July was an irritating time of year, even in Valuva. The long-sluggish liquor market picked up again. Although people's purchasing power had declined, merchants quickly came up with a plan to water down their products, earning half their former profits at only a third of the cost.
"This fast?" Snow, the acting head of the technology R&D group, placed the acceptance report for the "wired telegraph" on Master Kano's desk, startling the Great Mage.
"It just went that smoothly!"
Snow's expression was so smug it made Kano start to wonder, 'Did I give them too much funding?'
"Your pace exceeded my expectations... Well, you've done a fine job."
"More than half the credit goes to your students."
"So that's roughly equivalent to my credit, then?" Kano said with a smile, picking up the report. He nodded and added casually, "Thanks for all your hard work."
