Wayne handed out partnership application forms to the adventurers packed into the "Arsenal of Spirits.


    The forms went quickly, and the adventurers filled in their names and the name of their organizations and submitted them.


    Finally, they were allowed to leave for the day.


    What a surprise! What is this all about suddenly?


    Aina said languidly.


    Are you all right?　Aina-san."


    Saki, who heard the commotion and came from the cafeteria, calls out to him in a concerned manner.


    Saki comes over to me and says, "Yes, I''m fine. But I''m kind of tired with a thud."


    You just barged in out of the blue, didn''t you?


    Saki. Take Aina to the back. She pushed you earlier. Check to see if she''s hurt.


    Yes, sir.


    Saki pulled into the back with Aina.


    Roland looked quizzically at the stack of forms they had submitted.


    (They knew that the "Arsenal of Spirits" alliance would be launched soon. This time, they had only announced it to their friends, but ......)


    ''Oh no, that was tough. Guild leader. They don''t know how to be polite.


    Wayne said with a scowl.


    Wayne ....... They seemed to know you, but ......"


    I''m not sure. I used to take care of those guys back in the "Dragon''s Fires" days. I didn''t expect them to come in here like this. But, as they say, "A blessing in disguise. Now the number of partnerships in the "Arsenal of Spirits" has reached 100. Now all we have to do is take money from them and pull the quartet out. ......


    Wayne, I think you''re mistaken, ......, I''m not going to let them join the partnership."


    Hah!　Why not? Isn''t 100 partnerships the immediate goal of the "Arsenal of the Spirits?"


    I told you at the morning meeting today.　The limit of the "Arsenal of Spirits" alliance is 50 members. Leon''s acquaintances are all he has. We can''t afford to take them in.


    What are you talking about? You can manage that much with a little effort. This is our best chance to defeat the "Dragon''s Fires," so let''s go for it.


    Even if we can defeat the Dragon''s Fires, it won''t matter if the Arsenal of Spirits falls as well.


    It''s a good thing for the Arsenal of Spirits, too, because they''ll have more customers and their business rival will disappear, right?"


    Think about it. More customers are not always a good thing. The workload of each staff member will increase, and there is a fear that the capacity of the workshop (atelier) will be overstretched. If this happens, the service to the guilds that have been in partnership with the company for a long time, which should be treated with the utmost care and attention, will deteriorate. As a result, we will lose customers.


    I''m just saying, "That''s fine. It''s not that kind of thing. Just make a fool out of it. If you want, why don''t you just let them get a bad product, or make them wait and just pay for it?


    No," he said. That would damage the brand and its credibility, and above all, it would be an insult to humanity. Just look at this.


    Roland showed Wayne the guild column on the partnership application form.


    They came in droves, but they''re all from small guilds, right?　They''re all guilds that blow up in the wind, aren''t they? I don''t think those guilds have a stable financial base. If you sign a contract with them to produce goods, you might go bankrupt without being able to collect the money you owe them.


    That''s the point," he said, "with the help of an S-class appraiser. Let them grow up quickly, succeed in their quests, and make money.


    Roland gave Wayne a jittery look as Wayne said in a light tone, "I''m sorry, I''m sorry.


    No, but... As long as we get more contracts, we''ll have a better chance of getting funding. ......"


    I''m telling you, a broken plan like that, which only works on the basis of a painted picture, is bound to fail. What concerns me more is the fact that they were sniffing around about the "Arsenal of Spirits" alliance. Someone might have leaked some strange information to them. We need to find out. I''ll go down to them, decline the partnership, and find out from whom the information came.


    Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Wait, wait, wait, wait. Hey, you think about it. I''ve already told them I''m going into partnership.　I don''t know what those thugs will do if I ask them to drop it now. They might attack this guild again.


    I guess so. Then, I''ll ask Leon and the others to escort me. They will not try to fight in front of the "Reflective Armor. If we say no on top of that ......"


    Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Wait, wait, wait. Why do you keep thinking in the direction of refusal like that? Why don''t you try to be a little more positive about it? Put yourself in my shoes. I''m the one who made a big show of asking them to join the partnership, remember?　If I were to go back on a clean slate now, I would lose all credibility.


    "That''s for your own good, isn''t it?　It''s none of my business.


