"I agree to join your family."
The first person to speak was the only woman there, Rose, a 2nd-stage engineer with a green talent and an unusual magical form.
When she expressed her intention to go ahead with the agreement proposed by Vicente, everyone looked at her, especially a man with green hair and a green talent, another engineer. "Are you sure about this, Rose? I know it's tempting, but we must consider that we might have to pay for these opportunities with our lives."
"I'm sure." She looked at her colleague and friend. "I understand the risks, and given the benefits, I accept whatever comes after. I choose to bet that Vicente Fuller will succeed, and I will have my share in his progress."
Vicente was pleased to hear it while the others pondered Rose's words, aware this was indeed a bet that depended on the young Fuller's success.
If Vicente succeeded and continued on his upward trajectory, the chances of them growing together would be great, though the risks would not be reduced to zero.
Otherwise, everyone involved with him would have a high chance of being pursued by enemies, and even if the risk of death weren't 100%, it would be high enough for them to at least be harmed.
In short, to stand by him was to believe that he would continue to win, something some of them thought was possible, while others doubted it.
'Vicente is a student of Benson King. Even if things go wrong for him, he'll probably be able to escape with the help of his master.' Lukas thought. 'Knowing Vice as I do, he wouldn't give up after a defeat. He would look for another chance to grow as long as he was alive, even if he failed here in Millfall. But we'd be crucial to him, so he'd probably try to take as many professionals with him as possible.'
If he had to risk being at Vicente's side, Lukas would rather be closer to the friend he had made months ago, as he thought his chances of survival would be better that way.
At the same time, aware of Vicente's talent for forging, the blond man couldn't help but hesitate to go ahead and accept the risks.
'Vicente will go very far in the forge. If I'm at his side and he has the means to keep his promises, I can go much further than I could on my own.' He clenched his fists before he heard another of his companions make up their minds.
"I, too, will join your Mazzanti family, Vicente Fuller." The doctor there, a man with black hair, green talent, and an unusual magical form, said determinedly about this opportunity.
"I will not join you. I'm sorry. The risk is too great." The other engineer there made up his mind while looking at Rose, hoping the fact that she had accepted would guarantee nothing would really happen to him.
'I hope Rose avoids something bad...' He thought, but was unwilling to take the risks Vicente offered.
Of all the people there, he was the only one who knew Marcus Symons had problems with Vicente because of his fiancée, Shelby Staples. Fearing possible trouble with Viscount Symons, the green-haired man decided.
"Leo... Are you sure?" Rose asked him.
"Yes. Vicente said that our memories of this meeting will be erased, right? If that's the case, I'll be fine. We can still be friends and see each other without me knowing about your affairs." He said, looking at her and Vicente.
"I guarantee that's all I'll do," Vicente confirmed again.
His credibility was essential. And with Casey on his side, he didn't mind if someone like that level 2 engineer didn't join his family.
Casey was a great weapon for Vicente!
"Sigh... It's a shame." Rose lamented. "What should I do when you ask me where my resources come from?"
"Make up an excuse. But don't tell me about Vicente's opportunity. I have no intention of taking the risks he represents, even if he succeeds in the short term."
"All right."
As they talked, the enchanter agreed to go ahead and join the Mazzanti family.
"I'll join your party. With someone with such good skills leading the family and someone capable of erasing memories, I think our chances won't be bad."
Lukas couldn't keep quiet any longer and said. "Me too. Vicente, I hope you can discuss and practice forging with me occasionally. Since I'm joining your family, I want to absorb as much of your knowledge as possible."
Lukas was better at forging than Vicente. They were at the same level, but he had been studying forging for more than five years, while the young Fuller had only been doing it for a few months.
However, Lukas could see Vicente overtaking him in a few months. By then, it would be time for him to benefit from having access to the head of the Mazzanti family.
"Okay, that's possible. I also want to teach you some things to do in my absence. You'll be crucial to my plans, Lukas." Vicente expressed with a smile, getting up from where he was to shake the dominant hand of the blond young man.
Vicente then looked at four of the five people with him and Casey and said. "Welcome to the Mazzanti family. Are you ready to sign Magic Agreements with me?"
The four agreed, smiling contentedly, aware of the risks but also that they would only benefit in the short term.
Even if Cesar had problems, it would take time before anyone realized they were connected to him. Until then, they would take advantage of their opportunities!
So the group would quickly draw up the Magic Agreement by mutual accord, with them and Vicente leaving their marks on the papers each party would take with them.
Only the green-haired man would do nothing of the sort, waiting for Casey to erase his memory of the last few minutes of their conversation.
"Leo, right?" Casey finally looked at the engineer. "What I'm going to do to you won't give me access to your old memories, nor will it harm you. I'm just going to erase your memories since Vicente and I arrived. I'll replace them with false memories showing a failed negotiation in which Vicente didn't make you good enough offers, let alone talk about his secret identity."
"All right." Leo agreed.
In front of everyone, Casey activated his ability and did what he had promised.
That took no more than five minutes, and then he said to the people there. "He'll be conscious for a minute. Pretend that the deal has failed and that Vicente and I have just left."
"Okay."
Everyone agreed and looked at Leo strangely, curious to see what he would remember, while Vicente and Casey left.
