Chapter 654: Chapter 654: Dark Night Elf Plane

“What you need to do,” Oliver said with a solemn tone, “is to prioritize completing specific exploration or collection missions occasionally released by the Commerce Association that may overlap with your target area, under the premise of complying with the Empire’s laws and basic battlefield rules. Rewards are separate. These missions are usually not mandatory but come with a priority contract. Additionally, when you obtain rare resources that are surplus or unsuitable for yourself, our association has the priority to purchase them. Of course, the prices are absolutely fair and follow your personal wishes.”

“I think you also understand that the forces involved in this plane war are quite complex, and going solo is somewhat difficult. Collaborating with our association’s team can also secure certain advantages for you…”

The Duke pondered for a moment, understanding Oliver’s meaning.

The situation in plane wars is complicated, especially with a large military operation from the Seville Empire, involving participants from various factions.

Once he actually steps into the Dark Elf Plane, if any unexpected situation arises due to being outnumbered, he really wouldn’t have any means to handle it.

Though the Duke currently possesses strong abilities, he is ultimately just a Level 1 Crystalized Mage, and stands no chance against a truly formidable Level 2 Mage or even a Level 3 Mage.

In previous plane wars participated in under the Black Sail, everyone came from the same wizard organization, and there’s mutual restraint, avoiding excessive actions.

But this time is different; if a conflict of interest arises with others in the Dark Elf Plane, these people will show no mercy and will have fewer scruples.

In such a situation, joining the forces of the Star Dome Commerce Association is indeed a good choice.

“This sounds like a mutually beneficial long-term cooperation framework,” the Duke said.

“Exactly.” Oliver seized the moment, offering a more direct temptation. “To show sincerity, regarding those four Air, Earth, Water, and Fire Energy Wells you just mentioned… if you sign now, I can use my special privileges to offer you another very sincere discount on top of the previously discussed joint optimized price.”

He swiftly moved his finger across the crystal board, and a new figure emerged: “The original package price is about sixty million Magic Stones. If you agree to this preliminary cooperation intent, the association can configure these four top-of-the-line elemental energy wells for you at a cost price of forty-five million Magic Stones, and include the highest specification stability anchoring service free of charge.”

The Duke weighed the options; the association’s support could indeed solve many issues, and the priority purchase right seemed reasonable. Specific missions are acceptable as long as they do not conflict.

And saving fifteen million Magic Stones could alleviate the pressure of preparing resources for his promotion.

“Regarding the detailed intelligence about the Moon Well, including known distribution patterns, assessment of guard forces, and the current Empire’s offensive map, could that be provided beforehand as part of the cooperation intention?” the Duke proposed.

He wasn’t in a hurry to agree to cooperate yet; he needed to research thoroughly and couldn’t act rashly.

“Of course, that’s foundational,” Oliver readily agreed. “As long as you sign this preliminary intent agreement and pay for the energy wells, the related intelligence briefing will be delivered to your residence along with the energy wells.”

The Duke remained silent for a few seconds, his gaze sweeping over the prosperous landscape of Gold Flow City outside the window, then returning to Oliver’s expectant face.

“Alright,” he finally nodded, “let’s first sign the preliminary intent and complete the transaction of the four elemental energy wells. As for specific actions in the Dark Elf Plane, I need to see detailed intelligence before making the final deployment plan.”

Oliver’s eyes sparkled with a genuine smile: “A wise choice, Duke! I’ll prepare the agreement right away. Welcome, as a Chartered Explorer, to explore the unknown alongside Star Dome; may the stars and fortune guide our path.”

As he finished speaking, he pressed a discreet rune beneath the desk.

A moment later, a seam silently opened in the seemingly complete dark velvet wall of the secret chamber, and a silent attendant brought in two contracts made of special magic parchment, a starry signature pen, and a palm-sized, completely silvery-gray metallic flat box with subtle spatial ripples flowing on its surface.

“These are our proposed ’Initial Cooperation Intent Letter for Chartered Explorers’ and the ’Contract for the Procurement and Exclusive Service of Four Energy Wells’.” Oliver pushed the two documents in front of the Duke. “The intent letter outlines the basic rights and obligations framework of both parties, relatively brief and not involving specific task constraints, mainly establishing cooperative relations and priority principles. The procurement contract details the specific goods and service terms you confirmed earlier, with a detailed configuration list and acceptance standards, which you can carefully review.”

The Duke picked up the ’Initial Cooperation Intent Letter’ and found the parchment’s touch to be warm and smooth, with the text not written in ordinary ink but composed of tiny luminous runes, ensuring it couldn’t be altered and possessed powerful contractual effectiveness.

The content was indeed as Oliver described, concise yet clear, establishing the Duke as a chartered explorer for the Star Dome Commerce Association in operations within the Dark Elf Plane, specifying that the association had the right to release non-mandatory priority missions and enjoy priority purchasing rights of the spoils of war.

It also promised to provide agreed-upon intelligence, logistics, and channel support to the Duke, with breach liabilities and termination clauses clearly listed, which seemed fairly just.

He focused on verifying the descriptions of the priority tasks and purchase rights, confirming their phrasing to be under the premise of the explorer’s own target allowance and voluntary willingness, and that purchases require the explorer’s consent with prices adhering to market fairness principles or separately agreed by both parties, then nodded slightly.

Next was the procurement contract, which was over a dozen pages long, detailing the core material sources for each of the four energy wells, rune array design blueprint numbers, stabilization device models, and even packaging and transportation standards.

The total price was prominently marked as forty-five million Magic Stones, with a note including an exclusive stable anchoring base and initial spiritual power link guidance.

Finding no errors upon review, the Duke did not hesitate and picked up the starlit signature pen.

The moment the pen tip touched the parchment, he felt a faint yet clear spiritual power link request—standard procedure for high-tier magic contracts ensuring the signer’s identity and intent

He injected a trace of his spiritual power imprint and signed his name at the end of both contracts.

As he completed the last stroke, all the runes on both contracts lit up with a gentle silver glow, then the light retracted, the parchment became more tenacious, and the contract formally took effect.

One of the contracts automatically rolled up and flew into the silvery-gray metallic flat box, while the other was solemnly put away by Oliver.

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