Chapter 2570: Pioneering Alliance (2/2)
The remainder of the treaty was not as interesting or impactful.
For example, one miscellaneous agreement called for putting a portion of their industrial capacity at each other's disposal.
For example, if Professor Benedict designed a new Crosser mech and wanted to borrow the Larkinson Clan's factory ship to produce a lot of copies, then Ves could choose to accept the request. As long as the request wasn't excessive, the Larkinson Clan would produce and supply the mechs to the Cross Clan at a considerable discount.
Of course, the same also applied in reverse. If Ves ever wanted to acquire hundreds of Transcendent Punishers in a short amount of time, he could ask the Cross Clan to help with the production.
After quickly going over these minor points, neither side offered any objections. Though there were many areas in which Ves or Reginald didn't like, this was the nature of compromise. It was impossible for either of them to have their way. They had to move away from their initial demands and come to a middle ground in order to ensure that both sides benefited from the agreement.
If there was any massive discontent from one side or the other, the alliance wouldn't be able to last.
Despite the unpalatable compromises, the patriarchs didn't show their dissatisfaction. The truth was that the negotiations produced an agreement that provided more gains than losses to them. As long as this held true, there weren't any sufficient reasons to reject the alliance.
”Let us sign this treaty.”
Both patriarchs floated forward. The bot that hovered on standby gradually lowered itself and extended two ornate pens to the leaders.
They grasped the pens and began to sign their names and signatures with aesthetically-pleasing flourishes.
Of course, neither of them employed their actual handwriting. The autopens merely executed their pre-programmed motions by themselves.
Otherwise, both Ves and Reginald would immediately ruin the solemn treaty signing by displaying crooked and ugly handwriting!
Each autopen signed two times. This way, the two copies of the treaties held the signatures of both leaders.
Ves turned around and raised his fist!
”From this day onwards, the Larkinson Clan and the Cross Clan are united!”
His counterpart, Patriarch Reginald, also raised his fist.
”From this day onwards, the Golden Skull Alliance shall rise to greatness in the Red Ocean!”
The Golden Skull Alliance!
This imposing name was the official designation of their alliance!
Both Larkinsons and Crossers raised their fists in response and cried out the new name in a martial fashion!
”Golden Skull! Golden Skull! Golden Skull!”
No one noticed that Ves' proud smile was shaking a little.
To be honest, Ves vehemently disagreed with the name. If he had a choice, he would have called it something else like the LC Alliance or something neutral.
However, the Crosser negotiators insisted on the name. More specifically, they demanded the inclusion of the word 'skull'!
The Larkinsons eventually agreed to this strange demand because they obtained some very attractive concessions in exchange.
It didn't take much guessing to know that Professor Benedict had a hand in this event.
Was he crazy?! Why would the former Skull Architect reference his hidden past in such an open fashion?
If he hadn't received some reassurances from the man himself, Ves would have rather given up on the concessions his clan had received in exchange.
He briefly turned his head to look at the guest designer of the Cross Clan.
Professor Benedict noticed his gaze and responded with a satisfied smile.
Of course he was happy that the two clans managed to find common ground. The Senior Mech Designer actually paid very little in order to be a part of the new alliance. He was the true winner of this development!
”Clever bastard.” Ves whispered.
Though he equated the former Skull Architect as a leech, he was still a useful one. As long as Professor Benedict provided enough benefits, Ves had no reason to mess up this arrangement.
The Golden Skull Alliance shouldn't stir up too much trouble in the Red Ocean.
To some people, a sordid name like that did not bode well for the future. It was too bad that Ves was not prone to superstition.