Lord of the Time: I Can Reincarnate Infinitely

Chapter 540 540: Undercurrents

The next morning, Caleb stepped out of the inn, unaware that behind the closed doors of the office, the innkeeper was engaged in a secretive and urgent video call. Using a magical device that projected shimmering images into the air, the innkeeper spoke with a man whose presence seemed to exude authority and impatience.

"Is the room available yet? Have you managed to evict the current occupant?" the man on the other side of the call demanded, his tone sharp and commanding.

The innkeeper, visibly sweating under pressure, responded hesitantly, "I... I tried, sir. But the old man, George, he... he refused to leave. He's quite persuasive and has some pull around here. I couldn't just force him out without causing a scene."

The man's expression darkened, displeasure clear on his face. "You were supposed to handle this quietly. Why is this proving so difficult?"

"I understand, sir, but—" the innkeeper tried to explain, his voice tinged with fear.

Cutting him off, the man interjected sharply, "Why is it so important to have that specific room? There are other rooms available. Why does it have to be the one occupied by this old man George?"

The innkeeper, confused and increasingly fearful, echoed the question, "Yes, that's true. Why that specific room, sir? As the owner, I'm not aware of anything special about it."

The man leaned closer to the magical image, his eyes narrowing, "It's not about the old man. There's something in that room I need. What it is doesn't concern you. Just know it's important and not something you would understand."

This response only deepened the innkeeper's confusion and fear. As the owner of the inn, he thought he knew every inch of his property. The idea that something hidden or valuable was in one of the rooms without his knowledge was unsettling.

Seeing the innkeeper's bewilderment, the man's tone became even more stern, "Listen, there's no room for negotiation or compromise on this. Get me that room. Do whatever it takes. I'm not interested in excuses."

The hooded man paused, then nodded slowly, "Agreed. If you can secure the item within one week, the price will be doubled. But remember, this isn't about greed—it's about necessity."

As they negotiated back and forth, each trying to angle the discussion to their advantage, the stakes grew higher. The man, though uneasy about the proposed actions, knew the importance of the mission. His devious wit and negotiation skills were put to the test as he tried to ensure that if they were to cross this line, it would not be without substantial gain.

"Damn it!" the man cursed. The hooded man smiled and disappeared.

After the intense discussion, the atmosphere in the room shifted as a woman entered abruptly, her demeanor serious and her gaze sharp. She looked directly at the man, her expression one of disapproval.

"You lost that negotiation," she stated flatly, her voice tinged with both frustration and disbelief. "You let emotions cloud your judgment and fail to take control of the situation."

The man, still reeling from the recent confrontation, attempted to defend himself. "I managed to double the price. That's not a loss," he argued, trying to find footing in the shaky aftermath of his negotiation.

The woman shook her head, clearly not convinced. "Doubling the price when you could have secured more favorable terms earlier is a pyrrhic victory. You reacted instead of controlled. The hooded man dictated the terms; you just followed where he led. That's not how you win a negotiation."

She began to lay out her points methodically, each one a lesson in the art of negotiation. "You need to anticipate the other side's moves and prepare your responses. You didn't turn the tables when you had the chance. You let fear of escalation guide you instead of strategic thinking."

As she elaborated on where he had gone wrong, the man listened, his frustration slowly turning into contemplation. Despite the doubling of the price, he recognized the missed opportunities to truly dominate the negotiation.

Finally, he responded with a resigned sigh, "Greediness is the downfall of kings. I aimed not to be blinded by immediate gains."

The woman paused, considering his words. While she appreciated his attempt to find a moral lesson in his failure, it was clear she remained unimpressed by the outcome.