Chapter 59: Negotiation
A gentle breeze rustled the willow trees, and a few sparrows chirped incessantly on the branches. The morning sunlight awakened a village near Fuyuki City.
Several high school girls in Japanese-style uniforms walked along the concrete path beside the fields, chatting and laughing. Their conversation mainly revolved around trivial or amusing aspects of daily life, and they occasionally let out light giggles, exuding youthful vitality.
“Ha～ I’m so sleepy.”
A young man in a suit yawned as he walked along the road. The youth had shoulder-length black hair, reddened eyes, and dark circles under them—likely from staying up all night.
The black-haired youth was named Waver Velvet, a magus and the Master of the King of Conquerors.
As the female students passed by Waver, he couldn’t help but glance sideways. Although he was a magus, he was still just a 19-year-old youth. Moreover, due to his long hours studying magecraft, he rarely interacted with unfamiliar women.
“Boy, sneaking glances isn’t what a man does. If you like someone, speak up boldly.”
The King of Conquerors’ large hand slapped down on Waver’s shoulder. With Waver’s frail, plastic-like physique, he could hardly withstand such a forceful blow. His face twitched, and his somewhat dazed mind immediately snapped to attention.
“I’m falling apart.”
Waver spoke weakly. Just then, the King of Conquerors suddenly shouted, “You girls over there, this kid…”
“Hey, hey, hey.”
Waver quickly grabbed the King of Conquerors, already guessing what the other was about to yell.
The King of Conquerors was pulled back, a smile spreading across his face.
“What’s the matter, boy? You can’t even express your own inner thoughts. That’s not worthy of being a Master acknowledged by me.”
“This has nothing to do with expressing inner thoughts. It’s a futile act. Also, stop slapping my shoulder—it hurts.”
Waver rubbed his shoulder as he walked with the King of Conquerors to a two-story private residence.
“I wonder if there’s any breakfast. I’m starving.”
Just as Waver was about to push open the door, the King of Conquerors suddenly grabbed his hand and leaped backward.
“What are you doing?”
Waver was startled.
“I have a bad feeling. This sensation is…”
The King of Conquerors sensed the surroundings for a moment, then his eyes suddenly widened.
“Boy, prepare for battle. If I’m not mistaken, it’s Berserker who’s come knocking.”
“Berserker?!”
Waver took several steps back. The private residence where he had been staying for days now seemed to have transformed into a ferocious beast.
“Are you sure you’re not mistaken? Berserker is that Servant who used the sword last night?”
“Yes, it’s him.”
“Are you kidding me?!”
Waver’s heartbeat accelerated. The scenes from last night were still vivid in his mind. Suddenly, he remembered something, causing his pupils to contract to their limit.
“Those two elderly people are still inside…”
Waver wanted to rush into the residence. Although the two elderly people inside were not blood relatives, they had been very kind to him over the past few days.
“Don’t act rashly. Rushing in now is pointless. If Berserker wanted to act, that elderly couple would already be…”
“Damn it.”
Waver stomped his foot on the ground, unwillingness burning in his eyes.
Plop, plop…
One by one, small white frogs jumped down from the roof of the residence, forming an encirclement around Waver and the King of Conquerors.
“Are these familiars? No, there’s no magical energy fluctuation.”
Waver couldn’t identify what species the small white frogs were. The King of Conquerors didn’t recognize them either, but he sensed danger.
“If I were you, I wouldn’t choose to act rashly.”
A male voice came from the roof of the residence. Waver and the King of Conquerors both looked up.
At that moment, Su Xiao was sitting cross-legged on the roof, with Dragon-Slaying Flash resting flat on his thighs.
“Berserker.”
Magical energy surged around the King of Conquerors. His attire changed from casual clothes to battle gear, and he drew the broadsword at his waist.
“Give it up, King of Conquerors. The fact that you didn’t notice me earlier means you’ve already lost.”
Su Xiao gripped Dragon-Slaying Flash, his gaze fixed on the King of Conquerors.
“Kid, my apologies.”
The King of Conquerors turned his head to look at Waver, which left Waver somewhat puzzled.
