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"So this is what Fairy Tail is really like... to have met you all — have I already used up all my luck in this life?"
Vivi murmured softly.
From Erza and Mirajane's explanations, she finally understood what kind of organization Fairy Tail was.
Simply put, when you're in trouble, you can count on them for help.
"Miss Vivi, have you made your decision? Do you want to entrust us with this task?"Mirajane asked with a warm smile.
"Oh, yes! Absolutely!" Vivi nodded like a pecking chick, taking up the pen and writing out her request on the commission form.
"Like this… is this good enough?" she asked a bit nervously.
It felt surreal to her — the idea that writing a few words could earn her the help of such powerful allies.
"Of course not! First, let's talk about the commission fee, shall we, Princess?" Nami clasped her hands together, and coins practically sparkled in her eyes.
"Oh, of course!" Vivi nodded quickly.
"So then, how much can Your Highness offer for this commission?" Nami asked.
"Fifty... fifty thousand Berries. Is that enough?" Vivi asked sheepishly.
That was the absolute limit of her personal funds. As a princess, one might expect her to be swimming in wealth — but in reality, Vivi's private savings only amounted to 500,000 Berries.
Nami, unaware of this, twitched at the corner of her mouth. Looks like I've finally met my match, she thought.
Back when she was raising money for her village, she had started out by offering a full million Berries!
And yet...Vivi, despite being a royal princess willing to risk her life for her country, was downright stingy when it came to money.
"Um, Princess, don't you think one million Berries is a more reasonable offer for what you're asking? Is Alabasta really only worth 500,000?" Nami mimicked Sullivan's usual poker face, giving Vivi a half-smile that wasn't a smile.
"I... I know it's low, but I really only have that much!" Vivi admitted tearfully.
"Fairy Tail, how about you name your price!" Igaram cut in, sensing this was going nowhere.
"In that case, I won't be shy. Our price is..."Nami raised two fingers.
"Two million?" Vivi's eyes lit up. She had 500,000 herself, and borrowing the remaining 1.5 million would be doable.
But Nami shook her head.
"Then… twenty million?" Igaram asked cautiously.
At that price, they'd have to dip into the national treasury. Alabasta's finances were already tight, but for the sake of the country, they would find a way.
But Nami still shook her head.
"Don't tell me… two hundred million?!" Igaram felt a chill down his spine.
No.
What Nami finally quoted was ten times that amount.
"Two billion Berries. Just two billion. And our guild master will graciously help you sweep away every threat in your path." she said seriously.
"TWO BILLION?!"
Vivi and Igaram's eyes nearly popped out.
Alabasta's treasury was already stretched to its limit. If they spent another two billion, even if they did resolve the civil war — countless citizens might still die of poverty.
This price was far beyond what Alabasta could bear.
And yet...
If they didn't spend it, could they truly stop the rebellion on their own?
If a full-scale war broke out, even more people would die.
It was a difficult decision.
Igaram was paralyzed with indecision. Vivi hesitated, but couldn't bring herself to say no.
"Too much." Erza frowned. She felt that Nami's price was ridiculously out of line. This wasn't Fairy Tail's style.
But before she could speak, Mirajane gently tugged her sleeve and shook her head.
She knew exactly what was happening. Not long ago, something similar had happened to her — and it wasn't over yet.
"Of course, I understand that a country in the middle of civil war must be having a hard time," Nami continued. "You might not be able to pay it all at once. That's okay! Our guild offers installment payments. Just one Berry upfront, and the remaining 1,999,999,999 Berries can be repaid slowly through work!"
She was selling the same trick Sullivan once used on her.
"Wait... really? Just one Berry down?" Vivi was stunned.
Even though she had technically just secured Fairy Tail's help for one Berry, she still felt like she was floating.
"All right then! The commission's accepted. No time to waste — let's move out!" Sullivan stood up.
Erza and Mirajane helped the tipsy Vivi up and followed closely.
"Master~!" Nami cheerfully skipped over, full of pride.
"What is it?" Sullivan asked calmly.
"I just landed you a two billion Berry deal! Shouldn't I get a bonus or something? Maybe a cut of the profit?" Nami rubbed her fingers together greedily.
"I was planning to ask for a hundred billion." Sullivan said casually.
"Eh?"
Nami froze in place. And behind her, Vivi's knees buckled.
Thankfully, Karoo the duck was there to catch her.
"If I was gonna charge a hundred billion, and you only got two, then the difference is on you. Congratulations, you now owe me 97,999,999,999 Berries."
Vivi didn't collapse. But only barely.
"...A hundred billion? Master, you can't be serious." Nami finally felt what it was like to be on the receiving end of her own greed.
She thought she was money-hungry. But compared to Sullivan...
"I'm serious." Sullivan replied without hesitation.
"Wait, wait, wait!" Nami panicked.
She had volunteered to close the deal...But somehow, she had ended up in debt?
A hundred billion at that?!
Even if she stopped eating and drinking for three lifetimes, she couldn't pay that off!
"No way! Master, come on, that's not fair!"
...
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