"I want Southside."
The silence that followed Vladimir's words was heavy.
Both n sat, staring at each other.
Solomon looked on in muted shock. The man was not satisfied with having the woman he wanted and the sa well the whole war was about. What more did he want?
Vladimir stared at Solomon, his eyes gleaming with calculation. Why would Solomon throw away the Ascension well, which he currently had his hand on, for a ragtag group of Subjects?
Solomon leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms, thinking of Vladimir's proposal. He wanted Ivo and Armand out of the way because when Yuri falls, there'll be no one else for them to rally under. He'd have Ezra out in the open with no protection from another Count.
Solomon didn't own Southside and what he didn't have, he couldn't give away but that wasn't what Vladimir was asking for.
Vladimir wanted the sa non-interference he'd promised Ivo and Armand. Vladimir wanted him to look on in silence as he took over Southside.
Solomon knew of the wealth that passes through Southside on a daily basis. They all did. Even Itachi had to be strong-ard by the Council to install Yuri as Countess over it.
Southside was a critical territory, one he had hoped to maintain so control over. But his need to eliminate Ivo and Armand, to weaken Yuri, destabilize Southside and bring Ezra to him, was greater than his reluctance to part with it.
"Southside is a valuable territory," Solomon said carefully. "If I give it to you, I lose a great deal of leverage."
Vladimir smiled, interested. Solomon was considering parting with the territory too?
"But you'll get what you want. Ivo and Armand's death, Yuri's power crumbling and all of her subjects in the palm of your hand."
"And you get the Ascension well, Yuri and Southside." Solomon growled.
"True," Vladimir shrugged with a smirk. "You ca to make a deal with , Solomon. This is the price you have to pay to get what you want."
Solomon remained silent, considering his options. His mind raced as he weighed the implications of giving Vladimir control of Southside. It was a critical territory, and he had no desire to part with it. It was too valuable, too strategic. If he agreed to this deal, he'd lose a lot.
Southside wasn't just a piece of land. It was wealth. It was his new foothold in the city's future. Giving it up would an surrendering what could be a significant part of his influence, and that was not a price he was willing to pay. Not even for Ivo and Armand's head.
Solomon straightened his posture, his eyes hardening. "Southside isn't part of this deal, Vladimir. The Ascension Well and Yuri's subjects are enough. I won't give you Southside."
Vladimir's smirk slowly faded, replaced by a cold, calculating look. He leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly against the armrest.
"Is that so? I thought you'd be more flexible, Solomon. After all, Ivo and Armand's lives hang in the balance, don't they? You need them out of the way for whatever nefarious plan you've got going on, wouldn't you say?
Solomon's jaw tightened. "I won't sacrifice my claim to Southside just to take down Yuri's husbands. You already stand to gain the Ascension Well. Don't get greedy, Vladimir."
Vladimir chuckled softly, his eyes gleaming with amusent. "Greedy? You have no right to say that to . Your greed is the only reason there's a war in First City."
"No, Solomon. I'm not greedy. I'm just ambitious. The Ascension Well is valuable, yes, but we both know that an Ascension well without Southside ans having power without strength."
"Power is the ability to exert force but strength, real strength, is producing the maximum amount of force. Southside is where the real strength lies. You know that as well as I do."
Solomon rubbed the bridge of his nose, his patience wearing thin. He knew exactly what Vladimir was talking about and that was why he didn't want Southside falling into the wrong hands.
The Ascension well ans you can make yourself and your Subjects more powerful but the wealth of Southside ant that you could keep those powerful Subjects.
No one knew when Itachi would be back. The Shield Wall could be up for one more day or one more year. Who knows? Letting Vladimir have Southside before it was ti to leave ant giving the man ti to grow strong enough to kill him.
That would be an incredibly stupid decision.
"You'll only get the Ascension Well for Yuri's Subjects. That's more than enough to tip the balance of power in your favor. But Southside stays with ."
The rooftop fell into a tense silence, both n staring at each other, each waiting for the other to break. Vladimir studied Solomon for a long mont, his expression unreadable. Finally, he let out a low, disappointed sigh.
"I see you're not as willing to negotiate as I thought." Vladimir said, his tone filled with mock regret. "That's a sha, Solomon. I was hoping we could reach a more… mutually beneficial arrangent."
"We've reached an arrangent, Vladimir." Solomon remained unmoved. "You get the Ascension Well, I get Yuri's subjects. That's the deal. If that's not enough for you, then I'll find another way to deal with Ivo and Armand."
Vladimir's eyes darkened, his amusent gone. "Be careful, Solomon. You don't have a lot of options. And you might very well find that other avenues aren't as… accommodating."
"I'll take my chances." Solomon stood, his voice cold. He wondered why he'd even co to Vladimir in the first place. The man always had his own cryptic agenda.
"I see." For a mont, the tension on the rooftop was so thick it was almost an Aura. Vladimir's fingers drumd against the armrest again, his gaze never leaving Solomon's.
Then, with a shrug, Vladimir leaned back and waved his hand dismissively. "Very well. If that's your final offer, I suppose we're done here."
Solomon didn't bother with pleasantries. He turned on his heel and walked away, already thinking of his next option.
This door was closed but he wasn't finished.
Not by a long shot.
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