After confirming that Takumi had no impure intentions, Finn did not hesitate and quickly agreed to Takumi joining the expedition. It was no joke; Finn was already thinking about cooperating with the Hestia Familia to gain leverage for their development.
Beyond that, Takumi's strength was so profound that even Finn couldn't see its limits. How could Finn let go of such a significant asset? Perhaps with Takumi joining them this time, they could even set a new strategy record. That would generate a massive profit.
Even if Takumi took a share of the harvest, the secondary benefits were enough to turn the Loki Familia's situation around, moving them from a loss to a profit. Takumi smiled, stretched out his hand to shake Finn's, and said politely, "I am also happy to fight side by side with you. I hope to witness the elegance of Orario's top Familia members this time."
"Of course, I believe you will not be disappointed," Finn laughed.
Riveria, standing to the side, also smiled. Only Loki seemed uninterested. Personally, she did not hope for this cooperation to succeed. In addition to her discord with Hestia, she harbored hostility toward Takumi. This was mainly due to Aiz's protective speech last time, which made Loki worry that her precious Aiz might be abducted by him.
After all, stories often go this way: at first, the heroine hates the protagonist and holds a grudge, but once the conflict is resolved, her heart becomes filled with his image. Loki was afraid that the innocent Aiz would fall for him. She really didn't want Takumi to have any more contact with Aiz. However, this arrangement benefited the Familia, and she had no valid reason to block it.
Loki generally maintained a laissez-faire attitude toward the Familia's development. Unless a situation required her direct support, she rarely intervened. Now, feeling upset at the sight of Takumi, she simply turned her head away. She trusted Finn to handle the rest.
"Now, it is time for us to discuss the matter of harvest sharing," Finn said, getting down to business after the polite remarks.
Even though Takumi had taken the initiative to join, the rewards could not be withheld. Failing to address this could damage their friendship and their reputation. If they didn't offer a fair share, what would outsiders think? If someone helps you achieve a major breakthrough and you give them nothing, you lose your standing as a leader. Even the members who participated might think the Loki Familia was stingy and refuse to help next time. For the sake of optics and fairness, a share of the proceeds had to be given.
"Good," Takumi agreed without hesitation. Then he took the lead, saying, "But before we discuss that, I think you should look at this."
Takumi reached into his clothes and produced two black, brick-like objects.
"What is this?" Finn asked. He looked at the items curiously, waiting to see what Takumi was planning. Takumi didn't explain immediately; he simply handed one of the bricks to Finn with a smile. After Finn took it, Takumi picked up the other brick, pressed a button, and held it to his mouth.
"Hey, hey, hey."
"Hey... hey, hey, hey."
Two voices sounded simultaneously, causing Finn's eyes to widen. One of the voices had come directly from the device in his hand. Riveria looked shocked, and even Loki turned her head back in curiosity.
Takumi smiled and explained, "This is a walkie-talkie, a real-time communication tool. Within its range, as long as the frequencies match, two people can talk in real-time. Its standalone range is between four hundred and one thousand meters. If equipped with a dedicated power amplifier, it can reach twenty to forty kilometers. I believe you understand what this represents."
Finn swallowed hard. He understood perfectly. It represented efficiency—terrifying efficiency. With this, they could say goodbye to the slow, laborious process of sending runners to relay information. The time saved would be immense.
But it wasn't just about time. Real-time communication meant instructions could be issued instantly. A commander could receive accurate battlefield intelligence immediately and adjust tactics on the fly. This would drastically improve a team's response capabilities and overall combat power. It could even facilitate timely rescues, significantly reducing casualties.
To the people of this world, these modern tools represented a "dimensionality reduction" strike. Compared to ancient methods like scouts or signals, whoever transmits information faster and more accurately holds the ultimate advantage.
Finn suppressed his excitement and asked Takumi anxiously, "Mr. Takumi, why are you showing us this walkie-talkie now?"
Riveria and Loki also stared at Takumi. Seeing that he had made his point, Takumi smiled. "Since I brought them out, I am naturally ready to let you use them. But they are not free."
"How much? Name your price. We want them all—twenty units to start, and one of those power amplifiers!" Finn spoke faster than ever before, ready to secure these precious tools.
Takumi shook his head. "It's not about the price. At the moment, these are only for rent, not for sale."
"Only for rent?" Finn frowned. This was not what he expected. Leasing was more complicated than a one-time purchase. He wondered if the technology was so complex that Takumi wanted to maintain a monopoly or prevent the skills from being leaked.
Guessing his thoughts, Takumi said, "These devices require energy to function. If I sell them to you, do you have a way to recharge them? Do you know how to operate the amplifier or repair them if they break? I could sell them to you with backup energy, but the expedition starts in a few days. Are you sure you can learn to operate and maintain them by then?"
Finn, Riveria, and Loki were all silenced by these questions. Even if the items were simple to use, ensuring they remained functional was not something they could master quickly.
"Do you intend to bring more of your people with you?" Finn asked, catching the subtext. Since the Loki Familia couldn't handle the technical side, Takumi wanted his own people to manage it.
"Yes. I may need your help taking care of them in the future. I have many personal matters to attend to, and frankly, I cannot manage all the Familia's affairs myself." Takumi admitted his intention for long-term cooperation. He knew Orario's "Familia game" wasn't his ultimate goal. Once he earned enough points to exchange for the Sacred Text Grace, he would focus on developing the Dimensional City. He would eventually hand the Familia over to Hestia or another leader from the Dimensional City.
Finn glanced at Loki. Seeing no objection, he felt a sense of surprise. He realized Takumi was already planning a succession for the Hestia Familia. It felt as though Takumi was preparing to retreat while at his peak. Finn felt slightly played, yet the deal was too good to pass up.
Ultimately, Finn agreed to the leasing plan. The Hestia Familia would provide a radio station and forty walkie-talkies for each expedition, along with maintenance support. In exchange, the Hestia Familia would receive 5% of the Loki Familia's total expedition revenue. The Loki Familia would also guarantee the safety of the Hestia Familia members. Any rewards from monsters killed by the accompanying members would belong to the Hestia Familia.
The agreement was signed, serving as a formal bond of trust between the two parties.
"A pleasure to work with you," Takumi said.
"Likewise," Finn replied, and they shook hands.
"Now that the business is settled, it's time for me to go. I have personal matters to attend to in the Dimensional City," Takumi said.
"I'll see you out," Riveria offered, stepping forward. Takumi hesitated briefly before nodding.
After they left, Finn sighed. "I didn't expect it to end like this."
"People have their own paths. Not everyone loves the atmosphere of Orario," Loki shrugged, though she secretly felt a bit of schadenfreude thinking that Hestia's "luck" with Takumi might be running out.
Outside, Takumi and Riveria walked in silence for a while until Takumi asked, " I heard you went to see me a few times?"
"Yes," Riveria replied. She took a deep breath. "I'm sorry for what happened before. I was careless. I didn't mean to cause unpleasant memories."
"Just for that?" Takumi asked, surprised she still remembered the incident. "You don't need to apologize. I had already forgotten about it."
Riveria looked at him doubtfully. "The more relaxed you act, the more unsure I feel. Last time, you were smiling one second and turned your back the next." She had seen too many people in Orario hold grudges until the perfect moment for a backstab. Until she heard a clear word of forgiveness, she couldn't be at ease.
"Then... what do you want me to do?" Takumi asked, slightly exasperated by her caution.