The Unlimited Ascension: Reborn as an Extra

Chapter 123: The Negotiation Master

The interior of the mansion was even more beautiful and impressive, designed with a striking modern style.

The main hall was massive, filled with modern aesthetics. An oval-shaped couch sat in the exact middle of the room, with a pristine glass table positioned right in front of it. A grand staircase stood at the edge of the hall, leading to the upstairs where the private rooms were situated.

Beside the spacious hall, there was an open modular kitchen, and right next to that was a large, elegant dining area.

The lighting in the hall was dim, not too bright, filling the room with an undeniable air of luxury. The mansion felt refreshingly cold, as the air conditioner was actively working to the outside heat. The color palette around the house was a sharp contrast of deep dark blue and soft gray. The overall sight of the house was visually stunning.

As everyone looked around the grand mansion, they felt strongly attracted to its well-maintained aesthetic. It wasn’t overly luxurious to the point of being gaudy, but rather it gave off a fresh, peaceful vibe.

"The mansion is truly beautiful and peaceful..." L muttered while looking around the architecture. He quickly walked over and sat comfortably on the oval couch.

Alen also walked around the living room, running his fingers along the furniture. He touched a nearby standing lamp, and the light flickered slightly in response to his touch.

’Just as I expected, everything around this mansion also works on mana. It seems mana is the primary electricity and energy source in this world...’

He looked around the house. It was much better than he had expected, at least from the interior design perspective.

Ava also looked around the house. Her face remained blank, but a clear spark of curiosity could be seen shining in her lavender eyes.

Behind them, Kalos and Mr. Howard also joined the group in the hall. Howard made sure to maintain as much distance from the young lady as possible, terrified of Kalos’s earlier threats.

"So... How do you like the interior of the mansion? Do you feel satisfied by the infrastructure?..." Kalos asked smoothly.

Ava stepped forward and nodded.

"The interior is quite impressive... Can we take a look at the upstairs rooms and the gardens now?..."

Mr. Howard replied with a tightly controlled smile while keeping his eyes respectfully fixed on the floor.

"Of course, young lady, you can... There is no need to ask for my permission..."

As she nodded, she started leaving toward the garden pathways. L also got up and followed right behind her.

Kalos watched her leave. Wanting to stay close, he also started to follow her.

"Where are you going, Mr. Hero? You should wait here. Don’t we have to discuss something? I mean, about the facilities and other technical things regarding the property... I think you are more knowledgeable than me, so you should stay here with us..."

Alen smiled a cunning smile while leaning back onto the soft couch.

Kalos paused his steps. He felt an overwhelming urge to murder the boy right then and there, but he forced himself to calm down. He walked back and sat on the couch, while Mr. Howard stood stiffly in front of them.

"Mr. Howard, are you not feeling well? You are sweating too much. I recommend you take a seat..."

Alen looked at Howard, then glanced at the tray of refreshments placed on the glass table. He reached out and took a bite of a chocolate cookie.

"Mhmm... At least the taste of these is good... So, are you going to tell us the specifics about the mansion while we are at it?"

Howard cast a nervous glance at Kalos, who sat there radiating a cold, threatening aura. Howard wiped the sweat from his brow, calmed himself down, and answered.

"Oh... About the mansion. It was just recently built. Everything around the property was structured and decorated with modern choices. From the air conditioner to the television, to the kitchen appliances, everything works with advanced modern technology. There is also an integrated AI assistant service, which helps with every little daily task and manages the overarching protection of the house..."

Alen looked genuinely surprised as he heard that.

"What do you mean about protection? Are you just talking about basic CCTV footage and auto-locking the doors when an unidentified person is found?"

Howard smiled, gaining a bit of confidence as he replied calmly.

"That is only the basic thing it can do. The house possesses a highly protected security system which creates a powerful magical barrier. Even a Walker would not be able to breach it from the outside..."

"Every machine and piece of equipment in the mansion works on mana, which is supplied directly from a giant mana core situated at the bottom basement of the estate. The core is developed in such a way that it can actively absorb nature’s mana and recycle the energy, making it a unlimited power source."

Alen looked impressed and nodded.

"The garden is also beautiful and boasts a large amount of space. This property’s rate is quite high because it is close to nature and has beautiful scenery. The open space is fresh and peaceful, filled with greenery. The lady will not get such a prime place anywhere else; it is perfect for her..." Howard finished his pitch.

Alen just nodded, while he was completely focused on eating the tasty refreshments rather than paying attention to the his words.

Time passed in silence. Finally, L and Ava returned from the upstairs floor after visiting the bedrooms and the gardens.

As they walked back into the hall, Kalos’s expression immediately lit up. He wore his most charming smile and straightened his back to look presentable.

"Did you like the property, Lady Ava?..." he asked her with a bright smile.

Ava looked at him and nodded. Both L and Ava walked over and sat down beside Alen.

"Yes... The house is very good, and the gardens were peaceful... It suits my tastes..."

Howard’s face brightened at her answer. He clapped his hands together and spoke.

"So, Miss Ava, do you think we can proceed with the paperwork? I assure you, you won’t find a better deal for a property of this high caliber."

Ava nodded gently.

"Yes, we should proceed..."

Mr. Howard smiled widely as he continued the business pitch.

"So, the overall price of the mansion is 500 million gold coins. This includes all the luxury furnishings, the advanced mana-powered AI systems, and the vast land it sits on. We also offer a comprehensive maintenance package for an additional 10 million gold coins per year, which covers all structural repairs, mansion’s system updates, and daily garden upkeep. We believe this is a very competitive price given the unique features and prime location of this estate."

