God From The Abyss

Duke Alan furrowed his brows, his hazel eyes fought with a shock, disbelief, and a bit of annoyance. Surely he had expected Mikael to go for a ridiculous price. But over a hundred million? And even threatening to sell to other races.

Treasonous, yes. But during the few weeks gone by, Mikael’s actions here had always gone past common sense. He sighed again, but inwardly this time.

Lloyd gritted his teeth as he stared at seemingly aloof white-haired brat.

"As the representative and Vice President of the Imperial Merchant Office, I can not support the astronomical price of a hundred million gold Crowns. That is robbery cloaked in civility."

Mikael scoffed. "You don’t understand one thing, Mr. Lloyd." This mortal was about getting on his nerves.

"And what is that, kid?" Lloyd noticed the change in the boy’s mood. So he kept pushing it.

First of all, Mikael took a deep breath. The bait was there, and all they needed was for him to rage.

"First off, I am not as much as a kid as you all make me out to be, although my appearance betrays me." He paused, allowing the statement sink in.

"Secondly, I am inclined to note that I do not exactly care or rather give a fvck about anyone in this Empire, forgive the language. But be it Alan here, Selena, you, your Emperor, your knights, none of your positions mean a single thing to me. So get your priorities right here, you’re losing quite a ground in this negotiation.

Negotiation?

And not approval?

Several glances from the Imperial Office Vice President at the Duke and the rest of his entourage showed that they too did not expect this, and were already feeling conflicted. And Lloyd could not help but notice that the knights behind him were fuming so much, their armors were quaking.

He sighed, running a hand through his golden hair.

"It would seem we have deviated quite a bit and it seems our guests are getting worn out," Selena said, taking control of the room.

She glared at Mikael as she continued. "The price will be worked on and word will be sent to your office, Sir Lloyd. And as for Mikael’s previous rants, please pay them no heed." Her cold eyes said just one thing that only the insiders understood.

DO NOT DAMN MY FAMILY.

Selena’s glare was so intense the Duke felt his spine shiver. His wife truly was a blessing from the Goddess.

Lloyd lowered slightly. "Of course. As expected of the Matriarch of House Limnor, elegant and able. You really do live up to your reputation, Your Grace."

Selena’s gaze softened as she smiled politely. "Flattery won’t get you anywhere, Sir Lloyd."

"Before we call it a day, I think.....it is time for this Rank-Breaker to be tested," he said, turning to Mikael, who looked half-asleep.

"Of course," the Duke’s deep voice resounded. "A demonstration is most necessary."

Mikael leaned back slightly, golden eyes flicking over the assembly of officials. The smile that crawled up his face was slow, lazy. "Before any demonstration, we must settle the terms."

"Terms?"

"Yes," Mikael replied. The price for the one to be used at the testing as well as the price for others to come. The latter can wait for later, but I must have a hundred million gold before I let go of this one here. Negotiation will only take away ten million at most. My apologies, Duchess, Duke. I shall not budge."

His reason was simple. If they gave up on any ground here no matter how trivial, it would only be the starting point. And to also cement the facade that the raw materials cost quite a lot, it was necessary that payment be made to cover these ’costs’.

A knight, not able to hold in his anger, came beside Lloyd and said, "My Lord, I would like to request duel with this damned brat. At least teach him what is called national consciousness and respect for the throne."

"Sir Williams-"

"I can not change my mind, my Lord," Lloyd cast a resigned glance at the lad. Sir Williams was a Grandmaster and was very skilled in swordsmanship. A perfect depiction of a Mage Swordsman, while Mikael was a Master Rank at most.

"I agree, Mr. Lloyd. I’ll humor him. But it shall be after this meeting."

Lloyd leaned his word, his fingers tapping against the emirrost. "So we are going to pay one hundred million to give you your approval." He laughed.

"You are the bravest brat I’ve ever seen in the thirty-four years of my life. You truly have some guts, Mikael."

"And you are not the most annoying mortal-man....whatever... I’ve ever seen.

" So what if the device fails? Do we get a refund?"

"It depends on my mood, Lloyd. Good name by the way."

Lloyd already knew he had lost. Pure stubbornness had triumphed over delayed strategy calculation.

"Cecile, are the account orbs with you?" Mine particularly.

"Yes, my Lord," the secretary replied. She willed a transparent, apple-sized orb filled with swirling blue light and offered him a tattoo on her wrist.

" I shall transfer ninety million to you. Think of it as an investment."

"So you get a stake in each sale," Mikael smiled. "You’d need more than that to squeeze out more money from me in the future, Lloyd. This here is just the purchase price. But still, smart idea nonetheless."

Clinton fetched another orb. Both this one was smaller and engraved with runes. A Vault Sphere, the kind used only by big Noble families.

Lloyd scoffed inwardly. "Rich bastard," he muttered. He poured mana into his orb and it projected a floating interface of glowing runes.

Of course, it was visible only to him. And Mikael, somehow, because he went on to mutter something about how rich Lloyd seemed to be...

The vault sphere chimed once. The butler opened it and confirmed the ninety million gold Crowns.

Mikael sighed. "The remaining ten million?"

"Once I am satisfied with the quality of the Rank-Breaker, it will be sent without fail. You really do drive a hard bargain, Mikael lad." He rose, as his entourage also changed their posture ready for departure.

"Shall we get to the testing, then? Time is a currency of mine I cannot afford to waste now."

"Sit, sit, Lloyd. Where are you going?

"For the testing. I think this room will-"

"Do just fine," Mikael interjected. "So, who’s testing?"

"I am." Lloyd volunteered. "I did pay a huge sum for it. So, what do I do?"

"Just relax," Mikael laughed.

Lloyd’s core had the golden color of a Grandmaster, from what he had observed. If he used the Rank-Breaker, he will become a Sage Rank outright and might go on to become a Quasi-God based on mortal ranking.

How we all love power.

Mikael willed the shard and it floated in the air. After pouring a bit of Celestial essence, invisible to the eye, the shard dissipated into light particles that flew into Lloyd’s chest region.

Lloyd gritted his teeth and clenched his fists over his heart in sheer agony. His side entourage were already at his side with one of the knights casting a low level healing spell to alleviate the pain.

Lloyd, amidst the pain, could feel it. The roof, the ceiling of his core breaking. Its walls rippling and taking a new form. At the end of the restructuring, his core charged from gold to pure white and it no longer pulsed like a fixed crystal.

It flowed, viscous and luminous, refusing to settle into shape. Every heartbeat seemed to send ripples through it.

Almost an hour later, the aura of a Sage Rank flared signifying a successful ascension!

"Congratulations on becoming the Sage rank. And congratulations in advance..."

Mikael smiled so warmly, it was clear for all to see it was exaggerated. Or was it?

"Why is that. What are you hiding?"

Lloyd couldn’t help but feel wary.

"Nothing. I look forward to your reaching the Quasi-God rank."

"Eh?"