He tapped the desk with one finger. The sound broke the calm.

"Are you trying to bribe me?" he uttered, his tone tinged with disgust.

Now was the time to play my 'Francis card'.

"I would never dream of that," I replied. "Besides, I doubt the Association even needs my money."

My words seemed to calm him slightly, which was good—because I didn't want things to escalate.

I raised a hand and whispered to my attorney to step out, giving us some privacy.

Men had egos. We acted braver and more domineering when we knew we're being watched.

He leaned back in his chair, sizing me up again.

My appearance had improved a lot, and the confidence I carried made the age gap between us irrelevant.

"You make a point," he raised an eyebrow. "But the news says you're interested in donating. You think that's enough to put you on my good side?"

"Of course not." I shook my head. "That was for public image. It helps the media, and it puts the Association in a good light. I wouldn't even be here if not for the seekers who risk their lives to protect people like us."

I seems to get through the first layer of his defense because I swear I saw his lips curve a little before he got serious again.

"You're sharp, Mr. Mercer. I expected a spoiled rich brat to walk in here, treating a guild like a toy. But you're not like that. However..." He paused, letting the word hang.

"Rushing a guild registration already looks bad. The process takes months. If approval comes now, people will say I favored you because of wealth alone."

He was still circling the issue, but that was fine. As long as he was willing to keep talking.

"This is not about me being rich. This goes beyond money." I explained.

Hayes leaned back in his chair, a clear sign that he wanted me to continue.

"On paper, I'm still a billionaire. In reality, that number means little now. I lost my father, and the company he built went with him. What remains is only a shadow of what my family once was."

His eyebrow twitched—a reaction I was waiting for.

According to my legal counsel, Hayes also lost his parents.

A car accident took them, though he always claimed business rivals were behind it.

When his powers awakened, he sold the family company to avoid conflict among relatives. He cut ties, focused on his career, and climbed step by step until he became a division head.

For some, it was just a sad story. For me, it was a ticket. With my ability, one weak link was all I needed.

"I'm sorry about what happened to your father and your brother," he said. "I met them once at a party. Your father was a good man."

"Thank you. I've already moved on for their sake, and that's why I want to create a new path for myself. I could start another business, but my heart isn't in it. A guild gives me a foundation—something I can build and grow."

I paused, then added more.

"This city benefits too. Higher-ranked guilds bring jobs, trade, and safety. With my funding and connections, that progress can happen faster."

"Connections," Hayes repeated solemnly. "Then explain why Mr. Sakamoto of Dark Rock, and even the leader of Mythical, asked me to investigate you."

If he were fully on their side, he wouldn't have told me that.

"I don't even know Mythical leader personally. His subordinates tried to pressure me into selling one of my new buildings. I refused, which probably bruised their pride. After that, they started acting petty."

I met his gaze.

"As for Mr. Sakamoto…"

"All I can say is, I don't understand why anyone would go so far as to make life harder for me over money." I shook my head slowly, letting my frustration show.

"No wonder my father was always so stressed." I ran a hand through my hair and exhaled "I wouldn't be surprised if the competition he faced played a part in his death."

The effect was more than I had hoped for. I noticed a small twitch at his wrist—a reaction to our common fate.

I had to thank Daniel. He was already dead, and I could still squeeze something out of him from the afterlife. Talk about being a supportive non biological father.

"So you're telling me that Mr. Sakamoto is bullying you for his own personal gain?"

"What could it be?" I asked, shrugging slightly. "Maybe it's a grudge against my father."

I paused. Another piece of information I could use came to mind.

"If you have my file, you would know I spent most of my life in a hospital. Without my awakening, I would still be stuck in that room."

"I only met Mr. Sakamoto during the fire, and he told me I no longer had any claim to the company. I mean… who does that during an emergency? Only psychotic people who care about nothing but profit."

His grip on his hand tightened even more.

There were rumors that his parents could have been saved if his relatives had not deliberately acted too slowly for their own benefits.

It took him a few seconds to respond. He leaned back, closed his eyes for a few seconds , then opened his desk drawer.

He pulled out a cigar, lit it, and stared out the window as the smoke curled into the air.

"You know, Mr. Mercer...What I'm doing right now could put me in a difficult position." He paused and looked straight at me.

"But if the choice is between a young man with clear goals and a group of vultures...then I rather believe yours."

"So you're going to sign my application?"

"I'll do it now." He took the folder, signed it, and stamped it.

"Take this to my assistant. Starting today, your guild is officially recognized by the Association.

A smile crossed my face as I accepted the folder.

"Thank you, Mr. Hayes. I'll remember this favor."

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