Lone reached over the table and stored Breena's pitcher of Salient Night Infusion. "You're not allowed to drink this until you tell me you're ready to do so. I'll hold onto it until then, 'kay?"
A sense of relief quite visibly washed over Breena at having the decision, while not taken from her, but complicated with an extra step. She nodded appreciatively. "T-Thank you."
Lone smiled at her. He then reactivated his obvious disguise before storing his refilled bubbling shot glass of distilled suffering, and then did the same for Soph and Sophie's drinks. "You'll have yours at home and I'll finish mine later. Sound good?"
Soph beamed at him warmly. "Mhmm! Is it... safe to touch you?"
"Not yet. Soon though. Well then, what does the C.A.A. want to say, Master Mezro'nan? While my girlfriend can speak for herself, she has stat boosting snacks to munch on, so feel free to see me as her middle man like you are for Olberic's people," Lone said in a friendly tone.
"My only man," Soph muttered before she stuffed what looked like a chocolate bar into her mouth. She moaned slightly in surprise at the heavenly flavour before blushing and proceeding to nibble away. Breena quickly followed suit since she'd been ordered to have half of the treats as well.
"Very well," Master Mezro'nan replied. "Jussst to be clear, I am to act asss a point of firssst contact between Lady Vladimirovich and the Continental Alchemical Asssociation. I wisssh to leave thisss place with a good relationssship with you all. I am acting on behalf of them, but I am not them and their viewsss are not my viewsss. I wanted to make that clear."
"I respect that. Dunno why you were so desperate for this meeting to the point you almost squared off with Lord Brux, and are willing to pay out of the ass for this meal, but yeah, no hard feelings if this goes tits up," Lone said. "I want our relationship to extend beyond this meeting too. I might have a job for you."
Master Mezro'nan tilted his long head inquisitively but didn't pry. "Thank you. Well, I am not privy to what the C.A.A. dissscusssed regarding Lady Vladimirovich before my contact told me what they did, but it to my underssstanding that your quick exit from the city the day after Olberic wasss killed wasss... how to sssay... interpreted how the C.A.A. wissshed to interpret it. A certain number of their higher-upsss believe you to be afraid of them. I wasss not told to keep that from you, in fact, I wasss asssked to ussse it to my advantage. I sssee now that there isss no way for thisss to have been the cassse. A man who ssso easily callsss the Undying Teller by hisss name would not be fearful of a group ssspecialisssed in production, even if they are led by three triple-X-rankersss."
"And I'm sure they looked into Sofia's background, and learned how I'm the leader of our relationship, not that we aren't equals, we are. It's just, well, you know. You're old, right? Probably been in a lot of relationships. Maybe you're married? Committed? I dunno much about your species' culture. Anyway, you and I would have likely ended up talking, so it makes sense they would try to deal with me rather than her since from the outside, I make all of our decisions. Give it to me straight. What are the C.A.A.'s demands? I'm willing to pay reparations to some degree. Olberic deserved to die, but I don't want to burn all bridges with such a large organisation. Hell, I'd even like to be a member," Lone said.
Yulia nodded silently, clearly recalling her conversation with him about the C.A.A. during his first visit to the city.
"I cannot ssspeak on if that isss an option before I sssay what I have been asssked to say. The C.A.A. underssstandsss that Olberic wasss in the wrong. However, they rather collectively do not agree that he ssshould have been murdered. Punissshed? Of courssse. Executed in cold blood? No. Their wordsss, not mine," Master Mezro'nan stated.
Lone snorted in response. "As if. Tell me, if I look into his history, will I ever find an instance of him being punished for sexual harassment? Hell, will I find any evidence of it having happened at all? There is no way in hell an X-ranker chose to become a power-abusing creep for the very first time last month just because he happened to meet the most beautiful woman in the world."
Yulia blushed at how brazenly and unashamedly Lone had praised his lover. Soph's cheeks flushed too as love filled her eyes, all directed at him.
Master Mezro'nan smiled wryly, which looked quite cute actually given he had a big lizard head. "Asss I sssaid, their wordsss, not mine." He put one of his feet on the table and slid a sheet of paper towards Lone as far as he was able to.
Lone's body had cooled enough to not ruin the parchment. Hell, he didn't even need to actively repair his clothes any longer as he had been doing so ever since he had collapsed onto the floor in pain.
He picked up the sheet of paper and read it.
'782 Ruby-gold Coins.'
"Huh. Short letter. I can assume what this means, but care to explain?" Lone asked. 'If I spent a bit of time, I could make that many coins in an afternoon but there is no way at all I'm paying that up front. It would cause unavoidable waves in the global economics. I'm already worried enough as is that the few ruby-gold coins I've injected into the market might get noticed by the guild. Needless to mention it would cause way too many questions and just make us a target to people who don't even know we exist.'
"Thisss isss what the C.A.A. projected they would earn from Olberic Chassse over the next thousssand yearsss," Master Mezro'nan answered.
"And is Sofia expected to pay this back?" Lone followed up.
