Chapter 207: Business Arc Begins

Everything was going smoothly until it was time to discuss "product manufacturing rights."

Product manufacturing rights refer to which products these guilds are allowed to manufacture using Luke’s dimensional items.

Their license level determines how many types of products they can manufacture.

Examples of the by-products of Luke’s dimensional items include weapons, beast armor, hunter armor, cargo containers, capsules, safes, support beams for construction and other building materials, wires, and metal plates that later become solar panels, among other things.

Although some guilds believe it’s none of Luke’s business because their transactions with him end in the market chain, and therefore what happens afterward is none of his concern, Luke wanted to know about the byproducts of his dimensional items.

According to Luke, it was his business too.

First, he wanted to prevent the guilds from becoming uncontrollable monopolies.

Second, he had to ensure that his dimensional items weren’t used to produce dangerous products.

Third, to prevent the guilds from claiming full ownership of innovations primarily facilitated by his materials.

Fourth, there was an added benefit: the discovery of new applications.

Luke could learn more about what his dimensional items could achieve from more brainstorming sessions with the guilds, seeing uses for dimensional items he hadn’t previously considered and learning from them.

Everyone agreed with Luke’s unexampled system of checks and balances. If you disagree, it must mean you have some kind of conspiracy, and Luke seems impatient with such conspiracies.

So, this meant that Luke permits each guild to produce items using his dimensional goods.

When they presented him with their current lists, he was very satisfied, but he permitted all the products except one.

Beast armor.

Ahem...

"Mr. Luke, may I ask why you refuse to allow the Ember Knights Guild, or anyone here, to continue producing beast armor?"

The one asking was the department head of the Ember Knights Guild, whose face showed a look of confusion, as Luke’s every decision was usually decisive, and this time might not be an exception either.

"Yes, this is indeed very absurd," another representative said. "Beast Armor is a thriving business, giving it up could be frustrating, you must have a reason to explain, right?"

"I understand your fears; I know how profitable the beast armor business can be," Luke said, nodding in understanding. "However, here’s why. Using my dimensional items to manufacture beast armor has become an ultra-exclusive privilege. And I’m afraid none of you are in that club. Not now, not in the future. You are not allowed to use my spatial items to create beast armor."

Luke continued, seeing reps exchange perplexed glances...

"Don’t get me wrong. This restriction specifically applies to my dimensional items. You can still use ordinary materials obtained from other sources to manufacture beast armor. I’m not completely banning that business."

A representative couldn’t help but ask, "Wow! So, who exactly belongs to this exclusive club? Which major power has gained such privilege?"

The others wanted the same answer too.

They thought Luke was collaborating with big organizations, maybe conglomerates with influence surpassing theirs.

But Luke’s answer left them puzzled.

"Only one person. Myself."

The conference room fell into silence.

Seeing their puzzled expressions, Lin Moon explained on behalf of Luke.

"Luke Kingsley now owns a beast armor shop. Luke Kingsley wants to ensure that the beast armor made using his dimensional items belongs to his own shop and its products."

Lin Moon explained so that the guilds understand that Luke wasn’t reserving the privilege for a mysterious business giant.

Luke Kingsley was reserving it for himself and his company.

But what company?

How could an exiled disgrace like Luke Kingsley have his own company?

Did he build it so quickly with the millions he made in just a few weeks?

Or is the company still in imagination?

Luke stood up from his seat, adjusting his clothes, and Lin Moon stood up at the same time. Lin Moon organized some necessary documents, just as Luke had instructed, it was time to leave.

"Everyone here will be invited to the opening ceremony of my beast shop, rest assured," Luke said. "Thank you for your hospitality today, gentlemen."

"It was a pleasure meeting you."

"We will stay in touch."

"Don’t forget to sign the contract..."

Handshake after handshake, wave after wave, greeting after greeting, laughter after laughter, the closing moments of a meeting always drift wonderfully—let alone a very successful meeting.

Luke wanted to thank Lin Moon for making this a success, so as they were leaving, he invited her to lunch, but she flatly refused, as if having lunch with him was a crime against nature.

"She must have realized it, because the last time we had lunch, Scarlett messed it up," Luke thought. "So, this woman does have social awareness after all. It seems she is not the robot I thought she was."

"May I offer you a suggestion, my Lord?" Lin Moon said as they got into the car.

"Yes, go ahead."

Lin Moon said, "Please pay close attention to your partners, but sometimes you also need to know what to do if they stray. For example, if the Ox Guild were to use your materials to make armor behind your back, what would you do?"

Luke let out a nonchalant scoff.

"I will cut ties with them. Ox Guild, really? In fact, they are hardly worth suing."

Lin Moon replied, "Yes, the Ox Guild, level four license. But what if the level three licenses also get involved in the black market transactions, then the level two licenses, and then your level one licenses, like the Ember Knight Guild and the Green Grace Guild? What would happen then? Would you terminate the entire business? That’s why I suggest you must know what to do in every situation. A writer knows that his work is pirated, but he won’t burn down his library because of that. He protects the most important things and tolerates the thieves’ actions because the cost of chasing each thief far exceeds what the thieves take."