    Don''t be so cold. I''m just trying to save face with my cute little guy. If I don''t do something, they''ll surround me and beat me to a pulp.


    Roland just cowered his shoulders.


    He seemed to be saying, "I''m very sorry, but there''s nothing I can do about it.


    (d*mn this guy. ......)


    I''m begging you," he said. You want to train adventurers on the island, too, don''t you?　It''s good for you, too."


    I know you''ve been talking about the goals of the "Arsenal of Spirits" and my convenience, but do you understand what I''m talking about?　What you''re doing is an overreach in the first place, isn''t it?"


    What?


    I did not give you the authority to enter into partnerships on your own!


    You said, "...... No, but you didn''t have a choice. In that situation, ....... We could have been hurt. ......


    ''Then there is no need to accept this wish to join now that the danger has passed. I retract my previous statement and formally protest to their guild for obstruction."


    ......"


    I don''t want to be a stranger or a circumstance anymore," he said. What about you, Wayne?


    Me?


    If you''re going to go this far, there''s only one thing I want to hear from you. Are you prepared to accept responsibility for any consequences?


    "......"


    He frequently oversteps his authority and does not take responsibility for his actions. If they are allowed to get away with this kind of selfishness, "Arsenal of Spirits" will soon become an individualistic group like "Dragon''s Fires," chasing after sales figures that are only for show and sales estimates, only to find that the actual situation is a mess and to top it all off, they keep shoving the responsibility on each other after the fact. It is obvious that such an organization will end up like that."


    I''m sure you know what you''re talking about. ...... You don''t actually work in the Dragon''s Fires, do you?


    Wayne''s face turns biting for the first time in a long time as he recalls the bitter memories of his time at "Dragon''s Fires.


    You don''t have to actually work there to get a general idea of what it''s like. I don''t have to actually work there to know what it''s like.


    What the hell do you know? I can''t take that kind of time if I want to survive here!"


    Anyway, I can''t allow such a high-stakes project to be approved on the say-so of a half-wit who can''t even do his own job well enough."


    Kuku ......." I''m sorry I overstepped my bounds. But I''m serious about the trouble those guys are in. Please. I''m trying to save them somehow.


    [Wayne''s status].


    Planning: 50-70 to 90-10 0


    (Planning status is a 90-100 quality. It is a quality that can be used for alchemy, although it is a side effect. This could have some synergistic effect ......?)


    This is the last time I''m going to be wagging my finger." If this is successful, I''ll work on learning unique skills. I want to make up for all the dragging I''ve been through. I''m going to take responsibility for this.


    Roland sighed.


    I understand," he said. If you insist, I''ll allow you to proceed."


    I''m going to go to the airport. I''m in your debt.


    Well, now that we''ve decided that, there''s only one thing to do.


    Oh, and get some men and materials to ...... as soon as possible."


    No, you''re not.　That''s not important.


    ?　What''s that?


    "Bow down to Aina and ask for her cooperation."


    What?　Why is that Aina guy coming out there?"


    Of course. She is in charge of most of this workshop (atelier) right now. Nothing works without her cooperation. You still haven''t apologized to her for your gaffe, have you?　It''s a woman, for what it''s worth."


    You''re still rooting for ....... I think the statute of limitations has run its course."


    Aina is the one who decides that, not you. How long are you going to stay at odds with her?　They always avoid each other except during meetings, as if they are playing some kind of game. It''s time for them to make peace with each other, or it''s going to be very difficult for me to work with them.


    I''m in charge of everything. Let me do it. Don''t worry, I''ll make it work.


    No. I can''t allow that.


    Why? You''re telling me I can''t lead my men and do the heavy lifting?"


    Yes. I don''t think so.


    (d*mn, this guy. ......)


    If you really want to go ahead with this project, you have to get Aina''s cooperation.


    I don''t know what you''re talking about. I don''t know if I can do it. I can''t bow down to him.


    It''s part of my job to bow down and ask for cooperation. It''s part of the job to bow down and ask for cooperation. Or is it something else?　Do I have to take that much care of you?"


    "......"


    I''ll be responsible until the end. You said so yourself.　Then you should at least do this."


    Ggh."


    And so, please cooperate with me."


    Aina looks at Wayne with jittery eyes.