The Restodian Iglaform nodded. "In a way. The C.A.A. would asssk of her to pay it back in the form of unpaid mercenary work. A C-ranker who could kill an X-ranker isss sssomeone with value. Needlesss to mention how much MP ssshe hasss. The Continental Alchemical Asssociation isss not happy about Olberic'sss death. No matter hisss ssshortcomingsss or persssonality, he wasss ssstill a very ssskilled alchemissst. You know how organisationsss of a sssufficient sssize and age are, Lord Immortusss. They do not wisssh to be enemiesss, but they do want to make up for the lossst potential profitsss."
Lone leaned back in his chair, still feeling a bit too hot for comfort as he sighed. "I'd love to argue how without some incredibly powerful skills, there's no way to know if Olberic wouldn't have been killed by someone else, left the C.A.A., died some other way, or something else entirely, before a thousand years had passed. Us being expected to work off such a large sum is ridiculous. Counteroffer. Give me membership to the C.A.A. and I'll earn back those profits for them, but only half of the requested amount, and on my terms. I ain't slaving away for anyone."
"I can certainly relay your request, but-"
Lone interrupted, "It's my way, or no way at all. That scum deserved a fate worse than death. The C.A.A. should be thankful I'm not offended enough by this outlandish request of theirs to think it a wise idea to storm their HQ and kill as many of them as possible. We can all be reasonable about this. Consequences and benefits, rights? Olberic lusted after my woman, the consequence was death. As a benefit of that, the C.A.A. can now employ me as a freelance alchemist who'll earn them more profits than they could have ever dreamed of."
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'I really don't want to make an enemy out of a potential skill farm, especially one run by three triple-X-rankers, but this is Golden Pass City. Strength speaks louder than words here and they're coming at us with words. That says a lot. If all they care about is profit, then I'll be a certified alchemist soon enough,' Lone reckoned. 'If they choose to kill us, they earn nothing. I don't see a future where they don't look into me more closely and find out how absurdly talented at learning I am and use that to make up for Olberic's losses.'
"And if they refussse thisss counteroffer?" Master Mezro'nan asked.
Lone shrugged. "I have a gut feeling they won't, but assuming they do, then I'll act like they never called in a favour to use you to set up this meeting with me. Trust me though, if they send anyone after me or Sofia in a less than friendly capacity, well, it won't be long before the continent soon forgets it once hosted an Alchemical Association."
'I don't want more enemies, but I won't act like a coward and just capitulate because they're a powerful organisation. I really think it isn't needed, but hey, maybe sharpening my tails on some triple-X-rankers is just what I need to get ready for whatever Zel prepares?' Lone thought, his resolve firm on the matter.
He knew he had just promised Sophie to never fight another X-ranker until he was undefeatable against SSS-rankers, and he intended to keep that promise, but there was little he could do about other people's intentions. Besides, pressure was the best method to grow in this messed up world.
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Mezro was deep in thought as he returned to his small personal magi tower. It had been an interesting day, for sure. Almost fighting the most dangerous man in Golden Pass City - ignoring the prince - wasn't on his planned agenda when he had detected the woman being referred to as Mana Nova by the magical circles of the city.
He took his tuxedo off using freeform earth magic before he deactivated his body fortification magic skill, Titanous Growth. His body immediately shrunk back down to its actual size.
Now about as big as a small dog, he crawled atop his favourite cushion and continued to think. Of course, he also made sure to store his precious wine in such a fashion that it wouldn't degrade. He'd have to consume it soon or invest a lot of money into some sort of magic or container that could preserve it perfectly.
'He really doesssn't fear the asssociation,' Mezro, child of Nan, thought. 'I don't sssee why thisss won't eventually turn into an amiable cooperation sssince both sssidesss are willing to negotiate, but even I could tell he wasss and isss fully prepared for a war with a powerful group of alchemistsss if they choossse to ssseek revenge for Olberic. Where doesss hisss confidence come from? Maybe it isssn't confidence... but acceptance.'
It was often the young that didn't fear death. Their ideals had yet to be untainted by the waves of time. An endless attempt at erosion, however, could and would break down even the loftiest and purest of ideals.
He truly hoped things worked out. He knew little of Sofia Vladimirovich or the foxkin child that followed them, but Lone Immortus was charming and personable in such an odd way that it interested Mezro. 'I think I would very much ssso like it if we could be friendsss. I have too few asss an independent mage.'
Mezro wasn't the strongest X-ranker out there, not even close, but as a citizen of Golden Pass City, he respected strength greatly. He was not a foolish man. He was a coward when his survival demanded that of him.
After all, he had stood on his hind legs to face Guildmaster Brux's aura only to back down with his tail tucked between his legs after only one threat. Admittedly, that one threat had terrified Mezro unlike anything he had ever experienced, but still, it was only one threat.
Lone, however, detailed that he had fought the man and so openly provoked him during their spar, to the point of needing to be saved by the guildmaster's clone. Not only that, but he had even joked during the meal that his head had almost been cut off by an X-ranker of the Crimson Foxkin Clan over a misunderstanding.
