Chapter 139: Okay then, I Accept

"Impossible!" The Guild Leader barked, snapping her head up to glare at her.

​"The Awakened Association set an ironclad, absolute rule that no Guild in Vaeloria is ever allowed to annex any other guild, or even entertain the thought of attacking another registered guild! So what is this absolute nonsense you’re speaking of?!" She demanded, her eyes burning with righteous indignation.

​Juanita smirked, leaning back on the counter: "You are entirely right about the Association’s guild laws, but that ironclad rule doesn’t apply to Awakened families."

​"Huh? You’re from an Awakened family?!" The woman stood stunned, her hand loosening slightly on her sword hilt.

​"Not just any ordinary Awakened family. The newly elevated Fifth Ancient Family personally dispatched me..." Juanita stated, her emerald eyes narrowing into sharp slits:

"It’s actually very simple: you submit peacefully, or I use absolute force. No matter what choice you make, I must complete this task today."

​She extended a single finger, pointing it directly at the Guild Leader’s armored chest: "Be quick. You have exactly twenty seconds to make your decision. I have more places to visit before nightfall."

​The Guild Leader fell completely silent, lowering her gaze to the thick leather file in her hands. If this were merely an aggressive move by a mid-tier Awakened family, she would have drawn her blade and put up a bloody fight to the death. But this was fundamentally different. The power targeting her guild was an elite Ancient Family—an entity that operated entirely above standard Vaeloria law. If she dared to openly resist them, not only would she be erased, but every single one of her registered members and their living families might get dragged into the collateral slaughter.

​Sensing the heavy hesitation weighing on her mind, Juanita opened her lips again, her voice surprisingly level:

​"Don’t overthink this whole situation. My ancient family isn’t inherently evil, or some ruthless, bloodthirsty scum... Well, I personally have done plenty of terrible things in my past. Regardless, what I am trying to tell you is that even if you refuse this offer, we won’t hold a petty grudge against your guild members, your family, or whoever the fuck you care about... At worst, I will simply use force, beat you into submission, and forcefully take over your guild assets while you lose your leadership position entirely. But if you sign that document right now, you will remain the official Guild Leader, gain access to massive resources, and secure the absolute protection of an Ancient Family. Just remember: once you sign this contract, your guild will be officially integrated under this family’s umbrella, meaning whatever direct orders we issue, you follow without question."

​’I really hope I recited all of that correctly... Did I miss any of the key diplomatic points from the list Natalie forced me to memorize?’ Juanita thought to herself, maintaining a stone-cold facade.

​’This is functionally no different from binding servitude... It’s just that with this servitude, you get fed high-tier cake while you work.’ the Guild Leader analyzed, her eyes rapidly scanning the dense legal terms and financial clauses outlined on the parchment.

​’Years ago, when I was working as a low-level Intel operative for the Association, I occasionally came across classified acquisition paperwork like this... Maybe I am looking at this entire situation from the wrong perspective. Although the Awakened Association’s safety regulations technically protect small guilds on paper, our guild is running dangerously low on operating funds and high-rank cultivation resources. Not only that, but there are plenty of rogue Awakened families out there that would brutally crush us for our territory anyway...’

​She looked up, meeting Juanita’s glowing green eyes:

​’This is honestly no different from working a corporate contract at a high-level enterprise. I serve the structure, and I step up whenever the Boss calls—it’s just that the baseline pay here is astronomically higher... Doing this means the guild loses its absolute independence, but we gain a guaranteed future. For the survival of everyone here, this seems like the only right path forward.’

​She gave a slow, resolute nod:

​"Alright then!" She declared, her voice booming across the quiet hall. She turned her head toward her scattered, bruised members:

"What are your thoughts on this, everyone?! I refuse to make a life-altering decision like this without hearing from all of you!!"

​The gathered members looked at one another in stunned silence. Although most of them were merely B-Rank or below, this guild had given them a home when no one else wanted them; they weren’t going to turn their backs on their leader now.

​"I accept!" The man called out from his knees.

​"Yes! I don’t mind joining an Ancient Family!" A mage chimed in.

​"As long as you remain our Guild Leader, I will agree to anything!"

​"Same here! We stand with you, Leader!"

​Juanita listened to the chorus of agreement echoing around the room, then casually turned her head toward the small group of Tobias and his elite team, who had quietly moved back toward the rest of their squad, remaining completely silent throughout the vote.

​"It seems the vast majority of my people are fully in." the Guild Leader noted with a small, relieved sigh.

​"I already knew they would be," Juanita said, snapping her slender fingers. A gleaming pen materialized out of thin air and floated directly into the Guild Leader’s waiting hand.

​"On the very last page, write down your signature, and whatever specialized provisions you need. Just name your personal price... But remember one crucial rule: only name something realistic and achievable. Don’t go bringing stupid, impossible fantasy demands into this document."

​’Fantasy? Does she honestly think I’m some naive, greedy kid?’ The woman sighed softly, flipping the dossier straight to the final addendum page, only to freeze dead in her tracks.

​"Wait... it explicitly states here that the guild will automatically receive a baseline operational budget of one hundred million dollars per year?!"

​"Yeah, that’s just your guild’s standard annual base income under our management." Juanita said, casually jumping down from her perch on the counter desk. She cast a brief, lingering look over her shoulder at the blushing receptionist behind the desk before looking back at the armored woman:

"Go on... Sign it."

​"Done."

​"....?!"

​Juanita turned back toward the Guild Leader in surprise, seeing her standing straight with a bright, genuine smile on her face.

​"I personally don’t need to demand anything extra of value for myself. Having your Ancient Family’s absolute protection for my people is more than enough for me." She said, her expression full of newfound relief.

​Juanita blinked in mild surprise, stepping forward to place her hand flat against the signed file. The heavy file glowed with a faint crimson light, automatically duplicating itself into two identical contract folders.

​’The absolute power of wealth...’ Juanita thought to herself, sweeping her copy of the folder straight into her spatial storage.

​"I can’t accept that answer," Juanita stated firmly, crossing her arms:

"Protecting this guild is already a basic clause written into the primary agreement, whereas what you personally need as a leader is a completely separate matter. I won’t step foot out of this building until you state your personal price."