Roughly two-thirds of their trial time had passed, and everyone was gearing up for a final push. They wanted to get the meeting with Zaltom out of the way. So Alistair, Riseth, and Nessyra had arranged a meeting with Zaltom for today and were making their way through one of the many rings of the Nurturing Wards. Unlike Sol's palace, Zaltom's base was outwardly modest, nestled into the side of the ring with an unassuming entrance. However, upon entering, they were greeted by luxury in the form of a modern lobby adorned with rich red carpets and plush black leather couches. Approaching a sizable obsidian desk, they found a red-skinned succubus seated expectantly at the reception. Alistair couldn't help but notice the numerous crystals embedded into the walls, presumably functioning as surveillance cameras to monitor their movements. The lobby was infused with a pleasant perfume, and the lighting from the crystal chandeliers struck a perfect balance between gentle and illuminating.
"Good Fortune. I am Nessyra Ryser, accompanied by our esteemed clan patriarch and matriarch. We have come for the scheduled meeting with Zaltom." Nessyra said with a toothy smile.
"Of course, Clan Ryser, we have been expecting you if you would follow me?" The Succubus said, leading them to one of the metal barriers, which Alisair presumed were elevators.
The succubus spot behind the desk was seamlessly replaced by another, this time one with chocolate skin and long, curled black hair. As Alistair observed the seamless exchange, the newcomer glanced at him, flashing a flirtatious smile. She looked him up and down as they waited for the elevator. Alistair diverted his gaze and noticed Riseth looking at him. He gave her a reassuring smile as they stepped into the richly decorated elevator. Alistair could feel the elevator rapidly descend. He looked about and noticed just how lavish the elevator was, with the expensive-looking red carpet, gold plating, and black marble walls. Nesyra was drilling him on some etiquette as they descended, and they decided it would be best for her to do the talking unless he was addressed directly. Alistair was to address Zaltom as Arbiter and, under no circumstances, make any promises or accept requests without demanding something in return. The elevator came to a halt, and they stepped out while the succubus receptionist remained in the elevator, closing behind them.
They entered a luxury suite with black marbled floors and even more elaborate magic carpets displaying a sea of fire that seemed to move if not observed directly. At the room's end, a panoramic glass wall unveiled a mesmerizing vista of a magma chamber, its molten streams cascading with a hypnotic allure. Streams of lava flowed from the ceiling of the chamber, giving a mesmerizing display. Amidst the opulence, both familiar and otherworldly furnishings adorned the space. Alistair could make out two black leather couches facing each other over an obsidian table with strange decorative statues or containers upon them. The setup wasn't too dissimilar to what he had encountered in Sol's room. Still, he had read that Neshan CEOs liked to do business in comfort, like over dinner, and had many similarities to what one would expect from the Italian mafia. Fortunately, they were valued enough to be dealt with in a more casual setting, as it would have been a bad sign if they were led to his desk by one of his secretaries.
A tall and muscular demoness entered the room, her imposing figure adorned with large red horns and fiery red hair cascading down her back. Her face was square yet friendly, and she wore a light, glittery dress that accentuated her frame, catching the eye effortlessly. Alistair recognized her as a high-tier racial evolution, likely belonging to the wrath subspecies. His Identify Skill revealed her as [Satari Zekaria - lvl 53 Ragevex Fury]. His improved appraisal skill had even revealed her race. He presumed her to be one of his wives from a political marriage. He recognized the name from their last meeting. As far as he remembered, they were some kind of arms manufacturer. This was quickly confirmed by Nessyra, who informed him that Zekaria Corp was the largest weapons and arms manufacturer on Neshan over their link and requested him to be as polite as possible.
"Welcome to our abode. May fortune smile upon your clan," Satari extended her invitation graciously. "Would you care to join us for dinner?"
Alistair had been briefed on what to expect. There was an elaborate etiquette in Neshan culture, and depending on the setting, one knew what to expect. Being called in front of a desk would be one of the worst outcomes as it would mean that you were viewed as the lesser party beholden to the other. On the flip side, being invited to dinner was one of the best outcomes, as it showed hospitality and marked the beginning of a less intense negotiation.
"Thank you. May fortune bless your house and the Arbiter," Nessyra replied warmly. "We would be delighted to join."
As Satari led them through the corridor, Alistair couldn't help but admire the opulence around them. Golden interwoven constructs held glowing gems aloft, casting a warm, inviting light reminiscent of candelabras. Alistair had noticed the smell of delicious foods wafting through the air since they had entered the suite and could not wait to try out the food. They entered a large dining room. In the center was a large obsidian table stacked with all kinds of foods, none of which Alistair recognized.
Seated at the head of the table was Zaltom, slightly smaller in stature compared to Alistair. He wore a similar black suit adorned with a red tie, complemented by a richly decorated velvet shirt underneath. Zaltom's obsidian-colored skin contrasted with the soft red glow emanating from his four draconic-looking eyes, accentuating the golden irises. Two large, elaborately curled obsidian horns adorned his head, adding to his imposing presence. His sharp facial features exuded intelligence and wit, complemented by a bald head and a pointed red beard. Alistair noticed that three plates were set out on one side of the table, the middle chair being noticeably bigger than the other two. Alistair had learned to reduce his size somewhat, but it cost him mana and some focus to maintain. It still meant that many of his favorite seats were now too small for him.