Mezro was no fool. He knew what Void was much like how most X-rankers and above did, despite the Church of the Primals' still enforced gag order from 500,000 years ago. He had a good idea which X-ranker might have made an attempt on Lone's life over him being awakening to it.
Clari Redtail was significantly stronger than he was, and he had no chance of leaving a scratch on the ruler of Golden Pass City, so big was the gap between X and XX-rankers. Thus, it only felt natural for him to consider the B-ranked Lone to be worthy of respect and he felt it fitting to call him Lord Immortus, which the Golden Foxkin had never questioned.
"To teach a human my magic though..." He had his reservations despite his desire for a long-lasting friendship with the foxkin and his magical powerhouse of a partner.
After their meal, just before Mezro had to empty out a good portion of his savings from the last decade for the food, Lord Immortus had asked if he would be willing to teach his magic to a young human boy living in the city.
His affinities were for Earth and Body Fortification magic, just like Mezro. His mana organs weren't awakened yet but that could be fixed. Not without risks, yes, but it was entirely possible to jump start the mana heart and brain into functioning. But to do so for a human...
The door to the mage tower's living room swung open as a tall High Elven woman sauntered in. "A little birdie told me you got gifted something rather valuable when you went to complete the favour you owed me, Mezzy."
Mezro closed his eyes and sighed, resting his head on his front legs, not bothering to get up from his curled up position. "Even if you are asss family to me, you ssshould ssstill knock before coming unannounced. Do I need to revoke you from the tower'sss whitelissst?"
The A-ranked elf laughed before she approached him, scooped him up, and placed him on her lap as she sat on the cushion he had been occupying only a moment ago. "Mother and Father would be heartbroken to hear you speaking like that to me. If you did remove me, they might even force you back to the estate."
"Missster and Misssesss Arfur'an would underssstand, I'm sssure," he replied as he let her scratch his head.
She pouted. "Well someone's happy to have finally paid off that debt that they insisted existed, huh?"
"Indeed, though it resssulted in me landing in the debt of another. The gift you mentioned? I only received it becaussse Lord Immortusss isss acquainted with the Undying Teller," Mezro replied.
'Though to erassse thisss new debt, I need only make a human my disssciple...' he thought.
"Well? Don't keep me in suspense! What was she like? Mana Nova, I mean! The one that killed that pig! Did she accept the offer? Reject it? Oh! Did she attack you? You don't look injured... Intimidation, maybe? I watched a mana recording of her killing Olberic. She was so cool! Wish I was there in person and not stuck boiling some pointless pills," the girl who had grown up being cared for by him asked. "Who even needs twice-refined Elbow Sensitivity Pills? Waste of ingredients if you ask me, time too, but I guess money is money."
"Ssshe ate sssnacksss and lissstened asss Lord Immortusss ssspoke on her behalf," he answered. "And thossse pillsss are for your training, no? I alssso doubt anyone would want sssuch a ssspecific pill. Congratulationsss for ssstarting your exotic alchemic training, by the way."
"Thanks! You're probably right, but I swear Herb Lord Griselle was a bit too eager to see me make them... Anyway, you're calling him a Lord? My, oh my, that is interesting! And the offer?" the elf pushed.
"Rejected, underssstandably. When their only point of contact with the asssociation was Chassse, a vague offer of working asss a mercenary for them to pay off clossse to a thousssand ruby-gold coinsss would make anyone sssceptical beyond belief," Mezro said.
The elven woman nodded enthusiastically. "Well, it was never meant to be accepted. Olberic has so many enemies in the association. Now that we've made a show of contacting his killer, we can drop the whole thing. Can't tread on Prince Keining's toes too much, right? Or The Adventurer's Guild. Despite how much certain people think that wouldn't be the stupidest decision since I was arranged to marry that fool."
"Do not remind me of that time. Your father regretsss it too much. It isss alwaysss brought up in dissscusssionsss with him, by him. But yesss, you could drop the whole thing, although, a counter offer wasss proposssed by Lord Immortusss," Mezro alluded to.
"Ohh! Don't be coy with me, Mezzy! Spill! What'd he suggest instead?" the elf asked excitedly, ignoring the comment about her father.
"To be hired asss a freelance alchemissst," Mezro answered plainly.
"Oooohhh they'll hate that! I love it. I knew it was a good idea to insist on sending a family friend instead of a member. I'm gonna need-"
"No, do not tell me your plansss. My part isss done, my favour owed to you hasss been completed. I've had a long day, and while I enjoy your ssscratchesss and general company, I have sssome wine to partake in and sssome unwinding to do," Mezro interrupted.
The elf pouted but relented, getting up and placing the far more powerful person in the room back on his cushion. "You're such a stick in the mud, just like Father is. You be boring here in your tower then, I'm off to make some old idiots lose even more of what little hair they have left."
Mezro smiled faintly as he watched the young A-ranker leave his residence. Before long, his mind drifted back to the request of becoming a magical master for a human child. "I ssshould at leassst meet the boy before deciding anything. My viewsss are my viewsss, but I do owe Lord Immortusss at leassst sssome ssserious consssideration for what being in hisss presssence afforded me."