Kyran sighed inwardly. He did not expect Olivia to relent immediately. Honestly, he was prepared to use drastic measures to make her submit. For example, he could use one of the Dark Arts he learned wherein one could bind another's essence to force them to submission. The effect of the binding was different from Sigil where one could still retain some of his freedom. The Dark Art was far cruel because it would turn one into a mere puppet. Their persona would have a drastic change and while they would retain their battle experience which would let them make decisions on their own in combat, any order received from their master they would accomplish regardless of what might happen to them.
Of course, Kyran did not want to control others using that method, especially those he deemed innocent. He still had his principles. However, if they were related to the Royal Family or the Royal Army, unless the relation was that of hostility, then he would not hesitate to do so if given an opportunity.
Right now, Olivia could still be considered innocent. Aside from this, it was because of Kyran's mistake that she managed to guess his identity. Though he had not admitted it, she was not stupid to not notice his silent admittance. Nevertheless, having her relent without him resorting to drastic measures was a relief.
"What I want..." Kyran finally spoke after a few seconds of silence. "Honestly, I can't think of anything right now."
What he said was the truth. He did consider getting her on his side, but since he had little information of the inside situation of Aureole as well as its current leadership structure apart from what was known publicly, he could not draw a definite plan on how to use Olivia. On the other hand, he had a lot to offer to win her over his side. But winning her and having the whole Aureole on his side, was two different things.
Olivia's nervousness doubled. If she could not offer him any leverage, how would she negotiate? She recalled how simple he was dressed as well as his lack of a magic weapon. An idea sprung on her mind and she blurted, "I can provide you resources! Whatever you need, I will do everything in my power to provide them."
Kyran's eyes constricted at her offer.
Resources was one of the things he lacked the most.
Currently, he had a number of things he needed listed in his head but had no way of acquiring them at once. He had a plan on how to acquire some wealth, but even then, he could only buy some of the items limited to the Human plane. As for those from different plane, he had not thought of it yet.
It was for this reason Kyran was interested in the gambling aspect of the challenges. Becoming a platform master could also get him more, but he did not want to risk having his essence meet more people from his plane. Not to mention from a different plane that his predecessor was known.
After all, all those who managed to enter the special place were no ordinary participants. Like Olivia, they would be able to draw some clues about his identity from his moves.
"Resources, huh," Kyran replied as if contemplating her offer using his most indifferent tone.
Hearing Kyran's response, True Void could not help but roll his illusory eyes at him. He knew how important getting resources was for Kyran.
Originally, if Kyran acquired the Blue Lotus, his problem with resources would alleviate a bit. However, Kyran was ambitious and wanted to create his personal army. What was more, the army he had in mind did not include 'human' mages, but automatons. Just thinking about the materials Kyran needed to create one could bankrupt any small faction, but he actually wanted to make an army!
"Yes," Olivia confirmed with a slight nod. She remembered the arm bracer on his arm which made her think he was from another plane because the material and design did not look anything from the Human plane, and guessed he might want to upgrade it. She added, "If you needed materials from another plane I can get it in the tower's marketplace anytime. I am also a platform master so I can get a discount."
Hearing her speak about a marketplace, Kyran recalled Gustaff's business. It was only then that he realized that other merchants might have come from different planes as well.
'A platform master can actually get a discount?' Kyran thought feeling a little regret that he could not become one. If he did not have an infamous predecessor, he would not hesitate in becoming a platform master.
Kyran shook his head inwardly. He should not think like this. In the first place, if he was not the successor of that infamous predecessor, he would not be in this situation.
pan,da n<0,>v,el "You're offering something uncertain," Kyran remarked.
"Uncertain? Of course not. I am a deputy head of the Aureole. I have access to a vast number of materials. As for materials in another plane, I can buy and transfer materials to my original self anytime—."
"That's what I meant about uncertain. You can only get those materials anytime if you remain a platform master. If you fail, and your essence is destroyed, you will need to get your original self to come here again. We both know returning to this place is not an easy task."
Kyran pointed this out recalling how Nolan needed the side effect of Gustaff's ability to keep the water demons in the sea surrounding the tower, at bay.
"T-That's..." Because of Olivia's anxiousness in getting him to agree, she forgot something as basic as this. However, her mood changed abruptly realizing what he was implying from his words. "I am not going to fail."
Kyran chuckled at her sudden change in mood. "Did I offend you?"
Olivia heard the mockery in his voice and replied, "It's all thanks to your unique magic that you managed to evade the sentries and the tower's defense mechanism. But to the others—."
