Chapter Forty-Seven: Miss Amethyst, I Have a Proposition p1
If anyone in the Witches’ Tea Party was most enthusiastic about the path to godhood, it was undoubtedly Iris.
As the youngest member besides Luo Ling, she had significant room for growth and possessed a certain… ambition.
Ascending to godhood, wielding an Authority, although it was unclear why Iris, a God’s Favored, was so fixated on this seemingly blasphemous pursuit, one thing was certain…
Luo Ling could profit from it.
“Miss Amethyst, c-can I… pay later?”
Iris looked at Luo Ling nervously, fidgeting with her clothes, fearing that the unpredictable Naraku Godchosen would refuse or make an even more outrageous demand.
Having received such praise from the leader, the information on the path to godhood in Amethyst’s possession must be worth far more than six petals. If she missed this opportunity…
She might not encounter another one for a long time.
Such precious opportunities were fleeting. If she didn’t seize it now, she would regret it later.
It wasn’t that Iris hadn’t saved up petals. In fact, she was perhaps the most diligent among the tea party members. Unfortunately, acquiring the twilight Kingdom had depleted her entire savings.
And more.
To nurture the Kingdom, Iris had borrowed extensively, accumulating a significant debt, just to get it functioning.
…And her first business deal had been sabotaged by Luo Ling.
It had taken Iris a while to repay her debts, finally clearing her balance, only to spend her meager savings on the leader’s information on the path to godhood.
Now, Iris was practically penniless, only a single petal to her name, unable to afford the exorbitant price of six petals.
The other tea party members were understanding, allowing her to postpone payment, with some interest, of course. After all, the tea party was a loose alliance maintained by mutual benefit.
But Miss Amethyst…
This newly joined Naraku Godchosen had left a less than favorable impression, like a selfish and greedy glutton.
Therefore, Iris was truly afraid that Amethyst would take advantage of this opportunity, demanding an exorbitant price. She couldn’t afford to be exploited again…
She would be completely bankrupt…
“Hmm?” Luo Ling paused. “Iris, how long have you been a member of the tea party?”
“About… twenty years? Not including the time spent in my Kingdom.” Iris counted on her fingers, then asked hesitantly, “But Amethyst, why do you ask…?”
“Twenty years, and you haven’t even saved up six petals?” Luo Ling added.
“…….”
Iris fell silent.
“W-well, it’s not like I haven’t saved any,” Iris said, gritting her teeth. “It’s just that I spent twenty petals acquiring the twilight Kingdom recently, so now…”
“Just twenty? Can’t you earn that back quickly?”
Luo Ling asked, puzzled. “I’ve only been a member for a couple of months, and even with today’s earnings… I’ve already surpassed twenty.”
Luo Ling wasn’t being sarcastic, she genuinely thought so. She didn’t fully understand the value of petals.
Sincerity was the deadliest weapon.
The more sincere Luo Ling was, the more wounded Iris felt, like daggers piercing her heart.
“……..”
Another long silence, but this time, it wasn’t just Iris, but the other tea party members as well, only the leader maintaining a faint smile.
It seemed Amethyst truly didn’t understand the value and rarity of petals…
No wonder she offered such a generous discount. If, as the leader claimed, her information was genuine, even at the original price, they would have eagerly bought it… no, even at a higher price, they might not have hesitated.
However, they weren’t about to point this out.
Six petals was a significant amount, even the others would struggle to produce it all at once, as they needed to keep some for emergencies or other transactions.
Besides, the opportunities for godhood were likely limited. Iris was, in a way, their competitor. Why help a competitor?
Therefore, Iris hadn’t even asked Camellia or the others to borrow petals, knowing it was unlikely.
Her only hope was Amethyst’s mercy.
“You really don’t have any?”
Luo Ling asked again.
“I really don’t!”
Iris was on the verge of tears.
“Alright, in that case, I can allow you to pay later. After all, I’m not a bad person.”
Luo Ling nodded. “Besides, Miss Iris, I benefited quite a bit from you last time. I haven’t forgotten.”
She had devoured Iris’s sapling, advancing her Naraku form to the first stage, and Iris hadn’t even pursued the matter (because she didn’t dare).
Therefore, Luo Ling considered Iris a good person. Allowing her to postpone payment wasn’t a big deal.
“R-really?”
Iris was stunned. A Naraku Godchosen… could be so reasonable?
Wait, this felt familiar…
But regardless, this was good news! She could obtain the information on the path to godhood at such a discounted price, only needing to accumulate a small debt!
“Of course.”
Luo Ling smiled, a smile she considered friendly. “After all, I also have a proposition for you, a small favor.”
“Okay… wait, what favor?”
Iris’s initial agreement turned to wariness, remembering Amethyst’s infamous identity.
A favor… was it her life?
Or perhaps…
Iris recalled their previous encounter, her face paling.
She seemed to know what Amethyst wanted.
“Your twilight Kingdom.” Luo Ling said. “I have a use for it.”
Iris’s twilight Kingdom was a five-minute fragment of Victoria before the seventy-fourth Boundary collapse, a collapse caused by the Company, triggered by the impending Taboo disaster.
