Vengeance of the Returner

Chapter 100: Negotiation

'I think I should negotiate with the Royal council first... If it's not advantageous I'll back down.'

He mumbled inwardly. For some reason he felt like a pair of eyes staring at him from the back so he turned back after sliding the letter into his pocket. He went to get some fresh air to feel refreshed to get ideas and thoughts.

"Hmm, Camila what's up?"

Nix said smoking his cigarette as usual while watching the night city on the rooftop.

"Nothing much..."

"So Bluey, I've been observing you lately. Perhaps you have a crush on this Oppa or somethin' ?" He asked jokingly.

Camila gave out a laugh and said. "Haha, Come on? Why would I? I know deep down you wanna bang plenty of girls..."

"Aren't you playing hard?" He said and grabbed her by her waist and pulled her towards him.

"Let me go!" She yelled yet, there was faint reddishness on her face trying to escape from his grip.

He didn't give a damn to her yelling and just slid the fringe of hair that fell on her face to the back of her ear and drew his face close as though he was about to kiss her while staring into her deep eyes.

"I-I..."

She was flustered and couldn't get the words to speak up and stuttered. He drew his face even further towards her staring at her lips and abruptly withdrew from her with a smirk.

"Although, You said stop, then why is your face red?" He asked teasingly.

"You womanizer!" She hit his chest with an embarrassed expression on her face.

"Come on I was just playing with you..." He said with a smile.

Suddenly the mood changed and her tone also changed as she looked him into the eyes and began talking.

"Can I ask you something?"

He just gave a slight nod and said. "Yeah sure" 

"Every time I see you, you are always thinking about something or working your ass off... I heard you acted like a cold-blooded murderer in Ferandel but, How are you coping up? I mean It feels like you are hiding your emotions..."

"Should I really answer this?" He asked with an uncomfortable smile.

She just began talking again without giving much thought to his facial expression excitedly. After all, she was a cheerful girl and a perceptive one at that as such, she easily saw through Nix's distress.

"When I read the news I was quite surprised to hear that you used underhanded methods which I believed you wouldn't do. It's not like I am against it but, remember our first mission together?"

He knitted his brows and said.

"Yeah?"

She then continued talking with a serious expression.

"You spared those regulars and that family alive and defended that woman..."

It was probably the time where she got attracted to him. He got a glimpse of what she was talking about and abruptly began speaking since she was dragging the topic.

"Firstly you assumed about me by yourself and still I think you are doing the same thing. I am kind of disappointed...During that incident, I didn't feel the need to kill them and it was not necessary plus I was in conflict with my emotions and myself at that point."

He stopped and heaved out the smoke.

"You asked how I am able to smile and joke around after doing shit indirectly, right? Well, it's Cuz I fucking don't know! Perhaps I am chill like this by nature... I don't know I am getting that fucking guilty fucking feel from time to time! And I am trying to change my mindset. And to be honest, I feel a heavy burden. I get easily angry and anxious as you already know and I am trying to control that shit to improve myself.Anyway, let's stop about that..."

"Heyy, I am sorry... Didn't mean to hurt you." She said in a low tone feeling guilty for stirring the mood dark.

"It's fine Anyway I ain't gonna stop with the Ferandel incident alone. I'll be doing more cruel things, so I think it's better to joke around and have fun while I can. Dreading and regretting things I do is something I don't wanna do.  After all, we don't even know when we could die. Do we?"

He asked with a smirk.

"You are kind of a cool..."She said with a faint smile.

"Kind of huh? Well, I am going to take a nap bye."

He said and walked away.

As the first thing in the morning, he began training and left the clan house alone to negotiate the business dealing with the Royal council.

"Welcome Youngman!" Raes henil, The king of Dracton city said with a smirk. It was the same hall the last time where he had the talk with the council.

The members seemed to have waited for his arrival. The administrator was also there in his seat.

"Please, take your seat."

Nix gave a smirk and took his seat.

"We assume you read our proposal. I mean the 'reward'."

The voice came from an old man in his sixties. His face was detailed with wrinkles and his skin tone was pretty dark similar to the wood tone. He was wearing a metal spectacle and a suit. Probably he was the Trading executive.

"Indeed, I read it. I don't want to come in a roundabout way ."

He said and glanced at the officials of the council for a second and then turned his attention to the administrator.

"With all due respect, I'd like to negotiate about the proposal."

The king nodded his head and smirked as though he had something on his mind.

"Yes, you may proceed." The administrator said.

"I'd need a sum of five thousand gold coins if I were to work under the Royal council and this is not I assume you'll understand why I am demanding the sum. I need to pay for my clan member's equipment and there is also maintenance more than that I'd need to pay them for their work..."

"Accepted"

The king said nonchalantly intervening in the conversation.

Now his intervention without denial in negotiation made Nix's doubt clear.

It seemed as though they had some plan to use Nix and his clan in a tactical way. Now Nix needed to reject such a venomous scheming. 

"Mr.Raes henil, I am really glad but, I hope you'll hear my demands fully," Nix said looking at Raes henil with a serious expression.

"Indeed you may proceed." The king said with a mocking smirk.

"It was mentioned as a private organization and I don't know why a newly established clan deserved such a privilege. I can indeed understand you believe in my capability as a clan lord judging from my past mission. But, With all due respect, I wonder why you didn't pull this idea on other clans. But I am okay with that."

He drank the glass of water on the table and then continued.

"I want a small region dedicated to me and then a building. Let's say I want to be the lord of a small portion of land since this is going to be an individual department just like the RIT and Patrol department. I'd like a few soldiers at my disposal. Take it like a sub-city or village where I will be the acting lord under your ruling." Nix said casually.

"Impudence!" The trading executive scowled at Nix.

If Nix were to pull his weapon Dragonire knights who were standing out of the hall, would kill him in mere minutes not that he gave a fuck about it though, as he was also in rage.

"Calm down, Richardo. I permitted him to rise his demand and he demanded what he wanted."

The king calmly said looking at the executive.

"I am sorry your majesty."

He bowed.

The king then drifted his eyes towards Nix and opened his mouth with a calm demeanor.

"Young man, You've grown a bit since the last time and I appreciate your confidence and demanding capabilities. But, you made the point 'newly established clan'. which is why we cannot accept your demand. You yourself stated its a new clan then how are we supposed to trust in it?  The proposal is still open and I can accept the first demand about the pay yet, I cannot give down a portion to you."

"I see. I'd like to turn down the proposal then." Nix said indifferently.

Nix wanted a proper reason to turn down the proposal and for that, he used that unfair reason which pretty much worked out in his favor making him escape from his clutch.

"Haha, Alright Youngman. Make sure to visit again. We'll still be giving you missions yet, accepting it is at your end."

The king said with a smirk.

It seemed like the king still had plans to pull into his schemings so he left Nix for now.

"Thank you for having me here."

Nix said and bid farewell to the council and left the palace.

He opened his inventory and pulled out the dagger.

{So, what happened?}

"I rejected it."

{Haha, Good choice}