Talking business is very uncomfortable

Erza wore her armor back as she walked toward Bourne, who squatted down to check on the condition of the water.

"How?"

Bourne shook his head and said, "Even if we (I) have defeated the frog, but the water is still...." He was sure that it was because of the frog that these beautiful pools had been contaminated and become ugly shit.

"Is there any other method that we can do to clean these pools?" Erza asked. If it was only defeating an opponent then she could use her sword, spear, various weapons to end its lives, but it was very hard for her to clean up these pools. The only thing she could do was to report to the head village and told him that the frog which had caused the water of these pools to turn into a lumpy, dark liquid had disappeared, however, if they wanted to return the pools into the way it was, then they needed to work hard by themselves since she couldn't do it.

Bourne thought for a while and he knew that he could use his "Water" magic to clean up these pools, but he didn't want to work for free. He was neither a hero nor a saint. He wanted to have compensation for his hard work.

"I can clear it, but I need to talk with the head village, can you guide me to meet this person?" Bourne asked.

"Yes."

Erza nodded without hesitation.

---

Erza wasn't sure why Bourne wanted to meet the head village. She had a feeling that he had a way to save the pools, but it needed a long of time or he needed to get the necessary item, however, she didn't expect that he would talk about business.

Bourne felt that this village was good for a resort location, especially with a lot of hydrangea flowers which surrounded the village. He said that in exchange for him getting some land on the nearby hot spring pools, he would clear up the pools from the pollution.

However, the head village was troubled by Bourne's request since the pools were owned by everyone.

Bourne didn't care and he only wanted some land nearby. It didn't mean that he would take all of the pools by himself. He also told them that he could also get the villagers as an employee of his resort later which also gave them an income later.

Bourne knew in this small village, there wasn't any land certificate and even if he forcefully occupied this place, the village couldn't complain and was helpless since he was a very strong magician.

To make this head village agree, Bourne also told them that he would also help the village when there was a danger since he was the man of one of the Ten Saints Wizards.

Even if they didn't agree then Bourne didn't really mind since if that was the case then he wouldn't do anything to help them and they would get nothing.

In the end the head village agreed, but he needed to talk with all of the villagers.

Bourne didn't really mind and told him to talk with the villagers first. Even if they lied, he could make this place frozen, drought, or something more.

If he was a dark magician then he wouldn't talk on negotiation with the head villagers and directly killed all of the villagers then owned all of the village by himself, but he wasn't a dark magician after all.

Bourne suddenly understood why there were a lot of dark magicians since it was easier to make money that way rather than working tirelessly in dangerous work and only got a limited sum of reward.

Erza listened to their conversation in silence, even though it felt slightly uncomfortable, what Bourne did was similar to a magician in the guild.

Bourne could clear the pools, but he wouldn't do it for free.

Erza also got the money after she had cleared the quest so she didn't have a right to say anything to him.

After a few hours of waiting, the head villager along with the villagers agreed with Bourne's request.

Bourne held the head villager's hand and told him that it would be a great cooperation between them.

"I need a day or two at that time, you shouldn't get close to the pools until I come back to the village," Bourne said.

They nodded and listened to him since the meaning of magician was very mysterious for a normal people like them and at the same time, it was also the reason why they feared him.

---

Bourne walked back to the pools and Erza followed him.

"Don't you think that you have taken too much from the village?" Erza asked.

"If it isn't me then do you think that they can get their beautiful pools back?" Bourne asked.

"This...?" Erza understood, but she didn't really like it.

"You don't need to think too much," Bourne said.

"But don't you think that they will be even more grateful toward you if you help them for free?" Erza asked.

"Well, why don't you give your money back to the villagers and I'm sure that they'll be grateful toward you even more, Erza," Bourne said.

"........"

Erza was silent when she heard it.

Bourne stopped and looked at Erza. "I know that you feel uncomfortable, but when we talk about money, let's put aside our feelings first. You should know that when I own some lands near the pools then the benefit that will be received by the villagers will be higher than if I leave them alone."

Erza raised her eyebrow and asked, "What do you mean?"

"Like what I've told the head villagers before that as I've occupied some lands in this place then I'll also protect the villagers from the same disaster which might hit them in the future. Let me ask you a question, if the same disaster hits them again in the future then they need to pay you again and your price isn't cheap, right?" Bourne asked.

"Well... that's true." Erza felt a bit embarrassed since she had received 800,000 Jewels for this quest. However, she shared it with Bourne since he was the one who mostly did the quest.

"But if I occupy this place then I can protect this place for free, which one do you think is more beneficial for them in the long term?"

"....It's you?"

"Yes. You're smart." Bourne smiled and patted Erza's head.

Erza hurriedly swept Bourne's hand away from her head. Even though it felt good, she wasn't a child and it was too embarrassing to be seen. She was Erza the Titania and as a knight, she couldn't show her weakness, right?

Erza blushed and felt annoyed.

Bourne didn't care too much and walked to these pools quickly.

---

Both of them had arrived right in the pools before Bourne put his hand on one of the pools and used his magic to clear up the pollution within.

It was only a moment, but Erza understood that this guy wasn't as simple as it seemed to be.

*Swoosh!*

A blinding light covered all the pools within and erased all of the impurity, showing the beauty of nature.

So what did Bourne do after this?

Bourne took off his clothes and jumped directly into one of the pools.