The division of the loot proceeded far more smoothly than anyone had anticipated. With Volkov's leader, Dravic, confird dead within the tomb-and with undeniable evidence of his attempt to betray previous faction agreents -Julian seized the opportunity with masterful diplomacy.
He spoke calmly, offered condolences where needed, and subtly guided every discussion back toward "fairness" and "mutual benefit." Yet behind that practiced smile, Ery knew precisely what his Roman friend was doing. Julian had already struck a private deal with Guskov-Dravic's cousin and the highest-ranking surviving grand magus. Nova Roma would officially back Guskov as the new faction lord, testifying before the Volkov's elders that Guskov himself had tried to stop Dravic's treacherous actions. In exchange, Guskov agreed to cent a deeper alliance with Nova Roma-one that would leave his entire faction leaning heavily toward Julian for decades to co.
The results were subtle, but decisive. Though Guskov left with a satisfying divide of treasure and resources, the truth was clear to Ery: Volkov was no longer an independent faction. It was an extension of Nova Roma now, a silent absorption achieved through political grace rather than war.
Ery was not surprised. Julian truly possessed the ambition and talent for conquest.
Yet there remained one delicate matter: Ery's own share.
As per the preliminary agreent, each grand magus involved in the expedition was entitled to ten percent of the total haul, with the faction leader claiming the first pick. But Ery's contribution was impossible to ignore-he had essentially prevented the entire vault from exploding. Julian acknowledged that without Ery, none of them would have survived the tomb.
Still... Julian was Julian.
He arrived at the discussion table with a confident smile and an offer that felt both generous and cunning.
"Fifty percent of Nova Roma's share," he said, spreading out the inventory list before Ery. "That's twenty-five percent of the entire haul. A fair acknowledgnt of what you've done."
Objectively, an extraordinary offer, yet Ery could see the layers beneath the offer. If one counted the fact that Julian would soon effectively own Volkov... then he had maneuvered himself into owning almost seventy-five percent of the total gains.
Still, Ery didn't protest. He had received so of the most valuable treasures regardless:
Among the eight most valuable items-the five tier-7 artifacts, the two white golems, and the colossal gold golem, Ery obtained five. Two white golems, the pendant, the hamr, and the armor. Their worth outweighed mountains of raw resources.
But Julian's offer, of course, ca with a catch.
"In exchange," the Roman said lightly, swirling a cup of tea, "I'll need half the production rights of whatever you create using Randhall's legacy.
Julian spoke with the confidence of a statesman who already saw the next decade of his faction mapped like a city plan. "With the Volkov infrastructure, my funding, and Randhall's legacy in your hands," he said, leaning forward with that diplomatic smile he always wore when about to corner soone, "what do you think? This could be the beginning of a long, profitable cooperation."
Ery smiled warmly but reservedly. He admired Julian's ability to build, to negotiate, to expand. He even trusted him-for now. But he also saw the strings attached.
This was Julian trying to pull him into his ambition, to make him part of the empire he was so painstakingly constructing. And why wouldn't he? Compared to the scattered remnants of Volkov, Ery himself was a walking treasury: his apothecary business, his connections through the half-blood and lower realms factions, and now Randhalss's priceless legacy.
It wasn't a bad arrangent-not exploitative, and certainly not sothing Ery would object to if he were looking to settle under soone's banner. But that wasn't his path. Not now. Not when he had his own quiet ambitions beginning to take shape. And more importantly, Ery knew that stepping into a long-term pact with Julian would an tying strings between them that might one day break their friendship.
So he countered with his own proposal. Not a partnership, but a service.
He would send the artisan golem, which possessed Randhall's techniques and schematics-along with VIA's intelligence and the workforce of the worker golems. For twenty years, Nova Roma could use them to establish the new enterprise. In return, Ery requested an upfront paynt of three billion spirit stones and a ten percent cut of all future products based on Randhall's blueprints.
Julian's brows lifted at that. Despite his growing power, he was financially stretched. He didn't have three billion ready. He would need to borrow from the Alliance Bank. Still, he negotiated fiercely, challenging the price and demanding concessions. In the end, Ery agreed to part with the tier 7 hamr and extend the service contract to thirty years.
That sealed the deal.
Both sides left the table satisfied-yet fully aware of the dance they had just perford.
After signing the agreent, Julian gave Ery a hopeful look.
"Are you sure we cannot be true partners?" he asked. "I ant what I said. I'm willing to share half of my empire with you!"
Ery held his gaze for a mont before answering. He offered a polite smile -one of appreciation, not acceptance. Ery knew the man behind the words. A ruler like Julian could never truly divide half of anything, not with his ambition, not with the laws that governed the sovereign's path. It wasn't deceit as much as instinct; Julian was simply incapable of dividing his throne. And Ery... his own ambition had begun to take shape.
The two n understood each other without speaking. The grin that passed between them was both cordial and cautious, an acknowledgnt of trust and of the boundaries that must remain. They raised their glasses and toasted-a silent agreent to remain allies, perhaps even friends, but never entangled in chains that either might co to resent.
With the deal sealed and the discussions finally concluded, Ery exhaled a long, steady breath. The spirit stone transfer would arrive soon enough, and just as he began laying the first stones of that plan, his long-awaited allies
finally arrived.
The group from Terra City.
For a mont, Ery was struck by a wave of surprise-followed by even more surprise as he noticed another delegation trailing behind them. Draped in elegant golden fabrics, displaying the crest of a wealthy and notoriously proud family, was Tessa Karat of the Karat Faction. Her posture was composed, her expression confident, and the mont she saw Ery, she offered a smile.
"I heard about your intentions," she said, "My grandfather sent to assist, to
pay his debt."
Ery opened his mouth to greet her-only to sense another presence behind
her.
A familiar elderly grand magus figure stepped forward, wearing a grin that was both smug and mischievous.
"Heheheh... and as for ... I'm here so you can finally pay back your debt!"
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This chapter concludes the month of November, and once again, I would like to express my gratitude for your support. I hope it has been an enjoyable read.
Spoiler for next month's chapter will be Ery expanding his power. Thank you so much for your continued support and patience. I truly appreciate it, and I look forward to sharing more with you in the coming month.
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