The Undying Magician - Book 3 - Chapter 14 - Negotiations

                                                                    Inside of the Office
                                                       Year 2850 | Month 4 | Day 20

Antonio barely stops himself from gaping at the woman at her words. Because there shouldn’t have been a method available to someone as supposedly young as the so called prince to remove miasma. Not unless he has death mana.

And no one can have more than one affinity of magic.

Are they bluffing? They have to be bluffing.

As mocking his thoughts, the miasma in the room slowly begins to fade away. But despite it happening, Antonio can’t see anything other than a very faint flash of black and purple light coming from the Undying Magician’s direction. One that he can only assume is a magic circle but can’t prove in any way.

They can… they can really remove miasma from the air?!

The lower class woman across the table from him simply smiles without any real difference now than in her previous smile. But despite that, he can’t help but feel like she’s mocking him on the inside now.

And that realization alone makes him clench his fists in rage beneath the table where no one can see. He almost attacks her point blank right now even, only barely managing to hold himself back when he sees the crimson eyes of the vampire behind her glaring into his own blue eyes.

It isn’t until nearly half a minute passes that Antonio realizes he had fallen silent without getting any answer to his question, leaving an awkward lull in the discussion.

“But I’m sure even if you are capable of removing the miasma from an area, wouldn’t having our technology help make the process more efficient?” Antonio states despite knowing that he’s grasping at straws at this point.

The infuriating woman shakes her head with a regretful smile and responds, “I apologize, but we have no use for the devices.” Then her smile grows friendly again as she asks, “Aside from the knowledge on the elements, do you have anything else that we wouldn’t be able to get from trading with others who are already within the inner ring? Because as you well know, trade with closer neighbors would be more lucrative for us.”

Antonio grinds his teeth at the woman’s remark but outwardly remains calm.

This throws are entire plan in jeopardy! If he can already clear the miasma in the city, then we can’t bug the place or poison it!

A few seconds pass in silence as he tries to figure out something else to trade with the Undying Magician, only for his eyes to suddenly widen as a possibility comes to mind and he asks, “What would you think about a way to communicate with the world outside of the Kingdom? We could get you in contact with the Republic should you desire. In an exchange, of course.”

Antonio finds his diplomatic smile once more in place, feeling assured of his offer.

Until the Undying Magician shakes his head, personally answering instead of using the lower class woman this time, “No need.”

Antonio finds himself freezing up again as he waits for clarification on why the Undying Magician doesn’t care about contacting the Republic. But then he remembers the current situation in the Republic and berates himself for even offering that solution.

Who the fuck would want to go back to a nation that’s on all-out-war against Class S magicians?!

The magician furiously searches for things he could offer the Undying Magician and the Undying Caverns that could set up a relationship of any kind with them, but no matter what he can’t think of anything.

So he eventually gives in and says, “We would like to trade with you knowledge on the fire element and any other element you currently need in exchange for the Undying Magician’s assistance.”

This time the Undying Magician steps forward up to the woman’s side with his arms crossed as he asks, “Would this agreement be of the mercenary sort?”

“Indeed, it would,” Antonio states, barely making it out through his gritted teeth.

“Then let’s negotiate the terms,” the Undying Magician speaks with a slight quirk to his lips. One expressing his amusement with the situation.

And that amusement alone almost pushes Antonio over the edge into his usual rage. But he once more holds himself back because he isn’t suicidal. He knows that he wouldn’t stand a chance against the Undying Magician even if he is a better magician than him.

Because no Class C or even Class B magician alone can stand up to the undying.

“Lets,” Antonio eventually says with a nod of his head.

At this rate I won’t be able to get into the Undying Caverns at all, much less plant a bug or sabotage the place. Which’ll mean a change of plans entirely from the Lord’s previous plans.

He grimaces at the thought.

It also means I’ll be punished when I get back.

Antonio isn’t entirely sure what the punishment will be, but he knows it’ll be coming regardless. And he knows it won’t be pretty.

Even if the current events aren’t his fault, since no one could’ve expected that the Undying Magician could somehow cleanse miasma.

I still can’t figure out how he’s doing it… can fire mana really cleanse miasma?

He internally frowns at that thought as he negotiates with the woman across from him, the Undying Magician having returned to his spot behind her once more. But no matter how hard he thinks about it, he can’t think of any other possible way for it to have been done.

The possibility that he’s gotten a second affinity is impossible to even think about, so fire mana being able to cleanse miasma is the only possible way for him to have done it. Which means we’ll have to put in more research on fire mana to figure it out ourselves.

Despite his conclusion though, he can’t help but remember the flash of purple and black light from before. The colors of death mana.

But he pushes that thought out of his mind, deciding that it was just the result of the miasma being cleansed.

Now if I can just get through this negotiation without any more troubles popping up, I should be able to reduce my punishment just a little bit.

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