There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL)
Chapter 330 - 322. Negotiation

Chapter 330: Chapter 322. Negotiation

It was clear to the other that the elder was flustered by Zein calling him ’gramps’ intimately, and had to press their lips to hold back their laugh--including Senan.

The old man did not take a long time this time, however, as if he didn’t want to make Zein wait long for his answer. [Honestly...I’m feeling a little bit icky] the elder said. [It’s not about the money, since it’s yours in the first place. But to invest in a guild that harmed you--]

"To be fair, I believe it’s not Celestia itself," Radia cut the old man. "Whoever supports Varion is separated from Celestia."

"How do you know?"

"Because they’re doing nothing to all the scandals we released to the masses, also..." the crimson eyes narrowed slightly, but in the end, Radia decided to not divulge his conjecture just yet. "Hmm...well, that’s what I feel anyway."

Zein looked at the summoner inquisitively, but Radia only smiled and talked further to the elder. "But even if they did, let’s see it like this; we’re going to take control of Celestia from within. You can see it as you’re using that money to get back at them without them even knowing it."

The elder fell silent for a bit, probably to mull over Radia’s proposition. Zein sipped on his warm chocolate, thinking about it on his own. That money was supposed to be put into the foundation he would make with Ishtera’s name on it. Was it right to divert its usage like this? Not that there was a written promise about it or anything, but...

[...Senan?] the elder’s voice still contained a trace of hesitation.

"I agree, Uncle," Senan, however, sounded confident. And there was only one reason for him to be that firm. "If doing this can lead us to the real person behind Young Master’s abduction..."

His fingers curled and clenched tightly on top of his knees, and they could feel his fury clearly. Fury and helplessness. So, if there was anything he could do to help, he would not hesitate for it. "But of course, it’s still up to Young Master himself."

[Yes, you’re right. I’ll follow your decision, Young Master] the elder said solemnly.

Zein crossed his arms and leaned back, closing his eyes to contemplate further. Honestly, it felt rather selfish, because it seemed like he used the money for revenge. And it was like a gamble; even after giving their sponsorship, there was no guarantee that this new faction would be able to do what they wanted; to clean Celestia.

But if they could...

A guardian tree that protected the people; it didn’t sound so bad.

"If we reach a deal, we can put on a clause stating that we would retract our sponsorship if they couldn’t do such and such within a certain period," Radia said, as if he could hear Zein’s thought and concern.

Well...it was Radia after all. Zein chuckled wryly and nodded. "Let’s do it. Let’s put our claw inside Celestia."

He already planted his personal spy there, might as well buy the guild a little bit while at it.

"Well, eventually, it still depends on what Darleon decides," Radia chuckled. "Let’s just hope he wouldn’t make things complicated."

"When do you expect him to call?"

"Before three," Radia glanced at the clock on the wall; it was 2:47. "Should be in a bit."

"You seem confident he’ll call," Bassena crossed his arms, still feeling skeptical about anyone from Celestia.

Radia chuckled while crushing the golden needle on the ashtray. "Because he should know how debilitating it is to be tried in front of the House Council."

Bassena raised his brow, and was about to say something when Radia’s commlink rang. The smile spreading on the summoner’s face was enough to tell them that the call they had been waiting for had arrived.

Radia pressed his commlink and did not waste time with meaningless glib--he did it enough in the yacht. "Let’s hear your answer, Belthera."

The other side was silent, but they could hear the breathing sound; slow, dragged, heavy. They could feel his distress all the way here, in another area.

[I would like to negotiate] the man said after almost a minute.

The other three raised their brows, but Radia didn’t seem to be surprised and replied calmly. "I don’t think you’re in any position to negotiate."

[The answer] Darleon spoke hurriedly. [If I can provide you with the answer you’re looking for, can you spare him?]

Radia stretched out his arm toward Bassena, who was gritting his teeth and almost standing up in fury. Thankfully, Zein was there to hold the man back, so Radia could focus on talking to Darleon.

Radia audibly tapped on his armrest as he replied. "I guess you’re forgetting the part where I said ’atonement’, huh?"

