Joker's words made the two old n feel a bit tongue tied.
They don't how to answer that question. Why does Joker need to answer the questions? In their heads there is one answer.
'Because they are asking him.'
However, Gungnir is sure that they cannot give that answer. Joker is the most mysterious being that he has ever co across. He has even seen the projection of gods and bathed in their celestial radiance. But this joker appeared even more elusive.
No one physically saw him. No one knows his true face. No one knows his abilities. No one knows what he can actually do.
Everything about him is a mystery.
Everything related to him is unknown.
Where did he co from?
Why did he put such a vast thing like hub in open?
Why did he hire the people who were hostile to the academies as the managers of the hub?
No one knows.
Even though all the academies are hostile with hub as of now, they still don't know anything about hub or the hub's intentions. And they are nowhere near finding any information in that regard.
Everyone's investigation has stagnated for such a long ti that they want to bash their heads to a piece of cotton and die right there.
If they at least knew him, they could try to force him to give that information. However, what could they do now?
Except for properly offer sothing? But even that is difficult. Because no one knows what this guy needs.
Can they give him rewards like money and resources? Can they give him influence and power? Can they give him blueprints or recipes? These things would have made everyone else agree, but both old n looked at the Hub and then exchanged a glance.
Right now, Hub is the undisputed richest entity in the whole of the academy realm. Hub basically is the reservoir of every single coin that originally belonged to the academy realm. The designs and blueprints of the hub are way ahead of theirs.
The resources…. They don't have to talk about it.
They stood there in awkward silence. So awkward that even the crickets didn't make a sound.
"It seems like you are unable to answer that question. Why don't you go back and think it through?"
Bloody Chariot sighed.
"Enough gas. We need information. What's the deal?"
"Deal? I don't want to deal with you guys. In fact, I won't be dealing with anyone from the academy realm anymore. I will leave this place after my contract ends. And you won't even be able to find my traces even if all of your gods combined co to find ."
"It seems like you don't know all too well. I am called a bloody chariot for a reason. I can chase you to the ends of not just this world, any world if I want to.
And, I saw your contract. Every student's contract will end once they graduate from the academy. That ans, you need to stay until the current first year students graduate.
Do you know how many years it will take?
They need to go from the Divine Plane Initiation to Divine Plane transcendence. Do you think I won't be able to do anything to you in that long while?
Who knows, by then I might have even uprooted the whole hub.
But I am not here for that. So, just tell us what you want in exchange for the information."
"You cannot afford to make deals with . And I don't make losing deals."
"Don't beat around the bush and tell us what you need."
"Oh? You sure sound confident. Then fine. Go ahead and pay fifty million gold coins each."
Both Gungnir and Bloody Chariot stiffened. They had the urge to beat him to death. Looking at their expressions Joker smiled and said.
"Alright, I will make a deal with you guys. But in exchange I need sothing that only you can do."
"What would it be?"
"Sign a contract of security. You two are to provide with the protection. Or to be precise you have to guard the Hub branches of both the Olympian city and the Norse City.
I don't want so random idiot just going against the hub building just because they were effected by so other idiot's deliberate plan."
He said as his gaze lingered over Gungnir. He sized him up and down in disdain.
"That is impossible. Even you should know by now that the people of the academy realm long stopped being the fools you thought they were.
There is no denying that your involvent is there in the current state of the academy realm."
"Of course, I won't deny that my involvent is there. But I don't think it is voluntary. You are acting as if I deliberately established this hub, created complex contracts by myself and then made you all forcefully sign it.
Then I contributed so of the most valuable research data to ever exist in the exchange center, all to just ss with you.
Do you really that a person that can do all this, will have to hesitate and play in this roundabout manner just to get back at you?
I can rage the academy realm upside down with my abilities and none of you would be able to do jack shit about it.
Even if I want to do it in a roundabout way, you won't even be able get a whiff of what is happening, until you are burying your own body in your own grave.
So, please mind the accusations.
It is already great that I didn't take the anger out on the whole academy realm for the stupid things your students are doing.
And now even the elders are joining."
Joker lied through his teeth and his voice grew more and more intense as he spoke. He appeared exasperated.
"You dared to co here and flex your spear throws in front of . If only I hadn't given that word…."
Joker's expression shifted as if he said that sothing he shouldn't have. He imdiately turned around and said.
"If you agree to this, then we can proceed forward. If not, then please don't bother .
But I have to tell you one thing. Right now, only the puppets ca and you already know that the strength of those puppets is not exactly high. There is a reason for that. And sooner or later, there will be more than puppets here.
Even if you think that you can stop them, I am afraid you will face nothing but bitter disappointnt. You will lose so much that you would feel despair even after winning in the end."
Joker's projection disappeared.
Both Gungnir and Bloody Chariot felt conflicted. They didn't know what to say, but they went back. They didn't understand the exact motives of Joker and the Hub.
They indeed suspected that the hub is involved and there is also that connection that Bloody Chariot explored between Sam and the Hub. He is sure that sothing is fishy. But the way Joker talked… it almost seed like the world is subjecting him to so unfair treatnt.
He is conflicted.
Gungnir is the sa.
anwhile. Back in the hub. Sam heaved a sigh of relief as both of them left. His aim was only one thing and one thing alone. Bluff the shit out of those two and make sure that they believe all the bullshit that he says.
He was hoping that they wouldn't lose their shit and directly attack the Hub. It would have been very hard for him to defend against them. Not like he couldn't. He definitely could, but the price would have been atrocious.
Also, he had other plans.
That is why he added that new type of puppets and the new story that accompanied them.
The night passed and it is soon dawn.
Finally, Bloody Chariot ca back alone, while Gungnir took his students and went back to the Thor academy. The final round of battle between both academies has been put on halt.
"Why are you here alone? Is your friend not coming?"
Joker asked Bloody Chariot.
"He is not my friend and he went back."
"Okay, are you sure you want to make this exchange. I will still be okay with revealing the information to you, for the protection. But I don't know if you will believe that this is worth it."
"I am willing to consider, but we might need to negotiate so conditions."
"Sure, I am open for business in that regard. But I doubt there is much we can change. My conditions are simple and straightforward. Like always."
Bloody Chariot coughed at the word 'always'
Hub's contract is anything but simple. There are few things as complicated as that.
Both of them started the discussion and soon found a common ground.
"So, now. Are you ready to reveal the information?"
"Alright. First, answer this question. How many realms do you think are there in this existence?"
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