My recent absence in council was to investigate the expedition you mentioned. Zeppo perhaps suspects my intentions but does not have any suspicion of your scheme. We used the window when the envoy was off world to explore the depths of Aris.

There are several resources down there that we identified that can be exploited for trade.

1. Early stage-two beast cores – possibly higher. We were forced back before we could explore further. Perhaps a stronger or more prepared force may advance further.

2. Exotic flora – unknown reactivity and possible mutations. Several samples of these variant species were collected, including coffee, yams, and marigold.

3. Mithril – or what we suspect is mithril based on the records. It is a small vein, but even in small quantities, it could transform the Twice economy.

I’ve done what you asked, Elara. Now keep Alaric out of your games.

– Eris Twice, Sealed Letter to Elara

Chapter 36 – Quid Bro Quo

The mention of [Chimeric Entanglement] certainly threw Marsha off. Before Toki could respond, a figure appeared next to her. Toki's eyes widened as a tall, skeletal figure strode in, clad in blue jeans and a white t-shirt. A backwards cap sat jauntily atop his skull.

"Yo, Marsha! What's crackin', my feline friend?" The skeleton's voice boomed, a mix of casual slang and what appeared to be telepathy.

Marsha's tail swished. "Well, well, if it isn't the young master of the dynasty! Lookin' fresh to death." She purred, leaning forward on her desk.

The skeleton sauntered up, his glowing blue eyes fixed on Marsha. "You know it, babe. Undeath's never looked so good." He winked, skeletal hand gesturing to his outfit.

Toki watched the exchange, brow furrowed. This is the lich? He seemed more like an overeager bro than an ancient sorcerer. Yet something about his too-perfect mannerisms, the deliberate drape and enchantment of his clothes, made her skin prickle. A mask, perhaps, concealing deeper schemes.

"I gotta say, I dig the new digs! Got that whole 'sexy librarian' vibe goin' on… if I didn’t already have a syslaw…" The skeleton sat in one of the open seats, skeletal fingers drumming on the hand rest.

Marsha giggled, pawing at her hair. "Oh stop, ya charmer. Flattery will get you everywhere."

“Gotta treat your syslaws like they're queens.”

As they bantered, Toki's mind raced. Marsha's flirtations seemed calculated, a stalling tactic while she assessed the situation. The [Strategist] inside Toki lit up - this 'bro' act was a facade, she was certain. But to what end? Toki's fingers twitched, aching to summon her shadows. No, too rash. And probably not possible. The constant fighting had given her a trigger finger. She needed to observe, gather intel. One thing was clear - the Lich was far more dangerous than he appeared.

“Marsha, tell me, did she finally agree to talk? I can’t help but feel she’s playin’ hard-to-get.”

Marsha pointed behind him and Toki stepped forward, steeling herself. "I'm Toki. I'm the one you put a hit on." The words felt bitter on her tongue.

The skeleton's glowing gaze raked over her, appraising. "Ah, right." He grinned, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Listen, babe, I'm not the jealous type, but you gotta break it off with that scaly boy-toy. Ain't no other way around it. I’m Chad, you can call me bae, hubby, boo. Honestly, I’m pretty open."

Toki's eyebrow twitched. Boy-toy? She opened her mouth to retort, but Chad steamrolled on, hands gesturing animatedly.

"Picture it, babe - you and me, we’ll rule over the endless rivers of Ca’Sorin. We'll break the old citadels and build EDM concert halls dedicated to our love, have legions of undead minions, the whole shebang! It'll be—"

"I’m not gonna marry you." Toki cut him off, fists clenched at her sides. Anger still simmered in her veins. How dare he waltz in and dictate her life just like everyone else?

Chad frowned, skeletal brow furrowing. "Aw, c'mon, don't be like that." His voice turned saccharine, wheedling. "You'll get whatever you want, babe. Crystals, power, heck, I'll even let you get some of that lizard schlong on the side, if that's what you're into."

Toki scoffed, disgusted. "And I suppose I'd have to become one of your undead minions to seal the deal?"

"Well, duh. Kinda non-negotiable there, sweet-cheeks."

"Then my answer is absolutely not." Toki crossed her arms, unyielding.

Chad sighed, pinching the bridge of his nasal cavity. "Work with me here, babe. Best I can do is make you a free, bound undead. That's a pretty sweet deal, all things considered."

Toki shook her head vehemently. "Hard pass. I won't be bound to anyone, living or dead."

“You humans have so many stereotypes about us. It really is a shame.”

She met Chad's eerie blue gaze head-on, unflinching. Beneath her resolve, fear coiled in Toki's gut. Everyone warned about the undead. She'd seen history books, even if they were false. The depictions of the tortured souls ensnared by necromancers. To lose all agency, to become a thrall - it was a fate worse than death.

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"Let a guy down easy, yo." Chad's demeanor shifted, the casual veneer cracking ever so slightly. "Look, Toki, a lot of people are counting on your support here. Both in the undead empire and on your own planet. For some reason daddy-dearest wants it so." His glowing eyes bore into hers, intensity simmering beneath the surface. "Without this marriage, there's no reason for us to cooperate. Capiche?... To be honest with you, I don’t mind, but why’d you even call me here?"

Toki's heart raced, a chill running down her spine. In that moment, Chad's body language betrayed him. The too-perfect posture, the subtle tilt of his skull - it all clicked into place. This was no mere bro lich playing at politics. No, this was calculated.

This shard damn pretender. Fuck. I’ll use my anger, but this time I can get something out of it. I have no idea what the undead are after on Aris. I can only bluff to see if I can pull it out of him. He’s smart, but I know just enough details to put pressure here.

"Cut the elfshit, Chad, I didn’t call you here to flirt," Toki's voice was sharp. "I represent Aris, and I'm telling you right now, this trade deal isn't happening without my say-so. And our marriage? Not a chance in all the hells. There’s been a change in management."

