Comiak
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Chapter 192: Bidding War
🕑 Added 2022-07-23 09:00:56 +0000 UTC-
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AN: Taking a break next week see you all next month! I will still be releasing a side chapter sometime in the next few days for the 10$ tier patrons.
Got some editing suggestions? Suggest it on the Google docs here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CXyWSNugnyOWPzp96zq85CLf8e7lPHAC7edtW2ynFKs/edit?usp=sharing
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Sentaro Klaman hides in the corner of the meeting place, a building built on a lake, standing on piles driven deep into the lake bed. The Runalymo airship is parked next to the building with a ramp lowered onto the short pier.
The building is clearly of Runalymo make, although it’s odd that they’d build the house on the lake, not just on the shore. There is a large round table in the middle of the room with ornate carvings over its surface.
There is no food served, which would be insulting if the hosts weren’t Runalymo. No one knows what to expect from them as they have such a different culture. That doesn’t mean that each country doesn’t have its own, but everybody knows what to expect from each other and how to treat them.
It is an odd choice that the Runalymo would negotiate trade with everyone at once; it’s a tactic no one has ever done. Normally these deals are done individually, so the details of each trade are kept secret; it’s the best way to get the most out of each deal.
It could just be a cultural thing, or it might not; the uncertainty of the situation bothers him; as an assassin and the Empires spy, it is his job to know.
“Thank you all for coming,” Alysara translates for the speaker of the numerous Elders. “We have gifts for you all, examples of what we have to trade.”
Servants enter the building, carrying goods of all sorts, from fine crafts to rare gems and strange foodstuffs. Each delegate receives a gift tailored to them, with Caerym receiving mana silk clothes enchanted to stay comfortable in all weather and Forren receiving fancy Forron saddles. Vocanna doesn’t receive anything, but it’s obvious they’ve already secured trade with the Runalymo.
“Our enchantments do not ever degrade,” Alysara continues. “Our crafts are sturdy and will serve loyalty for many decades, and our metals and gems are saturated with mana, making them quality crafting materials. We have many naturally grown mana crystals and gems.”
The delegates examine their gifts and talk with their advisors, the Elders patiently waiting for everyone to finish. They’ve certainly piqued everyone’s interest mana saturated materials are rare to come by, and if what Alysara said is true, then they most certainly have superior enchanters if they can make permanent enchantments.
“How can you guarantee permanent enchantments?” King Caerym Farandor asks cautiously. “It might last long, perhaps even outlasting lifetimes, but it’s hard to believe it won't ever degrade.”
“It is a breakthrough in the [Enchanting] Skill,” Alysara answers. “As the most knowledgeable expert in mana, you have my promise that even after ten thousand years, the enchantments will still hold and will continue to hold until the item itself is destroyed. Not only are our enchantments longer lasting, but they are stronger, as you can see.”
Enchantments already last about a lifetime before needing to be renewed and are usually on the scale of minor tier items, with the best being upper adept tier; from what he can see, these ones are middle major tier, a clear step up proving that the Runalymo are better enchanters.
“Are these your personal enchantments, Alysara?” Lord Viksen Fikron of the independent city Kayron asks.
“No, these are the works of others,” Alysara answers.
“Then I assume that your work is much better?” Lord Fikron asks.
Alysara flicks a gold-tipped tail, but her expression remains neutral.
“Yes,” Is all she says.
After several more questions, interest in trade grows in the eyes of the delegations. The prospect of superior materials and craftsmen will serve to bolster their economy, but the next announcement from the Runalymo makes the whole room fall silent.
“Now that you all know what we have to offer, I have some conditions,” Alysara translates. “We cannot afford to establish trade with all of you; we simply cannot make enough goods for everyone; therefore, we will only maintain five trade routes. Since Vocana has already secured one, there are only four more routes available.”
They want a bidding war.
Klaman grins as the pieces of the puzzle are revealed. Now it makes sense why they want everyone here at the same time. This will also serve as a great opportunity since they can upsell the goods to countries that have not secured a trade route. This also means that each of the independent cities will try their best to secure trade; they are the home of the Order of Merchants, after all; this will vastly enrich their pockets.
