Chapter 78: A Bountiful Harvest p1
The once spacious room felt cramped as the dancers closed in, their movements graceful yet deadly. Most of them possessed fourth-tier strength, powerful enough to rival several fifth-tier knights.
They could probably kill two Stamps.
The woman who had burst in first caught his attention. Similar in age to Ella, she radiated an aura of power, close to seventh-tier. She was likely Isabella’s protector.
Like Isabella, she wore a veil, obscuring her face. Her stance suggested she was a warrior.
Sixth-tier strength was considered top-tier in the Xiya Kingdom. She could probably hold her own against Roden. But they had made a grave mistake by challenging him.
“Master Kailun, I suggest you reconsider your actions. Those who make enemies of the Loya Ballroom rarely prosper.” The veiled woman warned, her voice cold.
He tightened his grip on Isabella’s neck. “Are you threatening me?”
“…No, Master Kailun.”
“Such honesty. Very well. I’ll consider this Isabella’s forfeit.” He smiled, reaching for the collar.
“No! Don’t remove it!” To everyone’s astonishment, Isabella grabbed his hand, preventing him from releasing her.
She had fallen into his trap. Breaking her oath would sever her connection to Destiny Magic.
“Mistress, why? Has this man bewitched you?” The veiled woman asked, her voice filled with disbelief.
“I can’t explain. It’s… never mind. It’s too embarrassing.” She felt a wave of shame. She had suffered a humiliating defeat on her first day in the Xiya Kingdom.
She finally understood why all the prophecies had pointed towards this place. This man truly had the power to alter fate.
And he possessed a strange ability, a subtle charm that disarmed his opponents, their minds slowly succumbing to his influence. It was similar to her own talent, in a way.
“Why don’t we all put away our weapons and have a civilized conversation?” Kailun suggested, his fingers tapping Isabella’s neck. Her skin was soft and smooth, just like Vivian’s.
The veiled woman, despite her anger, sheathed her weapon, following Isabella’s subtle signal.
The others followed suit.
He led Isabella back to his seat, his hand resting on her head to prevent her escape. “I’m the guest here, and yet you tried to poison me. Don’t you think an explanation is in order?”
“Master Kailun, that tea was perfectly safe. The Loya Ballroom would never resort to such underhanded tactics. If you don’t believe me, I’ll gladly drink it myself.” The veiled woman, Jennice, stepped forward, accepting their current predicament.
The tea was indeed poisoned, but they had the antidote. She could drink it without any ill effects.
He pushed the cup towards her. “Prove your honesty then.”
“As you wish.” She emptied the cup in one gulp.
He smiled, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “I applaud your integrity. But how can you be sure I didn’t poison it myself? Think carefully. My hands were always in your sight.”
Isabella: “…”
Jennice: “…”
She immediately stuck her fingers down her throat, trying to induce vomiting.
“Don’t worry. I was just kidding. I’m not the type to carry poison around.”
[Isabella’s favorability towards you has decreased. Favorability -10.]
It was a shame Jennice wasn’t a key character. Otherwise, he could have harvested some favorability points.
Jennice, her face pale, glared at him, her hand inching towards her dagger.
But his hand on Isabella’s head stayed her hand. He was a dangerous man.
“Let’s forget about the poisoning incident. Let’s discuss our partnership. I understand the Loya Ballroom has a… strained relationship with the Divine Church.” He ruffled Isabella’s hair, enjoying her discomfort.
“The Divine Church is too domineering. They have a poor reputation among many organizations. And they have a nasty habit of frequenting our establishments without paying. They claim they’re providing our girls with spiritual and physical balance. As if not charging them is an act of charity.” Isabella’s voice was filled with resentment.
The courtesans at the bottom rung of the Loya Ballroom were all there by choice, most of them simply trying to survive. Many of them had tragic stories.
And the Divine Church was exploiting them? The audacity!
“We’ve placed signs outside our establishments stating ‘No Divine Church Dogs Allowed,’ but they still find ways to sneak in.” Jennice added.
“Is that so? They’re that arrogant?” Kailun was surprised. The Divine Church in the Xiya Kingdom wasn’t nearly as brazen.
Perhaps their grip on the kingdom wasn’t strong enough yet.
Isabella’s words revealed that the Loya Ballroom possessed considerable power. Displaying such signs without facing repercussions spoke volumes.
“I understand why you arrived before the Divine Church. It seems we have common ground for a partnership.” He stroked his chin thoughtfully. “I understand your needs. I’m willing to accommodate them. But first, tell me what you’re offering.”
He didn’t mention Isabella’s true reason for being here. She had foreseen the shift in fate and had acted accordingly.
And now, he, the catalyst for that shift, was right before her. All he had to do was push her to make a bet.
He wanted her to work for him. The collar was just an insurance policy.
“Fifty thousand gold coins, access to our intelligence network, a few high-level Forbidden Scrolls, and priority access to any information you require.”
He tapped the armrest of his chair, his voice laced with displeasure. “Is that your idea of a generous offer? This partnership might require us to confront the Divine Church. The Second Prince is their puppet.”
“Master Kailun, you’re already on a collision course with the Divine Church. The Second Prince is your rival.” Isabella touched the collar around her neck.
They were both ignoring the elephant in the room: the oath and the collar. She knew there would be strings attached.
“Don’t worry about that, Miss Isabella. I can deal with the Second Prince without antagonizing the Divine Church.”
She saw no deception in his eyes.
She glanced around the room. “How about we add the entire Loya Dance Troupe? Their value far exceeds mere gold.”
The shift in fate had originated in the Xiya Kingdom. She had to complete her preparations.
And this man, shrouded in threads of destiny, was likely the key to it all. She had to make a decision.
She was willing to gamble.
He examined the dancers, acknowledging their worth. “Tempting. But not enough. Be bolder, Miss Isabella. Timidity won’t achieve greatness.”
He might be appreciating their beauty, but she saw no lust in his eyes. They weren’t enough.
“Tell me what you want, Master Kailun. We won’t refuse if your request is reasonable.”
“Besides the dancers, I want a contract. With you.”
“A contract?”
“Yes. An alliance.”
She shook her head without hesitation. “I’m sorry. I can’t represent the Loya Ballroom in such an agreement.”
“I’m not asking for the Loya Ballroom’s signature. I want yours.”
“…I’m starting to understand your methods, Master Kailun. But before I agree, I need to know what you can offer me.”
“Listen carefully.” He pulled her closer, ignoring Jennice’s murderous glare.
He leaned in and whispered, “I can grant you a front-row seat to the unfolding of fate, a chance to deepen your understanding of Destiny Magic. You’ll witness the downfall of the Divine Church. And…”
Isabella: “!!!”
She had never heard such promises. She stared at him, her eyes wide with disbelief. “You’re insane.”
“Thank you. Interested? I’m not lying. We can include all of this in the contract.” He stood and stretched.
He was confident of victory.
If not for her initial blunder, this would have taken much longer.
[Isabella is both shocked and impressed by your audacity. Favorability +40. Current favorability: 20.]
“Shall we sign the contract then?” He retrieved a contract, made a few adjustments, and handed it to her.
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