Big G, Coffee Machine and Goblin

Chapter 56 Helen's Dilemma

"What is it?" Herun, the branch manager, is very busy every day, managing his own business and taking care of the guild's affairs. He really can't remember what happened four months ago.

"I spent a lot of money to buy alchemical artifacts from a foreign alchemist, only to watch them all disappear the next day."

“Oh, that matter.” Herren vaguely remembered it, then paused, looking at Mali, “Could it be…”

“That’s right, that’s him!” Balta said through gritted teeth.

At this moment, Ma Li also recalled why the Rose Alliance's logo looked somewhat familiar. Four months ago, when he met Balta at the Wonderful Experience Potion Shop, Balta had also worn a brooch with a similar pattern on his chest.

According to the rules he had figured out some time ago, the alchemical artifacts in the other party's possession should have disappeared shortly after he left.

Ma Li didn't mind giving Balta some compensation, after all, what happened back then was actually a misunderstanding, and he didn't know at the time that the thing in the red mist would disappear after leaving him.

However, Balta didn't give him a chance to speak. He spat a mouthful of phlegm on the ground and yelled, "You damned liar, you filthy thief, now that I've caught you, don't even think about running away again!"

"According to Eagle Beak City's laws, selling counterfeit goods requires compensating the seller five times the value of the goods, which is six hundred gold eagles!"

Ma frowned upon hearing this, "We did sign a sales contract."

"A contract? What contract?" Herun asked from the side.

Ma Li took a piece of parchment from his hiking backpack and handed it to the bearded man.

The latter took the contract, glanced at the buyer, seller, and the subject matter, and then skipped directly to the last clause, reading it aloud.

“From the date the contract takes effect, the buyer, Balta, shall have full ownership of these alchemical creations, and neither party may breach the contract for any reason.”

After reading it, he looked at the fat merchant and said, "The signature on it does look like yours. Why didn't you tell me about this contract back then?"

Eagle's Beak City does have a law that stipulates five times the compensation for selling counterfeit goods; however, if both parties have made a prior agreement in the contract, the contract should prevail.

Moreover, the claim that he sold counterfeit goods is only Balta's one-sided statement, and there is no real evidence to support it.

Balta's expression became quite interesting. He felt he had gotten a great deal by signing the contract with Mali and was worried that Mali would go back on his word later, but he never expected that he would end up trapping himself.

According to the terms of the contract, neither party can back out once the transaction is completed, regardless of what happens.

But Balta was not willing to let it go so easily. That deal had cost him a full 120 gold eagles, and most importantly, it had made him lose face in front of that important figure.

He wrapped those rare treasures in the finest silk and placed them in carefully selected jewel boxes, checking them himself until the very last moment before entering the hall.

However, when the important figure opened it, the box was empty.

Although the important figure ultimately took it as a harmless joke and did not punish him, no one knows what he was really thinking.

Even if they didn't hate him because of this, they would probably feel that he had been treated so badly and was not capable of being used, and they would probably not entrust him with any important tasks in the future. Baal had really lost out this time, and he also harbored resentment towards Mali, who sold him the goods.

Moreover, he had just received news that Herren planned to give away the last membership spot for the year.

This made him both surprised and angry. Balta had been eyeing that spot for a long time. His younger brother, also a businessman, had always wanted to join the Rose Alliance and had put in a lot of effort over the years.

This year, things were finally starting to look promising, but then someone interfered at this crucial juncture.

Moreover, that person was Ma Li, who had "deceived" him not long ago, and now both old and new grudges surged into his heart.

“You can’t let him join the guild!” Balta protested to Heron.

"why?"

“Because…it will affect the guild’s reputation!” Balta racked his brains. “The things he sells to others will disappear into thin air. If he becomes a member of the guild, then my yesterday will become all of your tomorrow!”

To put further pressure on the bearded man, Balta also looked at the other merchants in the inn.

"Do you also want the goods he sold to you to disappear? Most importantly, if we let a dishonest person join us and outsiders find out, they will doubt whether our goods will disappear before doing business with us in the future. How can we conduct trade then?"

His words resonated with many of the businessmen present, and many in the hotel nodded slightly in agreement.

Helen hesitated for a moment. He had originally intended to hand the invitation to Mali, but now he withdrew his hand and looked at the other person.

"What exactly is going on? Do the goods you sell really disappear? Is it a magical illusion or the effect of some strange alchemical creation?"

He himself was still reluctant to believe that Ma Li and Levi were frauds, even though he had gotten along well with Levi before.

The old alchemist displayed an extraordinary familiarity with the political circles of the capital, casually mentioning that he had drunk tea, played cards, and attended banquets of kings and dukes with certain important figures.

He also secretly revealed to him many secrets about princes and princesses, things that are very difficult to fabricate, because people from the lower classes cannot imagine the lives of people from the upper classes.

This is why Herren decided to give the last spot to Livier after only a short talk; manners and etiquette are the hardest things to fake.

However, as the branch leader of the Rose Alliance, he had to consider the reputation of the guild.

“Those alchemical creations were newly made by me and are not very stable yet,” Ma Li said. “I didn’t know they would disappear at the time…and this only applies to my own alchemical creations. I can guarantee that the goods traded will not disappear.”

“I’m willing to vouch for him!” Levi chimed in. “Master Ma is the most honest and noble person I’ve ever met. He’s always willing to lend a helping hand to people in distress. Although he appears calm on the surface, he has a heart of gold.”

Helen breathed a sigh of relief, "Since this was a misunderstanding..."

But he was interrupted by Balta halfway through his sentence. Balta screamed, "Don't believe them! They're all liars, masters of sweet talk! I'm not the first victim, but I certainly won't be the last!"
Don't you understand? He invented those alchemical creations just to deceive people! A person like that absolutely cannot be allowed to join the Rose Guild!

　Thanks to Li Yubai and other friends for the donations~ Have a great weekend!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)