Alen, still munching on a cookie, narrowed his eyes and finally spoke up.

"Five hundred million, huh? And a yearly maintenance fee on top of that? That is quite too much, Mr. Howard... Since the property is quite far from the main city area, and there is a distinct lack of nearby amenities and shopping districts, the price you are mentioning is way too high..."

Mr. Howard’s smile faltered at his sharp words, but he tried to maintain his calm, professional demeanor.

"Well... But there are various other good things to consider! As you saw, this area is silent, peaceful, and close to nature..."

Alen continued to speak while casually eating his snack.

"You’re absolutely right, Mr. Howard. But even if we hired workers and built this exact mansion ourselves from scratch, it would cost less than half of your requested amount. So, your asking price is too much..."

Howard’s eye twitched at the blunt negotiation tactics.

"Oh, if that is the case, then I will gladly reduce the price to suit your needs... How about 300 million? And remember, it also has modern AI protection, so it is quite beneficial and safe for you..."

Alen shook his head, a playful, cunning smirk resting on his face.

"Still too high, Mr. Howard. The location, despite its peaceful nature, drastically detracts from its commercial value. Let’s not forget the expensive upkeep and the relative isolation of the plot. I’m thinking closer to 150 million, and we can discuss that maintenance package separately."

Kalos, who had been observing the exchange with growing impatience, finally interjected.

"Alen, don’t be ridiculous. This mansion is clearly worth more than that. The advanced systems alone justify a higher price point."

"Nope! You’re wrong, Mr. Hero. Because it includes high protection and is located close to nature, it is essentially sitting right near the city’s outer border. If any attack from the outside occurs, or a monster breach happens, the primary target will be this isolated mansion! Furthermore, the traveling costs for basic maintenance will be higher, and maids or other workers will not prefer working in such an outside area... So, the true market value of the mansion falls drastically because of these risks. Is that not the exact reason why wealthy people have hesitated to buy this mansion? Am I wrong, Mr. Howard?..."

Cold sweat clung to Howard’s body as he looked at the silver-haired boy. Alen was giving him a silent, piercing glare. Howard couldn’t deny his words. The mansion had been sitting on the market on sale for a whole year, but no one was ready to buy it for those exact reasons. It was too far outside, and that caused the market value to plummet, even though it contained such high technology.

Howard tried to force a polite smile.

"So, what final price do you think is preferable, Mr. Alen... I can’t really go below the 150 million you are suggesting..."

"Of course, Mr. Howard. So let’s seal the deal at 150 million final, along with 5 years of the free comprehensive maintenance package thrown in..."

"No, but that is not possible! That is far too mu—"

"I know you are not going to disappoint us, especially since we came here as the esteemed guests of the ’Hero’ of Vale City..." Alen interrupted smoothly.

Howard looked at him in a daze. He then looked at Kalos with expectant, desperate eyes. Kalos, caught completely off guard by being used as leverage, could only manage a strained nod—a silent affirmation of Alen’s audacious claim so he wouldn’t look bad in front of Ava. Alen, sensing his total advantage, pressed on.

"And seeing as we are honored guests, a small gesture of goodwill in the form of a complimentary five-year maintenance package would be a fitting welcome gift, wouldn’t you agree, Mr. Howard?"

"I—I... yes..." Howard defeatedly agreed.

Alen smiled brightly as the trap closed and the deal was done.

"Hehe... So the deal is secured. Can you arrange the paperwork now?..."

Howard stood up and bowed deeply.

"Of course, I already have it ready."

He brought the official property paperwork out from his storage ring. He placed it on the glass table and offered it to Ava so she could provide her mana signature.

As she pressed her finger to the document and imprinted her mana into the paper, the contract dissolved in a flash of light. The mansion was now officially registered in her name. She had become the true owner of the estate.

Howard bowed one last time.

"Now, if you will excuse me, I will leave you all to enjoy the home. If there is anything else you ever want from me, I will always be available..."

"Oh, Mr. Howard, I think you should eat some of these refreshments before going..." Alen offered cheerfully.

Howard glared at the boy. He clutched his hands into fists and replied with a very fake, polite voice.

"I apologize, but I have some urgent work to do, so I must leave... Congratulations once again, Lady Ava. I hope you will take great care of the house..."

Ava nodded as she watched him walk away toward the exit.

L looked at Alen with a curious glance.

"Hey, I didn’t know you were that good at bargaining! You directly reduced the price to more than half of its original value! That is practically insane, you know that!"

Alen smiled warmly after receiving the compliment.

’Well... I just learned about all of that because my father was also a businessman in my past life, so I watched him deal with many different dealers from childhood. I picked up a little bit of it... And my mother was also a bargaining queen since she originally belonged to a poor family... Hehe... It seems I still carry their genes, which I am very proud of...’

"Well... Let’s have a grand dinner then! Mr. Kalos is going to throw a housewarming party for us!" L declared.

L also chimed in with a shady, cunning smile, having learned a little bit of mischief from being close to Alen.

Kalos looked at the two kids who were flying quite high on their victory. He gritted his teeth but nodded agreeably after glancing at Ava.

"Of course! Let’s have a party together! What do you prefer to eat, Lady Ava?..."

Ava looked at him with her usual expressionless face.

"I am okay with whatever you order..."

Kalos nodded enthusiastically.

"Of course! Then I will order many premium dishes which you will definitely like!"

As the food was ordered, the quiet hall turned bustling. The atmosphere turned light and celebratory, as the previously quiet mansion finally became bright and lively with activity.