Chapter 200: Happy Cooperation

Chapter 200: Chapter 200: Happy Cooperation

The matter Jeremy mentioned was exactly the appointment with Thalira.

After separating from his teammates, Jeremy wasted no time and headed straight to the location Thalira had previously designated.

When he arrived, Thalira was already there.

She sat on a swing in the garden, her expression apathetic, showing absolutely no joy of having her identity made public or being personally granted a name by the Emperor.

Two black-cloaked figures stood guarding both ends of the gravel path. Upon seeing Jeremy arrive, they silently retreated behind the willow trees without a single word.

The music from the banquet hall still drifted over, but it had grown thin, diluted through the layers of the tree canopy.

"Brother Jeremy, you arrived earlier than I expected."

"For an arranged meeting, one must naturally be on time." Jeremy brushed aside a willow branch, stepped forward, and sat down in the rattan chair opposite her.

Dew still clung to the rattan chair, the damp chill seeping through his clothes. He did not bother changing seats.

He activated a soundproofing magic tool. A nearly invisible, thin membrane draped down, completely cutting off the music, the wind, and the rustling leaves. Within that barrier, only the creak of the swing’s chains rubbing against its frame remained.

Too lazy for small talk, Jeremy cut straight to the point: "Since the Third Princess used Sister Evelyn to play matchmaker, you must have already prepared the arguments to convince me, haven’t you?"

Toward a member of the Royal family, Jeremy’s current attitude could be considered downright arrogant, but the catch was that he possessed the actual strength to back it up.

Thalira didn’t show the slightest hint of displeasure. "Brother Jeremy is truly straightforward."

"We both clearly understand what the other wants, so there’s no need for any more nonsense, right?" Jeremy looked straight at her, his fingertips lightly tapping the watch that his Magic Spirit card had transformed into on his wrist. "I only have ten minutes."

"..."

Thalira’s toes touched the gravel, bringing the swing to a halt.

The implication was clear: if she couldn’t convince him within ten minutes, she would lose this opportunity completely.

Thalira’s impression of Jeremy kept changing over and over. Faced with his straightforward demeanor, not only did she not feel repulsed, but her interest was actually piqued even further.

The persuasive arguments she had painstakingly prepared were casually discarded in the heat of the moment.

Thalira casually offered, "I can promise you three conditions." She probed, "What do you think of these terms, Brother Jeremy?"

It sounded like a question, but in reality, it was a test.

Jeremy played along and continued, "Why don’t you try stating your limits?"

Thalira deliberately pondered for a few seconds before replying, "Aside from my life, I can agree to any request?"

Still answering with a question.

"Why don’t you state them first and see? If they are suitable, we can sign a Blood Soul Contract today, how about that?"

Jeremy reacted very calmly, "Alright. As long as you are willing to accept, I have no reason to refuse."

A Blood Soul Contract was a pact even more stringent than a Blood Oath, representing an absolute, unbreakable binding.

A Blood Oath took blood as its witness, and a broken oath was paid in blood. A Blood Soul Contract, however, was carved directly into the soul. Every single word spoken could not be taken back, even if the one making the pact changed their identity, inherited a title, or sat upon the throne.

For Thalira to proactively bring this up, her goal was nothing more than wanting to add a layer of trust to this negotiation—trust from both sides.

When it came to his family’s interests, Jeremy did not hold back in the slightest: "First, after you succeed the throne, you must lift the military restriction order placed on the Valmont family. Second, for the next hundred years, open trade routes between the Western region and other countries as well as alien races, while simultaneously waiving all taxes.

Third, whether it is you or the next successor, the Blood Soul Oath must include a clause guaranteeing the safety of the Valmont family’s direct bloodline, as well as a promise to protect the members on a ten-person list that I will provide, for a duration of one hundred years."

He stated it all in one breath, not pausing to wait for Thalira’s reaction, nor lowering his voice on a single word.

The garden fell silent for a beat. Thalira’s hands remained resting on the swing’s chains, neither tightening her grip nor letting go.

Regardless of whether it was military power, financial authority, or the promise of protection at the end, singling out any one of those conditions could be considered an exorbitant demand.

The first condition was returning the sword stripped from the West three generations ago. The second was severing a vein of the national treasury to feed their territory. As for the third, to put it differently, it was forcing the entire royal family to use the nation’s destiny as collateral for ten names dictated by an outsider.

Let alone the fact that this was all three conditions combined.

Jeremy naturally understood this perfectly well.

In reality, he had only intended to test the waters a bit, preparing to wait for Thalira’s reaction before planning his next step. But shockingly, less than a minute later, Thalira gave an affirmative answer.

"Alright, I agree."

Thalira’s decisiveness made even Jeremy feel somewhat astonished.

"But regarding the first two conditions, I also have a small request. I hope you can understand, Brother Jeremy."

Jeremy said, "Speak."

Thalira continued, "The military restriction order can be lifted, but the numbers must mandatorily remain smaller than the Royal Army. Furthermore, a contract must be signed stating that as long as the Royal family has not severed ties with the Western region, you must never infringe upon the Royal family’s interests. Secondly, trading authority and trade routes between the Ducal estate and alien races can be opened, and taxes can be waived, but ten percent of the total annual revenue must be extracted and submitted to the Royal family."

This counter-condition could be considered quite reasonable.

Under normal circumstances, the number of private soldiers a noble could maintain was extremely strictly limited; being able to approximate the size of the Royal Army was already incredibly good.

Furthermore, the original taxes required to be paid annually far exceeded ten percent of the total revenue. Compared to before, this ten percent was a mere pittance.

Was Thalira simply unaware of the intricacies due to her youth and lack of worldly experience, or was she forced by the current political situation?

But regardless, this contract was highly profitable for him.

With his calculations settled, Jeremy’s expression softened slightly. He proactively stood up and extended his hand toward her.

"Then, happy cooperation?"

Thalira extended her hand in return. "Happy cooperation."

Everything proceeded much smoother than anticipated, and the fake smiles on both their lips gained a few touches of genuine warmth.

The oath was established right then and there. The two sliced their fingertips. Before the blood could hit the ground, an invisible force drew it upward, twisting it into two interlocking rings of red thread in the empty space between them.

Every clause they had just agreed upon appeared sequentially within the thread rings, before condensing into a small mark that sank into both of their chests.

Cold. It lasted only a fleeting moment, and then the sensation vanished entirely. But Jeremy knew full well that from this moment on, even if Thalira were to sit upon the throne, the words just spoken could not be altered by a single stroke.

After the two sides concluded the Blood Soul Oath, Thalira asked, "But who are the people on the list you mentioned, Brother Jeremy? Could there truly be existences that the Valmont family cannot protect?"

Jeremy shrugged. "You can simply understand it as me wanting an extra layer of insurance, that’s all."

Thalira rested her fingertips against her chin. "I’m guessing those teammates of yours are definitely on the list."

Jeremy did not deny it.