717: Chapter 78 The Most Effective Negotiation thod_1 717: Chapter 78 The Most Effective Negotiation thod_1 “Beep, beep, beep,” the warning light on the outside of the therapeutic device flashes every thirty seconds.
Accompanied by a monotonous alert sound, this sound is not very loud, but is exceptionally clear in the quiet room, giving everyone an incredibly restless feeling.
The three girls circle the closed therapeutic device – its lid is very tightly sealed, completely obscuring the view inside, giving the girls the illusion of standing in front of a coffin.
At this mont, Catherine was particularly nostalgic for the therapeutic device she had seen before at the research center inside the demiplane.
Although the two devices were not much different, the latter was at least transparent, allowing them to see Vivian’s condition.
Now, they don’t need to feel so restless, constantly worrying about whether Vivian is in danger.
“Tap, tap,” Catherine anxiously paces around the therapeutic device.
The sound of her footsteps mixing with the beeping creates a disorderly atmosphere in the room.
After pacing for dozens of rounds, Catherine suddenly looks up, saying regretfully, “It’s a pity, if we could borrow the Lifespring Ring from the elves, it would have been nice.
Hmm, I know it’s impossible, but I still feel sowhat regretful.”
“Sister, I think you are nearly crazy.” Freya sighed and pointed to the side: “That one over there is already crazy.
If you don’t control yourself, I guess when Vivian cos out after eleven days, she’ll be greeted by a bunch of lunatics.”
Following Freya’s gesture, Catherine saw Lina, who had crept to a corner of the room at so point, respectfully prostrating herself on the floor.
The Earth’s Praise, a sacred item of the Earth Goddess, that she always carried with her, was set in front of her.
Using the book of law in place of a statue of Denia, Lina was praying solemnly.
The sacred radiance erging from her and spreading throughout the room showed that she had put her whole mind into the prayer, reaching the most devout state.
“She said she wants to pray for Vivian’s blessing.” Freya explained to a sowhat bewildered Catherine: “That’s not the point.
The key is she wants to keep praying until Vivian cos out safely.
I think she’d need treatnt herself if she really does as she intends.
Oh, that won’t work, that device is made for goblin size, she can’t fit in it.”
Catherine felt a touch of the ridiculous; she fully understood Lina’s feelings – she had similar thoughts herself just a few monts ago – but after being ridiculed by Freya and giving it so thought, she found their reactions were sowhat laughable.
The female knight shook her head self-deprecatingly.
She quickly adjusted her state of mind and went to wake Lina from her full-hearted prayer.
“I think we’ve overreacted.
Calm down; no matter how much we worry, we can’t change anything.
Let’s go out now.
You don’t need to stay in this room all the ti.
Ava will notify us if there is any situation.
Ava, is that okay?”
“Of course, this is my job.” Suddenly, a crystal disk on one side of the room lit up and Ava’s avatar appeared on it.
She maintained her expressionless deanor.
“You can move freely in this laboratory.
I have set the highest temporary authority for you.
You will not be obstructed wherever you go.
I will single out a thread to monitor the progress of the treatnt at all tis.
I will notify you at the first sign of any problems.
You do not need to worry at all.
Also, as long as you don’t leave the base, just call if you have any problems.
I’ll assist any ti.”
“Thank you, Ava.” Catherine said, “I think, now, we need to find a warr rest room to rest.
If there could be beds, it would be even better.
We haven’t had a good rest since we left Icebound Town, especially ntally.
We’re almost at the limit.
If we don’t get a proper rest now, I’m afraid we can’t hold on much longer.”
“Phew, you’ve finally regained your sanity.” Freya breathed a sigh of relief, her hanging heart finally setting down: “All of you were having problems these few days.
As seasoned adventurers who have grown accustod to life and death, we should be calm at tis like this.
But because Vivian was involved, you almost lost your judgent.
Thankfully there were no problems, otherwise, we’d likely have made the wrong decisions.
It would be too late for regrets then.
I certainly don’t want you, Boss, to only realize your mistake after it happened.”
“Yes, I know what you an.” Catherine nodded, “Our ntal state was indeed not right just now, which is why we need to leave and calm down.
Don’t look back, Lina.
It’s no use to look back.
Vivian is in the therapeutic device and she won’t run away.
Your ntal state is even worse than mine, you must leave the room for now.
Don’t look wronged, it’s no use.
