirked. "Nice."
This would be his premium line... he would make sure it was something only the wealthy and powerful would scramble for. In fact he could already picture the great clans wanting to get their hands on the stuff, who didn’t want their own portable inventory?
He’d then make downgraded versions with smaller capacities for the public, enough to make them feel like they were getting a bargain while still making him rich, it was all about using your head.
He could already see the headlines.
[His Graceful Lord Lucius von Hohenberg Has Blessed Us With Storage Rings Despite The Fact We’re Not Rich]
He imagined himself sitting on a throne of gold while the media showered him with praise.
’Ah yes,’ he thought, ’I’m so benevolent. It’s all in a day’s work really.’
"So... does it work?" Villy asked.
She was practically bouncing, her curiosity overflowing.
"It should," Lucius said, stretching lazily. "I designed it so that once someone puts it on, it synchronizes with their mana and can’t be used by anyone else."
Villy’s respect for him only deepened.
’My lord truly is a genius.’
"So... should we make more before showing it to my lady?" she asked.
"Of course," Lucius said, stroking his chin like a philosopher. "Let’s mix my spatial magic with your Analyze ability. Maybe we can increase the space inside the next batch."
Villy nodded with sparkling enthusiasm. "Understood, My lord!"
And then she set off to pack the materials that would be needed.
...
Later, at the GRIMMAW Headquarters...
Vanessa sat in the GRIMMAW’s new meeting room, her arms crossed as she surveyed her team.
The long conference table gleamed under the soft light, and the crest of GRIMMAW Guild was engraved into the polished floor.
The difference between this place and their old base was staggering... The other one wasn’t bad at all but could that compare to a place where every chair was like a portable massage chair?
Although nobody said it aloud, everyone knew who they had to thank for it.
Lucius.
She straightened her coat and glanced around the table.
"We’ve received several A-rank raid assignments from the Council. We’ll be collaborating with the Saintess Guild and Blackheart Guild throughout the raids."
Her eyes moved to a middle-aged woman in glasses... one of their sharpest B-ranks. The woman looked up, ready to record every word.
"I’ll be joining these raids personally," Vanessa continued. "So prepare the logistics and coordinate the magic teams in advance, I want there to be no problems during our raids."
The woman nodded firmly.
Vanessa exhaled slowly. "Now then, the other reason I called this meeting is because Lucius has officially begun producing space items."
That drew immediate interest.
The members exchanged glances, some whispering in disbelief.
Spatial items were something spoken about in legends... the first Space mage created an item capable of storing energy and although they found the relic, it no longer worked so everyone in the world wanted Lucius to make a new one.
Vanessa adjusted her tone, keeping it formal despite the warmth creeping into her expression. She really hated the fact that she had to refer to him formally but then again, officially, she was his GUILD master and he was just a very special member of her GUILD so there was nothing she could do about it.
"We’ll be expecting the first batch tomorrow. Make sure our advertisement team is prepared for a full rollout. The council seems equally as excited as they have already given us the go-ahead to test out the produc—"
The heavy double doors suddenly flew open.
Everyone turned.
Lucius stepped inside, followed by Villy, who was pushing a covered cart.
He was wearing a lab coat and googles, however for some reason, that made him look even hotter than usual.
’Or maybe it’s just me.’ Vanessa thought as she felt her cheeks about to turn red.
"I’m done," he said simply.
Vanessa blinked. "You’re... what?"
"I’m done," Lucius repeated as Villy wheeled the cart in front of him and stopped beside the table.
With a flourish, she removed the white cloth draped over it—
... and a collective gasp swept through the room.
The cart shimmered with silver and blue.
Dozens of rings lay neatly arranged, glowing faintly with stable space energy.
"These..." Vanessa whispered, "...are they what I think they are?"
Lucius smirked.
"These items are Spatial Compression Rings," he announced. "The future of the GRIMMAW Guild."