01-20 · 018
Chapter 17: Negotiation
Around 2:00 PM.
The designated place was a VIP room in an exclusive members-only lounge in a prime location in Tokyo. When I opened the heavy door, Rin Sakai sat there, dressed in what was clearly an expensive suit, her legs crossed. Two thick copies of a contract were neatly arranged on the table.
“Glad you came, Toru-kun. I've been waiting.”
Rin wore the smile of a queen confident in her victory. She must have seen yesterday's news—the report about Seira backing me—yet she was still this composed. She firmly believed that this situation, where Seira wasn't present, was her greatest opportunity.
“…Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“Let's get straight to business. This is the ‘Exclusive Management Agreement’ designed to maximize Toru-kun's profits. The content is the same as the data I sent yesterday. The margin is, as promised, a mere 15%.”
Rin tapped the signature line on the contract with her manicured finger.
“Once you sign this, I'll handle all the troublesome overseas expansion and dealing with haters. All you have to do is stay safe in your room and restore items. You'll earn enough to live a life of leisure forever. …Perfect, right?”
A sweet voice. A gentle smile.
If this had been a while ago, I'd have been swept away by the atmosphere and signed without properly reading the contents. My opponent was a former party member and a negotiation expert. I was an F-Rank with no combat ability. In her eyes, I was nothing more than “an easily exploitable mark who just got lucky with money.” I understood that clearly now.
“…Hey, Rin.”
“Hmm? What?”
“About Article 8, ‘Attribution of foreign exchange gains and losses in overseas transactions,’ and Article 12, ‘Outsourcing of system management fees’…”
The moment I mentioned those clauses, Rin's shoulder twitched almost imperceptibly.
“In short… isn't this a setup that legally diverts about 70% of my profits to a shell company you've newly established?”
“…!”
The expression vanished from Rin's face. Only the lounge's elegant background music seemed unnaturally loud.
“W-What are you talking about, Toru-kun? There's no way—”
“It's useless to pretend. I used my skill to check. It seems I can clearly see not only items but also the ‘true intent’ of documents like these.”
I said, pointing to my right eye. Rin's complexion paled visibly. It was beyond common sense for an Appraisal skill to detect legal traps in documents. But by pinpointing the trap clauses, she must have understood completely: her perfect trap had been seen through from the start.
“…D-Don't screw with me!”
Bam! Rin slammed the table and stood up. Her sweet demeanor from moments ago was gone, and she glared at me with eyes fully baring her true nature.
“You're just a pack mule…! Don't get cocky just because you came into a little money! A naive guy like you can't run a business alone! In the end, you need a professional like me—”
“Yes, so I asked a professional.”
I calmly cut her off and took a different, crisp clear file from my bag.
“W-What's that?”
“A new contract. I had a lawyer draft it online this morning using D-Market's premium membership. I have the money.”
“A-A lawyer…!?”
“Yeah. I showed them your contract, and they were appalled, saying it was ‘too malicious.’ They told me I could even sue you for attempted fraud.”
Rin began to tremble, then slumped back into her seat as if her legs had given out.
“…Yesterday, when you said you'd come alone…”
“It was to put you at ease. If I'd brought Seira-san, you would have been on guard and wouldn't have shown your true colors, right?”
I slid the contract I had prepared in front of Rin.
“I do value your practical skills and your talent for sniffing out money. So, I'll let you work under me.”
In a cold voice, I laid out the terms.
“Your margin is 2%. Absolute obedience to my instructions. If you commit any fraud or leak information, you'll owe 10 billion yen in liquidated damages. …Of course, whether you sign is up to you.”
“T-Two percent!? 10 billion in damages!? You've got to be joking! This is slave labor!”
“Then let's forget the whole thing.”
I casually moved to withdraw the contract.
“W-Wait!!”
Rin let out something between a shout and a sob, holding the contract down.
“You left Goda's party on impulse, didn't you? You can't have much in savings. If you turn down this deal with me, you'll be unemployed.”
“Ugh…”
“Besides, I have the ‘Sword Saint’ Seira Jinguji backing me. You saw yesterday's news, right? What happens to those who try to exploit me unfairly. …If I told Seira about this attempted fraud contract, do you think you could stay in this industry?”
She was completely cornered. An inescapable encirclement I had built using money, connections, and my skill.
Rin bit her lip, tears of frustration in her eyes as she looked up at me.
“…It wasn't supposed to be like this… you were supposed to be an easy mark…!”
“I learned my lesson after almost being deceived by someone.”
I held out the pen.
“So, choose. Become my excellent subordinate and earn big money, or lose everything here.”
With a trembling hand, Rin took the pen. After a few seconds of inner conflict, as if admitting her defeat, she scrawled her signature on the contract.