“Apologies for what?”
“Nothing…”
The King of Conquerors stood in front of Waver. It was his negligence that had led to this situation.
The distance between Waver and Su Xiao was far too close. At this range, if Su Xiao and the King of Conquerors fought, the first to die would undoubtedly be Waver.
Even if Waver were lucky enough to survive, the alchemy bombs surrounding them and Bubu Wang hidden in the shadows could easily take his life.
The King of Conquerors realized this, which was why he showed remorse to Waver.
“King of Conquerors, I’m curious. Without your Master’s magical energy supply, how long can you last? Twenty minutes? Or an hour?”
Su Xiao stood up, slowly drawing Dragon-Slaying Flash from its sheath.
With a crack, the roof tiles beneath Su Xiao’s feet shattered into pieces.
The King of Conquerors in front of the residence raised his sword, already prepared to use ‘Ionioi Hetairoi.’ Once Waver died, the magical energy supply would be cut off, and using Ionioi Hetairoi afterward would be nearly impossible.
“You didn’t attack earlier, which means you have another purpose.”
The King of Conquerors’ personality seemed somewhat simple-minded, but that wasn’t actually the case.
“Of course. I’ve already wasted three hours here. Fighting you would only waste more time, so…”
“So you’ve come to negotiate?”
“Yes.”
Hearing Su Xiao’s reply, the King of Conquerors secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If they fought now, his Master would surely die. Even if he could defeat Su Xiao afterward, it would be meaningless. Moreover, he couldn’t guarantee victory over Su Xiao.
Su Xiao was in a similar situation. Even if he killed Waver, causing the King of Conquerors to dissipate due to insufficient magical energy, he wouldn’t gain any benefits.
Su Xiao understood the King of Conquerors’ Ionioi Hetairoi from the anime. Under that kind of human-wave tactic, killing the King of Conquerors in a short time was impossible.
Su Xiao wasn’t afraid of human-wave tactics. With his awakened talent ability, such tactics would only allow him to recover a large amount of mana and health points. Until he exhausted his strength, he wouldn’t fall.
Su Xiao had no intention of having a major battle with the King of Conquerors. Breaking through Ionioi Hetairoi couldn’t be done quickly. The time remaining for the hidden mission was limited, and there were still two old schemers to deal with.
For a fight that offered no benefits after action, Su Xiao chose to avoid it.
“I have only one demand: use all three of your Command Seals.”
Su Xiao’s words stunned the King of Conquerors.
“That’s all it takes to let my Master leave safely? Just using up the three Command Seals?”
The King of Conquerors clearly didn’t believe it, given that Su Xiao currently held the advantage.
Su Xiao didn’t answer the King of Conquerors. Instead, he looked at Waver Velvet.
“Master of the King of Conquerors, as a Master, do you only hide behind your Servant during negotiations?”
Waver Velvet hesitated for a moment, then chose to stand shoulder to shoulder with the King of Conquerors.
“Since it’s a negotiation, you need to offer something in return…”
Before Waver could finish, the King of Conquerors slapped him on the back. ‘Princess’ Waver stumbled forward.
“What are you doing?!”
‘Princess’ Waver winced in pain.
“Something in return? The something in return is your little life.”
Su Xiao released his aura. The ferocious aura born from countless kills surged toward Waver Velvet.
“If I wanted to kill you right now, you wouldn’t last a minute.”
Su Xiao stared at Waver with murderous intent. Waver’s cheeks gradually beaded with cold sweat. The bright sunlight shone on him, but he only felt a bone-chilling cold. His instincts warned him: run, escape from here.
“Berserker, threatening my Master before me—do you take me for air?”
The King of Conquerors patted Waver’s shoulder. Waver’s body trembled, but his shaking legs finally steadied.
“I don’t want to waste words. If you agree to my terms, I’ll leave immediately. If not, then we fight.”
Su Xiao stomped his foot on the ground. Cyan Steel Shadow energy spread across the roof. With a crackling sound, broken tiles flew everywhere, exuding an overwhelming dominance.