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"Ah, Clan Ryser, fortune to you. I welcome you to my abode. Please, take a seat and join me," Zaltom greeted warmly, an oppressive sense of power behind his request.
"Thank you, Arbiter. May fortune smile upon you," Nessyra responded, speaking as the representative of their clan.
After a deep bow and pleasantries out of the way, they took their seats near the head of the table, with Nessyra sitting closest to Zaltom. Satari joined them, sitting next to Zaltom and opposite Nessyra. Nessyra and Zaltom engaged in some small talk before everyone began grabbing some of the Alien foods. Alistair could make out some foods he recognized, like meat roasts and fish. There were just as many masses of what he presumed to be pasta, eyeballs, insects, and unknown fruit and vegetables. The largest standout was a large lizard that had been spit-roasted in the center, and Alistair could not help his curiosity as he used magic to cut and float over some of the meat to try while loading his plate with some of the less alien-looking vegetables.
The taste of the long, tuber-like vegetables reminded him of watermelons, which wasn't at all what he had expected. Surprisingly, the lizard tasted like a mix of fish and chicken with a slight gamey undertone. He enjoyed it, especially with a red sauce that tasted like a somewhat sweet curry, where he had expected tomatoes. Turning his attention back to Nessyra, he noted them talking about the current state of affairs, particularly about the natural gods neighboring Neshan, until Zaltom turned his attention to Alistair.
"Speaking of natural gods, I'm certain Sol isn't thrilled about his decision to recognize the Ryser clan as a Neshan faction," Zaltom suggested, his gaze fixed on Alistair.
Alistair paused, setting down the trident-like fork. "I presume this agreement was made before my racial evolution? What were the terms, if I may ask?"
Zaltom grinned, revealing long, sharp fangs. "Indeed. While he had larger matters on his mind, Sol was content to relinquish his claim in exchange for some minor concessions and as a gesture of goodwill."
Alistair furrowed his brows. "Not to offend, but Sol has no claim on me. All I agreed to was cooperation with him."
Zaltom chuckled. "Indeed. It's a delicate dance, isn't it? Sol may be restrained by our agreement, but I still hold sway in certain matters." A predatory smile played on his lips.
Nessyra did not have to tell him, but it was obvious that Zaltom was trying to establish a dialogue by laying out the agreements in place, hinting that while Sol could not interfere, Zaltom still could. Despite everything going on, Alistair's instincts told them that Zaltom was not trying to use him, a sense he had not gotten from Sol.
Nessyra cleared her throat as she got Zaltom's attention. "We appreciate your assistance. Our aim is to establish a stable presence beyond Neshan and Earth. We seek agreements that ensure mutual benefit and amicable relations," she stated diplomatically, veiling the true depth of their intentions.
"Indeed, I am sure we can reach an agreement that benefits everyone involved," Zaltom replied, shifting his attention to Satari, who had been silent until now.
Following a brief exchange of looks with Zaltom, Satari addressed Nessyra directly. "It has come to our attention that your clan has claimed a trial world containing technology that could be of interest to Neshan," she stated, pausing momentarily before continuing. "Perhaps a mutually beneficial exchange is in order to formalize our relations?"
Nessyra hesitated for a short moment as she took a small bite from her fork that had impaled a piece of lizard meat. "That would be correct. What can you offer us in return?"
"As you seek to establish your corporate headquarters outside of Neshan, maintaining a presence there may pose challenges. Zakaria Corp. proposes to serve as an intermediary, managing a branch under the Ryser clan's name with the Arbiter's approval. In exchange, we request access to the technology discovered on the trial world and future discoveries at fair rates when conducting trade with Neshan," Satari explained.
Nessyra glanced at Alistair and Riseth, who nodded, giving her the signal to handle as she saw fit.
"I cannot consent to Zakaria Corp. operating under the Ryser clan's name. However, provided the terms are agreeable, we are open to sharing our discoveries and engaging Zakaria Corp. as our intermediary; of course, we still seek the arbiter's approval of our Clan," Nessyra responded.
There was a short, tense pause where Zaltom and Satari exchanged looks, and Alistair was sure they had their own version of the Akashic Link to communicate.
"This is mostly acceptable for Zekaria Corp.; the details can be worked out at a later date. However, the Arbiter's approval is not something I can give." Satari declared, casting a glance towards Zaltom.
Alistair knew that most of this was steeped in theatrics and tradition. They weren't trying particularly hard to trick them or get concessions as a show of good faith. Alistair perceived it as a waste of time as both sides now knew what the other wanted. However, he would respect the culture and continue to observe. As expected, Zaltom agreed to approve the Ryser clan, recognizing their Neshan origin. This meant he would not interfere with their business and would guarantee fair dealings between them and other corporations in his role as the Arbiter.
Riseth, who did not care much for negotiations and was already familiar with such events, hardly paid attention as she continued to try out the foods on offer. Alistair, on the other hand, absentmindedly ate some of that spit-roasted lizard, still keenly observing the exchange while levitating what looked like a winged fish on his plate. He found the obvious pretense they engaged in strange. But on the other hand, he appreciated that any statement made could be considered binding as soon as both parties verbally agreed. This made it so that any negotiations could be brought to paper without one party constantly having a change of heart, speeding up the overall process.
Zaltom's sudden clapping drew attention back to him. "Excellent. With the more mundane negotiations concluded, let us now solidify our bonds in earnest. Might the Ryser clan entertain the prospect of a political alliance through marriage?" His gaze fixed squarely on Nessyra.