Agent047
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725 - An Offer of Unparalleled Worth
🕑 Added 2024-09-13 09:08:26 +0000 UTC“I’m going to use every means of torture known in existence before I allow you to die,” Xalthar's voice echoed ominously from his chair, a chilling promise that was muffled by the soundproof insulation of the room and thus unheard by those in the control room below.
While Quorani's measures to seal off the passages had bought him a temporary reprieve, they had inadvertently sealed Xalthar's fate as well. The closures not only trapped the invaders but also cut off Xalthar’s only viable escape route—the gates through which he had planned to flee. As a result, Xalthar was now bound to share the same grim fate as the rest of the ship's occupants, his power and position rendered irrelevant against the encroaching threat since he could kill only a few thousand of them before they manage to kill him.
Amidst his fury at his sealed fate, Xalthar recognized that with no escape route remaining, his only viable option was to do everything in his power to save himself. His previous dilemma was now resolved: survival was paramount. To achieve this, he hoped for the effectiveness of his soon-to-be torturee’s plan to succeed in buying him the time he needed to formulate a strategy and perhaps turn the situation to his advantage.
After a detailed conversation with his AI, Xalthar and the AI developed a strategy that would appear both credible and enticing to anyone who received the news. Their plan was crafted to be convincing enough to prompt a desperate and rapid response from those who could offer assistance. Xalthar trusted the AI implicitly, knowing that it was deeply embedded with its users and would prefer self-destruction over betraying them. This level of loyalty made the AI a reliable ally and a useful compnaion, even for the most paranoid individual in the Coclave.
Once the plan was finalized, Xalthar pressed a button on his chair, connecting him to the ship’s control AI. “Stop providing mana to the systems in the blackout zone and redirect it to enhance our communications,” he instructed, intending to make his communication system as fast as possible.
{Our current energy supply is sufficient to send information to our organization without the need for extra power,} the AI responded, its tone reflecting a hint of curiosity about Xalthar’s request.
“I want to broadcast this to anyone who can view it within the Astral Conclave and to as many influential individuals as possible,” Xalthar replied calmly.
{The organization may view this act as a betrayal and could impose severe punishment on you,} the AI cautioned. Despite Xalthar's awareness of the potential repercussions, the AI felt it important to remind him, as people sometimes overlook such consequences when deeply engrossed in their plans.
“I know, but I have a plan to mitigate their anger and even turn this into an opportunity to bolster their strength,” Xalthar responded, demonstrating that he had considered the implications carefully.
Seeing the determination in Xalthar’s eyes and recognizing his authoritative grasp on the situation, the AI complied with his instructions. It redirected the magical power from all non-essential systems and initiated a Conclave-wide communication broadcast. The broadcast, powered by the his Id of a Sage, quickly eclipsed other ongoing activities within the Conclave. The title of Sage carried immense weight, and the broadcast was assumed to be of significant importance, as individuals of that rank and higher were rarely seen engaging in public matters, typically remaining behind closed doors. The people and organisations in the Conclave anticipated a critical announcement or guidance from one of the people with actual personal power.
{The audience has reached the required level. You may begin.} The AI informed Xalthar as the number of viewers surpassed the critical threshold, ensuring that nearly everyone of importance within the Conclave would witness the broadcast.
He closed his eyes for a moment, letting his rage simmer and intensify. His circuit-like veins glowed a deep red, visibly conveying his fury to anyone watching the broadcast.
“Greetings, everyone. I am Xalthar Zynara, Sage of the Astral Conclave. I find myself in this predicament due to our recent endeavor over the past five years, investigating an anomaly we stumbled upon during equipment tuning and testing. This anomaly led us to this star system in search of its origins.”
As he spoke, his AI displayed data and visual aids that perfectly synchronized with his narrative, reinforcing the authenticity of his account.
“After a lengthy journey, we reached the source of the anomaly and discovered it originated from this star system. Our initial investigations and surveys were promptly interrupted when the system's natives detected our presence and made contact. Through this contact, we established an information exchange agreement, and what we uncovered is something that will astonish anyone who hears about it.”
He paused dramatically, letting the suspense build before continuing. “In this star system, due to a peculiar phenomenon, mana has not dispersed throughout the system but instead has concentrated on the planets themselves. After billions of years, these planets have transformed into having minerals that we can only described as mana stones.” He let the gravity of his statement sink in, knowing the implications would be staggering.
Even the most advanced civilizations within the Conclave have only ever hypothesized the existence of mana stones. These are considered the most mana-dense materials imaginable, something that no one has yet been able to create or discover in nature. Instead, they have relied on canisters to store compressed mana in its air form. Despite this, the mana canisters had represented a groundbreaking advancement, as they could now provide a versatile and potent fuel source, allowing spells to be used independently of individuals and which paved the way for new technological applications.
The AI wasted no time, displaying fabricated information to further captivate the audience. Images of various colored mana stones were shown, each with unique aspects, enhancing their allure. The sight of these diverse and potent mana stones caused the viewers' anticipation to reach a fever pitch, their excitement and greed nearly palpable as they imagined the possibilities.
Hearing that the entire star system was filled with mana stones made many question the validity of Xalthar's claim. Anticipating such doubts, Xalthar was prepared to address them. He continued, ready to answer any questions that might arise from those discerning enough to wonder why he was revealing this information rather than keeping it for himself and capitalizing on it alone.
“I know many of you are wondering why I’m sharing such critical information. It’s because of this,” Xalthar said, and the AI displayed a video showing the surprise attack, with figures emerging from nowhere and various areas of the ship plunging into blackout. The viewers quickly grasped that they were under siege.
“We are currently being attacked and are running out of time. I promise to provide the exact coordinates of this star system to any individual or organization that can swear under a mana oath to establish a wormhole between us and their location within two weeks and come to our rescue,” he declared, revealing the true intention behind his actions. In exchange for his life he was willing to give out the location of the most valuable resource, a material of unparalleled worth to anyone in the Conclave that can come to rescue him.
With the offer now on the table, it became one of the most outrageous proposals ever made. The lengths to which one would go to ensure their survival were indeed extreme.
With that, Xalthar concluded the broadcast and left the rest to his AI. She would now handle the influx of requests for coordinates, ensuring that only those who pledged to establish a wormhole within the specified two-week period and take a mana oath to rescue him would receive the location. This oath would also guarantee his safety from any future harm.
