Taking the Mafia to the Magic World
chapter-972

"Well, I'm very interested in this deal." Vicente smiled at Asahel, but before making a deal, he needed to know how far he would have to compromise. "What exactly do you want from me?"

Asahel led Vicente out of the Combat Center and into a famous restaurant in this central area of the city, a good place to make their deal official.

"The Ancient Garden and the Manifold Family will want different things from you, even though this is a single agreement.

For the Ancient Garden, you'll have to speak on behalf of the training center, say that you trained with us and that's why you've become so strong, something like that. Our men will work out exactly what you'll have to say in public, in fights, at meetings of magicians." He explained, always looking at Vicente and smiling.

"Of course, we'll give you items with the symbol of the training center, which you have to wear for a certain period in all activities you engage. This, of course, includes a ban on the use of competing brands."

Vicente nodded in agreement, seeing no problem with that. It would be too much to ask to be sponsored by a group and be allowed to use items from their rivals. Even if he preferred other brands, he would have to keep it to himself and hide the information from the public.

"As for the family, they are more specialized in creating artifacts. So we'll provide you with the artifacts, and all you have to do is use them in public for a certain number of hours each month.

Other than that, there's nothing very specific. You don't have to get involved in our problems, and you don't get any benefits beyond what's in the contract. You're free to do whatever you want, as long as it doesn't go against our interests.

The contract has a minimum duration, and for it to end before that, both sides have to agree. Other than that, there are only minor details to ensure that both sides comply with the clauses."

Vicente entered a busy restaurant, ignoring the many people staring at him, slowly getting used to the reality of fame in Anicane. He sat down at a large table in a secluded part of the establishment before asking.

"How many hours a month are we talking?"

"100 hours a month, considering the representation of both brands. That includes all the time you spend fighting in ranked matches, of course." Asahel clarified the situation after giving his orders to a waiter.

'That's a little over three hours a day... It's not much. Maybe it won't be too much trouble for me.' Vicente thought silently, leaning back in his seat as a woman poured a drink for him and Asahel.

Vicente had heard of the Ancient Garden and the Manifold Family, but he didn't know exactly what their services and products were like.

Maybe they were excellent, and their work wouldn't be a problem for him. Or maybe there were problems. After all, they were willing to pay so much for him, so that might indicate a not-so-good brand or one that was not yet established.

Certainly, the Manifold Family was strong and powerful, famous throughout Light Cay. But prosperity came not only to those who were excellent. With a minimum of quality, luck, support, and time, anyone could leave mediocrity and reach the light.

But even if the services and resources of the group Asahel represented today were weak, he didn't care and was willing to put in those hours of service.

"Very well. I agree with the terms presented so far," he said after a moment, just as the food began to be served.

The smell of roasting meat overwhelmed Vicente's senses and made his stomach rumble with hunger. Even though he was already a powerful cultivator, he couldn't deny his body's craving, and with a single movement, he cut a piece of meat to the point on his plate, took it to his mouth, and savored it.

While his master felt the pleasure of devouring something truly overwhelming, Prisiche received the preliminary contract from Asahel, a document he had prepared with all the offers he had made to Vicente.

Prisiche, being an artificial intelligence that always defended her master—as long as it didn't hurt the sect—quickly understood all the terms of the agreement.

"Mister Asahel didn't lie in his proposals, but there's one detail he didn't tell you that caught my attention," she whispered into one of Vicente's ears. "There is a condition here that after your first year in Anicane, you must train a person named Alicia Lyle twice a year for at least ten days each time."

Vicente's eyes opened with a twinkle, and he asked, "Who is Alicia Lyle?"

Asahel wasn't surprised. "Another sponsored member of the family, someone who is promised in marriage to a family member and therefore naturally receives more from her settlement than other ordinary members. Not least because we'll give her the opportunity to train under your supervision."

Vicente saw no problem in changing hands with this woman, but he wanted more details. "The contract you gave me makes it sound like she doesn't live here. Where will these meetings take place?"

"Miss Lyle lives in Ponddown, a small city six days' journey from Ravengarde."

By small city, Asahel meant a large city by Vicente's standards, but small compared to the grandiose Ravengarde.

"I see. All right, I have no problem training this person. However, the Manifold Family will have to pay for my travel expenses." Vicente handed the preliminary contract back to Asahel so that he could adjust that part.

"We can certainly do that."

"Perfect. We can even sign the contract today. But when do I get my bonus?" Vicente was eager to put his plans into action.

Asahel understood Vicente's anxiety and smiled. "Right now. I already have most of your resources with me, and the rest we can get on a tour of the city core."

They would soon make the final agreement between the parties, with Prisiche receiving the promised 1.1 million stone coins, bringing the total to nearly 1.3 million stone coins in Vicente's current wallet.

Considering just this part of the membership bonus, Vicente would now have enough to bring several members into his faction!