    (d*mn, I''ve got to convince this guy somehow or I''ll never get Roland''s permission.)


    I''ll be right back. Please. I''m sorry about that time. I had just joined the company and I was in a temper. Now I recognize you as an alchemist.


    It''s fine that you approve of me, but these changes are going to get us all in trouble. Do you understand that?"


    I know. I know that. I''m taking this chance, man.


    What does Mr. Roland say?


    He said he''d be willing to go ahead if he could get ...... your cooperation.


    Aina let out a sigh.


    ''Huh. I can''t help it. I''ll cooperate with you for your modest growth.


    I''m sorry," he said. I''m in your debt!"


    Aina sighed.


    (Oh, my God, Roland, you''re so disciplined. If Mr. Roland had asked me, I would have complied immediately without having to do this.)


    The drastic increase in the number of people who wanted to join the partnership and the acceptance of Wayne''s proposal forced a drastic change in the production plan of the "Arsenal of Spirits.


    Roland immediately set out to procure new personnel as the plan got back on track.


    （The current workshop (atelier) was full to the brim with equipment for 50 people, and to produce equipment for 100 people, the workshop (atelier) would have to be open not only during the day, but also at night. The only way to achieve this is to operate the system. This would require hiring new people for night work.)


    Roland appraises the girl in front of him who came for an interview.


    [Roullier''s skills


    Nocturnal": C to A


    Metal molding": C → A


    (Found. Alchemist who has acquired the skill ''nocturnal'')


    Basically, skills and status become unstable at night.


    This is why adventurers on this island do not fight at night.


    However, those that have acquired the skill "nocturnal" can use their skills at night with the same effect as during the day.


    Roulier was a pale, unhealthy-looking girl with dark circles in her eyes.


    Her shaggy, unkempt black hair hung down to her eyes in a disheveled mess.


    She was wearing her hair in a messy, unkempt black mess that fell to her eyes.　You seem to be a little sleep-deprived. ......"


    Roland asks, and the girl freaks out.


    I tend to oversleep in the morning because of my low blood pressure, and I''m always late wherever I go. I''ll do my best to get up in the morning, so could you please hire me somehow?"


    I see. Then, is it possible to work at night?　We are planning to operate our workshop (atelier) at night. I will come in the evening and leave early in the morning.


    What?　Don''t you have to get up early in the morning?　I will do it. I will do it. Please let me work in that form!


    Loran appraised the next recruiter.


    [Melinda''s skills


    Toughness Recovery: C to A


    Stamina (Recovery): C to A


    Metal molding": C to A


    (Toughness Recovery and Stamina Recovery are A class. (This can stabilize the accuracy of skills even at night.)


    Skills become unstable at night because endurance (toughness) and strength (stamina) drop rapidly.


    Therefore, as long as they have "Endurance (Toughness) Super Recovery" and "Stamina (Stamina) Super Recovery," they can expect to be able to use their skills to some extent at night.


    Melinda, on the other hand, was a girl with a twinkle in her eye as if she had been up all night.


    Your eyes look a little bloodshot. ......"


    I''m sorry. I haven''t been sleeping well.


    Lack of sleep?　What''s troubling you? ......"


    I have to work 12 hours a day to sleep.


    I see. We need to make a lot of equipment right now, and we are short on staff. If you would like, I can work nights and holidays. ......


    What?　Can I work on holidays?　I will do it. I will do it. Please let me work.


    (Both of them are C class in "metal molding"; they should have no problem making C class equipment. (Both of them are C class in "metal molding", so there will be no problem to make C class equipment.)


    Thus, with the addition of new members, the "Arsenal of Spirits" started under a new structure.


    Aina hurriedly rearranged the schedule.


    (We have a newcomer, so we have to think about a new way of assigning work. She had to rearrange the schedule and make new blueprints for the newcomers. When I receive the specifications from Mr. Roland, I will assign work to each of them. I am the only one who can do "exterior reinforcement (coating)" ......, and I will manage the warehouse at ....... (Ah, there''s too much to do already)


    Aina, I made the steel part of the armor. I can put this in the ''exterior reinforcement (coating)'' section, right?"


    While Aina was worrying about this and that, Wayne told her so.


