"Steel Covenant’s offer also remains at the table."
"Justicar’s Edge is of the sa heart."
"Bloodbound..."
The other six agents hurriedly expressed their stances, unwilling to allow their rivals a decisive lead.
Of course, Iron Lotus, too, did not let their guard down, despite their leading offer. These agents knew each other too well to be underestimating one another.
But the target they were courting seed quite tough in frustrating areas.
"Well, that...is quite flattering. But on second thought, maybe I should complete the contract first before signing, as it is stated that the work I will be doing is confidential. I feel like I will be betraying the trust of both sides if I affiliate myself with one and then do work for another. If your offer still stands at that ti, then I will consider."
The agents’ jaws clenched. This was the first ti they were vexed by a young man being too proper.
Naturally, since they’ve suspected that Daru Finnley could be Onimaru Kunitsuna from the beginning, they’ve done research about his character.
The brat was as serious, straightforward, and honest as they expected. A bit too much, even...
Still, the acquisition agents remained patient with him, as veterans like them had long learned that lashing out at a young talent never ended positively for both sides.
This ti, it was Iron Lotus who struck first, insisting that such matters are not a cause for hesitation.
The others imdiately followed suit and expressed their agreent.
Daru fell silent, as if deep in thought. He then turned to the governnt agent a mont later.
"Sir, if I rembered correctly, there’s no clause in the contract preventing from officially affiliating myself with a guild...right? That as long as I keep the details of the rcenary contract, there will be no problem with this arrangent?" He asked, to which the agent responded a bit too quickly:
"I’ve been sent here to attempt to secure you for the Neo-Earth World Governnt. I do not know the details of this rcenary contract. Perhaps it would be better for you to have a eting with Lady Krauss about this matter before you decide, just to be safe..."
The acquisition agents from the Seven Sword Guilds imdiately sneered.
"Shaless...Outright lying to the free agent? How trustworthy..." jabbed the woman from Ravenblade.
"Hmph! How could you be sent here without prior knowledge of such an important matter? Is this how the governnt shows its sincerity? By sending soone incompetent to blatantly lie so they can secure a eting with the young talent through the back door? Besides, you can ask her right now, can’t you? Whisper Sigils are a thing, after all, and I doubt Hailey Krauss will not be waiting for every ssage you send at this crucial ti." The Ivory Enclave agent chid in with admonishnt.
The governnt agent seed to be panicking, and at that mont, Principal Jebroham stepped in.
"The lady has inford that she is busy."
The recruiters of the Seven Sword Guilds laughed coldly in understanding, sneering inwardly at the desperate tactic.
As it turned out, the governnt was relying on that rcenary contract to force Onimaru Kunitsuna to delay his decision and secure one final eting with him.
Perhaps this ti, threats would be on the table, too.
A feeble attempt.
"Fine, then!" the Ashen Crown agent snarled. "Onimaru Kunitsuna, you do not need to wait for their permission. The guild will handle this matter for you. As long as you’ve decided to join, you’ll be protected from injustice."
"Justicar’s Edge also guarantees your safety regarding this matter. We accept the conditions that the rcenary contract is confidential, and we will not ask you a single thing about it. We can even sign a non-disclosure contract and hand the governnt a copy. However, I believe that there is no need to delay accepting the offers because of such minor inconveniences. You can be affiliated with us and still fulfill that contract. That is why it’s called a rcenary contract, after all."
The other agents quickly expressed their agreent, working together to thwart the governnt’s defenses.
Principal Jebroham and the governnt agent seed to be panicking, and yet, they did not have the cards to turn things around.
Daru turned to look at them with a difficult expression, his words and actions the final nail in the coffin:
"Principal Jebroham," he began, standing and bowing to the elder. "I apologize for what’s happening. However, I do not want to limit my future. I hope you understand. Please tell Miss Hailey for that the contract still stands, and that the details will remain hidden even if I’m already affiliated with another faction."
His words sounded like a heavenly lody in the ears of the agents.
The governnt’s final stand in the recruitnt event had been thoroughly dismantled. Now, it was them against each other.
Of course, securing Onimaru Kunitsuna for themselves was still a high priority, but the most important objective had been achieved: do not let the governnt win.
The anomalous S-ranker being obtained by their rivals was more tolerable than his being acquired by the dying body of authority.
From the next mont onward, the acquisition agents’ enthusiasm shot through the roof, causing a full-on negotiation war to rage.
The seven agents consulted with their superiors as their opponents spoke their counteroffers, and Daru responded to all of them appropriately, even if he looked a bit overwheld by the potential riches he would obtain from rely signing.
Around half an hour later, all the cards were on the table.
The lines of which offer was the most beneficial had been so blurred by creative offers that it had beco very difficult to decide...had it not been for one of the seven still a cut above the rest.
Iron Lotus can offer almost everything the other agents could and way more in total financial value.
Soon, seemingly having co to a firm decision, Daru spoke:
"I...will sign with Iron Lotus."
The other agents tried a desperate last stand, but they truly couldn’t match Iron Lotus’s offer. Even their superiors had exhausted their options, so this loss couldn’t be blad on them.
They could only accept the bitterness, acknowledge that Iron Lotus had simply been more prepared and decisive, and move on.
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