"Atlan! You seriously aren't thinking about accepting the mission, right?!" Lizzie looked at Atlan as if he was insane. In her opinion, no amount of rewards could make up for the fact that he could lose his entire SoulTime in this mission.
"What do you require?" asked the bearded old man.
Atlan stayed silent. He didn't want to show his hand quite as easily as that. If he told them what he wanted right away, then he'd be shutting the doors for any kind of reward that they might offer.
"You need me more than I need you. I'm the one that needs convincing, so you tell me what you're prepared to offer."
Atlan's bold strategy horrified Carmine and impressed the Elder Heads. By letting them offer something first, then Atlan would be sure that he could negotiate much more than what they're currently offering.