[But as you said, he’s only doing someone else’s order!] Darleon shouted, the echo behind his voice spelled frustration instead of anger. They could hear the sound of his breath, listening to how he tried to control his emotions again. When he finally spoke, it was with clear desperation. "I’ll take him to apologize to you in person, so please...please don’t detain him..."

Radia muted the speaker and told the other three. "Varion bore the most resemblance with his deceased mother," he said shortly, before turning on the speaker again and coming back to the call before the old man could regain his composure.

"Belthera, you should know we don’t just want an answer," Radia said, tone shifting lower and dryer. "If you want us to not incarcerate your son," he paused, rubbing his lips as the crimson eyes glinted, "then you should be ready to destroy your father."

The call and the room fell into silence. It wasn’t just Darleon; the three people in the same room also widened their eyes in shock. Bassena already had an inkling that Radia knew--or at least had a guess--of who was behind Varion, but that did not make it less surprising.

[You...you already know...] the old man stammered. The secret he had been hiding for the longest time.

"It’s not exactly a hard information to come across to," Radia said nonchalantly. "You see, we already know the answer. Varion is not an answer; he’s a piece of evidence. If you want to negotiate, then you should provide us with something of the same value."

Once again, as the call fell into silence, Radia tapped his finger audibly at the armrest, the sound blended perfectly with the ticking clock, almost like he was making a countdown. After exactly thirty counts, he opened his mouth.

"Is it such a hard decision? So you still regard them as family even now, huh?"

[No, that’s--] Darleon blurted hurriedly at the irritated voice, before stopping himself and changing his tone. [You don’t understand, Mallarc, going against them is--]

"You don’t get to decide on that, Belthera," Radia cut the old man. Unconsciously, Bassena scooted closer to Zein because the way Radia talked right now gave him a flashback of days being disciplined in the academy. "You’re no longer a part of the Old House. We have our own way of doing things."

They heard the old man take a deep, heavy breath. [So you want me to gather evidence against them]

"Shouldn’t be too hard, isn’t it, as long as you can go inside," Radia sneered. "It’s not like they lack unsavory things to do."

It was the same mocking tone that Radia used in the fishing pond, but Darleon had no right to get angry because he couldn’t refute that. After all, it was the whole reason he separated himself from that House.

Still...

[In the end, you still telling me to sell my family]

Radia chuckled heartlessly. "Isn’t that why we’re buying your future faction?"

Zein and Senan looked at each other, and, in tacit understanding, let out a sigh. There was a sense of relief that Radia wasn’t their enemy. Zein didn’t think he was a good guy who didn’t want to dirty his hand, but he also thought he wouldn’t be able to play the political board game that was needed in a big guild.

This whole complication about faction and such was probably why Radia maintained Trinity as it was, even if he had to shoulder the burden of working alone at the top.

[Promise me] Darleon said with a trembling voice that came like a choke. [Promise me that you won’t touch him if I provide you with evidence] the voice was filled with subdued anger, but also desperation. [Just let it end with an apology]

Radia flicked his gaze toward Zein. "Well, the decision relies on the one being harmed."

There was a sound of gritted teeth coming from the speaker, and Zein didn’t think it would be good to push this old man further. But he would lie if he said he’d let go of this Varion person--who constantly trying to harm him despite they never met even once--without seeing him on his knees.

"That would depend on his apology," Zein said diplomatically, which put a smile on Radia’s face.

There was a slight clattering sound on the other side, perhaps because Darleon did not expect the guide to be there. When he replied, he almost sounded like he had aged even more. [I’ll get back to you soon]

"I’ll be waiting," Radia closed the connection without hesitation, a subtle smile decorated his face.

As soon as the call was over, Bassena blurted out what everyone had been thinking about. "Who is it?" he asked in palpable agitation. "Why is the Belthera--"

"Belthera is not Darleon’s original surname, it’s his wife’s," Radia told them while taking out another golden needle.

"What? Then who..."

"An Old House," Bassena bit his cheek. "It’s another Old House, isn’t it?"