"I am listening carefully," Adam leaned forward slightly, his face showing interest in the conversation as he narrowed his black eyes. Juliet, who had crossed her arms on her chest, leaned back in her chair and inadvertently looked at his words that reflected nothing, feeling her mind clouding.
"Of course, I understand that you won't do my request for free. I've known that for a long ti, so I won't ask for it," she began, her voice hoarse with hints of irritation. Her wolf tail began to sway, occasionally hitting the armrest, while her ears drooped down. "And you don't agree to a fight, so we can't resolve the matter that way. So, I'm ready to pay you for your help, that's why—"
"Sorry for interrupting, but wait a mont," Adam interrupted her and narrowed his eyes, the whites of which began to fill with black. "If you want to entice with sweet talk about big money and profit, I must comnd your clever approach, but I also must express my criticism – I won't fall for that. I have enough finances to build three more cities, and there will still be enough left for three more by the end. So, if you want to pique my interest, it has to be sothing more intriguing."
Juliet curled the corners of her mouth and frowned, looking disappointed. Apparently, Adam's words hit the mark, and she had indeed planned to lure him with large sums of money, but alas, it didn't interest him much. So, he directly stated that he wanted to see sothing more interesting.
"Speak plainly. What do you need? As long as it doesn't cross certain boundaries, I can give you what you want," Juliet suddenly said, deciding to abandon the money-attracting tactic and reveal what she had in mind.
"What I want, you say..." Adam cracked his neck and smiled, looking intrigued. "Now the interesting negotiations begin."
He yawned while Shizuya massaged his shoulders, and the other won simply leaned against him, ignoring Juliet and their conversation, as if entering their little world. However, once again, the woman didn't let her guard down, as the sight of Amarantha, who had laid her head on Adam's chest, was intimidating – like a sleeping dragon guarding its most precious treasure. Just one move and a small sound, and the dragon would awaken from its slumber to kill the intruder.
Tension was rising. Adam hadn't answered her question yet and was deep in thought with his eyes closed, leaving Juliet waiting. A minute passed, then two, then five minutes. On the tenth minute of waiting, when the wolf-woman was beginning to lose patience, Adam's voice finally sounded.
"All right, I've co up with sothing," he said and opened his eyes, looking at her with a smile. "I've heard that wolves have a map. Give it to ."
"A map? I don't understand what you—"
"Stop pretending to be innocent, Juliet," Adam interrupted her, speaking with a serious tone. He narrowed his eyes with a smirk, and a dangerous energy emanated from his body. "I'm patient with beautiful won, but I beco impatient in matters like this. So, answer the question, and there's nothing left to hide, as I already know everything. From your subordinates, by the way."
"Damn it!"
Juliet cursed and slapped her hand against the armrest, breaking it into pieces. Without waiting for Adam's words, she took out 10 Platinum Dragon Stones, changed her chair, and, after a few minutes of contemplation, regained her composure. Though her appearance still showed signs of distress, her brows remained furrowed. She sensually crossed her legs, and given her revealing attire, it offered a generous view, which Adam noticed but didn't show any reaction, adhering to politeness and etiquette.
"I hate people like you. Cunning, arrogant. Just like a snake!" she said in a hoarse voice, putting her hand to her forehead, which felt hot. She let out a tired sigh, and her hand dropped to her eyes, then she massaged her nose, feeling the irritation in her chest growing.
"Well, I don't care. So, going back to the question about the map. You—"
"Okay," Juliet sighed and waved her hand, narrowing her golden eyes and twisting her lips. "But why do you need it? I'm sure that despite the ancient history of this map, it's useless since nothing has been confird."
"Useful or not, I'll be the judge of that. Your task is to give that map, understand? Just one map, and the contract, the pressure, and our mutual enmity will disappear, and I'll even help you," Adam smiled, running his right hand through Elyra's hair while his left hand held Amarantha around the waist. "What do you say? Just one map and the benefits are substantial..."
Juliet pursed her lips and sighed. Though it was difficult for her, she nodded. "Okay."
Soti later...
Before Adam lay a contract he had cleverly imposed on the beastn, and on the opposite side of the contract was a map drawn on old parchnt. The map was tattered, with burn marks in so places, and a corner of the parchnt was torn off, with several missing pieces.