"Hey, lady. I'm not trying to prove any point here, but if you want to offer something uncertain like that, it makes me think you're not really thinking it through."
"No! I—."
"I can help improve your sentries and your tower's defense mechanism," Kyran interrupted, finally laying out his trap.
"What?" For some reason, Olivia did not doubt his words. She might not know how proficient he was in Array or Mechanism Coding, but the fact he successfully decipher what the mechanism could do proved he was knowledgeable.
"But if I do that, I am also inadvertently helping you with your challenge. I think I am giving you more than what you can offer. Not to mention, your offer was supposed to convince me not to kill you."
Olivia's brow furrowed. He was right again. No matter how she looked at it, she was only getting more favors, when in fact, he should be the one receiving them.
"I..."
Olivia was at a loss. If she did not say anything about providing materials from another plane, she wondered if they would have already agreed.
'No. He appears to be interested in materials from another plane,' she thought feeling more lost than ever.
Sensing her mood turning grim by the second, Kyran smiled inwardly.
'Just a little push,' he thought and waited for a few seconds before saying, "Looks like the negotiation is off. Let's not waste time—."
"Please, spare me. I swear to do anything," Olivia told him.
Too bad Olivia was not facing Kyran, if she did, she would have seen him smile. A smile that could send a shiver down one's spine.
"Anything?"
Olivia fell silent. She clenched her fists and closed her eyes. To her, the voice speaking in her ears at the moment was the devil, coercing her to sell her soul. If she agreed, there was no turning back. Any other time, she would have hesitated and fought to the end. But she did not have that choice here. Conquering the tower was important not just to her, but to the whole Aureole faction.
Steeling her resolve, Olivia's eyes glowed with determination and she replied, "Yes."
"Are you reffering to your essence or your original self?"
"Both," Olivia answered at once. "If you don't believe me, I am willing to swear a Soul-Binding—."
"I have a much better idea," Kyran interrupted her. He was uncomfortable with Soul-Binding Oaths, and did not trust it.
"What?" Olivia asked, keeping her apprehension to herself.
Kyran finally lowered his hand that was holding the dagger at Olivia's neck. Then he lightly tap the back of her neck. A dark purple mark appeared there which sank into her skin.
The moment the mark appeared and entered her skin, Olivia felt a piercing hot pain. She yelped in pain, but the pain disappeared almost as soon as it appeared.
"I've marked your essence. If you go back on your words, with just one thought, I can destroy you."
Olivia's hands turned cold. Though she had no plans on going back on her words, thinking that her essence's future could be easily destroyed scared her. She touched the back of her neck with sweat trickling down her face.
Kyran stepped aside and saw Olivia's expression. Reflected in her eyes was fear, but there was also anger and even annoyance, which was a little amusing.
"No need to look like that," he told her. "I won't take advantage of you. Honestly, I'm the one getting the short end of the stick here."
Without waiting for Olivia to reply, Kyran's reddish-purple eyes glowed as he roused his magic.
Olivia looked at him and was about to say something when the whole platform shook and magic fluctuations erupted. She immediately flew back and resumed the rotations of her golden swords.
Crackling sounds filled the air as Kyran spread out his arms, the platform continued to tremble and the crater in the middle began to reconstruct itself.
Olivia's eyes almost popped out of their sockets as she stared wide-eyed at what was happening before her. Soon, the middle of the platform was restored. If it was only that, she would not be look that surprised. However, after the platform was restored, she saw the foot of the destroyed tower slowly reforming.
A few minutes later, the whole tower had returned. It was as if time had gone back.
"T-This—!" Olivia looked at the masked young man before her. 'D-Did I get his identity wrong? I... This... can't be the magic of the Dark Sage.'
Once the tower had returned, Kyran lowered his arms and looked at Olivia. His eyes returned to their normal color, but with the mask, it was still hard to determine their color.
"My name is Nar," he told her.
"N-Nar?" Olivia repeated.
"Tell your original self that I will meet her soon."
Olivia frowned slightly but she nodded in response without asking any details, "Alright."
She took out a golden medallion where the Aureole's symbol was carved on both sides and threw it at Kyran's direction.
Kyran caught the medallion and instantly sensed that inside, there was an imprinted magic signature.
"That medallion will give you access to enter any place under the Aureole faction. Currently, I am in a business trip. But I mostly reside in the main headquearters in Breezeshield," Olivia told him.
"Okay. I'll find you," Kyran replied, putting the medallion inside the storage ring. "Give me ten minutes to improve the arrangement of your platform. After that, send me to the next one."
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