Chapter 173 : Negotiation (3)

Yuliana’s eyes opened wide.

“Such……!”

The Supreme King opened the sky.

Considering the scenery of Earth revealed beyond the sky right now, those words held truly many meanings.

“That is, nonsense…….”

Yuliana, who was continuing her words, realized that the words she spat out were actually not that correct.

Is that really nonsense?

No, it is not.

My words were very shocking, but in fact, Bellerophon was also expecting it to some extent.

Bellerophon had also already grasped to some extent the magic circles discovered within the Eastern Union, and was investigating them.

The one mentioned first as the mastermind behind the magic circles was the very Supreme King.

The Supreme King possessed powerful influence over the entire Eastern Union, and to construct such huge magic circles, it would have been impossible unless it was the Supreme King who integrated the entire Eastern Union.

“It…… is not nonsense. No, rather, it has to be that way.”

“Did you know?”

“Only a guess. But to think something like this was really possible…….”

In Yuliana’s head, the information about this situation she had heard so far was assembled quickly.

Supreme King.

Eastern Union.

Magic circle.

‘And…….’

The revealed sky.

Earth.

Putting all this together, there was a high possibility that my words were true.

“Just how did it happen? Please tell me in detail.”

I nodded slightly and began the story about what happened in Arkendale.

“The Supreme King forcibly activated the magic of human sacrifice with the Magic of Self-Sacrifice. Naturally, as the preparations were not perfect, the magic was activated in an incomplete form, and the result is now.”

“……I see.”

Amidst the shocking truth, Yuliana forcibly moved her lips that would not easily open.

Even if it was information she was predicting, accepting it as fact was a completely different story.

“But to say it is an incomplete form……. If the magic was activated in a complete form, what happens?”

“That, even I do not know, since I am not the Supreme King.”

“…….”

Yuliana looked at me as if asking what kind of guy this is, but there was no way I would budge at such a gaze.

“So, what will you do?”

“Pardon?”

“Didn’t I say I wanted a deal? On top of that, I provided information that is quite important to Bellerophon. I think this is enough to receive a fragment as an advance payment.”

“Ah…….”

They were not wrong words.

Both the proposal and information I handed over coming here were stories that were undeniably beneficial to Bellerophon.

In other words, it meant that even looking at justification, Yuliana could no longer stop me.

“……The reason you, Vell Blackwood, want the fragment is, as expected, to absorb it, right?”

“Right.”

“And that confidence is probably due to the baseless basis that you can withstand the Demonic energy the fragment harbors.”

“If it is a basis, it is sufficient, but since it seems you will not believe it anyway, let’s say so.”

I also seemed to have no intention of engaging in a meaningless war of attrition with Yuliana any longer.

Because there was nothing as foolish as trying to persuade a subject that could not be persuaded.

“You are truly stubborn.”

“What a coincidence, I was just thinking the same thing.”

Somehow, she does not lose a single word.

Of course, not losing a single word was the same for Yuliana, but Yuliana thought her thoughts were not stubbornness but conviction.

Originally, people were bound to be generous about their own obstinacy.

Anyway, my proposal was a decent proposal in many ways.

If the situation became like this, I think it would not be bad to seize this opportunity instead.

Yuliana made a decision.

“……Fine. As an executive of Bellerophon, I will formally accept the deal with you, Vell Blackwood.”

“You thought well.”

There was a lot of talk and trouble, but consequently, the negotiation between Bellerophon and me was completed.

Whatever was said and done, eventually, the point that the interests between Bellerophon and me coincided was valid.

“Then, since the negotiation is also completed, will you release this first? It is stifling.”

“Ah, sorry.”

As I gestured lightly, the Self-Entanglement magic that had been binding Yuliana until now was released.

Yuliana looked at me, who handled this level of magic freely, with a gaze as if looking at some monster.

“……It seems that killing the Supreme King was not a lie.”

“Strictly speaking, I did not kill him. Because the Supreme King committed suicide with the Magic of Self-Sacrifice.”

“Driving him to such a situation was definitely your power. Is that not so?”

“I do not deny it.”

Although the only thing Yuliana could see from me was about one magic controlling Demonic energy that I showed, just with that, she felt she knew how I drove the Supreme King.

In the World of Justice, there is a saying to hide seventy percent of the cards one holds.

If the card revealed without hiding is at this level, if I stepped forward in earnest, there was a high possibility that I was hiding something that could not be compared to this.

Yuliana could not know if this contract was truly a good deed, but anyway, the one holding the hilt of the sword right now was me.

Just that, Yuliana believed.

‘Although it is a contract made unavoidably because the situation became like this, this deal will definitely be beneficial to Bellerophon too.’

Yuliana glimpsed the specialness I possessed.

Of course, she does not consider that that specialness will really bring complete immunity to Demonic energy.

“Then, since the contract is concluded, I must receive the down payment.”

“……Did I say I would give you such a thing?”

“Not that, but isn’t it natural to have a down payment in this kind of contract? You would know better since you are merchants?”

“That is…… true.”

Yuliana could not deny it.

