Chapter 1054 Interrupted Negotiation
"It has," Lord Rhuvek nodded before saying, "However, Lord Leon isn't just planning to trade sea monster meat with our city, right? How about we both be upfront and lay down everything we want and have to offer."
"Sure. That sounds good. I like a straightforward deal," Leon nodded before saying, "Then, I start first. I am interested in high-quality insect materials and your city's runic knowledge."
"That's it?" Lord Rhuvek uttered with surprise.
"For the time being, these two are at the top of my list. I'm sure your city has other things that would catch my interest. However, I have yet to learn everything your city has to offer," Leon stated.
"Fair enough," Lord Rhuvek calmly nodded and said, "I can arrange a guide to tour Lord Leon through the city later."
"However, high-quality insect materials and runic knowledge are the foundations of our city. The only reason our city can stand tall against the throngs of Paragon-level insects in the Lower Abyss Domain is thanks to our equipment and weapons."
"Given Lord Leon's strength, it shouldn't be difficult for you to obtain high-quality insect materials if you wanted to. That being said, I am still willing to trade our city's high-quality insect materials and runic knowledge."
"Of course, that is under the assumption that Lord Leon is willing to offer something of equivalent value in exchange for them. Although the value of this sea monster meat is quite good, it's still not quite enough," Lord Rhuvek stated.
"Transcendent-level sea monster meat won't be enough, then how about Paragon-level sea monster meat?" Leon uttered.
"Paragon-level sea monster meat would indeed be precious," Lord Rhuvek nodded before adding with clear interest, "In fact, I am willing to pay a high price for Paragon-level sea monster meat."
"However, the real question is how much Paragon-level sea monster meat does Lord Leon have to offer? And are you only trading with Paragon-level sea monster meat?" Lord Rhuvek asked shortly after.
"Of course not," Leon shook his head with a smile and said, "That is just one of the options, Lord Rhuvek. I have plenty of other items to offer. For example, cultivation pills and primordial body cultivation methods."
As Leon and Lord Rhuvek negotiated their demands and offers, Rainshine yawned with boredom while listening to them.
She didn't understand much about what was going on, nor did she have any place in the conversation.
It was a talk between leaders.
Nevertheless, Rainshine didn't have to listen to her master's talk with Lord Rhuvek for too long before it was rudely interrupted by another fairy barging into the grand hall with urgent news.
"My Lord, those mutants are back again," the fairy messenger informed.
Lord Rhuvek's pleasant expression immediately turned serious before he stood up and turned to apologize to Leon.
"I deeply apologize, Lord Leon. However, it seems that we will have to postpone our negotiations. A matter that requires my immediate attention has appeared."
"What's going on?" Leon raised an eyebrow with interest.
"There isn't time to explain, Lord Leon. If you like, you can follow me. I will explain on the way," Lord Rhuvek suggested before adding, "Perhaps, you can even lend us some of your great strength. Our city will be grateful if you do."
"Alright. Lead the way, Lord Rhuvek," Leon said with a nod.
Seeing the urgency in Lord Rhuvek's eyes, Leon did not waste too much time and readily agreed to follow Lord Rhuvek to check out the situation.
"Let's go, Rainshine."
"Yes, Master!"
Rainshine shot up onto Leon's shoulder with excitement after sensing some action.
Nevertheless, Leon quickly followed Lord Rhuvek and the fairies out of the palace, where a platoon of Transcendent-level dark elven soldiers quickly gathered and waited on them.
"We greet the City Lord!" the platoon shouted in unison.
Lord Rhuvek swept his gaze across the platoon before he nodded with acknowledgment after confirming everyone was present. The city's troops were punctual in their response to the threat to the city.
"Where are the mutants?"
"At Howling Wind Gate, my Lord."
"Then to Howling Wind Gate, we go."
"Yes, my Lord!"
Shortly after, the platoon was dispatched to Howling Wind Gate under Lord Rhuvek's lead.
As Leon followed the group, he found out the city did not occupy all of the space within the big cave. There was still plenty of room for expansion—or rather, the dark elves make room for expansion when necessary.
Nevertheless, Howling Wind Gate was just one of many gates. Every tunnel leading out of the cave was a gate.
"What's the deal with these so-called mutants, Lord Rhuvek? What is the whole city on edge at the mention of them? Are they powerful?" Leon inquired along the way.
"They aren't powerful," Lord Rhuvek his head before adding, "However, they can be if we don't deal with them swiftly. They are very troublesome existences that we cannot ignore once they appear."
"When these mutants first appeared around ten thousand years ago, we didn't think much about them. Because they are very vile and disgusting existences, our ancestors didn't want anything to do with them."
"Alas, few of our clan's cities were lost because of that choice. We did not see the potential danger these mutants posed back then," Lord Rhuvek stated.
"But your clan learned your lesson since then and decided to exterminate every mutant on sight now, huh?" Leon uttered thoughtfully before asking, "What are they exactly?"
"I'm afraid I don't really have an answer to that, Lord Leon," Lord Rhuvek said apologetically.
"No one really knows what these mutants are. They are unlike any race we have ever come across. They are very parasitic and aggressive. They attack and assimilate anything that moves."
"Is that so?" Leon furrowed his brows in deep thoughts.
The mutants described by Lord Rhuvek sounded exactly like a certain group of vile creatures that had been influenced by the Wrath Law.
Although Leon suspected it, he could only be sure once he saw the mutants with his own eyes.