Chương 357: Chapter : 357

Princess Iris ignored the bickering. She focused entirely on Hestia. She needed to secure the deal.

"Hestia, I am calling about official tournament business," Iris stated clearly.

"The Upper Council has scheduled my unit for a match against the 7th Prince tomorrow. We are still missing one active servant. We need to invoke the mercenary clause." Hestia smiled a very wide, very arrogant smile. She leaned back in her plush chair. She folded her delicate hands on her lap.

"I know," Hestia gloated.

"I saw the tournament brackets this morning. You are fighting Julian. That is a very unfortunate matchup for you. He is going to completely destroy your unorganized team. And you are facing an automatic disqualification because you cannot even manage a basic nine-person roster." Laxmi gritted her teeth. She wanted to yell at the mirror, but Zinia placed a firm hand on her shoulder to keep her quiet.

"We are requesting to loan Elma for a second time," Princess Iris continued. Her voice remained perfectly steady. She refused to beg.

"Your own match is scheduled for two days from now. You do not need your full vanguard tomorrow. Elma is free to participate." Hestia hummed softly. She pretended to think about the request. She looked at her manicured nails.

"It is true," Hestia admitted lazily.

"My schedule is completely clear tomorrow. Elma has no official duties. She is entirely available." Sayma pushed her glasses up. She felt a small wave of relief. If Hestia agreed, the roster problem was officially solved.

"Then you agree to the transfer?" Iris asked politely. Hestia's arrogant smile turned into a cruel, calculating smirk. Her green eyes gleamed with pure greed. She looked directly at Iris.

"I agree to the transfer, Iris," Hestia stated smoothly.

"I will sign the official mercenary paperwork. I will send Elma to your estate tomorrow morning. But my services are not a charity. I am running a top-tier Royal campaign. Loaning out my elite fighter comes with a price." Ken leaned forward in his chair. He stopped chewing his potato chips. He knew what was coming. Rich politicians always wanted money.

"The last transfer fee was quite large," Sayma noted cautiously.

"We paid you ten thousand Bels for the previous match."

"That was the previous match," Hestia countered instantly. She waved her hand dismissively.

"The circumstances have entirely changed. You are completely desperate now. If you do not get Elma, you forfeit the match. You will lose your standing on the leaderboard. You need me." Hestia sat up straight. She delivered her final, devastating condition.

"The loan fee for tomorrow is fifteen thousand Bels," Hestia announced loudly. This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. The strategy room completely exploded.

"Fifteen thousand Bels?!" Laxmi screamed at the top of her lungs. She slammed her hands onto the wooden table. Bright orange flames popped around her fingers.

"Are you totally out of your mind?! That is an absolute fortune! That is pure robbery!" Naomi stepped toward the mirror. Her face flushed with intense, undeniable anger.

"You greedy, arrogant snob! You know our estate has almost zero funding! You are intentionally trying to bankrupt us! You are trying to ruin Princess Iris!" Zinia groaned loudly. She rubbed her temples.

"This is completely insane. We cannot afford that." Sayma turned totally pale. She quickly opened her financial notebook. Her eyes scanned the numbers. Her hands started to shake.

"Princess Iris... fifteen thousand Bels will completely drain our treasury. We will have absolutely nothing left. We will not be able to buy healing supplies. We will not be able to repair the estate. It is a catastrophic financial hit." Ken dropped his bag of potato chips onto the table. He threw his hands in the air. He put on a highly exaggerated, totally panicked expression.

"Fifteen thousand Bels?!" Ken yelled loudly. He grabbed his own cheeks.

"Do you have any idea how many snacks that buys?! That is an entire mountain of chocolate cakes! That is a lifetime supply of instant noodles! We are going to starve! I will have to eat plain dirt for dinner!" Ken leaned close to the magical mirror. He looked at Hestia. He used his absolute best, most pathetic puppy-dog eyes. He pushed his lower lip out.

"Please, Princess Hestia," Ken whined dramatically. He clasped his hands together in a begging motion.

"Have a little mercy on a poor, hungry boy. Lower the price. Think about the innocent potato chips. They need a good home." Hestia looked at Ken with pure, unfiltered disgust. Her lip curled.

"You are completely revolting. Get out of my sight, commoner. The price is non-negotiable. Fifteen thousand Bels, or you forfeit the match." Princess Iris raised her hand. The simple, calm gesture instantly silenced the chaotic room. Laxmi stopped yelling. Naomi crossed her arms. Ken slouched back down into his chair with a miserable pout. Princess Iris looked at the mirror. She did not yell. She did not cry about the unfair price. She maintained her absolute, regal composure. She knew exactly what was at stake.

She knew the cruel 7th Prince would torture his opponents in the arena. She needed to stop Julian from hurting anyone. She needed this victory.

"I accept your terms, Hestia," Princess Iris declared firmly. Her violet eyes burned with unwavering resolve.

"We will pay the fifteen thousand Bels. Send the official contract to the Upper Council immediately." Sayma gasped softly.

"Princess... our entire budget..."

"It is worth it, Sayma," Iris said softly. She did not break eye contact with Hestia.

"Achieving absolute victory over Julian is worth entirely draining our treasury. We will figure out the money later. Right now, we fight." Hestia looked slightly surprised by Iris's quick acceptance. She expected more begging. But Hestia quickly recovered her arrogant smirk.

"Very well," Hestia said smoothly.

"The contract will be sent. Try not to embarrass my servant tomorrow, Iris. Goodbye." The blue light on the mirror flickered and died. The dark glass returned. The call was over. The strategy room was very quiet. The elite girls looked at their Princess. They felt a massive surge of respect for her bravery. She was willing to risk everything to win. Naomi stepped forward. She placed a supportive hand on Iris's shoulder. Naomi's green eyes shone with fierce determination.

"We will make it worth it, Princess. We will completely crush the 7th Prince. We will show the entire Empire what we can do."

"Yeah!" Laxmi cheered loudly. The fire user grinned a wild, confident grin.

"We are going to roast his shiny gold armor! He is going to regret challenging us!" Zinia nodded strongly.

"We will not let you down." Ken slowly picked his bag of potato chips back up. He slouched his shoulders and let out a long, dramatic sigh.

"I guess I am going on a strict water diet," Ken complained lazily. He popped a chip into his mouth and chewed loudly.

"This is a very sad day for my stomach. But fine. Let's go beat up the shiny gold guy. I really dislike his personality anyway."