Chapter 50: Chapter 49: Terms of Engagement [III]
A brief silence fell over the room. The question was direct, almost challenging, and designed to test Demien’s resolve.
The system interface appeared once more:
「NEGOTIATION INSIGHT」 「CONFIDENCE TEST: Director is evaluating your self-belief. ・This is not about the contract terms ・This is about your character and mentality ・Respond with conviction but not arrogance ・Strategy: Acknowledge the challenge while showing determination」
Demien met Percassi’s gaze steadily. "I understand your concern, Director. I know Serie A is one of the most tactical and demanding leagues in the world. I’ve never claimed it will be easy." He paused briefly. "But if I didn’t believe I could contribute at this level, I wouldn’t be sitting at this table. And if you didn’t see that potential, you wouldn’t have offered me a first team contract."
Percassi’s expression remained neutral, but something shifted in his eyes.
"And regarding the escalating bonuses," Demien continued, "they only become a budgetary concern if I’m performing well enough to earn significant playing time. In that scenario, I’d be providing corresponding value to the club."
A small smile appeared on Percassi’s face. "A fair point, Mr. Walter."
The sporting director tapped his fingers on the table. "For Demien, I can accept the progressive appearance structure. For Luca, we would need different thresholds given his U23 status initially."
"That’s reasonable," Marco said. "Perhaps €250 for U23 appearances, then the progressive structure kicks in once he reaches the first team."
"With a lower barrier to first team promotion," Demien added, looking at Luca’s contract. "Six Serie A appearances should trigger the promotion clause, not eight."
The system provided one final insight:
「NEGOTIATION INSIGHT」 「FINAL STAGE TACTICS: Know when to concede. ・Current position: Strong on most key points ・Director has conceded on important areas (image rights, bonuses) ・Minor concession now builds goodwill ・Strategy: Accept compromise on promotion threshold to close deal positively」
Percassi shook his head. "Seven is as low as I can go. We need to ensure he’s truly ready."
Marco glanced at Demien, then nodded. "Seven appearances is reasonable. We appreciate your flexibility on the other points."
The discussion continued for nearly two hours, covering everything from release clauses to performance review metrics. Throughout, Demien continued making surprising contributions guided by his trait, while Marco handled the technical aspects and legal terminology. Luca occasionally spoke up about his development goals, gaining confidence from Demien’s unexpected negotiation skills.
By the end, they had secured significantly improved terms: better image rights splits, progressive appearance bonuses, European competition bonuses of €50,000 for Champions League qualification, and clearer pathways for first-team integration with specific appearance targets.
"I believe we’ve reached an agreement that works for everyone," Percassi said finally, looking both impressed and slightly exhausted. "I must say, Mr. Walter, you have a future in football management if playing doesn’t work out."
"I just want fair terms that recognize our potential value to the club," Demien replied. "Atalanta is making an investment in us, and we’re investing our careers in Atalanta."
Percassi nodded appreciatively at the mature response. "Precisely the mentality we want at this club." He instructed his legal counsel to prepare the final documents reflecting the negotiated terms.
As they waited for the revised contracts, refreshments were served and conversation shifted to more casual topics, including the upcoming season’s objectives and the tactical philosophy that had made Atalanta one of the most distinctive teams in European football.
"Mister Gasperini is quite particular about his system," Percassi explained between sips of espresso. "Finding players who can adapt to it is crucial. He believes both of you have the technical ability and intelligence to thrive in our approach."
When the finalized contracts arrived an hour later, Marco reviewed them meticulously while Demien and Luca exchanged nervous glances. The enormity of the moment was setting in as they prepared to sign the documents that would formally begin their professional careers.
Demien glanced down at the revised terms that reflected their negotiations:
REVISED PLAYER CONTRACT - DEMIEN WALTER
Duration: 3 years (2022-2025) Status: First Team Squad Member Base Salary: €130,000 first year, €170,000 second year, €210,000 third year Weekly Wage: €2,500 first year (increasing annually) Signing Bonus: €35,000 Appearance Bonus: Progressive structure
€2,000 for appearances 1-10€3,000 for appearances 11-20€4,000 for appearances 21+ Goal/Assist Bonus: €4,000 per goal or assist in official competitions Clean Sheet Bonus (Team): €1,500 when playing minimum 45 minutes Image Rights:78/22 club/player split first year75/25 club/player split second year70/30 club/player split third year European Competition Bonus: €50,000 for Champions League qualification when playing 30% of matches Release Clause: €10 million (active after first season) Performance Review:
Salary increase of 15% if player makes 15+ appearances in a seasonLuca’s contract showed similar improvements:
REVISED PLAYER CONTRACT - LUCA BIANCHI
Duration: 3 years (2022-2025) Status: U23 Squad Member with First Team Training Opportunities Base Salary: €65,000 first year, €85,000 second year, €110,000 third year Weekly Wage: €1,250 first year (increasing annually) Signing Bonus: €20,000 Appearance Bonus:
€250 per U23 appearanceProgressive Serie A structure once promoted: €1,500 (1-5), €2,000 (6-10), €2,500 (11+) Goal/Assist Bonus: €2,500 per goal or assist in Serie A; €750 in U23 competitions Image Rights:82/18 club/player split (improving to 78/22 upon first team promotion) Loan Clause: Club reserves right to loan player for development purposes (with player consultation) First Team Promotion Clause: Automatic salary increase to €130,000 upon making 7 Serie A appearances
"Everything looks in order," Marco confirmed after checking the last page. He slid the contracts across to his clients with an encouraging nod.
Demien took the pen that Percassi offered. Its weight felt significant in his hand as he positioned it above the signature line. In that moment, memories from both lifetimes flashed through his mind—David Drinkwater’s years of struggle across seventeen clubs, Demien Walter’s shattered confidence after Fiorentina’s rejection, all converging into this singular opportunity for redemption.
He signed his name with a steady hand, officially becoming an Atalanta player. As he set the pen down, a sense of profound satisfaction settled over him. This was vindication, a second chance seized through determination and the strange blessing of the Ultimate Gacha System.
Beside him, Luca completed his own signature with a flourish before breaking into a broad grin. Percassi stood to shake both their hands with genuine warmth as he declared, "Welcome to Atalanta, gentlemen. We’ll see you next week for pre-season training after you’ve had time to settle in."
As they left the conference room, Demien felt something shift inside him—he was no longer a prospect or a trialist but a professional footballer with a contract at one of Italy’s most exciting clubs. The path that David Drinkwater had struggled to find across seventeen teams now stretched before him with clarity and purpose.
"How does it feel?" Marco asked quietly as they walked toward the exit, his usual professional demeanor momentarily set aside.
Demien looked around at the facility that would become his daily workplace, at the Atalanta crests adorning the walls, at Luca’s jubilant expression, and he replied simply, "Like the beginning."
It was the truth—not just the beginning of a career, but the beginning of making good on the second chance he’d been granted, of proving that both David Drinkwater and Demien Walter deserved to be here, and of transforming the Ultimate Gacha System’s random blessings into the career that had always seemed just beyond reach.
Next week would bring the first training session with Gasperini’s squad, the true test of whether he could translate potential into performance at the highest level, but today was for savoring the moment when everything changed—the day Demien Walter officially became a professional footballer.