Chapter 14 - Chapter 14: Negotiation

After seven days, another group of demi humans, belonging from the orc race, were found by Charlie and Veronica who were in charge of hunting.

These demi humans were then sent to the underground prison aftrer a three to two vote of what to do with the demi humans.

But this time, Marco and Charlie who were against torture somehow persuaded the others to treat them in a more humane way for future negotiations.

[A mission has been generated]

"Finally"

[Mission grade: A]

"It has been a long week"

[Mission difficulty: Unknown]

"We should go back for now"

"Understood, Sir Charlie"

[Convert]

Mission description: After loosing contacts with the second scout party sent by a small demi human village, they have called for help to the nearest city and has informed the mayor there about the power of the humans who are living in the castle possess.

After hearing about the power the humans possess, they will be sending an envoy to negotiate with the humans to prevent needless deaths.

Time until the arrival of Vermillion mountain city's envoy: Twelve days.

Objective: Prevent an all out war with the demi humans.

Reward upon completion: Intimacy with the demi humans (Results may depend base on your actions). Acknowledgement of demi humans (Results may depend base on your actions). Points (May vary depending on how you will resolve the problem)

Failure to complete the objective: Sparks of bad blood that may lead to an all out war with the entire city of Vermillion mountain may rise.

+

After they all went back to the castle, the five of them begun on how to tackle the problem.

"Let me do things this time"

Marco stood up while raising his hand.

"Why are you guys staring at me?"

"Well, this mission is obviously for you. I don't have a sly tounge like you"

Charlie said.

"Unlike you, I'm not really good at talking to others. Mostly because others tend to think that I am superior to others due to my resting bitch face"

Aldo said.

"I prefer fighting than negotiating with others. I already had enough bickering with my editor back in our world. I don't want to experience anything like that again"

Tony said.

"I will have to hide my face in the time being. I can't possibly show myself when every single prisoner we have tremble at the sight of me, can I?"

Leon said in a sarcastic tone.

"Then, I'm going to need all of you to create something"

"What for?"

"Trading of course! We need money! How else are we going to build a whole fucking country without it"

"We can just make our own once we have the population to-"

Bam!

Marco slammed the wooden ladle on the table.

"To those who don't even have an idea how reckless and idiotic that is, just be quiet and do as I say"

Marco handed a book to the four.

"This is a book I bought from the . Make sure to take care of it"

"How will you resolve the problem below us then? Forget negotiations, if they see the state their kin is in they will jump at us with the intent to kill"

"I will take care of it. I'm a bard, remember"

After reading what they need to make, the four were in pure disgust.

"You want us to make something like this?"

"Are you serious right now?"

"That's disgusting! My eyes! Does someone has the ability to make others lose their memories?!"

"Yes. Yes. And yes, I do have something I can use to remove some memory of yours"

"Wait, is that how you are going to make the prisoners not to snitch about us?"

Tony asked as Aldo rubbed his eyes in an attempt to lose forget what he just red.

"Yes!"

As they got the gist of what Marco will do, they became at ease that there is now a possibility to his plan.

...

During the time they had, each of them worked hard to meet their quotas everyday, that they all ended up going overboard.

[Fifty third day]

With a few hours left before the envoy arrives base on the mission panel, they all went to eat breakfast and make sure that eveything is clean.

"You want me to hide Aldo junior, Persephone, and Lexi?"

"Yes. It will be troublesome if they see other races that may set them off. As they are part orc, they might hate races such as elves and the undead"

"Okay. I will only allow the other two on the first floor though"

The gargoyle, the ghoul, and the elf followed Aldo back to his magic tower.

Five minutes before their arrival, two carriages with ten warriors on horseback.

"I think we are aging slower since we arrived here"

"What makes you say that?"

"Well, I usually shave twice a month but it is already about to become our second month in this world and my beard is still short"

"Now that you mention it, I do-"

"Be quiet!"

The envoy stopped.

As the carriage doors opened, a female demi human accompanied with a knights clad in shining armor came out.

"Before we begin with our talk, I would like to have the presence of this castle's magician"

"....?"

"There is no need to hide it, I already know the existence of other races other than you humans here in this castle. I also know that they are loyal to you all not base on fear but base on gratitude"

For a moment, they were left dumbfounded by the words of the woman in front of them but soon regained their composure.

Tony immediately went to the magic tower and brought Aldo along with him.

"Magician, I would like to form an oath of mana with you. This is to ensure that no fight will arise during our stay here. It will not benefit either of us if conflict were to spark now, right?"

"While I am a beginner in the path of magic, I do know of what you are talking about. For the sake of peace, I accept this oath"

Bewildered from the change of tone and attitude, the four of them could not hear Aldo and the woman chanting their oaths because of the sudden change Aldo showed.

"Thank you for complying to my sudden demand"

"If anything, I am thankful. Because I can rest at ease in my tower"

After the two bowed to each other in respect as individuals who walk the path of magic, Marco escorted the woman into his office while Aldo went back to kick off the three hiding in his tower.

As they entered the castle, the orcs were in awe to see a flawless castle.

It was built perfectly that there is no weak spot or gap on the walls, the floor, or the ceiling.

"It may not be much, but I hope the complimentary snacks will be to your liking"

In front of the chair where the woman sat down was a banana chips and a glass of blue beverage.

"Priestess, may I?"

"Go ahead"

The knight took out her helmet and took a single banana chip and the wine for poison.

"I apologize if what my escort knight may offend you. You see, an oath of mana is useless for something that has been laid out before it was formed so this is only an insurance.

Once again, I apologize if this comes as offensive for you"

"Not at all, I would have done the same if I was in your situation as well"

After confirming that there is no poison on the food or the drink, the knight nodded, gesturing that it is okay for her to take in.

"May I ask what these are?"

"The bowl in front of you is a bowl of banana chips that was dried under the sun. I assure you that its sweet flavor and crispy texture will be refreshing for a race that hardly eat fruits"

"You-"

Just as the knight was about to unsheathe her sword, the demi human priestess stopped her.

"I am binded to the magician under the oath of mana, attacking him is the same as attacking me"

The woman turned back to face Marco.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I mean that there are nutrients that the body needs from plants and fruits that which you regard as insignificant. Just as how you all are thinking about me and my comrades"

"I was sure you won't be able to sense anything amiss when our faces are covered like this"

"True, your knights are wearing helmets and you have a veil covering your face, but that does not stop me from knowing by instinct what you all are feeling right now"

"....."

"While I do not sense killing intent, I do sense an aura one who thinks they are superior to the other coming from all of you, especially to you, priestess"

The knight sheathed her sword and took a step back.

"Most of what you said is true, except for one thing. Other than the magician, I do not acknowledge anyone else in this castle"

"Is it because he is a magician?"

"It is because his mana is too clean. For that reason, I can tell that he is someone with a of golden heart and a kind soul"

The priestess said while not knowing the fact that Aldo's mana only became pure after purging the resentful souls in the desert.

"Then that is enough for me"

"How so?"

"You, acknowledging someone from us is more than enough. This will allow me to comfortably talk with you without having the need to hide anything"

"....."

The priestess started to laugh uncontrollably.

After calming down, she drank a bit of the blue drink on her glass and removed the veil.

"I change my mind, you and the magician are worthy of my acknowledgement.

I am Jarianne, a priestess who serves the God of Animals, and daugther of an elder in our Vermillion mountain city"

"I am Marco Garcia. The one who manage the administration and foregin talks here in the castle"