400 Take a look at this
The art of negotiation was, in essence, reading and manipulating your opponent.
Against the demons of Greed, it was the simplest thing ever for Saint Dul'Akharat to gain significant benefits merely by showing his worth and his reluctant willingness to cooperate.
Afterall, something too easily achieved holds very little allure, and something that had to be fought and risked for would be more treasured, regardless of its true value.
At that moment, due to his highly impressive act of breaking apart the black sphere with but a single thought, the demons thought that they were in the presence of a power mightier than even their Dark Lords, and probably even at the Dark Saint level!
The power structure of the Realm of Sin was actually pretty simple.
Imps.
Lords.
Dark Lords.
Dark Saints.
Seven Sins.
The Devil.
And thus, with just shrewd negotiation skills fully taking advantage of the Dark Lord's greedy nature, Saint Dul'Akharat got himself a critical resource!
A Dark Saint grade Dark Rune!
Alas, due to Elliot's and Elise Sands' unwillingness to share information about the Ascendant Runes with him and Jessica Sands' ability to break down and recreate runes, he had no idea that in his hands was actually the key to fully unraveling the secrets of Dark Runes - IF Jessica Sands can get hold of it!
"A Dark Rune eh? I don't think that I would be compatible with such a vile energy manipulation system. I can already sense a deep distaste for it just by looking at it. Ugh." Saint Dul'Akharat muttered to himself as he studied the massive Dark Rune Panel in front of him.
"Forget it. I will keep it first, and see if I can squeeze anything more from the Dark Lord in ten days. For now… The Shadow Realm must be stopped at all costs!" Saint Dul'Akharat was about to rip space open and make his way to the next hotspot within the known universe when suddenly, a horrible thought struck him.
"If I could meet with these black balls from the Realm of Sin, then other Primals would probably meet with them as well. And if some of them take up their offer for real…" Saint Dul'Akharat grimaced as he thought of the massive headache he needed to deal with in the future.
How many of the Primals within the known universe would defect?
"I doubt they would be so foolish as to sign contracts now without knowing anything about the strength of the Realm of Sin.
Especially for the stronger Primals. They would probably wait and see how things develop and jump ship only when things turn for the worse.
The only ones that would defect now and actively work for the success of the Realm of Sin would be those who are currently weak, and have not much hope for gaining strength and influence.
They must be watched carefully.
Elliot and his Dragon Primals, as well as Elise Sands must be notified immediately, lest they get backstabbed by some pretentious Primals claiming to help them, but are instead working on behalf of their new masters." Saint Dul'Akharat decided.
He immediately sent a clone to Elise Sands, and proceeded to lend his strength to aid another hotspot.
He did not, however, relay the information to the other Primals lest they get tempted, and started to actively look for it instead.
"Hopefully, I will be able to get my hands on more balls and destroy them." He thought as he disappeared into his portal.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
"Dark Runes?" Elise Sands' eyes gleamed in pleasant surprise. "Show me!"
"I only have an image. The original is with my original body." Saint Dul'Akharat's clone said.
Elise Sands instantly waved her hand lightly and displayed an incredible level of power as she ripped apart space right next to the original body of Saint Dul'Akharat.
She smiled at his surprised look and stretched out her hand.
"Don't even think of not explaining how on earth you found me so easily and so precisely." Saint Dul'Akharat said with a shake of his head as he took out the original Dark Rune Plate.
Elise Sands took it with a grateful nod and then passed him a portal device.
"As-"
"I know. I'll pass the next few black balls I find to you." Saint Dul'Akharar said.
"Hahahaha! Good job, little dul dul. Ok now I have to see if I can crack the mysteries behind this Dark Rune. Bye!" And with that, Elise Sands closed the portal.
"Dark Rune eh? Let me have a go at studying it!" Elise Sands said as she ordered one of her clones to immediately study it.
Of course she wasn't so dumb as to use her original body to study it.
Who knew what traps were set up within it by the nefarious and obviously evil powers within the Realm of Sin?
She closed her eyes once more, and silence fell upon the massive room again, where Elliot, Jessica Sands, Jul'Taras and Monkey King were quietly powering up at their own unique pace.
Blistering pace, of course, as all of them were certified geniuses.
However, even among geniuses, Jessica Sands was proving to be many, many grades above the rest of them!
The rate at which she deciphered and then recreated the runes, even the notoriously difficult and complex Royal Runes, were slowly but surely increasing.
That way, silently, the first twenty days passed.
And of course, Jessica Sands was the first to open her eyes even though she had the most difficult task.
She took a deep breath, stood up slowly and stretched her hands and yawned massively.
Elise Sands opened her eyes as well as smiled at her.
"Did you succeed?" She asked.
"Of course. I have completed all of the Ascendant Runes." Jessica Sands said proudly.
"Good. Now, take a look at this." Elise Sands pointed at the Dark Rune plate which was placed at a central position in the middle of the room.
"Hmmm? This…" Jessica Sands frowned deeply when she saw the Dark Rune.
And for the next three hours, she didn't move another muscle.
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