1041 Negotiation
Date- 4 April 2321
Time- 02:29
Location- Southern Region, Blossom District, Sun blossom city
Trapped within the Heaven Sanction card used by Agatha the two enemy semi-demigods regrouped with their teammate unable to escape using the hidden escape teleportation prepared by Mike beforehand. And since the allied semi-demigods were cursed, they were not in a hurry to fight a death match with enemy semi-demigods. This bred an awkward atmosphere in Heaven’s sanction.
A moment ago the enemy was ready to escape at the cost of abandoning one of their teammates and the allied force was bent on stopping them even at the expense of civilian casualties. But now allied semi-demigods did not bother to waste their breath at the enemy and patiently observed them as they had successfully managed to stop the enemy from escaping using heaven’s sanction yet they were not in total control of the situation thanks to the enemy’s curse haunting them.
“So how long do you guys plan to sit on your asses and glare at the enemy? Now they have regrouped. You guys do know that I can’t summon heaven’s sanction for long, right?” Heaven’s sanction was the card Agatha received from Anna. It required an unparalleled bloodline to activate, but thanks to Anna removing the restriction, Agatha could use the card for a few moments in exchange for an appropriate sacrifice.
“Did you not hear him say due to the curse we are restricted to a 1km range of the enemy curse master?” Number Nine asked Agatha, wondering if Agatha had listened to what Number Ten had explained. A 1 km radius range was large but for semi-demigods, it wasn’t much. That was not enough space for them to fight without worrying about friendly fire and because of the curse on them they could not kill the curse master. Therefore, they choose to sit by as the enemy regrouped.
“How long can you maintain Heaven’s Sanction,” Number Ten asked Agatha.
“Not for long but I guess can hold till your teammates as our reinforcement,” Agatha replied with a frown, her complexion was turning pale, its Heaven’s Scantion toll on her was becoming visible with passing seconds.
“Don’t hold your breath on them, Our squad is Madam Asong’s bodyguards, Rest of our teammates will never leave her side no matter the reason. The only reason they may arrive here would be if Madam Asong decides to visit Sun blossom city. Considering the political impact of this incident I don’t believe Madam Asong would want to be part of any of this. If not for Southern Emperor threatening her niece, we wouldn’t be here to help you,” Number Ten explained to Agatha that there was no reinforcement coming, they were all on their own.
“So, what now?” Agatha asked learning that she could not count on Ason’s bodyguard detail for reinforcement.
“We negotiate, that is the best option we have to get the boy back in one piece,” Number Ten said surprising both Number Nine and Agatha.
“Number Ten, have you forgotten the rules? We don’t negotiate,” Number Nine reminded Number Ten. If they were to negotiate every time a political figure under their protection was taken hostage, then people would target the politicians to get their way, therefore the handbook which asked them to protect their clients with their life at stake also asked to never negotiate in case their client was taken as hostage.
“I know the rules, but this is not the same. We don’t need to follow the same set of rules here. Just follow my lead,” Number Ten said eyeing both Number Nine and Agatha. Then added let me make it clear, “Before we start let me make our priorities clear. Our task here is the protect the boy, not police what is happening in the southern region. So fighting the enemy is no longer an option unless the negotiation fails. Understood?”
“Yes,” Number Nine and Agatha both nodded in agreement. Number Ten was correct, they did not care what the Circle and its goons were up to in the southern region. Their only responsibility was to protect the boy and that was all. Therefore Number Nine And Agatha agree to negotiate with the enemy.
“Here we go,” Number Ten muttered as he decided to address the enemy semi-demigods, seeing hope for successful negotiation as the Enemies did not appear to want to fight them either and were passively observing their moments.
“Release the boy and we will let you go,” Number Nine yelled glancing at the enemy semi-demigods.
“…” Number Nine’s yell was responded to by a long silence and howling of passing wind. Since they could risk getting standard to capture the boy it was obvious they would not hand over the just for their freedom. Not knowing what the enemy wanted with the boy, Number Nine had to start somewhere.
“If you have any other demands just state them, as long as it doesn’t involve harming the boy, I can promise it to you,” Seeing that the enemy semi-demigods showed no interest in exchanging the boy for their freedom. He directly asked them to stay with their demands and as long it did not involve the boy he promised to help them with it.
This time Number Nine was not greeted by silence from the enemy semi-demigods but by an odd demand, “We want the boy to hand over the Circle’s sun blossom city branch’s leader’s corpse.”
Hearing the demand of the enemy semi-demigods Number Nine remembered the boy killing Mike and storing his corpse in a coffin-like item. Though Number Nine found it odd that the enemy semi-demigods would risk their freedom for the corpse of a mere branch leader, he did not give much thought to it. As his only priority was to protect the boy and return him unharmed to the Southern Emperor. As for the rest, he did not have the time for that.
“Fine, you can have your branch leader’s corpse. Bring forth the boy, let me speak to him.”