I Died and Became a Noble's Heir-Chapter 377: Negotiations Part IV

Jack’s grin returned. "I want rights to everything found in the dungeon. All loot, materials, and treasures. Everything I recover becomes my property."

Eric nodded slowly, clearly having anticipated such a request. "Reasonable. The loot rights are yours. What else?"

"I want ownership of the dungeon itself," Jack continued, his tone casual despite the significance of what he was requesting. "After I clear it, the dungeon becomes my property. I control access, I set the terms for who can enter, I maintain authority over the location."

Eric’s eyebrows rose slightly. "That’s... surprising. Dungeons are typically considered natural resources under the Duke’s territory, and taxes are paid to the crown. You’re asking me to cede territorial authority over a duke."

"I’m asking you to compensate me appropriately for clearing a dungeon that’s already killed seventeen people and threatens to kill thousands more," Jack corrected.

"You said the local Duke can’t handle it. Your royal forces are deployed elsewhere. Sera’s unavailable. That leaves me as your only option, and I’m telling you my price. Ownership and control of the dungeon after I clear it."

"To what end?" Eric asked, genuine curiosity evident in his tone. "What do you plan to do with a dungeon?"

"Make it public," Jack said. "After I’ve cleared the immediate threat and secured whatever’s inside, I’ll open it to standard adventurer use. Charge entry fees at market rates, take a percentage of the loot recovered by other parties, and possibly establish a town nearby to service the adventurer population. After all, the Duke has proven he can’t handle it."

The logic was sound, and Eric clearly recognized it. Dungeons that were properly managed could generate significant economic activity. Adventurers spent money on equipment, healing, lodging, and entertainment. A Duke who controlled a dungeon could grow wealthy from the associated commerce, and Jack was essentially asking for that opportunity in exchange for solving Eric’s problem.

"And until you decide to make it public?" Eric pressed. "You could keep it closed indefinitely, denying access to a valuable training ground and resource."

"I could," Jack agreed without shame. "But that’s my decision to make if I’m the one risking my life to clear it. You want guaranteed access for royal forces or restrictions on how I use the property; that’s a different negotiation with different compensation. As it stands, I’m offering to solve your dungeon problem in exchange for ownership and loot rights. I’m also still going to pay your tax, so you’ll get your gold. Take it or make a counteroffer."

Eric was silent for several moments, weighing the costs and benefits with the practiced efficiency of someone who’d spent decades making these kinds of calculations.

The dungeon was currently unusable and posed an active threat to civilian populations. If Jack cleared it, the immediate crisis was resolved. If Jack then opened it to public use, the region would gain economic value it currently lacked. And if Jack kept it closed... well, that was still better than a dungeon break killing thousands of people.

"Agreed," Eric said finally. "You clear the dungeon, you own it. All loot recovered is yours, and you maintain authority over who can access it afterward. The crown will provide documentation transferring territorial rights once the dungeon is confirmed, cleared, and stable."

"Good," Jack said with satisfaction. "Then we have terms for all three favors. Let’s put it in writing."

Eric’s eyebrows rose at Jack’s request. "You want a formal contract? My word as king isn’t sufficient?"

"Your word is worth exactly what it’s worth until someone with different priorities takes the throne," Jack replied with bluntness that bordered on insulting. "Or until political circumstances change and you decide the cost of honoring our agreement exceeds the benefit. I’m not questioning your integrity, Your Majesty, I’m ensuring we both have documentation of terms we’ve agreed to. Good business practice."

Eric studied Jack’s face for a long moment, then nodded slowly with approval. "Fair enough. Most people are too intimidated or too trusting to request written contracts from royalty. The fact that you’re neither suggests you’ll go far, assuming someone doesn’t kill you for your audacity first."

"I’ll take my chances," Jack said with a grin.

Eric gestured toward the desk. "I’ll have my scribes draw up formal documentation of our agreement. It will take a few hours to prepare properly, but you’ll have written confirmation of..."

"No need," Jack interrupted. He glanced over his shoulder at the demon standing silently behind his chair. "S."

From within the concealing robes, a piece of parchment materialized in S’s hand.

"Sign here, Your Majesty," S said quietly, the first words the demon had spoken since entering the study.

Eric stared at the parchment, then at S, then back at the parchment. He was rapidly reassessing several assumptions about Jack’s household.

"Your attendant is a mage?" Eric asked carefully.

"S is many things," Jack replied vaguely. "Right now, S is providing us with convenient documentation. The parchment will list all three favors and their corresponding compensations exactly as we’ve discussed. You sign, we both have proof of the agreement, everyone’s protected from future misunderstandings."

Eric took the parchment from S’s extended hand, his eyes scanning the surface. As he watched, words began appearing on the blank page. Elegant script that wrote itself without quill or ink, listing the terms of their negotiation with precise detail:

Agreement between His Majesty King Eric of Elysium and Jack Kaiser, Chosen One and Heir to House Kaiser:

First Favor: Jack Kaiser shall escort Chosen One Lyra to the Moonwell Shrine, ensuring her safety during pilgrimage, wherein she cannot draw weapons. Compensation: Prime commercial property in Elysium’s capital, location and specifics to be determined.

Second Favor: Jack Kaiser shall investigate the death of the Krogar Ambassador on Caeloria soil, determine the truth of the circumstances, and provide evidence to prevent war between Krogar and Caeloria. Compensation: King Eric’s public backing for one future matter of Jack Kaiser’s choosing, to be invoked at Jack Kaiser’s discretion, with Eric’s support guaranteed regardless of opposition.

Third Favor: Jack Kaiser shall clear the dungeon near Moonwell Shrine before dungeon break occurs, eliminating the threat to civilian populations. Compensation: Ownership rights to the dungeon and all contents, with full authority over future access and use.

This agreement is binding upon both parties and their successors. Signed this day...

The date appeared automatically, followed by spaces for signatures.

Eric read the document three times with the careful attention of someone who’d learned that contracts could contain surprises in their wording. But the terms were exactly as they’d discussed.

"Thorough," Eric admitted. "And surprisingly fair given how one-sided these negotiations have been."

"I don’t need to cheat when the terms already favor me," Jack said arrogantly. "Sign it, Your Majesty. Unless you’re having second thoughts about our arrangement?"

Eric produced a quill from his robes and signed his name.

The moment the signature was complete, the ink seemed to absorb into the parchment.

S took the parchment from Eric’s hands and passed it to Jack, who rolled it carefully and tucked it into his jacket with the satisfied expression of someone who’d just secured exactly what he wanted.

"A pleasure doing business, Your Majesty," Jack said with a smirk.

Eric stood, his diplomatic mask firmly in place despite whatever thoughts were churning beneath the surface.