Artist had attempted to ascend during this disaster, and although interrupted by the Company, he must have left traces, valuable information.
Only with this information could Luo Ling gain leverage to usurp Religious’s ascension.
“…”
Iris fell silent, struggling internally, then said with a forced smile,
“Sister Amethyst, the sapling hasn’t fully grown yet. If you like, I can send you some branches and leaves in ten years or so…”
She could just nurture it for a while longer.
The Bodhi Ancient Tree could wait.
And she… could also wait, if she gritted her teeth… right?
As long as Amethyst didn’t take too much.
“I don’t need the sapling,” Luo Ling shook her head. “I just want to borrow your Kingdom.”
The sapling was no longer useful to her. Naraku’s advancement required increasingly more power.
Her first advancement had been thanks to the sapling, the second had consumed a significant amount of power, even devouring a Boundary wasn’t enough, requiring Scientist’s spider leg Sacred Relic.
For the third advancement…
Even ten saplings wouldn’t be enough. She would leave some for Iris, who was already pitiful enough.
Luo Ling felt a surge of selflessness. She truly was a good person.
“Even a sapling isn’t enough for her now…”
A chill ran down Iris’s spine, seeing the knowing smile on Amethyst’s face…
She was no different from other Naraku Godchosen after all!
Could it be that she wanted to devour her Kingdom?
“Iris, do you still want the information on credit?”
Luo Ling glanced at the other tea party members, who seemed impatient, and turned to Iris.
She could discuss the Kingdom transaction later. She shouldn’t delay the others, she still had other things to sell.
“Is this a threat? This is definitely a threat!”
Iris stared at Luo Ling, her intense gaze making Luo Ling self-conscious, wondering if something was on her face.
“So, this is the price for credit?”
Iris’s voice trembled, as if suppressing her humiliation.
First proposing the Kingdom transaction, then asking if she still wanted the information on credit… Amethyst’s intention was clear. No Kingdom, no credit.
What a vicious woman…
Even her smile seemed to hold hidden daggers.
Luo Ling, however, was confused. “Of course not, it’s a transaction, entirely voluntary.”
…If she wasn’t willing to make a deal with Amethyst, then Amethyst wouldn’t make a deal with her… was that it?
Tears of humiliation welled up in Iris’s eyes. Her sapling, her Kingdom… would they all be taken by this wicked woman?
She was completely at her mercy…
Iris couldn’t help but interpret everything in the worst possible light, due to Amethyst’s identity and past actions.
“I agree, I agree to everything… the Kingdom, the sapling, everything…”
All for the path to godhood.
Iris had no choice.
“Oh, alright.”
Although puzzled by Iris’s sudden emotional outburst, since the deal was done, Luo Ling didn’t delay, sending the memory fragment to Iris’s mind.
Several petals on Iris’s floral pattern dimmed, merging into Luo Ling’s.
A complete floral pattern formed, and Luo Ling vaguely sensed a change within her.
She would examine it later.
Their transaction was witnessed by the other tea party members. Moonflower and Camellia exchanged glances, wariness evident in their eyes.
This newcomer was dangerous…
They suddenly realized that the bulk discount wasn’t due to Amethyst’s ignorance, but a calculated move.
Iris, because of this, had been completely manipulated, forced to accept a deal she wouldn’t have otherwise.
Six petals was a significant yet not insurmountable amount, a carefully calculated threshold… Amethyst must have done her research.
They shouldn’t underestimate any Naraku Godchosen.
—Actually, Luo Ling had never sold anything before. Unsure how to proceed, she had consulted her sister’s memories of business transactions.
Most of them were from the marketplace…
Thus, Luo Ling had devised this sales strategy.
It seemed quite effective.
Her sister’s memories were truly useful.
“I truly am a genius.”
Luo Ling felt a surge of pride, discovering another hidden talent.
After receiving the memory, Iris examined its contents and gasped.
She looked at Luo Ling in shock, wondering how she had obtained such information…
But as the leader had said, it was a bargain.
However, for Iris… the price was steep.
Thinking of her Kingdom, about to be ravaged by the Naraku Godchosen, and her precious sapling…
Well, it was all for the path to godhood.
Tears of humiliation streamed down Iris’s face.
“Sister Amethyst, please… be gentle… with my Kingdom…”
Iris’s voice trembled, her last plea.
“Huh? No problem…”
Ignoring Iris’s rambling, Luo Ling looked at the other tea party members.
“So?”
The results were clear. The leader and Iris had confirmed the information’s authenticity. Camellia and Moonflower readily paid the price, several petals merging into Luo Ling’s forehead.
These two were veterans, their savings ample, unlike Iris, who had to sell her Kingdom.
After briefly examining the memories, their gazes towards Luo Ling changed, their perception of the newcomer shifting.
This Naraku Godchosen… was incredibly dangerous!
Fortunately, she was currently on their side. If she joined their enemies… the tea party would be torn apart.
They were grateful for the leader’s foresight, recruiting Amethyst and demonstrating the tea party’s value.
Otherwise… the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Leave a Reply to Eldweirdo Cancel reply