The First Legendary Beast Master

Chapter 1881: Negotiation

The three mothers stared at Cara, and then back at the resident dorms for students of the Darklight Host. Their girls were finished basic education, but they were not exceptional students, and none of the Elders had taken them in as disciples.

They also didn’t have a solid group to complete missions with. They constantly had to advertise for a tank, and their other damage dealer had been taken in by an Elder, leaving them basically alone.

So, it was actually a good deal for them to work under the Darklight Host to get resources, even if they were going to have to spend some time or get lucky with resources to pay it back.

"I have some serious concerns about the level of debt that you have tricked my daughter into taking on. With living expenses, it’s not possible to pay that loan back. No Clan would give out an Artifact grade skill book on credit," Amie’s mother began, her face serious.

Cara smiled and brought out a tea set.

"It’s not that serious, I assure you. We offered no interest finance, as I mentioned, and the book was traded at a substantial twenty percent discount. I assure you that she will be able to repay it in a timely manner. However, I can add a performance clause to the sale.

If Miss Amie is willing to join the Darklight Host, the price of the [Warbeast] skill will be forgiven if she can reach Void Immortal within the next three years, or if she gains a class at or above the Epic Grade."

"If she gains an Epic Grade class? Isn’t that nearly impossible?"

Cara shook her head. "Now that she has such a lovely new skill, there is a chance that with a bit more training and one or two more skills, she could do it this month. Assuming that she has filled her skill tree, that is."

Amie shook her head. "I haven’t gotten enough points to fill my Skill Tree."

Cara wrapped a friendly arm around her. "You know, as a member of the Darklight Host, we have specialized training facilities to help with that, as well as group outings to dungeons and hidden areas."

"So, you intend to poach them from the New Home?" Amie’s mother asked.

"Not at all. Members of the Darklight Host are almost all still members of the New Home Merchant Clan. The two aren’t mutually exclusive. Think of it as studying under an Elder with their own faction."

"Do you even have an Elder?"

Cara laughed at the woman’s disdain. "Of course we do. We took in the Blackwoods Pack. Not only do we have Elders, we have a Supreme Ranked Pack Leader in the Guild. I think he’s actually at Clan Leader Nerissa’s pavilion at the moment. Their relationship is quite cordial."

The ladies laughed quietly. Everyone in the Clan knew that the two of them were "Cordial" with each other. They had been seen around the Clan together constantly since the recruitment event started.

But nobody wanted to say it out loud and jinx it, since the Clan Leader seemed to be in a much better than usual mood.

"Well, you have a point about that. The Darklight Host is not short on power as a faction. I don’t see a good reason why Amie shouldn’t be allowed to study under you. However, I do have concerns about her being permanently indebted.

I would like to pay down some of the price of the book."

Karl nodded, and slid a piece of paper across the coffee table between them.

The woman blinked as she read the number on it.

"Right, Artifact Grade Skill Book. Alright, I will trade you our family heirloom for the Skill Book."

Karl gave her a highly doubtful look. The average member of the Clan did not have an heirloom that was even close to the price of the book, and he was already planning to force the girls to the level where he could claim they fulfilled the requirements after a few years of work.

Unless Cara was just collecting them to go with Tessa and the others, in which case, they would get there on their own.

The woman took out a tablet and placed it between them.

Karl examined it with the skilled eye of a Runemaster. It was a Peak Immortal defensive array, designed to protect a large space, like a family compound or Guild House, from attack. It had a mana gathering array within it, and the actual layout was brilliant.

Much more efficient than what Karl had been doing.

That item was worth much more to him than the face value that the System assigned it, and the System assigned it a lot of value.

"At the Clan Hall, this will trade for half what the skill book does. Will you give me the same terms?"

Karl nodded. "As it’s a runic item, and especially useful to me, I will actually give you a premium. Sixty percent of the book value, so Amie only owes twenty percent after the discount on the price."

Amie cheered as she transformed back. "Sweet! How much do I still owe? I might be able to pay it."

Her mother rolled her eyes. "You still owe twenty thousand Clan Credits."

"That’s going to take some time."

Karl patted her on the shoulder. "It’s not a big deal. We will get you all set up. How do you feel about learning a trade skill? That will help you get Clan Credits faster, as the crafters get a profit share of the items that they make."

"Ooh, that sounds good. And then I can make extra money between shifts and missions. Girls, we’ve made it rich!"

Her friends giggled. Amie might be enthusiastic, but she had absolutely zero sense of finance, or self-preservation. Anyone else would be trembling at the time it would take to get twenty thousand Clan Credits.

Even earning one a day doing difficult missions was not easy for a Spirit Immortal.