Reincarnated With The Degenerate System-Chapter 207: CH:

He took a deep breath before continuing, carefully choosing his words to remain polite while making his case.

"Please, allow me to elaborate, if you don’t mind."

No wonder he was the one they sent—he knew exactly how to navigate this kind of conversation.

"Among all celebrities and influencers, she has the highest retention rate. Sales can jump over 1000% when she endorses a product. It’s a fact based on data."

He took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts before speaking.

"While the three girls in your guild are equally beautiful and appealing. They haven’t yet built the track record to get a higher offer. The 250 million is actually our way of showing respect to you."

Respect my ass. The only reason they’re flocking here was because of my explosive announcement.

They think they’re clever, but they’re just riding the viral wave I created.

And I’m not done yet.

Give me one or two months, and their popularity would surpass everyone else in the industry under my guidance.

"If that’s the case, then how about we postpone the negotiation?"

"What do you mean, Mr. Mercer?"

I flip my folder to kill time, letting my silence put pressure on them.

"Your offer reflects their current value—but my guild is about to tackle a major expedition. By the end of it, I’ll prove that my S Ranks surpass anyone else in the country."

He exhaled deeply. "A major expedition... and you truly believe your S Ranks will outperform everyone else in such a short timeframe?"

"Of course. I’m not the type to brag without backing it up."

Mark’s fingers drummed lightly on the table, and Sophie exchanged a wary glance with Reymark.

The confidence in my voice had shifted the dynamic; they were no longer just negotiating numbers—they were being subtly reminded who held the leverage.

Mark cleared his throat, regaining composure. "That’s... a bold claim, Mr. Mercer... Okay we’re willing to pay 300 million."

He increased the offer, which only exposed his weakness.

"I’m sorry, but I won’t sign any of my S Ranks for anything below a billion."

"Mr. Mercer," he exhaled, trying to maintain composure. "You’re being too unreasonable. If you’re not willing to negotiate, then we will have to take our leave. We will never come back here."

I simply smiled. "I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that last part—consider it a courtesy. That way, when the results prove my claims, you won’t feel too embarrassed knocking on my door again."

The trio was left speechless. My words had them second-guessing whether walking away empty-handed was really the right choice.

"Mr. Mercer, we really can’t afford a billion for a newcomer," Sophie interjected "We still answer to the board and our investors. We can’t just throw money around for no reason."

"I understand that. That’s why I’m giving you an opportunity to renegotiate at a later date."

I let a small pause hang in the air before continuing. "As for your board—let’s just say they’ll be the ones begging me to take their money soon enough."

"400 million," Mark offered one last time.

"I appreciate the offer. But I value my S Ranks, and I truly believe in their abilities—so I won’t settle for less."

Seeing that I wouldn’t budge, they left the room. Not a single harsh word was said after that.

Although they hated my guts, they couldn’t afford to burn the bridge and risk regretting it later—just like they had with Hai‑Yen.

I did my homework: they lowballed her when she was just starting, assuming she wouldn’t amount to much, and she ended up signing with Wallmart instead.

Because the two companies were direct competitors in the retail field, they had effectively missed their chance.

On top of that, Hai‑Yen’s influence was already reshaping the market, with Wallmart’s online delivery eating into their share.

They urgently needed a Seeker who could boost their brand recognition and reclaim their advantage.

"Send in the next one."

More companies began sending their executive to pitch, and I found myself repeating the same line to each of them—their offers were pathetic.

I was starting to think I wouldn’t be securing any sponsorships anytime soon... or so I thought.

"We are willing to pay one billion for each of your S Ranks," an aged voice declared.

I looked up. Unlike the others, this man was in his sixties—and he wasn’t a mere VP or manager.

He was the CEO and one of the majority owners of National Motors, the largest automobile company in the country before the rise of the Towers.

Since then, the company also produced military vehicles, including armored personnel carriers, heavy-duty combat trucks, drone-equipped reconnaissance units, and advanced mobile defense platforms designed for urban environments.

"One billion for a year?" I clarified.

"Yes, but only on the condition that we retain the first right to renew the contract each year for at least ten consecutive years,"

That wasn’t a problem at all.

"May I ask what you expect from my Seekers?"

Instead of him answering, a woman spoke up from her seat and introduced herself as his Vice President of Marketing.

She gestured to a tablet, pulling up a series of charts and analytics.

"We’re thinking integrated marketing: live events, product endorsements, social media takeovers, and exclusive campaigns. Our goal is to position your Seekers not just as celebrities, but as the faces of innovation."

"That’s why we’re willing to offer one billion per year per Seeker—because we see the long-term value they can generate for National Motors."

The contract didn’t look bad at all, but to be safe, I had my legal team review it. Once they confirmed there were no flaws, I made my decision.

"You have a deal, Mr. Hans,"

He chuckled lightly.

"Let’s sign the contract right away. And how about we celebrate with dinner? I have a few other matters to discuss with you as well, Mr. Mercer."

"Other matters?" I repeated.

Business was done. Now came the real reason he showed up in person.