Chapter 348: Chapter 348 Negotiate Terms_1
"Is it personal grudge, or..." Aiden asked.
"Our investigation concluded that it’s for taking over each other’s research," Qiqimora answered.
Hearing this, Aiden realized that the things Sophie had said about the deeds of Joey Lawson were probably also true.
"You expelled him but did not dispose of him?" Aiden asked.
"Witches, warlocks, necromancers, alchemists killing each other isn’t something new; rather, before the coven started operating, such relationships were quite common among witches," Abigail said indifferently. "Even Habanis and her ilk have thought about seizing the divinity from us. I deemed that man’s actions to be harmful to the coven’s activities, but he wasn’t targeting the coven as a whole, so I had no reason to seek revenge for the dead witch, did I?"
"It’s your attitude of running the coven without commitment that has always caused Vila and Presia’s dissatisfaction with you," Qiqimora reminded from the side.
"I organized the coven not for the sake of witches’ welfare, but mainly for myself," Abigail replied. "That being said, I’ve thought about taking the opportunity to kill that man legitimately, but he later fled to Nedland and was recruited to participate in Nedland’s foreign wars. He probably took that opportunity to successfully enter the country’s system and obtained a legal identity."
"Does that mean that Joey Lawson is actually a false identity?" Aiden asked.
"Most likely, that person couldn’t possibly be only in his thirties," Qiqimora said.
"No wonder he could do such a thing..." Aiden nodded.
A person of standing tends to show some restraint due to their identity. Joey Lawson, as a Heretic Inquisitor, could kill without compunction, probably because his identity was forged, merely validated by his past experiences.
At his core, he was still a warlock outside the law.
"So what exactly did this man do to offend Your Excellency?" Abigail asked the core question.
"Actually, the matter is like this..."
Aiden briskly recounted the task he had accepted from Sophie Carter, as well as his intent to seek help from Qiqimora.
"Dealing with an informant from the Scales of Smile, aren’t you worried there might be deceit?" Abigail asked after listening, "I’ve mentioned before, it’s better not to get too involved with that organization."
"It should be fine, I now have a way to verify lies," Aiden replied nonchalantly.
"That makes sense," Qiqimora realized Aiden’s method, "So is the warden planning to kill that warlock?"
"If necessary," Aiden replied.
If necessary, he wouldn’t mind killing Joey Lawson, whether to stop his murders or to retaliate when Lawson initiated an attack; the reasons would all be quite legitimate. If Joey indeed was guilty of murder and planning to kill again, there was no need for leniency towards such a person on this end.
"Sounds interesting. But there is some risk in this, isn’t there..." Qiqimora said with implication.
Just as expected, she immediately started talking conditions, Aiden thought.
Fortunately, he was well-prepared.
"The divinity can be shared equally, and... the Scales of Smile seem to have information on the whereabouts of the Hand of Obliteration," Aiden said without batting an eye, "If the task is completed, she would probably be willing to disclose that."
"With the warden’s assurance like this, I really don’t have a reason to refuse," Qiqimora was clearly pleased.
"You’ve even gathered intel for Qiqimora regarding the Hand of Oblivion." Abigail threw out a teasing remark calmly, "Surely, Your Excellency isn’t actually smitten with Qiqimora?"
Aiden didn’t respond to the joke, but went straight to the point with Abigail, "Interested in lending a hand?"
"Forget it, I won’t go out if it’s not necessary, and this business doesn’t appeal to me either." Abigail waved her hand dismissively, "If that person’s strength is still as we last heard... the combined combat power of you two is already enough for me to feel pity for your opponent."
"Alright then." Aiden turned to Qiqimora, "Can you make it to Silvertown as soon as possible?"
He relayed the specifics of the estate’s location to Qiqimora.
"Well, where I am right now, it’d probably take some time to get there under normal circumstances..." Qiqimora said hesitantly, "At least a day or more."
"It may still be a peaceful night today, but that guy could actually strike at any time without surprise." Aiden shook his head.
"Then how about this, Habanis happens to be transporting some materials near Vila’s temporary workshop. Shall I have her give you a lift?" Abigail offered a plan.
"Just have her take me to the train station within the autonomous state’s border. I’ll make my own way from there; it will save quite a bit of time." Qiqimora replied, "If she meets the warden, chances are they’d end up fighting."
"They definitely would fight." Aiden corrected, "If possible, I’d rather not face that hotheaded brat directly."
"Habanis is no young person." Abigail spoke slowly, "That settles it then, Qiqimora, you’re still at the usual place?"
"Yes."
"I’ll let Habanis know, go get ready," Abigail directed Qiqimora.
"Alright, see you then, Warden." Qiqimora waved at Aiden, her figure quickly shrouded in mist and disappearing in the blink of an eye.
"Thank you for the help, Madam," Aiden offered his thanks to Abigail.
"Has Your Excellency encountered some extra trouble recently?" Abigail suddenly asked.
Aiden was caught off guard.
He was investigating Mr. Blood herself, which Abigail was well aware of. Her mention of "extra trouble" indicated she sensed some recent change in Aiden.
Getting involved in an incident of witch hunt and dog-eat-dog struggle between the smiling balances and the notoriously bad warlock Joey Lawson for Sophie’s offered reward was, to a certain extent, compelled by the circumstances he currently found himself in.
"Indeed... I have come across a trouble that’s hard to imagine, though it’s not quite critical yet," Aiden shrugged, "I just wonder if you would be willing to offer help when the time comes."
"If it’s just a small favor, naturally I won’t refuse... However, with Your Excellency’s capabilities, anything you need my personal assistance with is unlikely to be trivial," Abigail answered indifferently, "For a big issue, one simply can’t owe a ’favor’ carelessly."
Aiden caught Abigail’s implication—she would need an equivalent condition if she was to fully commit to helping with something.
If he intended to solicit her assistance in dealing with a sovereign, the only condition that might be equivalent... would probably be helping her secure the sole dominion over ’life’ itself for her to accept.
These witches really knew how to negotiate terms.
"Understood," Aiden smiled at Abigail, "For now, I’d better deal with the problems at hand first."