As for his empire and Forren, this does not bode well. Luna is bankrupt, and Forren has a war to support, so they need to secure trade no matter what.
“We believe that trade with Luna will be most beneficial for you” Steward Velaren Fenor jumps into the negotiations making Klaman proud of his readiness and initiative. “We have coral from the Emerald Reef, which is steeped in the rare emerald essence, as well as many mana crystals of that essence. We also have means of obtaining powerful monster materials and have a stockpile of leviathan materials.”
That lying little shit!
He will have to work more and slay those powerful monsters just to make good on the offer, but he can’t complain; this will help bolster the empire's economy. As much as he hates having to slay leviathans for the benefit of other factions, this is the best choice. The Runalymo are too far removed, receive leviathan materials anyway, and will bring the best profit for the empire than any other alternative.
The mention of leviathan materials encourages murmurs around the table. Not many will be able to match that offer, but they don’t have to. Steward Fenor’s strong first offer has the others bidding over the remaining spots, and Klaman begin to notice a fortunate turn of events. The independent cities, although numerous, has little in actual resources. He thought they’d use their wealth to obtain the trade routes, but the Runalymo shows little interest in what they have to offer.
This all but guarantees the Empire’s place in trade. Plus, with the empire, a short ship ride from the independent cities, Luna will be the first to upsell to them. As the negotiations continue, Klaman glances out the window, admiring the mountains in the distance, when he notices the pier is soaked in water as if a large wave has washed over the building.
Looking down, he notices a pool of water seeping in from under the door. Looking back outside the window, he thinks he catches a glint of pink under the water but quickly disregards it as a trick of the light.
What had caused the wave?
Klaman can’t help but feel a sense of Deja Vu but can’t quite place what it is. The more he tries to think about it, the more it seems to escape his grasp. He doesn’t feel any danger, so whatever it is must not be immediately dangerous, but he will still keep an eye out for anything strange.
The negotiations eventually come to a close, with the Luna Empire, Helikan, Forren, and Caerym securing a trade deal. None of the independent cities managed to convince the Elders that they have anything worth trading for. However, the meeting doesn’t end there; the delegations split up to meet with the other delegations and go into their own separate rooms where they activate soundproofing enchantments for privacy.
Many of the Runalymo Elders return to their ship, but a few stay with two guards, both with overly large weapons strapped to their backs.
“I’ve thought about your offer and still came to the conclusion that I have no reason to accept your challenge” Klaman whirls around, a sword instantly drawn but sees another Alysara, another clone.
No one else notices this clone; only he does.
How had she seen me? Klaman’s mind races; no one should be able to see through his perfect invisibility.
“How?—” But before Klaman can continue, Alysara interrupts him.
“I’m not telling you; you are a potential enemy to me.”
Klaman has to at least respect her for that. Many would brag, but she is not arrogant like that; in his eyes, this makes her all the more fitting for being Empress.
“You have no leverage,” Alysara continues. “And the debt for the healing I can easily pay in valuable knowledge or items.”
“The payment for that is—”
“No!” Alysara sternly says as if she’s channeling the defiance and authority of a true ruler. “You never gave me the chance to even decline your payment; you can’t just ask for whatever you want! Here’s my offer: I can make you a powerful item using the materials you give me, or I can tell you one thing about magic or mana you wish. That’s my payment, take it or leave it!” Alysara stands firm, practically oozing authority, and he can’t help but feel a tinge of beauty in the air. Not the mana, but her Bond.
Last time she had seemed like an unsure princess, talented but not used to giving commands. Now she is like a seasoned queen, but there’s something… not quite right. It’s almost like she’s not herself, like she is taking the role of a decisive ruler, but she can learn, and even if she’s not talented in ruling, her skill can cover that weakness.
There is no candidate better than her.
Klaman has made up his mind; he will get Alysara to willingly become his Empress no matter the cost. She still has lots to learn, but she has the potential to become the world's greatest empress. She can finally unite the land and much more.
I’m too greedy.
He wanted her to continue his friend’s bloodline, but his promise was to protect the bloodline and see his empire continue, not to keep his bloodline in the seat of power. He can settle for another Runalymo with the correct trait to continue the bloodline. In the end, Alysara has royal blue hair, and that gives her claim to the throne, and perhaps hers and the Luna bloodline can become one later down the line, but she needs to be the last empress to rule; she needs to be immortal.
