Chapter 224: Negotiation (3)

Eolara’s appearance was as surprising as her arrival.

Engaged in a fierce battle with Weian, using both her arms and legs freely, she was now supporting herself with a crutch under one arm.

Her somewhat emaciated face and her turbid, sunken eyes were striking.

Her mana pattern had significantly changed, likely due to severe after-effects from that day’s battle.

It was no wonder Lennok hadn’t recognized her until she appeared right in front of the bar.

Lennok’s companions, who had been laughing and chatting comfortably in the bar, all rose from their seats at once.

As a Cartel executive they had directly clashed with, her personal information had been shared long ago.

Amidst the sharp, murderous aura pouring out indiscriminately, Eolara stood calmly, accepting their gazes.

Dray asked in a sharp voice.

“How did you get past the security here? We didn’t receive any calls from outside…”

“I received assistance from Virgil. I am, after all, merely a messenger dispatched for this matter.”

“…”

What response could there be when an executive-level manager had personally intervened?

The rumor that the Cartel’s founding members each possessed unique abilities was well-known in this city, so no further explanation was needed.

“I came after receiving the message from Van. Shall we get straight to the point?”

“That’s a rather optimistic thing to say.”

Killian growled and slowly approached Eolara.

“You don’t think you can visit enemy territory alone and return safely, do you?”

Lennok, watching from behind, shook his head.

“Killian. Stop.”

“Van?”

“That woman came to respond to the message I sent. The fact that Virgil specifically chose to send her means he wants to definitively settle this score right here.”

“…”

Ignoring Killian, who grumbled and stepped back, Lennok asked.

“The business card?”

“Here it is.”

Eolara took Virgil’s business card from her pocket and placed it on the bar.

The business card Virgil had handed over, which Van had then returned.

It was proof that she had clearly received the intentions of both men and come to this place.

“Excuse me, but may I sit down to speak?”

Eolara asked Lennok with a calm expression.

“As you can see, I’m in this condition, so standing for long is difficult.”

“As you wish.”

Eolara didn’t hesitate, immediately pulled out a bar stool, and sat down.

A posture with her back to Lennok’s companions gathered in the bar.

It was an utterly defenseless attitude, but precisely because of that, she couldn’t be carelessly touched.

If she was merely someone who came to talk with Lennok, then causing trouble in this situation was out of the question.

As the group remained silent, Eolara spoke first.

“I’ve confirmed the message you sent, Van.”

Her gaze turned to the business card she had placed down.

The single word Lennok had scribbled hastily on the back of Virgil’s business card.

‘Traitor.’

It was the decisive factor that led Virgil to respond to Lennok’s summons.

“It seems you’ve become aware of our Cartel’s internal affairs.”

Jenny poured a cup of coffee and placed it in front of Eolara.

She didn’t decline.

She took a light sip and continued.

“Honestly, I’m surprised. Even if Girard is a frivolous man, he was still a colleague who had contributed to the organization for a long time. To think he would already blurt out such core secrets… Wizards truly are different.”

If Lennok, who had captured Girard, had realized the Cartel’s internal strife, there was only one answer.

Girard had talked, and if that was linked to traitors within the Cartel, then wouldn’t his direct superior also be closely involved?

“The current external conflicts are to conceal internal divisions. Virgil prioritizes dealing with the surge of traitors who have violated the organization’s rules above all else.”

“What does that mean?”

“On the condition that Van hands over Girard Ozette, Virgil has promised to take responsibility and let bygones be bygones.”

At Eolara’s declaration, those listening to the conversation were visibly agitated.

To put it bluntly, it was tantamount to the Cartel’s CEO first requesting leniency from Lennok.

Considering the difference in prestige between the two organizations, it was a situation where it wouldn’t be strange to consider it a miracle.

But Lennok shook his head with an expressionless face.

“That’s not enough.”

“…”

“What if I keep Girard alive and hand him over to you, and after you root out the traitors? It wouldn’t be strange for this to happen again.”

It wouldn’t be strange at all if Virgil washed his hands of it after everything was resolved.

Lennok did not trust a man like Virgil that much.

“Exactly what do you want?”

“Beyond not interfering with the business we’re pursuing, I need a promise of full cooperation. It wouldn’t be bad for the Cartel to even come in as an investor.”

Eolara fell silent.

“To cleanly resolve an ambiguously ended matter, wouldn’t a promise of that extent be necessary?”

Ultimately, unless he became strong enough to face the Cartel’s Chairman, guaranteeing victory against the three executive leaders was impossible.

What Lennok could do was exploit the fact that the executive leaders and other top executives were constrained by the other three leaders, accumulating as much damage as possible, and obtaining enough authority for Jenny’s business to operate normally.

The disparity in power between a company that was just beginning to take shape and the three executive leaders, who were called a corporate confederation, was not something that could be overcome.

Rather, it was only because Lennok possessed abilities that surpassed most organizations that he could bring the situation to this point.

If it hadn’t been for him from the beginning, such a negotiation would have been impossible.

Eolara asked.

“The material and human losses our organization suffered from this incident easily exceed hundreds of billions of cells. Knowing that, do you still find this negotiation unreasonable?”

“It’s a matter of sequence and justification.”

Lennok replied.

“From our perspective, we are merely victims of unilateral damage from you. Moreover, considering the difference in organizational scale, it wouldn’t be strange for such an incident to happen again at any time. I believe it’s reasonable to demand that much, under the guarantee of a responsible party.”

“…”

“Or, did you come to represent Virgil’s will, yet weren’t even given that much authority?”

At Lennok’s scathing words, Eolara was silent for a long time.

In the eerily quiet bar, even the sound of someone swallowing could be vividly heard.