"Is this part of a larger map? What the hell?" Adam complained and frowned, feeling disappointnt wash over him. But after taking a deep breath and exhaling, he regained his composure. "Well, my mistake for expecting sothing better. After all, it's an ancient map."
"Of course, I have only one part! This is, actually, an ancient heritage!" Juliet complained about Adam's greed and scowled, looking into his eyes. "So? Destroy this contract now, and then we can discuss."
"Fine, fine, stop whining. I'm a man of my word, understand?" Adam snorted and snapped his fingers.
Imdiately, there was a reaction. The paper with the contract shone, and the letters on it began to disappear, floating in the air and disintegrating. After a few minutes, the paper beca clean as if nothing had been written on it, and the pure white light turned into a nacing black.
"Done. Now, about your request..."
"I need you to grant asylum to the Wolf Tribe," Juliet began imdiately, clenching her fists. It seed she was ashad of asking for help, but determination was written on her face. "A month ago, I heard about Sedyon, the city of the future. At first, I thought of just robbing and taking control, but..."
She glanced at Amarantha, who was asleep on Adam's lap while Elyra combed the elf's hair. Though it was a peaceful scene, and the woman had closed her eyes, Juliet felt a gaze full of cunning on her.
"But you t Amarantha, who easily repelled your attack, and you decided it would be better to submit," Adam continued for her.
"Allies," Juliet corrected him, furrowing her beautiful brows. "I hope for equal terms. Besides, in my opinion, the city of Sedyon is the perfect place for the beastn. We, who have been persecuted for centuries, have finally found a place where we are treated well."
Adam pursed his lips, which then ford into a gentle smile. In his pure black eyes, Juliet's face was reflected, her cheeks reddened, and her shoulders trembled. It seed the woman was not accustod to such sensual topics, which made her embarrassed.
"You're welco," he said, with a hint of amusent.
"Sh-shut up. I didn't thank you!"
"Heh"
Shrugging at her amusing behavior, Adam tilted his head to the side and closed his eyes, deep in thought.
Beastn, or more specifically, wolf-beastn. They were often confused with werewolves, but the difference between them was imnse, especially considering that the wolf-beastn had absolutely no connection to nature. However, they had a particular trait in their character – extre loyalty to those they served. They also inherited from wolves their predatory nature, exceptional charm, and unique ancestral magic, [Group Telepathy].
When wolves were within a distance of no more than two kiloters from each other, they could communicate and transmit thoughts. In a pack, they gained additional strength, and in gaming terms, one could consider it a "buff" to their power and defense.
From Adam's perspective, the wolves would be suitable for a covert operations team. Despite having his subordinates, the Amaranths, for this purpose, they were more like additional assistance to him, and Adam didn't want to rely too heavily on his wife's kindness. Thus, he needed his team.
"Okay."
Adam opened his eyes, and a glint of sunlight poured in through the window, casting a radiant gleam. The corners of his mouth lifted, forming a gentle smile.
"Um..."
Juliet blinked suddenly, feeling her mind go blank. This sensation frightened her, and she shook her head, enveloping her body in magic, although there wasn't much of it due to the nature of her race.
"What's happening to ?" She furrowed her brow, placing her hand on her chest. She felt her heart racing, which puzzled her. "Am I poisoned? Or is it because of stress? Probably the latter. After all, demons and the war among the beastn have brought plenty of problems."
***
Chaos Empire, Abyss.
In a quiet and gloomy castle, there was an eerie silence. There were no servants, nobles, or even small animals or insects. Just emptiness and solitude, intensifying the ominous atmosphere emanating from the walls as black as pitch.
However, suddenly, out of nowhere, in a random corridor leading to the throne room, a white flash with black particles appeared.
"Ho. Report. To mom."
Suddenly, a deep and ominous voice emanated from the flash, sounding more like the scraping of tal against tal. A mont later, two bodies were ejected from the flash, landing on the ground with a thud. If Elizabeth were here, she would easily recognize them.
Hero Leonid and Hero Alphiris.
Following them, a figure erged from the flash. Or rather, sothing that resembled a human in terms of body structure. He had a slender figure, or rather, an extrely skeletal body. His skin was gray, and a notable feature was his black eyes. His bony hands bore nurous red tattoos. He was dressed in a tattered black mage's cloak with signs of age. With his black eyes like pitch, he gazed at the two heroes.
"Lucius. Return. Ho. Successfully."
To be continued...
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