"I like them for their boldness and straightforwardness, and I’ll respect them if they can back it up," a Xor'Vak representative remarked during the eting, openly expressing his thoughts without restraint.
Whether it was a feeling of admiration or disgust, the Xor'Vak never hid their true feelings. This attitude stemd from the imnse power they possessed, allowing them to speak the truth without fear of consequences. As one of the strongest races in the Conclave, they saw no need for deception, earning them a reputation for being brutally honest.
When the rest of the room heard his words, "surprised" would have been an understatent. Earning the respect of a Xor'Vak was as difficult as turning mana into mist form. They only respected those they deed their equals, making it nearly impossible for most mbers of the Conclave to even dream of such recognition.
Though he stated that respect would only co if they proved themselves, the very declaration was significant—it ant he was willing to give them the chance. This, in turn, implied that the Xor'Vak would cooperate with the process, setting aside their usual unpredictable disruptions. It would make the negotiations on the Xor’Vaks side smoother than anyone could have anticipated.
“Their suggestion is quite tempting, and it appears to have no negative consequences for us. It allows races unsure about sending a representative the option to abstain while those capable of sending a contestant have the opportunity to earn more—albeit with the risk of losing more if their contestant fails,” a high-ranking mber of the Shadari civilization remarked, reigniting the conversation that had stalled after the Xor'Vak's bold declaration.
“That’s true. They've even considered our position, ensuring that other civilizations can't simply ride on our coattails when their subpar fighters inevitably lose,” a Valthorin added, disdain evident in his tone for the lower-level civilizations that seed intent on doing just that.
They had been planning to advocate for a singular joint agreent, which would allow them to benefit regardless of their performance, but it seems like they have been caught and stopped before they could even start their campaign against it.
Ignoring the glares directed at him, he continued, “It’s quite a sha that it was them who proposed this, as it will be a regret their race carries for generations.” His excitent was palpable, as he anticipated the upcoming face-off.
This was a golden opportunity presented to them by the enemy—an occasion to redeem the honor they had tarnished when they montarily faltered at the sight of black holes that actually scared them. They had no intention of playing it safe; they planned to send their strongest fighters, not only to secure victory but also to humiliate their adversaries, ensuring they would never again dare to lift their heads in their presence.
As the discussions progressed, representatives from various civilizations began chiming in, expressing their intentions—so gleefully gloating while others remained quiet, wary of attracting the ire of the top ten, who were not in the best of moods. Although they masked it well, the top ten were still simring with anger, viewing the upcoming fight as an opportunity to vent their frustrations. They sought to justify their forced participation in negotiations with a civilization that held only a single star system, while they themselves controlled vastly more territory.
They were not Valthorins, but they still took pride in their positions, and that pride had been bruised by a backwater civilization they believed they could easily crush. Previously, their thoughts had been consud with how to deal with other mbers of the Conclave who had co to this location, but now their focus had to be shifted to the unexpected challenge posed by this lesser civilization.
“With that, the basic agreent for those who are not sending representatives has been finalized and will be presented to the other side for their approval or renegotiation,” Xylor declared, signaling the conclusion of that discussion. The basic agreent was more of a foundation than a comprehensive deal; while it offered so benefits, it was hardly different from a negotiation between equals. It included provisions allowing them to purchase mana stones at seller's prices and ensured they couldn't be barred from buying them, along with other fundantal rights. This setup was designed to ensure that those who sent fighters could gain additional privileges beyond the basic terms.
However, it wasn’t just about benefits; the agreent also contained clauses mandating that they vote in favor of the empire if it erged victorious, particularly when the empire's demands in the agreent required the Conclave's overall approval. Many viewed this as a re formality, as for the empire to secure a win, it would first have to overco the top ten civilizations’ fighters, each formidable in their own right.
“So, how many of you will be sending fighters?” Xylor inquired a few monts later.
When the ti ca to make the decision, only twenty-three representatives raised their hands, indicating their willingness to risk sending a fighter in exchange for a more favorable deal if they won, and accepting the potential losses if they didn’t.
The number of civilizations willing to send fighters was small, a result of either their strongest individuals being lost in the initial attack or the significant damage inflicted upon them by the relentless imperial breaching forces. The risk of further losses was deed too great, leading many to not risk it at all.
“Those who are not sending fighters, please leave,” Xylor instructed. After a brief pause, the representatives of the remaining civilizations exited, leaving only the representatives of the twenty-three civilizations behind.
“Please state your demands,” Liasas requested. “I will relay them to their representative, who will either accept them and propose their own in return—marking the finalization of the deal—or deny so of them. In that case, I will serve as a direct link, delivering your intentions and responses during the negotiations between both sides until we reach a compromised agreent.
Keep in mind that the format of the fight has not been finalized yet. This ans you might be limited to a single fighter, or there could be no restrictions at all, depending on the agreent that will be made jointly with the other side after they complete their individual agreents with each of you.”
With that, she took over the proceedings, ready to listen to everything they had to say in order to later facilitate the negotiations with the negotiator from the opposing side.
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