anwhile...
[Ya know, I still can’t get over the fact that we’re stuck here and unable to hear exactly what the maestro is saying to these people to get them all riled up like that,] Hurricroak complained. [It’s honestly unfair.]
[At least we now know where the Ringmaster is located,] Springerdermain pointed out while staring at the map screen showing that their creator was located in so place called Papaya Town. [Side note, should we be worried that he sohow traveled a little over three thousand miles in about three days?]
[Maybe.]
[Everybody, hush!,] Nepeherage interjected. [Our lord is being confronted for so reason.]
[Say less!]
...Now back to the stars of this scene...
’Alright, let’s hope these guys don’t dawdle on paying the hostage prize. My insides feel like they’re on fire.’
[I think they literally are on fire, Executioner. That weird fla from earlier is just sorta floating around your formula...]
’Great...’
...The aforentioned negotiations...
Silence.
That was the response Zhen Liu initially received from the Cortez Company warriors after he had made his terms known.
Demanding compensation after a battle wasn’t that odd, but it was usually done to prevent
However, once the Cortez Company fully registered Zhen Liu’s words, they were more or less outraged and confused.
^I...what?^
^What?!^
^Seriously?!^
^Dead serious,^ Zhen Liu replied while looking over the Cortez Company Army and the two injured Grandmasters. ^Keep in mind, I also did y’all a solid by not letting Lythero’s flas here turn you guys into charred lamb skewers and holding back when I was tossing around your leaders like ragdolls. I fully expect compensation for such selfless acts.^
Monts ago, the Cortez Company warriors saw Zhen Liu, the one they know as Dealmaker, as an enigmatic force of nature. Now, they just couldn’t help but to think that he was just a materialistic opportunist!
...
[As slick as a snake oil salesman, Executor.]
’Shut up.’
...
Shaless.
That was the only word that could accurately describe what the Cortez Company thought of Dealmaker’s blatant demands.
Hell, this was the word that was going through Lythero’s head as well. Unlike the Cortez Company though, he could ask Zhen Liu for so much needed clarification.
^Hey, Zhen Liu,^ Lythero began to ask in a whispered tone while keeping his sword to Kendana’s throat. ^What the fuck are you doing?! Don’t taint my revenge with sothing so-^
^Tainting it? Perish the thought!,^ Zhen Liu retorted in an equally whispered tone. ^I am simply using this mont to help you gain so much needed compensation, leaving a permanent mark on those who wronged you and making sure the next part of your revenge is more or less unimpeded.^
^I-wait, what?^
^If you kill everyone here, then your real target of revenge will notice and probably prepare himself accordingly. However, if you blackmail the everloving shit out of his subordinates, not only will they pay you to keep their lives, but then they’ll be so scared of pissing off either their benefactors or you and be forced to stay silent on the matter. Either way, reputation takes a massive hit and you go from forgettable killer to number one face slapper. I.e., soone who can drum up support from people who disrespects/hates Duke Diamoro,^ Zhen Liu explained.
At the revelation of this insane line of reasoning, Lythero found himself stunned and silent.
Evidently, he didn’t think this deeply in regards to his revenge on the Duke and his subordinates. He was just gonna slaughter everyone in his way and be done with it.
’Master Crow did say I had a bad habit of just thinking in the imdiate now and not in the far flung future,’Lythero thought to himself. ^Maybe there’s so rit to this...^
^Just let do the talking,^ Zhen Liu assured Lythero before turning his attention to a certain pair of Grandmasters that were attempting to escape unnoticed. ^As well, let find so people with a bit more authority...^
...
^Okay, nice and easy...^
^Dude, you don’t need to say that right now.^
^I know, but still...^
In the ti it took Dealmaker to address the crowd of watching soldiers, Rama had t up with Leon and the two had begun to try and sneak back behind ally lines.
Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.
