Ayame meets my gaze once more after a minute of inner contemtion. I can feel a strong resolve in her eyes. "I ept your terms, Master."


    A triumphant grin spreads across my face. Sure, I agreed to help her take down an entire duchy, but that''s a problem for the future Quin. Right now, as a level 1 scrub, I''ve just secured an incredible ally. And let''s be honest, her exotic beauty and the ridiculously low price I got her for are just icing on the cake.


    On the open market, I''d be lucky to get a level 3 sweaty warrior dude for one gold, and I''m paying this off in weekly installments? It''s practically daylight robbery. I doubt I''ll ever get this lucky again.


    "I''m d to have you, Ayame," I say, extending my hand across the table. "It''s just the two of us for now, but wee to the party."


    She nods, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she firmly shakes my hand. Despite the uncertainty of her future and the life sentence of eternal servitude hanging over her head, she''s finally leaving her miserable cell behind. She can start living again, pursuing her vengeance, traveling, fighting, gaining strength.


    For an honorable warrior like her, this past year must have been nothing short of torture.


    "Alright, time to call the vers to finalize the deal." I find a servant lingering at the end of the hallway, who quickly fetches Marcus. Soon enough, the three of us are seated around the table in the office.


    The merchant wears a bittersweet expression. I can easily guess what he is thinking. Finally, he gets rid of the pest upying his basement cell, but she still cost him seven gold coins, plus all the time, energy, and resources they''ve wasted on her year-long stay here. I wonder if the amount I got her for will even cover that part. Worst deal of your career, huh, Marcus?


    I can''t help but sneer inwardly at his misery. I might act amicable with him on the surface but ve merchants don''t deserve an ounce of pity in my book even if their house burns down with their loved ones still in it.


    "So, you''ve finally found your prince charming, huh?" he begins while ring daggers at Ayame. "Congrattions are in order, I suppose." Oh, I can smell the bad blood between them. For some reason, he is a lot less friendly to my newpanion than he is to me. I wonder why.


    "Thank you, Glorified Human Trafficker. I''m going to miss your presence in my life greatly, GHT."


    Dayum, girl. I can see a vein pop on Marcus''s forehead. Sorry, I meant on GHT''s forehead.


    "The feeling is mutual. Let''s get this over with before you dirty my new sofas even further." He turns to me and his expression rxes instantly. "So, kind sir, I was told that you will take this lovelydy off my hands?" Ayame scoffs at his swift change in demeanor.


    "Yes. We''vee to a mutual understanding. I believe she will help me reach great heights in this life."


    "Great! Then, ve, did my employee notify you of your newfound master''s additional use, which he wishes to add to your contract?"


    She nods. "The one about secrecy, right? Fine with me. I would rather die than betray those I fight alongside."


    Marcus nods back, pulling out the necessary documents. "Very well then. Let''s finalize this." He spreads the parchment on the table and hands me a quill. I quickly skim through the terms to ensure everything is in order.


    "Sign here, and here," Marcus instructs, pointing to the designated spots. I do as instructed after a giving the papers a quick read-through, and then Ayame takes the quill, her hand steady as she adds her signature below mine.


    Once the documents are signed, Marcus rolls them up and seals them with a wax stamp bearing the insignia of his house. He then reaches into a pouch at his side and pulls out a small vial filled with a shimmering, iridescent liquid. He gestures for Ayame and me toe closer. "There''s one final step," he says, his tone businesslike. "Contract magic."


    "The kind sir needs to add a drop of his blood into this bowl." He hands me a small knife and I do as instructed. Then, Ayame steps forward, her eyes sad and resigned. Marcus pours the liquid into a shallow bowl and begins to chant in a low, guttural voice. The liquid starts to glow, and tendrils of light rise from the bowl, snaking through the air towards Ayame''s cor.


    The light wraps around her cor, causing it to shimmer and pulse. Ayame winces slightly but stands her ground. As the magic takes hold, the cor undergoes a subtle transformation, the runes etched into it glowing briefly before fading back to their original state.


    [You''ve Acquired Samurai lvl 14, Ayame, As Your ve]


    [New ss Unlocked: ve Master]


    Marcus finishes the incantation and steps back, the light dissipating. "It is done," he says. "The cor is now bound to the terms of your contract. Any vition of these terms will activate the magic within and our establishment will be notified immediately."


    Ayame touches the cor gingerly, her eyes narrowing. "I understand," she says quietly.


    I then speak up, trying to cheer her up, "thank you, GHT, ah- sorry! I meant GHT, ah! I can''t speak well today, I''m so sorry Marcus. idental slip of the tongue, I swear on my dear brother''s life." I manage to elicit a short giggle from my lovely new partner in crime and a very annoyed scoff from the trader.


    To his credit, he seems to move on pretty fast. "I can tell that the two of you were made for each other now. I finally understand why she epted you of all people. Well, I''m too old to get annoyed at you youngsters. If you wish to expand your ve harem you know who to visit. This time maybee with a few gold coins in your purse, kind sir."


    "I''m not a part of his harem and never will be!" We both ignore the pouting, defiant girl.


    You simply can''t stop the inevitable from happening, my dear Ayame.