A Little Gift Wouldn't Hurt

With Toki in the lead, the wolf-like intensity of the other dismantlers was completely neutralized. After all, as the daughter of the owner of the main company that holds the facility, they lacked the guts to even try and go against her wishes.

"Enter our dismantling group! I promise you enough compensation that you wouldn't even want to look at what others are offering!"

Well, other than the old and fierce ones, though.

As soon as I passed by, they grabbed me by the shoulder and bathed me in the intense recruitment wave. It was completely unreasonable for them to try and recruit a student like me, though. First of all, I'm not even 18 yet, so I can't accept contract work without the approval of my guardian.

"Okay everyone, that's enough! Back off!" Toki raised her voice, making the recruiters stop instantly. "We still need to talk, so catch him later after I'm done with him!"

I thought she was saving me from the wolves, but it was just because she had business to do with me... It was slightly upsetting, but I guess that's just the way it is.

Although the older ones were tough and refused to back down, when Toki glared at them, not a single one dared to defy her anymore. Some even had blue faces, as if they just saw the doors to Hell opening before them. Is Toki scary when angry? I haven't seen her angry yet, though, since we've basically just seen each other for the first time a few days ago.

As soon as the blockers were gone, Toki grabbed my hand and dragged me away at a brisk pace. After reaching the hallway leading to the second floor, she finally let go of my hand and sighed.

"I guess letting them see your potential was a bit careless on my part," she muttered under her breath. "But if you want, we can accept you as an apprentice. How about that?"

"Even you?! Stop it; I don't want to waste time dismantling forever." I dismissed her offer immediately.

Seeing her shrug it off with a wry smile, I guess she was just joking after all.

After a while of walking along stairs and pathways, enough to make me lose my sense of direction, we finally reached a private room. Upon entering, there was a sofa set facing each other with a glass-looking coffee table in between.

The rug on the floor looked even more expensive than our house's only tapestry hung on the living room's wall! What the hell!

"What are you doing, standing there like an idiot? Come sit!" Toki shouted, tapping the space on the sofa beside her.

As she urged me, I approached slowly, observing the entire room as I paced along. Everything looked expensive, enough that I think selling all the things inside this room alone would be enough to buy our entire house with change left over.

As I sat on the sofa before her, a frown appeared on her face. "*sigh*, anyway, let's talk business."

Although she seemed disappointed for an instant, the mention of business made me prepare myself for absurd conditions. After all, the first time we met, she slapped me with a 30-70 split offer without any remorse. Based on unscrupulousness alone, I was never at her level.

"What I want is pretty simple. Make a weapon for me, a wand."

After hearing her words, however, I was flabbergasted. "What? That's all?"

I was prepared to hear her say that I'd be working for her for an entire week or something. Doing just one job for her is definitely doable; heck, it even sounds a little unfair for her.

"Yes, my weapon." She nodded her head gently. "But added to that, I would require you to make weapons for Hailey, Mina, and Lily."

"The other members?" I tilted my head in doubt.

I get it when it comes to Mina since she's pretty close with Toki within the guild. However, the other two didn't seem to be too involved with her. As if reading the doubt in my eyes, Toki explained further.

"Actually, those three helped me with taking down the boss of the Forest back then. Hailey even lost her weapon during the battle and is using a temporary one I lent her."

"..."

So they were the ones who stole my boss monster... The materials... Ah, I think I'm so tired that sweat is coming out of my eyes.

"Fufu, don't worry. The boss materials were already processed as I told you last time. They'll be ready around Saturday," Toki added with a chuckle.

From her explanation, it seems like they were actually planning to have me create not only weapons for them but also armor out of the boss's materials. I don't have any problems with their request; after all, they had been a long-time acquaintance already. It's not like they're strangers to me, despite not having met each other yet.

But one problem, not for me but for them, was concerning. "I can do the weapons anytime, but the armor... I would need everyone's complete size charts for that."

It was easy to make a weapon since it was just being held. There's not much need for precise size adjustments. However, armor can't be done willy-nilly. To ensure maximum defense, it needs to fit the body tightly.

"Ah, that?" Toki smiled suggestively before shaking her head lightly as if dissuading herself not to say something. "They'll come here this Saturday too. You can take their measurements personally."

"Really?!"

Mina and Lily are one thing, but I want to see Hailey personally. After all, he was my closest chatmate within the guild. "I wonder what he looks like?"

"Pfft!"

"...?"

Just as I was wondering what Hailey would look like, Toki stifled a giggle, turning her face away from me. She was trembling lightly, meaning she was still laughing. Did I say anything funny?

"A-As usual, you still don't believe my words, huh?" Toki struggled to put out words with a straight face, taking deep breaths as she finished speaking. "Hailey is a girl."

"Hah! Another joke? Do you think I'd fall for it?! The last joke you did left me with a randomized keyboard! Do you know how hard it was to live after that?!"

It was also my fault, though, as I believed her when she told me she'd send a picture of Hailey. However, it was just a bogus image of a cute teenage girl in a swimsuit together with a trojan virus that even my antivirus couldn't fight against.

It was a hellish week, enough that I was forced to borrow my mother's laptop just to survive. After all, there was no way to cope with a keyboard that changed patterns every hour.

As if completely giving up, Toki just shrugged her shoulders with a wry smile. "Well, I tried. You will see her this weekend anyway, so just confirm with her yourself."

"Hailey is a man! I know from the way he chats! That's how G.I.R.Ls chat! You can't deceive me!"

"Alright, alright. But just remember this: if you make her cry this weekend, I'll make sure you cry for a week after that," she whispered with a smile.

However, the glint in her eyes told me that she was dead serious. A chill ran down my spine, and I wondered just what she was planning to do to me in case I did make Hailey cry.

After saying her piece, Toki snorted lightly before letting her back sink into the soft sofa. "Anyway, back to our business. My staff. I have the materials ready at the workshop, together with the design, so are you willing to do it ASAP or..."

"..."

I pondered a little in deep silence.

Although I do love crafting, creating a staff was not something that I was used to. I'm not even sure if I could pull it off. However, knowing that the materials and design were already prepared, it would be a waste not to challenge them.

"Alright! Lead me to the workshop!"

In the end, I decided to do it. After all, experience is experience. Knowing Toki, she definitely wouldn't blame me even if I failed, so it should be a good exercise for my crafting skills.

"Great! Then let's go!" Toki said as she stood up, offering a hand. Without much thought, I took her hand and stood up after a little tug. "It's this way."

Instead of going to the entrance where we passed through earlier, Toki turned to the wall behind her. By one of the drawers, she touched a lampshade and tilted it with a push. As soon as she did, the wall opened to both sides like an auto door. Looking closer, the stairs leading downward and the walls were both metallic. This is definitely a secret workshop!

"Over here."

Toki said as she descended the flight of stairs with rhythmic steps. Of course, I soon followed behind her. Taking a deep breath, I walked onward, anticipating what was to come.

Soon, after coming down more or less three levels based on my senses, we finally reached a sturdy-looking room. After an iris scan, the wall-like door opened with a *Psssh!* sound of released pressurized air.

"... What the..."

As soon as I saw the interior, I was rendered almost speechless.