Bab 48: Chapter 48: Negotiation
Luke smiled as he looked at Wade Lance.
The old, stern, and arrogant face now displayed a shrewd, almost merchant-like expression.
But Luke was in no rush. Leisurely, he walked over to Professor McGonagall's chair and calmly sat down.
Professor McGonagall silently shook her head and then left the room, as she and Luke had agreed beforehand. There were matters between the two noble families that she, as an outsider, had no place in discussing.
She had long expected these dirty dealings among the aristocracy.
Once McGonagall left, Luke's warm and radiant smile faded.
The upward curve of his lips sharpened, making his lips seem thinner, and his eyebrows lifted slightly.
Though it was still the same handsome face, his entire demeanor shifted from a warm sun to something much colder.
That expression on Luke's face gave Wade an unsettling feeling, as if an old foe had crawled out of the depths of hell, ready to sow chaos once more.
"The matter of credibility... Why bother? Since you've already chosen to dissolve the contract, haven't you also accepted the loss of all credibility?"
Luke asked with a casual smile.
Wade didn't respond, simply gesturing to Laike behind him.
Laike immediately pressed the red gemstone embedded in the box he held.
As his finger pushed down, the red color faded, and the gemstone turned bright yellow.
Then, he opened the box again and took out a thick stack of parchment along with an ancient-looking notebook.
Respectfully, Laike handed everything to Wade, who carefully placed it on the desk in front of Luke.
"You know well how precious credibility is to a family"
Wade said, unfazed by Luke's mocking tone. "These are the promised payments."
Luke briefly flipped through the items. On top was the notebook, which at first glance appeared to be a jumble of confusing, disorganized content, impossible to make sense of.
But the name on the cover was unmistakable.
"Godric Gryffindor"
Luke read aloud, as soon as he spoke the name, the signature on the notebook glowed red, and a red lion appeared on the once-dull cover.
Wade and Laike remained calm, clearly expecting this reaction.
Luke opened the notebook again but found no changes in the content. However, a lion's mane-like pattern now lined the edges of each page.
With a silent sigh of "Of course, it's not that simple," Luke closed the notebook.
Underneath it was a letter of appointment.
The main content confirmed that the Board of Directors approved Luke Gaunt as the new member, replacing Wade Lance.
Below were the signatures of various directors, including one that caught Luke's eye—Lucius Malfoy.
Apparently, Malfoy hadn't yet realized how Luke had thoroughly manipulated his son, or else he wouldn't have made things so easy for him.
Beneath the letter of appointment were deeds and transfer documents for various properties.
Without exception, the new owner listed on all of them was Luke.
By rights, Luke should have been present for such transfers, but the Lance family had clearly taken care of everything. Skipping formalities, they had ensured the process was completed without him.
"About half of the properties are in Diagon Alley, and the rest are spread across other countries. This way, if you travel, you'll have your own assets in various locations, making business more convenient for you."
"Rest assured, we've only withdrawn the Lance family's management personnel, who were mostly administrators. You're free to appoint new managers or select your own people."
Luke nodded at this explanation. It was indeed a thoughtful gesture. The Lance family had shown sincerity by removing their managers but leaving the businesses operational, preventing them from collapsing.
With so many properties, Luke wouldn't know where to start if things fell apart.
If everything came to a halt, he'd be left helpless.
"Thank you for your generosity"
Luke said, momentarily shedding his arrogant demeanor and offering Wade a sincere expression of gratitude.
"This was our duty"
Wade replied, not accepting the thanks outright. He knew that playing tricks might feel satisfying in the short term, but breaking ties completely with his former superior was never a smart move.
"Now, can we discuss the matter from earlier?"
Wade said seriously, "I understood what you said at the castle gates, so please state your terms directly."
"We can no longer accept a contract as harsh as the previous one."
Luke appeared to ponder for a moment, assuming a thoughtful expression.
His fingers tapped lightly on the table, and his brow furrowed.
Wade's message was clear: they were open to a new alliance, but under much more favorable conditions. The Gaunt family would need to treat the Lance family as equals.
This could turn the negative impact of dissolving the previous contract into a positive for the Lance family, potentially raising their status and earning them more praise.
It would be a elevation in ranks of nobility of sorts.
Luke would benefit, too. With the alliance, he wouldn't need to worry about his newly acquired businesses. The Lance family would take care of everything, leaving him to simply collect the profits.
Moreover, he'd gain a powerful ally to support his future strategies, along with more wealth and treasures.
But the downside was equally clear. Signing such an agreement would signal that the Gaunt family was indeed in a weakened state, unable even to control their own vassals.
Though this was already evident to many, formally admitting it would attract unwanted attention. Greedy individuals, like sharks sensing blood, would circle in.
While no one dared infringe upon the barren Gaunt family, they might be very interested in a capable Gaunt heir.
"I can't agree to those terms"
Luke said without hesitation.
Wade's expression remained unchanged. After all, negotiations were about finding common ground, and if Luke had accepted too easily, Wade would have had to reconsider.
The terms he'd proposed were undoubtedly favorable for the Lance family, but for the Gaunt family, they leaned more toward disadvantage.
If Luke had agreed without a second thought, it would have raised concerns that once he regained strength, he might break the alliance and crush the Lance family once again—something they couldn't afford to risk.
*****
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