Card Apprentice Daily Log

Chapter 40: Negotiation

Date 21 Mar 2321

Time 18:27

Location Sky Blossom City, Guild Association Mall, Warehouse no.234

“10% is not enough after government tax I will have nothing left, 40%!”

10% sounds a lot but nothing much is left after paying 34% government taxes.

“10% and we will take care of the taxes.”

With 10% I would have to spend 100 million dollars to get 10 million dollars and the problem is 10 million dollars is not enough for my plans, it could barely make up for the ingredients and copyright of 50 E-rank armour I am planning to make.

“Nope! 30% plus you guys take care of the taxes.”

My experience has taught me that you do not get what you want, you only get what you negotiate. Many do not consider negotiating but negotiations mean getting the best of your opponent and knowing your worth in the market.

“20% plus we take care of taxes, this applies only if the card creation is successful. If you fail 100,000$ minimum wage for your services.”

“Now you are talking. Let’s sign a contract.”

I was excited but not stupid what if this blondie decides to dine and dash or worse deny any verbal agreement. This deal was too good to be true for me, and I could not afford to make mistakes.

There are so many ingredients out there I want to get my hands on, obviously I will only be ordering the ingredients required for the creation of said origin card but nobody is stopping from ordering expensive stuff.

After learning golem and undead card creation I wanted to get my hands on a Soul reactor and the artificial beast will.

I did come across beast will but it was a natural remnant soul, not a man-made artificial beast will.

How did they create it? Is it like the AI in my previous life? Is it even possible to create artificial intelligence using soul energy and soul paths? Or could I use beast will to create a fully functional artificial intelligence with its own will?

The more I thought the more excited I grew, this opened endless possibilities in the field of AI and my hands were itching to try them all out.

Recovering from her shock Debra looked at Cindy and said, “Are you sure about this? What if he just beef ups the bill to fill his pockets?”

Cindy sneered and said, “Fine Gold money is not easy to take but he can try.”

Susan looked at Cindy and Debra with serious eyes and hurled, “Wyatt doesn’t need to steal, Debra how could you say that?”

Debra gave Susan a guilty smile, she barely knew Wyatt and just wanted to get on the good side of her new boss.

Cindy did not bother about their quibble and sent the contract to my grimoire saying, “send me the list of ingredients I will have someone bring them over.”

I did not sign the contract yet, “Love the enthusiasm but we have to make few things clear before I sign the contract. I am an exclusive client of Susan I would appreciate it if you buy all the ingredients from Susan.”

“No the ingredients will be provided by Fine Gold, we have wider options and our ingredients are of higher quality than the guild association mall.”

Before I could argue Susan butted in saying, ” Cindy is right all the good and rare ingredients in guild association mall are reserved for big families or the officials of guild association. It would be better if Fine Gold provided the ingredients.”

‘What are you doing Susan! Are you too good or just stupid!’ Glaring at Susan I said, “Okay but you will have to pay the broker fees to Susan, if not for her contribution we would not have any deal in the first place.”

“Sure, Miss Susan will be paid her fees according to Fine Gold regulations. Miss Susan our finance department will contact you.”

This should be acceptable for Susan if anything more she will reject again. I respect that she doesn’t want to make money off of her friends but I think she is a fool to give up on a good opportunity.

After signing the contract I share a copy with Cindy and looking at Debra I asked, “So, what is your fate ingredient? What type of origin card would you like me to create for you?”

“Um…W-wait! You agreed to create my origin card without knowing what my fate ingredient is and what type of Origin card I want.” Debra shouted in shock.

“Don’t sweat the small stuff lady, Susan did say it was a part of undead remains, am I right?”

Debra felt hopeless seeing my lack of professionalism and was in no state to answer me.

“Her fate ingredient is the femur bone of a skeleton centaur knight, as for the type of card… Impress me.”

Hearing my conversation with Cindy, Susan felt bad for Debra and said, “How about a sword? Debra is skilled with swords.”

“Nah! A bone sword will not cost much, I need to make something grander to beef up the bill… I got it, this should be possible.”

Saying that I share the list of ingredients with Cindy.

[ C-rank Skeleton Centaur Kight Core, preferred with the beast will if available x 1

C-rank Ram Bull Core, preferred with the beast will if available x 1

C-rank Skeleton war horse core, preferred with the beast will if available x 1

C-rank Skeleton knight core preferred with the beast will if available x 1

C-rank Soul reactor x 1

C-rank Artificial beast will x 1

E-rank High Wood Wisp x 100

Unique-grade Core x1

C-rank Core x 1

C-rank Gemini Card x 1

D-rank Pair Share Card x 1 ]

“Is this it, report if you need anything more. Here at Fine Gold, we won’t tolerate any reasons for failure.”

Cindy did not seem to be fazed by the ingredients on the list, but her words told another story.

I did not know the exact total but I knew C-rank ingredients costed a small fortune. And I listed about 8 of them, each rarer than the other. The total should have crossed the 100 million dollars mark.

“I thought there are no consequences to failing.”

“That’s for Debra, not you. Let me remind you again Fine Gild money is not easy to take.”

“Is that a threat?”

“I don’t know you decide.”

“Since you are my first big client I will forgive your ignorance this time.”

Hearing my words Cindy sneered, she didn’t seem to consider me a threat which kinda hurt my ego. I decided to let it slide as she did not know what I was capable of. I will teach her a lesson later.