Chapter 1075: An Irresistible Condition
Just as Rhode expected, Erin started investigating his younger sister after their meeting immediately. However, the result of the investigation left Erin increasingly puzzled as she couldn’t even figure out her name, not to mention her true ident.i.ty. During their first interaction, Rhode’s younger sister didn’t mention her name and Erin neglected it as she was overly shocked (this went to show just how fl.u.s.tered Erin was back then). Thereafter, when Erin thought about it, she felt incredibly depressed. But she later realized that there was something even more depressing.
It seemed like the entire Grandia was unaware of the young lady’s name. The only thing Erin confirmed was that everyone including Marlene and Alice addressed the young lady as ‘Her Majesty’, which surprised Erin greatly. This was because in Dragon Soul Continent, only the dragon soul heirs had the rights to be called ‘His Majesty’ or ‘Her Majesty’. On the other hand, the young lady seemed to accept being called one naturally and didn’t display any signs of discomfort. This left Erin feeling increasingly suspicious of her true ident.i.ty. She thought that the young lady was actually Rhode who had transformed for whatever reasons. But shortly after, she denied this thought because Rhode and the young lady weren’t anywhere identical apart from their looks, be it personality or aura which were at odds with each other. Besides, in terms of grandeur, the young lady was obviously more powerful than him. In fact, Erin had even suspected whether two Void Dragons actually existed. But she felt like it wasn’t too realistic. After all, based on the historical records, apart from the twin dragons of the Country of Law, there was only one of each dragon soul heir for other countries.
Erin wasn’t aware that her guesses were extremely close to the truth.
Shortly after, she realized that she no longer had the time to ponder over these mysteries because she heard a request that left her head throbbing.
“Did you say the… Astral Telescope?”
Gazing at the smiling young lady, Erin felt her head aching in pain. Of course, Erin knew that this Astral Telescope the young lady mentioned wasn’t referring to the so-called apparatus used to observe the stars. Instead, it was the national treasure currently hidden safely below the Darkness Capital in the underground palace. It was a treasure that was pa.s.sed down since the establishment of the Country of Darkness. Moreover, Erin also knew that the Astral Telescope contained mysterious powers and knowledge. She didn’t know most of it, but was aware that much formidable black magic utilized by the Darkness Capital’s royal guards was researched and pa.s.sed on from it. Although Erin expected the young lady to come up with a big task for her, she didn’t antic.i.p.ate it to involve the national treasure of the Country of Darkness.
“Erm… My apologies. I don’t think it will be that easy, Your Majesty.”
After serious considerations, Erin had decided to address the young lady as ‘Your Majesty’ like Marlene and the rest. Anyway, this young lady was far more superior in strength than her and perhaps even stronger than Ion too. Moreover, since Marlene and Alice were willing to address her this way, it wouldn’t take much of her to do it either. Although Erin was in a mood for gossip when this young lady appeared before her once again, she couldn’t turn her hobby into action this time.
Gazing at the young lady’s smiling face, Erin also smiled in response and gave a difficult expression. Then, she spoke.
“Regarding the compensations… I admit that it is our uns.h.i.+rkable responsibility. As for the Astral Telescope… I’m sorry, Your Majesty. Frankly speaking, I think we will be unable to fulfill your request. Perhaps both sides should take a step back and reconsider an acceptable proposal.”
“I do think this is really worth your consideration, Miss Erin.”
The young lady sat opposite Erin leisurely, extending her fair, jade-like fingers, and slid them across the circ.u.mference of the teacup playfully. Then, she quietly lifted the teacup and took a sip, before lifting her head and gazing at the moon princess with a gentle smile.
“This is the conclusion of my discussion with Rhode. Although we agreed that the clash earlier on wasn’t what we hoped for, no matter what, we must all have an accountable explanation. And now, what we need is only the Astral Telescope. To the Country of Darkness with countless treasures, surely it isn’t too much to ask for? In comparison to the Astral Telescope, don’t you guys have many more precious treasures, such as the Dark Bible, Broken Glacier, and Throne of Death?”