In fact, it was not that rare for the Pegasus Merchant Guild belonging to Bellerophon to hand over a down payment as an advance payment when there was this kind of contract.

Yuliana was not a person so blocked as to deny a reasonable opinion.

At least Yuliana herself considered so.

“……Fine. I will pay the down payment. Is there an amount you want?”

“I don’t need money. You probably already know what I want?”

Once the contract was concluded, my demand became explicit, but Yuliana had no intention of backing down.

“I am sorry, but I do not have a separate fragment right now. Later, if there is an opportunity, then…….”

“You are telling an obvious lie.”

I pointed to Yuliana’s drawer with my chin.

“Then what is that in there?”

“What are you talking about?”

Yuliana retorted calmly, but I spoke as if sneering at even such Yuliana.

“The fragment inside the drawer, is that not a fragment?”

‘How did he know that?’

Yuliana could not hide her appalled feelings inside.

Whether my wits are quick like a ghost or I can really feel the existence of the fragment, like my words, there was actually a fragment in that place.

That too, a powerful fragment that could not be compared to ordinary fragments.

“If you are going to make a face that says you were caught, why don’t you obediently take it out? Do not increase lies for no reason.”

“……I did not mean to deceive you.”

Yuliana muttered a poor excuse and reluctantly took out the box inside the drawer.

Since she was already caught anyway, making clumsy lies would only destroy trust.

What was inside the box was none other than the fragment she had once shown to me before.

Since it was something kept to select Demonic persons, the size of the fragment was huge enough not to be compared with most fragments.

“……Do you really have to take it? This is a fragment used for selecting Demonic persons, so we must possess one─”

“That is your circumstance. I am an equal contractor, not a subcontractor of Bellerophon. Do I have to consider your circumstances one by one?”

“That is…… not it. Yes. There is no need for that. And you shouldn’t.”

Even the stubborn Yuliana could not refute my words armed with powerful justification.

Yuliana’s hand handing over the box containing the fragment trembled.

No matter how much Bellerophon ostracized fragments, a fragment is an item with very high value among players.

That is, it is an item that becomes money.

The predecessor of Bellerophon was the huge merchant guild Pegasus, and naturally, if one was a member of Bellerophon, one had to be sensitive to money.

“Down payment, I certainly received it.”

“……I do not know if this is really the right thing to do.”

Although the box had already left her hand, Yuliana looked at only her empty hands with a vain expression.

“Do not worry, I will handle the work as much as I receive.”

“You will have to. There are many who embezzled Bellerophon’s money, but there are none who survived after embezzling it.”

Of course, an exception called the embezzler Dennis appeared very recently, but that is an exception among extreme exceptions.

“There is no need to worry. If you want, I will work right now. Do you have work?”

“……Not yet. If you do not have a place to stay, we can provide one from the Knights’ side.”

“There is no particular need for that. Staying alone is more comfortable too. Then if work arises, come find me. I am staying in this vicinity.”

As I, who received the fragment, got up from my seat, Yuliana spoke.

“……I am asking just in case, do you intend to absorb the fragment right away?”

When the fragment absorption level reaches a certain level, a huge storm of Demonic energy occurs when absorbing.

Therefore, even if one obtains a fragment, there are realistically many constraints to absorb it immediately on the spot.

Thus, among high-level players, it was a kind of common sense to go to a place with no people to absorb a fragment.

“I intend to. Since there is no need to postpone it.”

“Will it really…… be okay?”

“I can prove it at this opportunity. Will you watch directly whether it is okay or not?”

At that, Yuliana made a slightly surprised expression, then soon nodded with a firm expression.

“I will do so. If you become a Demonic person, I also have responsibility.”

“There will be no need for that.”

“I also hope so.”

At that, I made an expression as if I was truly fed up.

“I intend to go right away, will you follow?”

“I must. Let’s go.”

If I cannot overcome the fragment’s Demonic energy and become a Demonic person, then Yuliana will have to make a decision.

A very heavy, and sad decision.

***

I moved to a small mountain in the west of the Imperial Capital straight away with Yuliana.

It was a place where not even a human shadow was visible because the mountain terrain was rugged and the land was dry despite being right next to the Imperial Capital.

“If it is here, it will be fine whatever happens. Just in case, I also deployed Griffin Knights at the foot of the mountain.”

“You did it too grandiosely. When will it end dully anyway.”

“I also hope so.”

Yuliana seemed to have very deep distrust toward me, but I had no intention of living up to that expectation.

‘For now, have I obtained one?’

If it is a fragment of this size, I don’t know for sure, but I should be able to reach at least level 6.

If the Bulletin Board authority becomes level 6, what will happen indeed.

What posts can I access, and what authority will I obtain.

Even to know that, I could not stop absorbing Ascension Stone Fragments.

‘Then, shall I try.’

I began to absorb it while holding the Ascension Stone Fragment in my hand.

Sss…….

The moment the Ascension Stone Fragment was absorbed into me along with a blue halo of light.

Kugugugugugu!!!

The precursor of the phenomenon that was scheduled began to occur roughly centering on me.

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