The New World [Magi Fanfic]

A Contract

In the morning Lucy walked beside Serene. They linked arms, telling each other random things. Tamira was walking in front of the two, listening with a happy smile on her face. She was very elated that the Princess was smiling again.

"G-Good morning Lord Sinbad! I- Tamira wish to thank you personally for allowing us food and lodging!" The girl bowed. Sinbad looked between Lucy and the princess with a brow raised.

"No need to speak of last night because I am going to let you stay as long as you'd like!" Sinbad exclaimed, bringing a surprised expression to Tamira and Serendine. Lucy grinned and nudged the princess forward.

"Just ask Drakon!" The purple haired teen said with a smile. Lucy watched Serene with a happy face when she was about to talk to him but frowned when she grabbed the blonde's hand and ran away with her in tow.

Lucy knew that the guards were about to start invading the company, talking about debt.

-

"Serene. Why did you run?" Lucy asked as the girl sat on her bed, covering her face with her hands.

"I can't face him. It's too much. I'm sorry." The princess said. Lucy frowned and at next to her, pulling her into a hug. Lucy used her wand to instruct her spirit to sleep, remembering Sphintus's healing magic.

-

Lucy ran to the room where Sinbad, Hinahoho, Ja'far and Vittel were. The latter was showing the others about the transaction that caused the debt.

"Sin?!" Ja'far exclaimed when he saw Sinbad transform into his Baal equip. Sinbad looked at Lucy and grabbed her wrist, pulling her up into his arms.

"I'm going to talk with the other party directly. Lucy used to be in a merchants family, she knows more about this than I do. Tell me where to find them." Sinbad said. Vittel told him and he flew off.

-

We flew to the banquet that the Mardiel company was hosting. Sinbad crashed into the ground dramatically, careful not to harm the squealing blonde in his arms.

"I am Sinbad, head of the trading company of Napolia. I am here to discuss the unjust damages caused to my company." Sinbad growled out menacingly. Even spooking Lucy a bit.

"If the head of Maridel here?" He asked looking around. Lucy stood close behind him, not liking the stares they were getting. Soon people were shouting at them, telling guards to get them.

"Please stop." A voice boomed softly from the top of the stairs. The kids around her pleaded with her for stopping the guards.

"After all he is one of our clients. I am Maader Umm Maridel, I am the head of this company. Welcome to my banquet." The woman said with a gentle but sadistic smile on her face.

"Hehe... what a cute boy and girl..." Maader grinned at them. They began to discuss the bankruptcy of Sinbad's company. He accused her, but she retailliasted but saying they signed a contract. Lucy spoke up, telling her she commited fraud, Sinbad agreed. Soon Maader pointed out that they were in front of the nobles and wealthy businessmen and women of Reim.

Lucy and Sinbad thought the same. They were too careless. In this situation, they were at an overwhelming disadvantage. The guards moved in, grabbing them both very forcefully. Lucy winced at the grip they had on her. Sinbad glanced at the blonde and scowled at the men holding her.

'This is bad. Things just keep getting worse! Soon they will seize the company, Lucy and I will probably get thrown into jail... What do I do!?' Sinbad thought.

"Now, Now, everyone, wait a minute." Maader spoke up from her throne.

"Sinbad here is still an inexperienced merchant. We should go a little easy on him right now. Crushing the spirit of youth isn't good. Let's give him a chance to recover. Sinbad, how about we have a contest?" Maader grinned evilly.

"In a sword match... Fight my Gladiator." Maader finished. Sinbad immediately rejected the idea but Maader spoke up again.

"Think about it. If you win, your company's debt will be forgiven. You couldn't ask for a better reward right? But no metal vessels. I saw your weapons earlier. No gladiator would stand a chance against them." Maader finished. Sinbad and Lucy both knew that this was a trap but the offer was too good to pass up. One of the merchants spoke up from the crowd.

"But Lady Maader, this is a contest. What would happen to him if he loses?" The man questioned. Maader grinned.

"Slavery. If you lose you will become my property. You will become my slave... And this girl you brought with you. A magician like her and the skills you possess, you'll both be great!" Maader said. Lucy wondered with fear how she knew she was a magician. She looked at her hand and saw her wand.

'I must have brought it out when I was grabbed! Damn it all!' Lucy thought with anger.

"Sinbad you must understand. I am only doing you a favor. I cannot unconditionally absolve your debt's can I? WIth a contest like this, I am giving your confidence and ability a chance. If you win you'll be getting everything you want. There is no problem with that, now is there?" Maader explained.

"Make your decision boy." Maader said. Sinbad looked at Lucy, who had tears pricking her eyes. He frowned and furrowed his brows together.

"I... I will... this contest... Is unacceptable." Sinbad grinned.

"If I win you'll forgive my debt right? There is no way I would want that badly enough to bet me and my friend here." Sinbad spoke, sending a secret wink to Lucy, who was still on her knees with guards keeping her in place, forcefully pushing her down. The guards were still holding Lucy, a hostage so Sinbad won't do anything funny. She gave a small nod. Gasps were heard throughout the large crowd. Sinbad rolled his shoulders and continues.

"I am not saying it would be unacceptable to everyone, only with these conditions I am at a disadvantage. That's right isn't it?" Sinbad spoke.

"I am a dungeon conqueror. And in only a year I managed to make a company good enough to compete with the best in Napolia right? So I demand that you change your conditions at the very least. My debts shouldn't be forgiven when I win. They should be forgiven as soon as I agree to participate in your match. In other words, I want you to pay up right now!" Sinbad finished, pointing at her. The crowd erupted in anger. People made comments on how idiotic his demands were.

"No. it's only natural when you take into consideration the box-office revenue of having a dungeon capturer appear in you arena. In fact with these conditions and the way my presence will attract an audience to your arena, you're getting off cheap." Sinbad grinned. Maader glared with a frown. Sinbad remembered his mentor's words-

"In business, it's not just money and confidence that are important. It's essential to develop the ability to influence any situation. And no matter what 'options' you have, you have to turn the table in your favor." Haru's words rung through Sinbad's skull.

"So... will I participate or not? The choice is yours." Sinbad grinned.

"I get it... I've lost. You've got a way with words. I accept your conditions." Maader said, quickly hiding her anger. She had one of her slaves fech the parchment and she wrote the contract. Sinbad looked back at Lucy who was let off the ground. She ran over to him and hugged him.

"It's fine. You better win." Lucy joked, hiding her fear because she knows what the outcome of the battle is. Sinbad grinned and nodded, he was surely back to his confident self. Maader emphasized the fact that a contract is something they adhere in her company. Sinbad frowned. Maader announced the battle and that it will be happening in three days.

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