Chapter 74: Deal 2
"I don’t think they’d ask for something as ridiculous as searching for a Heaven Mutated Bloodline Potion worth billions of Prime."
Hearing that, Empress Flora’s eyes trembled, and her thoughts raced.
It seems I was a little too late. He has already been claimed by a cosmic empire. This opportunity is gone... but that’s fine. Another one will come. And if it doesn’t, I’ll go find it myself.
Empress Flora sighed inwardly, then shook her head before looking at Rios with her usual radiant smile.
"Then I suppose our deal has come to an end, young sir. Tell me, what brought you to my humble trading palace? I’ll do my best to fulfill all your requests."
Rios was surprised by Flora’s response. He hadn’t expected her to end the negotiation so decisively.
She really knows when to advance and when to retreat. I like that.
Smiling inwardly, Rios raised his evaluation of Empress Flora.
"Why the rush, Your Majesty? Our deal isn’t over yet."
"What do you mean?" Empress Flora narrowed her eyes, suspicion flashing within them. "I have nothing more to offer you beyond what I’ve already proposed. So if you’re hoping for more, then I’m sorry to disappoint you."
She shook her head while looking at the smiling Rios.
"Hahaha, there’s no need to be so cautious, Your Majesty. I won’t ask for much. Everything I’m about to ask for is
something you’ve already offered. We’re simply going to rearrange the terms.
As he laughed and gently swirled the cup in his hand, an incredible idea took shape in Rios’s mind. If it succeeded, he would kill two giant birds with one stone without spending a single Prime.
"I’m listening," Empress Flora said, raising an eyebrow as the suspicion within her deepened.
"Let’s start with the weapons and food. I don’t want you to supply me for a thousand years. I only want fifty years."
"But during those fifty years, you’ll provide me with the finest food and equipment you have. Enough food for a population of twenty million, and enough weapons to equip an army of two million, most of whom will be Master Lv.3 and Wis Lv.4."
Rios deliberately exaggerated the size of his population and army—not because he wanted to deceive Empress Flora, but because he believed that was roughly how large the Forest of Light would become after he drove out the Giants and its refugees returned.
Of course, the numbers might grow even larger in the future, but by then he would have enough land to support them.
"The food isn’t limited to what you’ll deliver. I also want your finest seeds, along with your best cultivation methods and farming techniques."
"And the weapons aren’t limited to the ones you’ll provide either. I also want the methods used to forge them, as well as the best techniques for extracting the materials required to make them."
After hearing Rios’s demands, Empress Flora frowned and looked at him with even greater suspicion.
In the end, however, she nodded.
"I accept that condition. What’s next?"
"Then let’s move on to the second point... the soldiers."
"I don’t just want your soldiers. I want you personally—and your entire army—if the need arises."
Rios smiled as he carefully observed Empress Flora’s expression.
The moment she heard those words, her face darkened. She straightened in her seat and leaned back.
"What exactly do you mean by that, young sir? Please explain."
"I mean exactly what I said. If I ever find myself in trouble, I want you and your entire army to help me."
"And so that I’m not being unreasonable, I’ll only use this right three times. As long as the problem doesn’t exceed the level of a planetary empire, I expect you to respond without delay."
Rios smiled and took another sip of the Soul Nectar.
"I agree. And the next condition?"
Empress Flora nodded. She genuinely hadn’t expected these to be the conditions he would ask for.
"My final condition concerns you personally... but in the distant future."
Rios placed the cup on the table and looked directly into her eyes.
"If I ever need any help from you—or from your empire—you must provide it without delay. I’ll only use this right three times as well, provided the request or assistance is within your means."
"Don’t you think that condition is a bit difficult?"
Empress Flora frowned, paying particular attention to this final condition.
What Rios wanted was assistance for something completely unknown, left entirely to whatever circumstances the future might bring.
He could invent any reason to ask for help or request something from her empire, and when that day came, she might not be able to refuse.
It was a condition that changed with time and circumstance, making it impossible to calculate properly or prepare suitable countermeasures against.
"What’s difficult about it?" Rios shrugged.
"You and your empire will become much stronger in the future once I bring you a Heaven Mutated Bloodline Potion. Don’t I have the right to benefit from that when the time comes?"
He placed both hands on the chair and leaned back.
"Compared to what I’ll be giving you, and compared to what you originally offered me, my conditions are far lighter. They cost you far less than your original proposal. Don’t you agree?"
"Hmm..."
Empress Flora rested her chin on one hand and lowered her head slightly, thinking for a while.
Then she smiled, nodded at Rios, and extended her hand.
"Agreed. It will be a pleasure doing business with you, young Sir Ozir."
"The pleasure is mine, Empress Flora, the Enchanting Empress."
Rios reached out and shook her hand, officially sealing the agreement.
"Manager Delar!"
Empress Flora called out. A green card appeared out of thin air, and she focused her senses on it.
"Your Majesty."
Manager Delar entered the room calmly and approached both Empress Flora and Rios.
"Take this card. Go to the imperial treasury and bring me the finest of the items listed on it."
She handed him the green card with a serious expression.
"At once, Your Majesty."
Manager Delar accepted the card, bowed respectfully, and left.
Half an hour later...
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Come in, Manager Delar."
Empress Flora looked toward the door and gave her permission.
"The task has been completed, Your Majesty."
Manager Delar stepped forward, stopped before Empress Flora, and handed her a rectangular box.
Empress Flora accepted the box and opened it.
Inside were twenty rings.
She swept her spiritual sense through each ring. After verifying their contents, she smiled, closed the box, and handed it to Rios.
"Here. This contains everything you requested. As for the rest, it will reach you one month from now."
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