“…”
Erin’s smile stiffened instantly. Her eyes widened slightly in disbelief as she gazed at the young lady. Of course, she knew that the mentioned artifacts were national treasures of the Country of Darkness. It could also be said that these three artifacts had contributed infinitely to the growth of the country. The Dark Bible turned living beings into undead in order to escape death. The Throne of Death was basically the crown of the Dark Dragon. The Broken Glacier gave protection to the shelters of the undead creatures. All of them were artifacts recognized by the Creator Dragons. Compared to them, the Astral Telescope was more like a historical and symbolic artifact. What surprised Erin was that only a handful of beings knew they existed. If she weren’t the Dark Dragon Ion’s younger sister, she definitely wouldn’t know about them. But now, this young lady seemed to know all the secrets of the Country of Darkness!
In an instant, Erin was terrified as there were as though no secrets in the young lady’s eyes. Moreover, the artifacts were also the core secrets of the Country of Darkness. Erin didn’t know how she managed to find out about them. They were referred to as the three legendary artifacts of the Country of Darkness! In comparison to them, the value of the Astral Telescope… didn’t seem as precious indeed.
But wait, that shouldn’t be the issue!
“Is there really no room for negotiation?”
Upon realizing that she almost fell into the young lady’s pit, Erin was startled. Indeed, the Astral Telescope wasn’t as precious as the three legendary artifacts. But since this young lady knew the importance of them, she wouldn’t possibly change her target to the three legendary artifacts if she failed to ask for the Astral Telescope because she knew that the Country of Darkness definitely wouldn’t agree to her request.
“There isn’t entirely no s.p.a.ce for negotiation, Your Highness.”
Rhode drifted beside his younger sister, gazing at her gentle smile that never changed as though she wasn’t the one rejected by Erin. No, perhaps he should say that his younger sister didn’t take Erin’s tactful rejection to heart. Perhaps to his younger sister, since she had raised the request, Erin should accept unconditionally. And now, she wasn’t just discussing conditions with Erin only.
“If it really doesn’t work, I suggest both sides take a step back, I think the territories in the Country of Light occupied by the Country of Darkness should return to their rightful owner. What do you think?”
“Hahahaha!”
As Rhode became an undetectable spirit, he lost all his elegant demeanor and burst into laughter after realizing the awkwardness and despair from Erin’s face after she heard his younger sister’s proposal. The first Void Dragon was indeed worthy of being the G.o.d who created the Dragon Soul Continent as she mentioned the condition justifiably. Although Rhode was also capable of doing it, his words would sound 100 percent more like threats and taunts. But his younger sister said it in his stead and the tone in her voice sounded as though both sides really should ‘take a step back’. However, the ‘take a step back’ from her mouth wasn’t as simple as just ‘a step’ to the Country of Darkness. At the very most, the Void Territory wouldn’t fuss about the ‘accidental invasions’ by the Country of Darkness in the past. However, how could the Dark Dragon accept it if the Country of Darkness was asked to spit out the meat it ate and behave like an aloof adult who cautioned children not to fight?
“I suddenly feel like it is too disadvantageous to negotiate the terms now. How about we head to the Darkness Capital and negotiate with that bast*rd, Ion, instead?”
At this thought, Rhode held back his laughter and said to his younger sister. Right now, he was too lazy to idle on the job with Erin and would rather let his younger sister head to the Darkness Capital and enrage the Dark Dragon. If that happened, everything that happened in the past would be worth it. If she were able to make the Dark Dragon blow his top and even suffer a stroke, Rhode would be celebrating with firecrackers.
“This…”
Erin wasn’t foolish. At this moment, she understood why the young lady didn’t take her words to heart, had no intention of negotiating, and gave her two choices instead: either hand over the Astral Telescope and pay compensations, or make the Country of Darkness’s army withdraw from the Country of Light and they would put an end to this dispute. This left Erin depressed, but what could she do now? Her choices were limited and now, this ‘Her Majesty’ was clearly wrangling with her. The choices Erin could choose from were extremely limited.
Erin sighed at this thought before pulling herself together and spoke.
“Alright then… Your Majesty. For your suggestion, I will report to His Majesty Dark Dragon and give you an answer as soon as possible.”