“The condition you’ve put forth, Van, is to interfere with the Cartel’s management policy.”

After a long period of contemplation, she opened her mouth.

“While Virgil certainly possesses proper authority as the CEO of the Planning and Management Department, I cannot guarantee how things will proceed if the Chairman intervenes in this matter.”

“Tell me the conclusion.”

“I accept.”

Eolara nodded.

“In exchange for receiving Girard Ozette’s custody right here, I, Eolara Bion, entrusted with Virgil O’Reiden’s authority, promise you responsibly.”

As she said that, she brought her hand to her left eye.

And just as Weian’s complexion turned pale, realizing the meaning of her gesture.

Crack!

A pure white sphere emerged from between Eolara’s fingers.

“M-mad…”

Someone let out a low groan, realizing she had completely pulled out her eyeball.

Eolara, with an indifferent expression, placed the eyeball she was holding down.

“This is the Stasis Demonic Eye that Van saw and understood the meaning of. It was an item I received through the organization’s grace. Is this enough to take responsibility for what I said?”

“…”

The strange act of plucking out an eyeball and offering it as collateral.

However, it was something she could do because she knew Lennok possessed knowledge of Demonic Eyes.

An eyeball that begins to resonate with mana operates independently, separate from the basic biological organ category, making it possible to preserve its ability and function through transplantation.

Furthermore, until it is transplanted into a new user, it typically remains magically connected to the original owner even after being separated from the body.

Lennok could control Eolara’s life by simply casting a simple curse spell on this Demonic Eye.

She was putting her life on the line to guarantee the trustworthiness of this promise.

“Ahahahaha!!”

Lennok shook his head and laughed.

It was irrational.

To risk her life to immediately hand over Girard Ozette’s custody.

Was correcting the organization’s internal strife really that important to her and Virgil?

But ironically, Lennok didn’t dislike such a choice.

It was an action Lennok would never choose, so perhaps it was natural for him to find people who made such decisions interesting.

“Killian.”

“Huh, huh?”

“Show her to where Girard is.”

Killian made a somewhat disgruntled expression at Lennok’s words, but without a word, he got up and gestured to Eolara.

She, who had been shedding bloody tears from her empty left eye socket, rose from her seat.

After the two disappeared, Velita, who had remained silent until then, asked.

“Is he okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“The performance of plucking out her own eyeball was impressive, but it’s a bit much to guarantee trust with just that, isn’t it?”

While not being overwhelmed by Eolara’s spirit was a cool judgment, it seemed even the veteran mercenary Velita lacked specific knowledge about Demonic Eyes.

Encounters with Demonic Eye wielders were rare in this world, so related knowledge was difficult to acquire without directly seeking it out.

Instead of explaining the meaning of Eolara plucking out her Demonic Eye, Lennok nodded.

“She’ll be fine. She’s a woman Virgil O’Reiden values enough to personally save her life. It’s highly probable she’s his lover or a close relative. The very fact that he sent her, still appearing to have difficulty moving, as a messenger here… is proof that Virgil is truly committed to this deal.”

He was a terrifying man.

To value Eolara’s life enough to move personally, yet make her do something like this to definitively settle this matter.

Unlike his outwardly amiable demeanor, was he a person who sharply distinguished between public and private matters?

If he were an enemy, he was the type that you’d only feel safe after completely cutting off his breath.

But precisely because of that, Lennok could be certain that Virgil was not the Cartel’s internal traitor.

If this matter concluded with the eradication of the Cartel’s internal traitors, the intangible benefits Lennok would gain would be immense.

It would be fortunate if things concluded easily, but Lennok was not so optimistic.

The capture of Girard and the identification of the traitor.

And even throwing down a decisive card for a deal with the Cartel.

If it hadn’t been for the armed demonstrations against the Cartel all this time, would he have even seized such an opportunity?

A series of events seemed to be mixed with reasonable judgments, but ultimately, it was merely a conversation that could not be established without first proving basic qualifications.

It was proof that only those who had proven themselves could argue logic and justification.

To call the powerful figures who ruled this city to the negotiating table, one had to pass the most basic preliminary round: force.

‘It’ll be good if Virgil handles things well… but I should also prepare for cases where things don’t go smoothly.’

There was a sense of handing over Girard’s custody somewhat early, but he wasn’t someone he could hold onto for long anyway.

Continuously using the Charm of Earth’s Embrace was a heavy burden, and the risk of holding him without such an artifact was too great.

Considering the value of the information squeezed out through continuous torture, eliminating future threats here was not a bad method.

Thinking that, Lennok turned his gaze back to Manson.

His unusual demeanor had been temporarily put aside due to Eolara’s appearance, but Lennok had no intention of letting it pass.

Mad Manson, despite appearing unhinged, was a veteran who had worked as a freelancer in this world for a very long time.

There might be some memory within his junk head that could be useful to Lennok.

Manson, noticing Lennok’s gaze, glanced back and then gestured with his chin towards the back of the bar.

“…”

The two quietly exited the bar and walked naturally down the street.

“Is there something you want to say?”

“Hehe… Aren’t you too quick on the uptake?”

A red glow flickered irregularly from Manson’s head.

“I thought I’d forget about it quickly after telling Jenny, but surprisingly, I keep thinking about it…”

“…”

“The potion you made. It’s worth digging into more. You know that, right?”

Manson seemed to suspect that Lennok hadn’t fully disclosed the potion’s effects.

“It doesn’t just reattach muscle cells and bones; it enables rapid regeneration, particularly at the extremities of body parts… With adjustments, it could certainly achieve even greater power. If it’s not just limited to growing hair or nails, but also capable of regenerating severed limbs…”

“Perhaps that potion could play a decisive role in the deal with the Cartel.”