Chapter 62: Signing
A day later, the headquarters was quieter than usual.
Most of the activity had shifted outside. Training drills, vehicle checks, and movement across the base filled the air with purpose, but inside the operations floor, things were calm.
Marcus was in his office again, seated behind his desk, reviewing a few documents Elaina had prepared the night before.
A knock came.
Two short taps.
"Come in," he said.
The door opened.
Elaina stepped in first.
And behind her, Seraphine.
Marcus’s eyes shifted up immediately.
"...Back already," he said.
Seraphine stepped inside, her posture straight as always.
"Yes," she replied. "I’ve spoken with my party."
Marcus leaned back slightly.
"And?"
Seraphine didn’t hesitate.
"They’ve agreed," she said. "We will proceed under separate contracts."
Elaina closed the door behind her and moved to Marcus’s side.
Marcus gave a small nod.
"Good."
Seraphine continued.
"We believe your proposal is... efficient," she added. "Operating as two coordinated units rather than merging command structures."
Marcus smirked faintly.
"Told you."
Seraphine met his gaze.
"However," she said, "we require a formal contract reflecting this arrangement."
Marcus didn’t look surprised.
"Of course you do."
He turned slightly.
"Elaina."
She was already moving.
"I have it prepared," she said, stepping toward one of the cabinets and pulling out a neatly organized folder.
She returned and placed it on the desk.
Marcus took it and flipped it open.
Then he looked at Seraphine.
"Sit," he said.
Seraphine did.
Elaina took her place beside Marcus, standing close enough to follow along.
Marcus rested his hand on the document.
"Alright," he said. "I’ll walk you through it."
Seraphine nodded once.
Marcus began.
"First," he said, tapping the top section, "this establishes Atlas Private Military Company as an independent contracted force."
He glanced at her.
"That means we’re not part of your party. We operate alongside you."
Seraphine nodded.
"Understood."
Marcus continued.
"Second, operational structure."
He flipped to the next page.
"Your party handles direct engagement with the Red Dragon. You’re the spear."
Then he tapped another section.
"Atlas handles suppression, area control, and support fire."
Elaina spoke this time.
"That includes aerial engagement, perimeter security, and coordinated strikes when necessary," she added.
Seraphine’s eyes shifted briefly toward her.
"...Aerial engagement," she repeated.
Marcus didn’t explain further.
"Third," he said, moving on, "command structure."
He tapped the page once.
"Parallel command."
Seraphine leaned forward slightly.
"Meaning?"
Marcus met her gaze.
"You command your people. I command mine," he said. "We coordinate, but we don’t override each other."
A short pause followed.
Then Seraphine nodded.
"...That’s acceptable."
Marcus continued.
"Fourth, compensation."
He flipped to the final section.
"Thirty million kinah share upon completion. Equal distribution. No changes."
Seraphine nodded again.
"And spoils?"
"Shared access," Marcus said. "Anything recovered from the dragon is divided fairly based on contribution. So basically, what we have discussed yesterday but more formal now."
Seraphine seemed satisfied with that.
Marcus closed the folder halfway.
"Last part," he said. "Risk acknowledgment."
Seraphine’s expression didn’t change.
"Standard clause," she said.
Marcus nodded.
"If things go bad, both sides are responsible for their own units," he said. "No liability claims."
Seraphine didn’t hesitate.
"Agreed."
Silence followed.
Marcus leaned back slightly.
"That’s the contract," he said. "Do you have any questions?"
Seraphine didn’t answer right away.
Her eyes lowered to the document again, scanning a few lines she had already read, as if confirming something in her head.
Then she looked back up.
"...One," she said.
Marcus gestured lightly.
"Go ahead."
Seraphine leaned forward slightly, resting her hands on the table.
"You won’t be coming alone," she said. "You have a company. Personnel. Equipment."
Her eyes stayed on his.
"If Atlas participates as a whole... does the reward still go to you alone?"
Elaina glanced at Marcus briefly.
She understood the question.
Seraphine continued.
"You were specifically approached," she said. "Not your entire company. So I want to clarify—are we contracting you, or everything behind you?"
Marcus didn’t even need a second.
"You’re contracting Atlas," he said.
Seraphine didn’t blink.
"...Clarify."
Marcus leaned forward slightly, his tone steady.
"I’m not joining this as an individual adventurer," he said. "I’m not walking in with a sword and calling it a day."
He tapped the document once.
"I’m bringing a company. My company."
Elaina crossed her arms lightly, listening.
Marcus continued.
"That means everything Atlas deploys is part of the contract. Personnel, equipment, logistics."
He met Seraphine’s gaze.
"And the reward goes to Atlas."
A brief pause settled.
Seraphine processed that.
"...So the thirty million share is not yours personally," she said.
Marcus shook his head.
"No."
Then he added,
"It goes to the company."
Elaina spoke this time, her tone calm and precise.
"Internal distribution is handled by Atlas," she said. "Operational costs, personnel pay, maintenance, reinvestment."
Seraphine’s eyes shifted to her.
"...You’re running this like a structured organization."
"Yes," Elaina replied. "Because it is."
Seraphine leaned back slightly in her seat.
"...That’s different."
Marcus gave a small shrug.
"It’s efficient."
Seraphine looked back at him.
"...And you?"
Marcus tilted his head slightly.
"What about me?"
"Your personal compensation," she said. "Where do you stand in that?"
Marcus didn’t hesitate.
"I take my cut from Atlas," he said. "Same as everyone else."
That answer made her pause.
Because it was simple.
But it also meant, he wasn’t separating himself from what he built.
Seraphine studied him for a second longer.
Then gave a small nod.
"...Understood."
Marcus leaned back again.
"So to answer your question," he said, "you’re not hiring Marcus Manfred."
A faint smirk formed.
"You’re hiring Atlas."
Silence followed.
But this time, there was clarity in it.
Seraphine reached for the document again.
"...Then there are no further questions," she said.
Marcus gave a small nod.
"Good."
Seraphine picked up the pen once more and signed her name without hesitation.
Marcus followed right after, placing his signature beneath hers.
For a brief moment, both of them looked at the document.
It was done.
Seraphine stood first.
Marcus stood as well.
Without another word, they stepped forward and extended their hands at the same time.
"Thank you for availing our service," Marcus simply said.