A Background Character’s Path to Power Chapter 409: How to Blackmail a Calamity, Part 2

...Did I just hear a cat?

As if reading my thoughts, Nemo snorted. ’You lot call it like that, but it’s not a real cat. It should be a rare type of nightmare beast. Besides,’ the wolf growled low in its throat, a sound like shifting tectonic plates, ’that creature... it is not of this world. It can walk through my domain as if its rules don’t apply to it at all. Its master, the parasite, is currently outside, watching the battle, waiting for the exact mont I exhaust myself against the bloody human.’

Nemo looked at , his violet eyes burning with urgency.

’And when that mont cos, he will use that cat to jump straight into my Heart.’

’I see.’

I nodded slowly as the full picture ford in my mind.

It was a classic pincer attack.

On the outside, the Blood Marquis was hamring the shell, forcing Nemo to expend massive amounts of energy on defense. On the inside, Bane was waiting to bypass the defenses entirely and strike the vital point.

’So you are stuck,’ I summarized. ’If you focus on the red envoy guy, Bane tas you. If you try to hunt Bane, the Red Mage breaks through.’

’Precisely,’ Nemo snapped, evidently hating to admit his vulnerability. ’It is a stalemate. One that will end in my enslavent if I do not act. And...’

’This is where you co in,’ the wolf continued, its ntal voice turning sharp.

’?’

’Yes. You will go to my Heart. You will wait there.’

Nemo’s lips curled back, revealing fangs made of obsidian.

’When the Parasite arrives, thinking he has won... You will be the surprise he does not expect. You will attack him with that strange power of yours. Buy the split second I need to catch and crush him.’

I almost laughed.

’You want to ambush Prince Bane? A man who plays with Overlords like chess pieces? With all due respect, Sir Nemo, if you can’t stop him, what makes you think I can?’

’I will assist within the Heart,’ Nemo replied instantly. ’In exchange...’

The wolf paused, letting the offer hang in the silence.

’...I will let you and your little friends leave this place alive. I will even grant you a fragnt of my power.’

My eyes narrowed.

It was a tempting offer.

Too tempting since it didn’t lie just now.

But I would be an idiot to easily agree to its demands.

’And if I refuse?’

’Then you die here,’ Nemo said simply. ’I will consu you and your friends right away to recover a fraction of my strength. It is a pitiful amount, but better than nothing.’

I stared at the wolf.

This barely qualified as a negotiation. It was more like an ultimatum.

’I see.’

I let out a long sigh, dusting the imaginary dust off my pants.

’Well, Sir Nemo. That sounds like a plan. But...’ I looked up, eting those violet eyes. ’How can I trust you? You are a monster, after all. Once I do your dirty work, you could just squash like a bug to tie up loose ends.’

Its eyes widened a fraction, probably in surprise at my answer.

’...You think you have a choice?’

The voice in my head deepened, becoming a nacing growl that shook my very soul. The shadows around us spiked, turning into jagged teeth.

’Actually, I do.’ I shrugged, looking completely unbothered. ’I can choose to die right now.’

I spread my arms wide, exposing my chest.

’Go ahead. Eat . Recover that "pitiful amount" of strength you ntioned. But rember this... if I die, there is no one left to stop Bane and his subordinates. You will be enslaved. You will wear his collar for eternity.’

I smiled, a cold, sharp thing.

’So, tell , Sir Nemo. Is my life worth your freedom?’

Nemo didn’t answer with words.

WHOOSH!

The darkness exploded.

Thousands of black blades materialized from thin air. They shot toward like a torrential rain of obsidian.

My instincts scread at to move, to dodge, to cower. But I forced my feet to stay rooted to the spot. I forced my eyes to stay open, locking gaze with the beast.

Swish-swish-swish!

The wind from their passage cut my cheeks. A blade grazed my ear. Another sliced a few strands of my hair. They struck the ground all around , encircling in a cage of vibrating darkness.

But not a single one pierced my flesh. They missed by milliters, a display of perfect, terrifying control.

I didn’t blink.

Silence stretched between us, heavy and suffocating.

Finally, the blades dissolved into black mist.

’You...’ Nemo’s ntal voice was a mixture of fury and grudging respect. ’You are a truly annoying insect.’

’Fine,’ the wolf huffed, looking away. ’What do you want? Speak quickly before I change my mind.’

I smirked inwardly.

’Got him.’

The mont he admitted I was the only one who could help him, he had handed the reins. He thought he was the predator giving orders, but in reality, he was a desperate king begging a rcenary. And rcenaries didn’t work for cheap.

’Especially ,’ I chuckled, recalling my previous bargain with an even more terrifying existence than it. But there was a slight difference between then and now.

’Thank you for your magnanimity, Sir Nemo,’ I replied, bowing slightly to keep up the charade of politeness. ’I only have three conditions.’

I raised one finger.

’First. My friends. The barbarians, the girl, everyone who is still trapped in here. You will send them out of your domain imdiately and safely.’

’...Fine,’ Nemo spat, the vibration in my head feeling like a migraine. ’They are insignificant trash anyway. I will throw them out of my domain. Is that all?’

’No.’

I raised a second finger.

’Second. That fragnt of power you promised.’ I narrowed my eyes. ’I don’t want just any scrap. Instead, I want sothing that can elevate my Darkness Affinity to a higher grade. As high as possible.’

I paused, letting a respectful, almost revered tone seep into my ntal voice.

’Since Sir Nemo is the King of the Darkness, the absolute ruler of this elent, surely it won’t be hard for you to find sothing like that, right?’

______ ____ _

[ A/N: A New Journey Begins! ]

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