    Aina was wondering about this and that when Wayne said to her, "Oh, no?　Thanks. What''s wrong with you?　You''re always so thoughtful."


    I''m in charge of this project, too. Besides, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We have to work together as a workshop (atelier). You can give me all the armor and shields.


    Pato needs to concentrate on ''tuning'' and Leena is busy refining. Roddy needs to draw up the blueprints, and you want to keep the Eyes on hand, don''t you?　You concentrate on ''exterior enhancement (coating)'' and job assignments, right?"


    Yeah?"　Well, ......, I''ll leave you to it then."


    （You have a very special attitude. I guess you have grown up after this incident.)


    But Wayne had other ideas.


    (Hmmm. As long as we can get the project through, we''re all set. The quests that exceed the production capacity of the workshop (atelier) are over capacity for Aina, and Roland has shifted his focus to appraising night groups and adventurers, and is not paying attention to them. This is my chance to increase my influence in the workshop (atelier).


    Wayne looked at Aina.


    (It is true that Aina is currently in control, but if I can make more armor than Aina here, my stock will surely rise. If that happens, Roland will have no choice but to put me in charge of this business from now on. And my influence will also increase, which will make it easier for me to get more projects done in the future. After I have effectively taken control of this workshop (atelier), the next step is to build a new workshop (atelier). I will be in charge of the construction of the new studio, and I will stand right in front of the enemy''s nose and crush that son of a b*tc*, Edgar.


    And so Wayne actually builds most of the steel parts of the new equipment.


    Both Roland and Aina were tongue-tied at this and took a fresh look at Wayne.


    Thus, equipment for 100 people was manufactured in the blink of an eye.


    On the day of the dungeon search, adventurers who wished to join the "Arsenal of Spirits" alliance gathered in the plaza.


    The 100 adventurers were too small to fit in front of the "Spirit Arsenal," so they gathered in the plaza.


    The "Arsenal of the Spirits" staff members were in charge of the plaza, fitting the adventurers with their equipment.


    Pato looked on with difficulty as he handed out the equipment to the adventurers.


    (Somehow we managed to make enough equipment for 100 people. (Somehow we managed to make enough equipment for 100 people. (But ......)


    Pato recalls talking to Loran.


    He said, "Mr. Roland, I disagree. If we expand so rapidly, there will always be a breakdown somewhere. The skills of Wayne and Leena are still in the process of development, so wouldn''t it be better to develop those skills first and then enhance support for the guilds that are already in partnership?


    Yeah, that''s what I was thinking, too. But there is a limit to waiting for Wayne to grow up. It has been a good amount of time since I hired him, and yet his unique skills have not yet exceeded the C level. If he doesn''t grow any further, I will have no choice but to give up on his development."


    "Such as ......"


    That''s where this plan comes in. If we give him responsibility for his work, it may help him to change his mindset. It''s a risky gamble, but I''m willing to bet on Wayne''s enthusiasm.


    ......"


    I know it''s hard, and I know it''s dangerous. I hope you can help me somehow."


    (Wayne''s growth ......? As a good friend, I can''t help but agree with you if you say so. However, I wonder if it will be okay. I''m not sure if it''s safe to bring up such a large group of people at once, no matter how much Mr. Roland ......)


    As Pato was pondering these thoughts, he saw a crowd gathering in one corner of the plaza.


    It seemed that someone was standing at a podium and giving a speech.


    (What?　(A speech?)


    When Pato looked from behind the crowd, he saw a girl giving a speech.


    Gentlemen!　How in the world did we come to be thus devoured!"


    Pato was astonished to see the face of the girl giving the speech.


    (That''s ...... Carla!)


    ''It is all because of adventurers from the outside that we have come to be this way. The reason why "Dragon''s Fires" gave priority to equipment for outside adventurers is because the council passed a resolution to open the door wide to outside adventurers. I will not stand idly by and watch adventurers from the outside ravage our garden as they please. Now is the time for all of us to stand up together. Let''s blockade the port, lock out the outsiders, and take back the "Volcano Dungeon" and the quest to defeat the "Grand Fafnir" into our own hands. Let us unite here and put pressure on the Congress. With this many people rushing to the council, they can''t afford not to listen to us."


    (Carla. What are you doing? Don''t tell me you''re trying to incite people to take advantage of this gathering?)


