Varian contemplated hitting Baldur with a surprise chaos power to throw him off balance and teleport back to Hortus for safety but decided to continue the risk. "I know you're strong, at least rank 4, but don't know who are you."
"How.did.you.know?" Baldur's choke grew harder and his eyes shone with killing intent.
Varian's eyes, however, remained abnormally calm.
A broken neck wouldn't kill him. And if things really went south, Hortus would shield a blow or two for him to escape.
A red gem flew out of Baldur's storage ring and its light shone down on Varian.
The red gem was ultra-useful for interrogating Mystics and Famines, which meant it's use was almost everywhere in the Pala Kingdom and even the Genesis Empire.
The only area it'd fail would be against Spirits. But Spirits needed something far more than a small gem.
It's not a problem, however. Because anyone had only one celestial power. Varian already proved himself to be a Mystic and thus, not a Spirit. Hybrids were just too easy to tell apart and he wasn't.
That's why, this gem was the perfect solution for the situation.
Or at least, that's what Baldur thought.
He didn't know Varian was also a Spirit. Even though he couldn't do much to the gem as a rank 1 Spirit, he did make a small adjustment. As long as he didn't technically lie, the gem wouldn't blame him as opposed to the previous condition of complete truthfulness.
"Speak the truth for your own good. How did you know about my strength?"
"It's because of someone very powerful." Varian said with a smile.
Baldur frowned and the pressure on Varian skyrocketed. His bones began to creak and blood started to leak out of his mouth.
But Varian looked at Baldur with a teasing gaze. "And whatever pressure you're trying to put on me isn't even a hundredth of what she did. She did so with a simple gaze."
That sentence, however, caused Baldur to remove his chokehold and return to his previous position.
The gem remained passive, indicating it didn't sense any lies.
Technically, Varian didn't lie. Logos was incredibly powerful in its own right.
But what's very deceptive was that he linked that sentence right next to that mysterious woman, making Baldur think that the woman was the one responsible for him learning about Baldur's true strength.
"So she's the one behind the disappearances of Ubiq," Baldur muttered with a solemn gaze.
The red gem still shone on Varian.
"What is her name?"
"Don't know."
"Her affiliation."
"Don't know."
"Where is she?"
Varian's lips curled up and he just looked around.
Baldur's expression grew worse. He had no way to confirm or deny what Varian implied.
"Then ask her to help you. Dealing with the Havoc tribe must be a snap for her."
Varian shook his head. "She has her own reasons for remaining anonymous."
Baldur stared at him deeply before turning to the unconscious Hex.
If the two deputies helped him wholeheartedly, his chances of finding that thing would increase dramatically. Moreover, the two of them had many connections with the drug mafia. The overall search would be much broader and more efficient.
Best of all, they'd be loyal.
Baldur had seen the strong bond between Helga and Hagen. If Hex was really their sibling, there's no need to doubt their loyalty.
"I'll help you once. But in addition to Hex, I'll need a promise from her to do me three favors." Baldur crossed his arms.
He can't ask that woman to look for that thing. She'd just take it for herself. But he could ask her to help block his beloved allies from finding his traces.
And doing this wouldn't really destroy the Havoc tribe. They wouldn't have just one treasury. They'd have many. Perhaps hundreds of them.
Havocs were notorious pirates. They wouldn't be so stupid to put all their treasures in a single chest.
Baldur seemed reluctant on the surface and pretended to be the one making a loss in the transaction. But in reality, he'd be making a killing from this deal.
Forget that mysterious powerhouse, even Hex alone was enough for this deal. But why not go for more?
"I can't talk to her now. And I don't think she'd like you demanding any favors." Varian said bluntly.
"Then the deal is off. I don't want to do such a thankless job." Baldur scoffed.
"You should understand this better than me, the stronger an awakener, the more conscious they'd be of their ranks. Would she allow a rank 4 to negotiate with her?" Varian's tone was very convincing. "It's a loss of prestige for her."
"Then I should work for free? I, Baldur, had taken orders in my life. Even if she's a rank 6, my words wouldn't change." Baldur said in a very strong tone.
Varian raised an eyebrow at the words this guy uttered unintentionally and a thought flashed in his mind.
Starsafe was an important entity for the Pala Kingdom and was responsible for screening talents into the royal army.
Simply put, being a Starsafe employee was an internship. But only a few would pass the test and get enlisted into the army. While the rest would remain in the enterprise until retirement.
The deputy directors were the permanent employees while the director as well as the Star division were the interns. That's why there were new directors and Star troops every few years but the deputies and the other groups remained the same.
For Baldur to come here under a false identity in Starsafe and him trying to be low-key meant…
"…If you're from a royal background, you'd understand. A ruler would want his subordinates to do their job and would give them rewards upon completion, not negotiate with them on an equal standing."
Baldur paused at Varian's words and recalled the affairs at home.
"You have a point, but I'm not dealing with a royal, am I? She's an anonymous powerhouse who isn't even willing to promise me three favors." He shook his head.
"About that," Varian pointed to the red gem and retrieved three items from his storage ring.
The three special items that the woman gifted him that day.
"Just because I satisfied her curiosity, she gifted me these three items." Varian smiled.
"…Really? She just gifted you these things?" Baldur knew their worth and that's why he's surprised.
Even though he too could access these items, it's not something he'd give away so casually to a rank 2 powerhouse. Not for free.
"Wait, what curiosity did you satisfy? Did she ask you to do something? Risk your life? Get her some secret information."
Varian shook his head. "None. I just chatted with her."
Baldur didn't want to believe his words and turned to the truth gem. It remained still, blatantly telling that whatever Varian said was the truth in complete spirit.
"If she can give me these precious items just for satisfying her curiosity, then…" Varian didn't finish off his words.
He couldn't say anything about that woman because it'd prompt the gem and the truth would be exposed. But he didn't need to speak anymore.
Baldur checked the gem for problems and asked one last time. "Did she really give you those three items just for satisfying her curiosity?"
If it's really true, then it'd mean when he finished helping Varian in looting the treasury she ordered him to, she'd…
"Yeah, I just spoke with her. I didn't even have to reveal any big secrets of mine." Varian shrugged.
Baldur looked at the gem one last time and nodded. "We have a deal then."