Arden leaned back, his gaze somewhat intense, “You’ve got quite the head on your shoulders, kid.”
Alister finished, a confident smile on his face. “So, those are my terms. If any of you can meet them, then we can talk further.”
Alister’s thoughts raced, ‘I know my request is completely unreasonable, ridiculous in fact. But I need access to a guild treasury if I want any hope of finding the materials necessary to craft the omnipotent elixir. Revealing that it’s the ingredients for the elixir I seek could result in the guild trying to control me, and I need my freedom to venture into the wilderness for my daily quests.’
‘And I can’t raid dunguons due to the face the system said I’d loose stat points. I can’t make good on my promise if I end up making myself weaker.’
Those were two of Alister’s reasons for making such requests. The down payment and the monthly pay were not only to afford Miyu’s bills but also to potentially visit the black market in search of the necessary materials if he had to.
The silence in the room felt tense as Alister finished stating his demands. The guild representatives exchanged uneasy glances, the magnitude of his requests settling in.
Cheng Zhi was the first to speak, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “So, basically, you’re telling us to our faces that you want to act and do whatever you want, be given permission to disobey our future orders, and be granted access to our guild’s treasury. Look, kid, if you didn’t have a drake for a summon, I’d be beating the shit out of you right now.”
He stood up suddenly, pushing his chair back with a harsh scrape. “But since it seems you want to be so unreasonable, and there is no way I am agreeing to that, I guess I should start making my way back.”
Cheng Zhi made his way out of the restaurant, leaving complete silence in his wake. The other guild representatives shifted uncomfortably in their seats, clearly conflicted.
Anya sighed, leaning back in her chair. “You have to understand, Alister, what you’re asking for is a lot. Autonomy is one thing, but unrestricted access to our treasury? That’s a hard sell.” Eryx nodded as he took agreed, his expression serious. “It’s not just about the money or the items, Alister. It’s about trust and responsibility. We can’t just hand over such privileges without assurance that they’ll be used wisely.”
Arden added, “We all see your potential, and we respect your skills, but these demands are… excessive. You’re asking us to take a huge risk.”
Aria, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up, her voice measured. “We need to ensure that our investment in you is secure, Alister. What you’re proposing undermines that security.” fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cm
Yuuto Tsukumo watched the proceedings with a calm expression, his assistant observing the growing tension with interest.
Alister remained calm, meeting each representative’s gaze steadily. “I understand your concerns. But if I’m to commit myself fully to a guild, I need to know that I won’t be stifled or undervalued. I want to contribute to your success, but I also want the freedom to grow.”
The air in the restaurant seemed like it got thicker, with the staff glancing with unease towards that table. The other guild representatives began to voice their thoughts, each preparing to make their exit.
Anya sighed, clearly frustrated. “Alister, you may be talented, very true, but I q can’t afford to give you that level of autonomy and access. It’s just not feasible.”
She stood up, shaking her head, and began to walk away. “I’m sorry, but the Berserkers can’t meet those demands.”
Eryx followed suit, a look of regret on his face. “We were genuinely interested in having you join the Blue Seals, but this… it’s too much. We need to maintain some level of control and order.”
Arden, with a resigned shrug, also spoke up, “Financial security and autonomy are one thing, but unrestricted access to our treasury is another. I can’t agree to that.”
He too got up and made his way out, leaving only Yuuto and his assistant.
Aria, the strategist of the Blue Seals, hesitated for a moment before saying,
“Good luck, Alister. I hope you find what you’re looking for.”
With that, she followed the others, leaving Alister alone with Yuuto Tsukumo and his assistant.
The woman with the glasses, who had been standing quietly beside sir Yuuto, stepped forward and softly called out to him. “Master Yuuto, we should go. The young man’s requests are illogical.”
Yuuto smiled, his eyes glinting with interest. “Wait, Aiko.”
Aiko, his assistant, looked slightly taken by surprise. “But, Master Yuuto, his demands are ”
Yuuto raised a hand, and she fell silent, nodding and stepping back respectfully.
He turned his full attention to Alister, his expression one of genuine curiosity and amusement.
“Alister, I will grant all of your requests. I may not be entirely sure of your intentions, but living as long as I have, I can easily tell… they are pure.”
Alister blinked, eyes wide with shock. Yet he couldn’t help but smile slightly. “You… Your serious?”
Aiko’s eyes widened in shock. “Master Yuuto, are you certain? That is like giving him legal permission to steal from us. Any four of the items he picks could be well over a year’s worth of
his pay.”
“Enough Aiko, you have never been one to qustion my decisions. Do you plan to start now?” Yuuto asked, with a serious tone as he glared at her slightly.
“I-I wouldn’t dare.” She stutterd in fear.
“Good.” Yuuto said with a smile.
From her corner, Maya’s jaw dropped. “Did I just hear that right?” she muttered to herself, frantically scribbling in her notepad. “This is unbelievable!”
Yuuto turned his head to face Alister, maintaining his calm demeanor. “Now, where was I, ah. Yes, Alister. I am serious. Let’s proceed to sign the contract, right now.”
Yuuto gave Aiko a brief nod. “Present the contract.”
Aiko hesitated, clearly reluctant. “Yes, Master Yuuto.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small chip. With a sigh, she slid it forward towards Alister.
As the chip activated, a blue holographic contract materialized in front of them, the terms clearly stated. The only thing left was Alister’s fingerprint.
Alister stared at the hologram, his eyes wide. “Just my fingerprint, huh?”
Yuuto nodded, his expression calm as he smiled softly. “Yes, Alister. It’s as simple as that.”
Alister took a deep breath and pressed his finger against the holographic contract. As soon as he did, the contract turned white, and a red “Approved” stamp appeared on it. The hologram then retracted back into the chip, which floated back into Aiko’s hand.
Yuuto rose from his seat, extending a hand to Alister. “Welcome to the White Comets, drake summoner. You are expected to pack your things and move to headquarters immediately.” Alister nodded, walking towards Yuuto and shaking his hand. “Understood.”