    Pato was appalled by her ideas and actions.


    And to his annoyance, not a few of them were listening to Carla''s speech.


    Hey, Kola! Hey, you! What are you doing with your speech?


    Wayne, with a scowl on his face, climbed up on the podium and grabbed Carla''s hand.


    What the hell are you doing? Get off me!


    No one not in the chain of command is allowed to make a speech without permission!　Come here. I''ll pull you up in front of Roland."


    Pato rushed to Wayne and Carla.


    Wayne. Wayne. That girl is an acquaintance of mine.


    An?"　Pato?　You know him?


    What''s up?　What''s all the fuss?"


    Roland comes in.


    "Oh, Guildmaster. Listen to me. This woman has taken it upon herself to incite the members of our alliance.


    I believe you came to our guild before ....... Pato, do you know her?"


    Mr. Roland, will you let me take care of her?"


    Pato and Carla moved to a corner of the square.


    Carla looks batty.


    ''It''s been a long time, Carla.


    ......"


    After the failed assassination attempt on Yugan, now you''re doing political work?"


    Carla glares at Pato sharply.


    ''It wasn''t a failed assassination. They didn''t need to kill us, they just left."


    So now it''s political activism.


    You have no right to tell me what to do. I am only trying to protect the island."


    (Defend the Islands ......)


    To Pato now, what Carla was saying seemed empty.


    Carla. Would you like to join the ''Arsenal of Spirits'' alliance?"


    What?"


    The "Arsenal of Spirits" and Mr. Roland intend to eventually take a leading role as an alchemy guild on this island. And we will remove and heal the lesions that are poisoning this island."


    "Foci?"


    Yes. A lesion. The island is diseased. A disease called "Dragon''s Fires."


    "......"


    After transferring to the ''Arsenal of the Spirits,'' it became clear to me." They are like contagious patients who are sick but are spreading a virus without realizing it. Don''t you think it''s strange?　The adventurers on the island have not been nurtured, and the "Giant Fire Dragon (Gran Fafnir)" has not been defeated. On the other hand, only the "Dragon''s Fires" have developed and grown in size. This is no coincidence. It is all due to the disease that the "Dragon''s Fires" are carrying.


    ......"


    He, Mr. Roland, is clearly not on the same level as the adventurers who have come from outside the island so far."


    Well, it certainly doesn''t look like there are any S-class adventurers, or even A-class adventurers, and they''re not as good as Yugan Aymar''s or Sein Orbesta''s troops. Don''t bother telling me that. ......"


    ''It''s the other way around, Carla. Compared to Sein Orbesta, Yugan Aymar, and them, Mr. Roland is far superior as an adventurer. That''s what I''m trying to say."


    What?"


    You''ve explored dungeons with Sein Orbestar and Yugan Aymar, haven''t you?　And I have seen up close what they are capable of. Then, if we explore the dungeon together, we will soon find out. You''ll see what Mr. Roland is capable of."


    "......"


    You''re after Grand Fafnir too, aren''t you?　Then I don''t think it''s a waste of time to check out the "Spirit Arsenal" and Mr. Roland, who will definitely be the eye of the storm on the island in the future.


    Thank you for your patience. Mr. Roland. She will be joining the Alliance.


    Pato, accompanied by Carla, returned to Roland.


    ''So you''re here at last.


    Roland gives Carla a friendly smile.


    ''Carla, right?　You and I will eventually explore the dungeon together. I had a feeling we would. From the very first time we met.


    （What the hell is this?)


    Carla looked at Roland quizzically.


    She looked at Carla and said, "Mr. Roland, I''m going with you on this exploration.


    Pato. You too?"


    Yes."


    (If Carla tries to kill Mr. Roland, I will stop her. (If Carla tries to kill Mr. Roland, I will stop her, even if it costs me my life.)


    Hey, wait a minute. If Pato''s going, I''m going too."


    Wayne said.


    （I''m not sure if my contribution will be diminished by Pato''s success in the dungeon after all the preparation I''ve done. I''ll have to keep a close watch on him to make sure he doesn''t take credit for my work at the last minute.)


    The alliance, with all of its actors in place, dived into the dungeon with many problems, including hastily prepared equipment, poor relationships, and mixed feelings.


    <>