That will be easy; Lanya can heal her age until she reaches the legendary tier for her race if she has not yet done so. With two legendary tiered beings, no one will be able to resist the empire.
“Very well, then for payment, I’d like to know how you managed to see past my stealth,” Klaman says. He needs to know this apparent weakness so he can fix it.
“That’s technically not related to mana or magic, but it is equivalent,” Alysara sighs before explaining. “You cast a shadow into other spatial layers; technically, everything does.”
Klaman blinked. “It’s that simple? So I just need to remove my shadow, then.”
“You know what layers are?” Alysara asks.
“Yes, a protege of mine discovered them, but there’s nothing in them, and they are quite dangerous to traverse; please stay away from them.” Klaman answers but quickly realizes that Alysara must be able to see into them if she can see his shadow.
“I know full well their danger,” Alysara says. “But now that my debt is paid, I will take my leave.”
“Wait!” Just before Alysara dissolves her clone, Klaman stops her, even going as far as using his bond to cancel her attempts to dispose of the illusion. “I’d like to reissue my challenge but for slightly different stakes. If I win, you become Luna’s empress; I won't force you to marry anyone. If you win, I will help you obtain a legendary point.”
Comments
Andaconda Nation
That is a much better deal, but she doesn’t want to rule, and she has no real reason to do so with all the things backing her up
Bad Dog
You know. It would really be easy for her to be empress. All she needs to do is assign one of her minds to deal with that while she goes about her usual business. Hell she docent even have to live in the empire. All she has to have is a clone there. And now that she figured out how to double her range it docent even cost her that much mana. From her perspective this is perfect. She should give him a counter offer. “Get me a legendary point and I will be your empress!”
Jeanean
The funny thing is, because of the question he asked, Alysara now knows that he knows about the Spatial layers and can track her through them, making her less likely to accept the challenge.
Mech Bagienny
She should take a bet and then sit by 2 dragons and renegotiate the contract with him.
Pawzom Lz
Politics also would not be that much of a problem if she were to become empress. Under normal circumstances, it would, but when the empress herself is an absurdly powerful scryer that can get around the normal scrying defences and with a legendary attack dog obeying her, she would not need to deal with that nonsense at all and could just shape the empire into whatever she wants it to be without anyone in it being able to put up a fight. She and Klaman would make for an absurdly deadly and efficient combo in a nation where nobody else is legendary tier. + becoming empress could have all kinds of evolotion benefits for race and classes? And the fact that the amount of things she would have to juggle at once would increase dramatically would probably help her develop more minds and help her with [Multitask] once she finally gets it. Not sure if I want to watch her develop a people that is not her own though, only reason I would be ok with it is because of the potential benefits I listed above.
Gwendolyn Simmons-LaRose
I feel like I agree with Zel though, it would be an interesting twist, and nothing makes a character strive like being caught in circumstances that they do not wish to be stuck in. PRIME example being Aly with her cursed skills. She has spent forever and a half trying her damndest to learn to remove the cursed part, and she is SO close. I can totally see the offer of a Legendary point being a huge temptation, especially since she DOES have a ton of other important things to do, and it can only help her. At the same time, I figure with her task of spreading airships amongst her people, becoming empress could either be a huge help (these people would EAT UP the technology) or a MASSIVE hinder (Suddenly having so many more people to spread the tech to).
Squirtle
Wasnt there last week, so didnt notice it
Robert Mullins
It's break week. It's mentioned at the top in the authors note
Norbert Fuksz
Its not her thing though... fool may think she is a match but he knows nothing about her besides her external image. She hates politics and being and emperor comes with a lot of tedium that doesn't help her gain real power not to mention she is on a clock lest the gods come and take her soul as material that he know nothing about. If he knew gods were after her he would run like the weak assasin he is.
Jemini
I'm just getting kinda worried right now because of the unannounced delay. Did something happen to Comiak? Hopefully it's just a busy schedule and they forgot to upload.
