Location- Sky Blossom City, Guild Association Mall, Warehouse no.234
"A week, just to create these three cards? Your card creation speed is very slow." I commented hearing Corey say it would take a minimum of a week for her to deliver the promised martial arts cards.
"My card creation speed is not slow but moderate. But the long wait period for the three martial arts cards is because all the three martial arts I picked up for you would easily create a Legend grade martial arts card. So I have to find ways to lower the grade of the card without actually hindering the actual efficiency of the card by adding probation and restriction to the cards. Dumbing down from legend to Rare grade takes a lot of time and preparation." Corey Park spoke, explaining why it would take her so long to create the three said martial arts cards.
"Wait! Legend grade? I don't know if I can afford them." I knew Corey Park was a big shot in her past life, but for her to come up with three legend grade martial arts so easily implied that her past existence was a being of the upper realms.
"Of course, you can. You can use the devil ingredient you will be getting from Anna as the payment for the three martial arts cards." Corey Park did not hide her greed for the devil ingredient Anna promised as payment for the twin soldiers' origin card creation.
"Not happening." It would be a foolish to use a scarce peak demigod realm ingredient to exchange for three legend grade martial arts.
"Well, then you can pay me in monthly or yearly installments. I am sure we can agree upon a reasonable plan with a fair interest rate." Corey Park knew I wouldn't sell the devil ingredient, but she didn't regret trying.
"Interest rate?" I asked in confusion.
"Well, don't worry. I will use the rates used by the banks. Pretty standard stuff, Wyatt. keep up." Corey Park acted as if she didn't understand the root of my confusion.
"Look at you, a perfect example of a Greedy merchant?" I expected Corey to consider the employer and employee relationship between us and give me an interest-free installment plan, but she didn't.
"Well then, I will also be a greedy boss. Forget about the installment plan. I will pay you in full with one of the two devil ingredients I will be receiving from Anna." I said with sincere eyes.
"What do you mean two? Anna is only paying you one devil ingredient for the twin soldier's origin card creation." Corey Park didn't understand what I meant.
"Well, guess again," I said with a smug look.
"You wouldn't." Finally, understanding what I meant, Corey yelled in protest.
"Why wouldn't I? When you cannot let go of a bit of interest for the installments for me." I answered Corey with the smug look still present on my face.
According to the employment agreement between Corey and me, she will be my slave for the next three years. That was what the wager between us said. Meaning Corey will work for me for free. Which meant the payment she would receive for her service in the creation of the twin soldier's origin card would belong to me.
Earlier I did not consider doing this to Corey because, without her skills, the creation of the origin card would be halted till I found another solution. So in a way, Corey had earned the devil ingredient with her skills and effort. I didn't want to make things difficult for her. But now, things have changed, seeing how she wouldn't even consider letting go of a bit of interest for her big-hearted, generous boss.
"This is nothing short of a robbery! I won't agree to this." Corey Park complained and protested.
"Fine, if you don't like my payment method. Then forget it. I guess I can exchange excellent martial arts for a devil ingredient. For your information, you brought it upon yourself. So don't blame me." I threatened Corey Park by holding her devil ingredient hostage.
"Boss, don't be like that. For you, I agree to an interest-free installment plan. And along with that, I will give you a 30 percent discount on the overall price." Corey Park caved, but it was already too late.
"Corey, do I look like a boss who profits from his employee's misery? I don't need a discount. I will pay in full with a devil ingredient." I tried to be nice, but Corey Park didn't appreciate it and tried to be wiser. Now she had to pay for her actions.
"Wyatt, you can't do this to me! I earned that devil ingredient fair and square. You know it." Seeing that I was adamant about it, Corey Park could help but raise her voice.
"Corey Park, take what I am giving you, or I will not pay you with the devil ingredient but soul jades. Or better yet, since you are a slave to this card boutique, I order you to create the three martial arts for free." I warned Corey Park to take the offer on the table before I changed my mind.
"Big Sis, don't tell me, you will let him bully me into making the martial arts cards for him for free." Seeing that I didn't cave, Corey Park turned to Susan for help.
"Well, I don't want to point fingers, but it was you who started this." Susan took my side, which didn't come as a surprise to me. After all, I am her exclusive client. It's her duty to look out for my interest.
"Big Sis, how can you say that? I didn't start anything. I was asking for fair compensation for my services. Is that wrong?" Said Corey trying to justify her actions.
"Well, Corey, you did lose the bet. And according to the wager, you are Wyatt's slave employee for the next three years. So in a way, He is claiming his winnings. There's nothing wrong with that." Susan defended my interest and actions.