^Hey there!^
^Ah!^
^Dammit, no!^
Before Leon and Rama could leave, Dealmaker appeared behind the both of them and proceeded to grab them by the back of their clothes like they were kittens.
In that instant, Leon and Rama felt an intense pressure that instantly pierced through their [Regalia] and imdiately began to press down on them. In that exact mont, they understood that Dealmaker was actually holding back in their earlier battle.
^Okay, it’s been a long night and I assu that the two of you have families waiting at ho and praying for your safeties,^ Dealmaker said as if he was their caring superior. ^So I’m going to ask so pertinent questions, directions and your cooperation. Sound good?^
At this question, Leon and Rama were all set to shout out obscenities and statents of defiance. However, Zhen Liu interrupted them with a statent that forced their compliance.
^Please note that unless the next word out of your mouth isn’t an imdiate "yes", I will slam your heads together with increasing ferocity until I’m simply clapping together the liquid remnants of your respective brains. Are we understood?^
As aether warriors, both Rama and Leon were used to making threats and being threatened by their peers. However, the sheer brutal honesty coming out of Dealmaker’s mouth made them as nervous as slaves before a cruel master.
This was a rather humbling day, and they were becoming more and more humble by the second.
^I said, are we understood?^
^Y-yes,^ Rama managed to spit out.
^W-whatever you say,^Leon muttered
^Good,^ Dealmaker said with a smile. ^Now then, let’s start with the obvious, in the event that your boss is rendered indispose of, who among you two is in charge of the administrative stuff? Negotiaons, resource acquisition and financial records, that kind of thing.^
^I-I am,^ Leon weakly answered.
^Makes sense,^ Dealmaker nodded before turning towards Rama. ^I suppose that would make you the security leader and the guy in charge of protecting all the assets gathered for the company, right?^
^T-that’s correct,^ Rama answered, a terrible feeling of anticipation building up in his stomach.
^So that ans, you two can provide access to every vault and chest in your estate and that your army is more or less useless chaff,^ Dealmaker said in a cheery tone of voice that made others think he was talking about an imperfect wheat crop.
^So, why don’t you just order them to either stand down or stay back while you two tell where your treasuress are hidden. And we take everything that we seem to be worth the effort,^ Zhen Liu added, his voice making it sound as if he just finished baking a cake. ^That said, pray that whatever you have in your treasuries is enough to slake our greed and be enough to pay not just for your leader’s life, but yours as well. Now...tell which way your estate is.^
...One short walk later...
[I see you’re letting your evil voice leak out tonight, Executor.]
’It sounded good in the heat of the mont,I regret nothing.’
[Really?]
^No, that threat was pure edgelord cringe. May no records of this mont exist, anywhere.^
[No promises.]
...
^Ah, biggest mansion in the town...that makes sense,^ Dealmaker comnted as he stared up at the front door of the Cortez Trading Company’s property.
After making his threats known to the Grandmasters of the Cortez Company, the reluctant duo had guided him and Lythero back to their estate while also dismissing the army for the evening.
There were murmurs of confusion, but that was soon snuffed out as soon as Zhen Liu unfolded his internal [Chaos] and made everyone assu they were staring at the devil for a hot minute.
It was brief, but it made them get the ssage that there was no hope in this mont...unless they did as he said.
As such, Zhen Liu and Lythero were able to drag the three leaders of the Cortez Trading Company back to the estate without anyone being brave/stupid enough to attempt a rescue.
Not that anybody would be able to do anything effective.
Regardless, now that it was only the five of them on the estate’s ground, Zhen Liu finally decided it was ti to show them all a little parlor trick.
^Lythero, this is going to sound weird, but do you happen to have any coins on hands?^
^Uh...yes,^ Lythero confird after looking through his side pouch. ^Why?^
^I just realized that we don’t have enough hands right now, so I’m going to scrounge up so help. I just need a few coins,^ Zhen Liu said in an ominous tone of voice.
^Don’t worry, you’ll be making your money back and then so.^
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