You’re not allowed to leave my sight, follow now.”
Catherine forcibly pulled Lina along.
The three girls left the room with the therapeutic device together.
As soon as they walked out, they saw Pannis leaning against the corridor wall, boredly studying the biographies of the people whose portraits hung on the wall.
Hearing footsteps, Pannis asked without raising her head, “Finally cald down?”
“Yes.” Catherine smiled softly and said, “I’m sorry, Pannis.
I was actually quite resentful towards you when I found out that you had hidden the risks of Vivian’s treatnt from .
But after calming down, I understood that you did it to prevent from making the wrong decisions in my agitated state.
So I feel the need to apologize to you.
Even though you might not know about my resentnt, I can’t fool myself.”
“I understand, everyone has tis when they lose control of their emotions.” Pannis said calmly, “You didn’t do anything irreversible and no one would bla you for it.
So, there’s nothing to apologize for.”
“No, this is…
nevermind.
Let’s not discuss this.” Catherine hesitated, then deliberately changed the subject.
“For now, we should find sowhere to rest.
Ava will guide us, and she can look after things here too, so we don’t need to stick around.
Let’s go, and rember, you promised Vivian and that you wouldn’t sneak off.
You’re not thinking of going back on your word, are you?”
Pannis was taken aback, a bitter smile creeping across his face.
Reluctantly, he said, “It seems I can’t hide anything from you.”
“You haven’t hidden it from anyone.
Why else do you think Vivian said what she did before she went into the healing machine?” Catherine retorted sowhat discontentedly.
“It’s because we all sensed that you might be planning to leave, so we tried everything to keep you here.
I’ll be blunt, just like I have been before.
After spending a year together, we should all be used to each other by now.
Why do you insist on leaving?
Or do you feel that the bonds among us are not strong enough to make you want to stay?”
“You’re all smart girls.” Pannis gave a bitter smile, “Actually, I don’t want to leave either, but, you probably already guessed why.”
“Only you care about those things.” Catherine’s voice was strong: “Ever since you showed us on the Skyboat that you are just Pannis, you ntally and emotionally brought us closer to you.
We don’t care who you really are or what you’ve done in your past.
Whether you’re a hero, a criminal, whatever your background or status, we don’t care one bit.
We only see you as Pannis, the pervert who teases passing girls from the fence of the western house daily.
We only see you as Pannis, our teammate who cares about us, shares our joys, and gets angry for our sake.
So, your excuse is completely invalid.
Are you saying you want to escape us just because you can’t bring yourself to continue being teammates with us ordinary, weak girls?”
“I’m familiar with that negotiation technique.” Pannis cast aside the portrait in his hands.
The cleaner puppets would put it back in place later, so there was no need to worry about causing damage.
He crossed his arms,a small smile on his face: “It’s a classic negotiation move.
Seems you’ve indeed got a solid foundation in noble interpersonal relations.”
“Of course, I’ve said it before – my family may have fallen from grace now, but we were once nobility, and we have kept our knowledge.” Catherine replied, a picture-perfect noble smile on her face.
She gave a flawless curtsey, then continued: “As for whether the negotiation thod is orthodox or not, it doesn’t really matter.
No matter how you negotiate, as long as it is effective, it is the best way.
Don’t you think so?”
“Of course, the most effective way is the best way — not just in negotiations, but in many things.” Pannis replied calmly, seemingly devoid of any emotion: “But are you sure the thod you chose is really effective?”
“What do you think?” Eleanor asked in reply to Pannis’s seemingly negative doubt.
She seed absolutely confident: “I think my thods are extrely effective.
They should be able to dispel your worries.
Don’t you think so?”
“Can I say that I don’t think so?” Pannis looked down at the ground, and asked softly.
“Of course, you can’t.” Catherine responded with a smile, shaking her head: “You have the right to choose your answer, but unfortunately, there’s only one option.
As for giving up, do you think we’ll let you go that easily?
Heh heh heh heh.”
“After all that, what else can I say?” Pannis turned his gaze back to the ceiling, his eyes sowhat vacant.
But eventually he sighed, reaching out to Catherine: “Demigod Magic Swordsman Pannis, it’s a pleasure to continue fighting alongside everyone.”
“Nellie’s adventure team, Catherine.” Catherine took Pannis’s hand firmly, saying sincerely: “Welco to truly becoming a part of this family.” (To be continued.
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