Evolving My Undead Legion In A Game-Like World - Chapter 660: Negotiation
Chapter 660: Negotiation
The telepathic link went silent for a moment. Rynne didn’t reply right away.
When she finally spoke, her voice was softer. “You’re right. I can’t get it without you. But what if I told you I don’t need to keep it?”
Michael raised an eyebrow slightly, though he kept his eyes on the list. “Meaning?”
“Meaning I only need to borrow it.”
That caught his attention, though his tone stayed even. “Borrow it?”
“Yes,” Rynne said. “Just for a short time. I have something to accomplish with it. Afterward, you can have it back. Intact.”
Michael almost laughed. “You think I’d hand over a three-star artifact on trust alone?”
“I’d return it,” Rynne replied smoothly. “You have my word.”
“Your word doesn’t exactly have any existing reputation in my experience,” Michael said dryly.
There was a pause, and then a faint exhale from her end of the link.
“You don’t have to trust me. We can make a formal agreement. A mana oath.”
That made him pause for half a second. A mana oath wasn’t something to take lightly; it bound the soul to its promise.
Michael didn’t respond immediately. His gaze stayed fixed on the paper, but his thoughts shifted to the voice in his mind.
“Even if I could lend it to you,” he said calmly, “there’s no way I’d do it for free.”
Rynne went quiet for a heartbeat. She wasn’t surprised. If anything, she expected him to say that.
“You want interest,” she said, her tone measured, as though she were talking business rather than begging a favor.
Michael’s lips curved slightly but he said nothing.
“Fine,” Rynne said, cutting to the point. “Fifty thousand mana stones. Every month I hold the artifact.”
Michael blinked once, a small flicker of surprise crossing his features. That wasn’t a small amount. Mana stones were one of the few currencies that held universal value.
A mana stone was priced at one thousand dollars per stone, so fifty thousand mana stones were worth fifty million dollars.
However, you could use the stones to get money, but not the money to get the stones.
Rynne showed she was indeed serious about this deal.
Still, Michael didn’t answer immediately. He let the silence stretch, keeping her guessing.
Rynne finally spoke again, a hint of irritation slipping through. “You can’t seriously think I’d give you more.”
However, Michael didn’t respond.
That made Rynne hesitate again.
“You don’t want mana stones?” she asked, skeptical now.
“I didn’t say that,” he replied.
Rynne went quiet once more. Then, finally, her tone softened. “Then what do you want?”
“If you can change the stones to spirit crystals, then we can talk.”
“Spirit crystals?” Rynne repeated slowly, her composed tone cracking slightly.
Spirit crystals were leagues above mana stones. A single crystal of equal grade was worth at least ten mana stones.
Even for a family as powerful as hers, collecting large quantities wasn’t simple.
“You’re not saying anything,” Michael prodded lightly.
“Because I’m thinking,” Rynne replied, her tone sharp again. Then, after a brief pause, she added, “You realize that’s a ridiculous demand, right?”
Michael didn’t say anything.
Though it looked like they had a lengthy conversation, as it was through the mind, even with its ups and downs, everything was happening in a fast haste.
Silence followed again.
Rynne knew he had her cornered. Finally, she sighed. “Fine.”
Michael’s eyebrow rose slightly. “Fine?”
“Yes,” she said. “Fifty thousand mana stones converted to five thousand spirit crystals. Every month I keep the Enhancer.”
Michael’s smile deepened a little inside.
But Michael wasn’t in a rush to accept. Not yet.
Because now that Rynne had shown she could pay in spirit crystals, it meant she was desperate enough to pay even more.
Michael waited a few seconds before replying, letting the mental silence stretch long enough to make her uncomfortable. Then, with a calm tone, he asked,
“How many spatial stones can you get your hands on?”
“Spatial stones?” Rynne repeated, her tone tight. “Why are you asking about that?”
“Because I’ve seen you use them before,” Michael said simply. “In our last fight, you teleported. That wasn’t a spell, was it? Your suit must have used a spatial stone. Which means you have access to them.”
For a split second, Rynne almost lost her composure. Michael could sense the edge of her temper flare through the mental link. She wanted to snap at him, to tell him he was pushing too far. But just as quickly, she caught herself.
After a deep, steady breath, her tone returned to normal.
“You’re asking for too much.”
“Then consider it the last thing I want from you,” Michael said.
Finally, Rynne sighed. “Fine. Three spatial stones. One kilogram at most. No more than that.”
Michael was just about to smile when Rynne spoke again.
“If I give you the spatial stones, then I’m not paying in spirit crystals.”
His smile froze.
“Fine,” he said at last. “No spirit crystals.”
A small ripple of satisfaction moved through the link. Rynne was pleased; her first real win in the back-and-forth. But it lasted all of a second.
“But the spatial stone on the special list isn’t included,” Michael added. “And you need a deposit to take it from me. I’m not lending.”
The satisfaction snapped.
Back in the Land of Origin, a certain viscount and princess were sharing a meal.
Platters covered the low walnut table in a neat rush of color. Bowls of fresh fruit took the center. Around them, the maids had set what they could make on short notice: flaky baked pies filled with herbed chicken, crisp yam chips dusted with salt and pepper, tiny cheese squares with a drizzle of wildflower honey, and skewers of roasted mushroom caps brushed in garlic oil. There were also two baskets of warm flatbread, a small dish of spiced nuts, and a trio of jams.
It was not a banquet, but it was tidy and arranged with care.
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