Chad's eyes narrowed, his skeletal face an unreadable mask. He considered her words, the silence stretching between them like a taut wire. Finally, he turned to Marsha, who had been watching the exchange with a bored expression.

"Marsha, doll, mind giving us a minute alone? Need to talk to the missus." His voice was smooth as silk, but Toki could hear the undercurrent of danger.

Marsha shrugged, utterly apathetic. "Yeah, sure. I'll just isolate the meld. You two hash it out. Toki, we're not done." She gave Toki a brief but meaningful look, then with a flick of her well-manicured hand, the telepathic connection severed, leaving Toki and Chad alone in a strange meld. The room was white containing only two mahogany chairs approximately two meters apart.

Neither moved to sit.

Chad's gaze snapped back to Toki, suspicion etched into every line of his skeletal face. The air between them crackled.

The silence stretched on, heavy and oppressive, until Toki finally spoke. "Listen up, bone boy," she said, her voice low and dangerous, and tinged with anger. "Aris has had a long-standing relationship with the Dynasty, but if you think that means we'll just roll over and let you undead types walk all over us, you've got another thing coming. Your herbs and metals aren’t enough. You know we’re the only one who can supply what you need." I think it was Corpse Animation Fluid? That’s what Four said, right?

She stepped closer, her eyes locked on Chad's glowing blue orbs. "Maybe I should look to the dragons. I’m sure they’d be open to distributing instead. After all, I’m fucking one, aren't I?”

His body language shifted. Finally, I’ll see the real lich. Chad's laid-back facade cracked, revealing a glimpse of the cunning intellect beneath. He chuckled, a sound like dry leaves rustling in the wind. "Toki, you're trippin' if you think the dragons can distribute M-Brew on the scale we're talking about. It's just not possible, babe."

M-Brew? What the hells is M-brew?

Before Toki could respond, Chad continued. “If you don’t become a player fast enough, either CJO or Arabica will eat you up. You won’t like what happens to your planet if that happens. Go with the dragons. Be my guest.”

Coffee?

Arabica is one of the coffee giants. Is this struggle for herbs? Toki's mind raced, trying to make sense of Chad's words. What did that have to do with anything? But she kept her confusion hidden behind a mask.

“Your loss then. Go ahead and explain to the undead empire why they aren’t getting their M-Brew.”

Chad balked, his skeletal hands raised in mock surrender. "Whoa, whoa, slow your roll, girl. What brought this on. Our negotiations were going smoothly. We’re giving you what you need.”

“What we need has changed.”

“That's on the negotiating team, not me."

Toki shook her head. "No, Chad. It's up to you. This whole thing happens or falls apart based on your word. I can let everyone in right now: the dragons, the Oathbreakers, the Corinthians, then it’ll be a party. This business will be meaningless. War’s coming and if you can’t help secure the M-Brew, then what good is it?" I have no idea if Golgheim's old enemies are involved, but namedropping them seems appropriate.

The lich leaned back, his enchanted clothing shimmering in the dim light. "Hate to break it to you, but from what I understand, the world trial is a done deal. You don't have any leverage here, Toki. If you don’t give it to us, we’ll still come down and get it along with everyone else.."

"I’m a Prime and I hold three votes. The world trial only happens if and when I say it happens. How are you going to get down here? Marsha set up the blockade. I decide who has exclusivity." I only hold two, but One isn’t going to vote for a world trial.

The words hung in the air between them, a challenge and a threat all in one. Toki's heart raced, but she refused to back down.

Chad studied her, his glowing eyes unreadable. Toki could practically see the gears turning in his mind. "Look, babe, I can't change the percentages. We already offered the minimum 33% for distribution in exchange for rights of first purchase. That's as low as we can go. Galactic trade ain't cheap." He cocked his head, the eerie blue light in his eye sockets flickering. "What else do you want? We’re already giving you a good deal here."

The Primes got such a good deal? Was this Elara's work? How much were they planning to skim? 66% of a galactic enterprise... That's unbelieveable! Toki took a deep breath, steeling herself. "Three things. First, we need war supplies: food, medicine, and crystals." She held up a finger, then another two in succession. "Two, drop the bounty on me and the marriage sham. And three, send some of your [Elites] to assist me on an escort mission."

I have no idea where the coffee they want is, but I have to assume its in the depths. I'll have to head there with the monkeys, but more [Elites] would help.

A low chuckle escaped Chad's lipless mouth as he moved closer. Their faces were inches apart. "No can do on the second one, sweetheart. That decision was made by dear old dad, and I don't have any sway over it, wife."

Toki stared into his eyes while her heart sank. She refused to let it show. She couldn't afford to appear weak.

Chad leaned forward, his rings clinking softly. "The most I can do is change the bounty to 'capture alive' and form a contract that you can't be turned before dying. That's my only offer. After all, what would the public say if I stabbed my wife in the back?”

The words hit Toki like a punch to the gut. A contract? What good was that? She'd seen firsthand how easily contracts can be broken without leverage. No, she needed something more tangible, more binding.

She met Chad's gaze, her own eyes hard and unyielding. "That's a weak compromise, and you know it. There's nothing holding you to it, no repercussions for going back on your word. A contract's worthless to me."

“Benefits, babe.”

“I need more.”

The lich shrugged, a gesture that looked almost comical on his skeletal frame. "Take it or leave it. That's the best I can do. I'm going out on a limb here."

“Fine, I’ll still put it in writing.” I only have control for six to twelve months before the dragons invade. I’ll take what I can. It's a perfect time to test out [Karma Clause].

Chad's grin widened. "You wound me, wife. I'm a man of my word. When I make a deal, I stick to it."