ZelTheUnbroken
I kind of want to see Klaman winning the bet. Would definitely be cool twist to the story. and if Alysara did become the empress its not like we couldn't work on different plot point at the same time she she can just use clones to where ever she wanted. Even if he did win Aly wouldn't be able to become the empress immediately and just dethrone the current emperor so we could continue at leisurely pace and finish any relevant plot holes. Still I'm fine with whatever happens because this story is just entertaining AF !
Venalitor
Gotta get those gains bruh!
Venalitor
I was thinking Klaman's character was flipping these last few chapters, but when I sat and actually thought about it, I realized I just wanted someone to rail at. It makes sense he wouldn't be so daft as to try to just abduct someone and incite a feud he couldn't finish. Given his age and achievements, it was foolish to think otherwise. He's still a shady slimeball, and, no doubt, capable of plenty horrible deeds for his silly goals, but he's a lot more sensible than I had been giving him credit for.
D
My daily routine is to kick ass and do Jedi tricks, and im all out of Jedi tricks... Since when does a comment like mine warrant an answer behind joining the fun? XD
Jemini
But Yurina's a dragon, though. She's probably confusing people's minds to perceive her as a drake. Something perceivably less powerful than a full-blown freaking dragon. When she noticed they were freaking out anyway, perhaps she took that to be valuable information about the power standards in this nation and decided to start hiding entirely instead.
H
Checks out. Drakes aren’t dragons
Maury
What dragon? Don't pass go, do not collect $200.
D
This is not the dragon you're looking for. You can go about your business. Move along.
Squirtle
I don't agree that he's interested in her in terms of love or relationship, he wants her as empress because she is extremely capable as a person. Part of that is being able to complete 2 fields of study and get a world notification for them.
Straven
Chuckles, running into a group everyone desperately wants to trade with but has no interest in wealth aside from resources deff put a game changer into that circle. Add in the continued growth our young lady shows finding him in his best hiding only further makes this more interesting. Seen another comment that honestly I can see possibly happening, won't say what I'll let other's read it themselves and think about it to. Love this story and am glad as hell I found it!
epoeck
From what I understood they were too focused on money and as we've seen so far. The runalymo couldn't care less about it, so they were more interested on the resources nations could give them.
TaylorTot
Lol
Imp
My, how ironic! The merchant union not only failed to secure trade routes, but somehow failed to even pique the interests of the Runalymo. Talk about a massive failure! Literally everyone else got something. Pretty amusing that the trade specialists failed to find anything to trade. Klamen .... someone else once mentioned that he was in love with Aly, which explained his facination with her being Empress. Kinda have to agree. Getting less scummy as time goes on, at least. The competition-trial sounds like it might be a go. Just need to negotiate the terms. I'd say that Aly would need to be somewhere on the Luna island and equip a lifedrop necklace. Klamen would need to force the necklace to activate to win. This would allow both to use their full kits in the challenge. Run the competition til one or the other runs out of mana. One battery each.
Kenneth Baxter
Could you imagine what the delegates would think if they served their ice cream at the meeting?
Nematrec
On the otherhand, if Klaman wins it's almost certainly going to be a legendary trial for him
Jemini
Well, stakes just got lowered. Is this still worth a legendary point for winning the duel? Technically it's pretty similar in severity to the "exiled from the Nexus" punishment for most of the Nexus trials, so it might still count, but being sent from the Nexus to rule another country doesn't exactly sound all that dire. The difficulty of the challenge is still there, but I'm not so sure about the consequences measuring up anymore.
Robert Mullins
Well 'sneaky'. Klaman: "Hey, isn't that a-" Yrania: *hand wave* Yrania: "I wasn't here. You didn't see me" Klaman: "huh, must have been the wind."
Jemini
Not to mention, making "beauty" products just might level up her beauty bond.
David Brims
Oho! A much more decent challenge than the last one!
SecretsOfTheVoid
Should really focus on cosmetics and beauty products. Those always sell well. Happy wives and daughters = happy husband's and fathers.
SpaceGoddess76
When they return I feel like all the Warriors are going to start power leveling after seeing how week they are compared to everyone.
Giperman
One unreasonable villain less, I guess.
joss sim
Thanks for the chapter. I feel slightly doubtful (restless?). Like where is this going ?
Maury
sneaky dragon.
AClassroomSpider
thank you for the chapter!. .
