Last Blood Bastian. City-state of Ancient Blood. House Fenris province. Fort Fenris.
In the center of a grand and spacious hall, a long table had been meticulously arranged. The ambiance was perfectly balanced, with just the right amount of light. A magnificent chandelier adorned the ceiling, its precious gems reflecting and casting a subtle dance of light upon the expansive table below.
The table was surrounded by an array of chairs, occupied by esteemed Rankers from various factions. Representatives from each half-blood House were present for the crucial discussion taking place. Among them were familiar faces like Sirius Fneris and Ariella Lowin, who shared a history with Eren. Fiona Fenris, however, stood among the crowd surrounding the table, not yet deemed worthy of a seat.
The meeting was held in Fenris province, chosen due to Eren's familiarity with House Fenris. The House graciously offered its fort as a venue, taking pride in being at the center of such influential proceedings that would impact the entire half-blood forces.
Eren was accompanied by Agatha, who had been at the Last Blood Bastian for over a week. Eren's duty in Sebastian's company completed, he joined Agatha to finalize important matters and provide his approval. Agatha had already taken care of the formalities. It was just a repeat of what the two sides had been doing for the last 9 years anyway. So everyone was accustomed to the process.
A middle-aged man chuckled warmly in response to Agatha's briefing. "Ah, excellent news, Agatha, my dear," he said, clearly pleased. "I must commend the White Raven Guild for their exceptional work ethic. The quality and quantity of the Hex artifacts they've provided thus far has surpassed our expectations. These artifacts have truly bolstered our fearlessness in confronting the forces of the Anfang Alliance."
Agatha returned the smile. "Thank you, Uncle Barnes," she replied. "We are committed to ensuring that our customers receive the utmost value for their investment. It's simply our dedication to our craft."
As Agatha's words sank in, Brandon Barnes nodded in agreement. He then shifted his gaze towards Eren, who sat beside Agatha.
Despite being a bear-type half-blood Grandmaster Ranker with nothing to fear from Eren, Brandon couldn't help but feel a slight unease whenever he locked eyes with the man. Eren's emerald green eyes had a certain intensity that sent a shiver down Brandon's spine.
Nevertheless, as a prominent member of the half-blood forces, he knew he had to address Eren and couldn't afford to offend him in any way. Besides, he had legitimate inquiries about the Hex Artifacts provided by Eren, so he decided to speak up.
"So, Eren, when you say we're getting our money's worth..." Brandon focused his gaze on Eren, his voice laced with curiosity. "I have a request, if you wouldn't mind."
Eren had been engrossed in a hushed conversation with Sirius, who sat to his right. When Brandon's words reached his ears, he paused their discussion and turned his attention towards him. Sitting up straight in his chair, Eren nodded in acknowledgment. "Of course, Uncle Barnes. Feel free to ask me anything, and I'll do my best to provide a satisfactory answer."
Brandon returned the nod before expressing his thoughts.
"Very well. I understand the process of artifact creation to some extent, Eren," Brandon began, carefully choosing his words. "I've noticed that there might be room for improvement in your Hex runes. Though I must acknowledge that your unique method of crafting Hex Artifacts makes it difficult to be certain. So, I was wondering if it would be possible to enhance the efficiency or output of the Hex Artifacts by refining the Hex runes themselves."
Brandon didn't want to imply any doubt in Eren's ability to create Hex artifacts. However, he sensed untapped potential in the Hex Artifacts, and he believed that expressing this sentiment might put Eren in a challenging position.
Brandon didn't want to introduce uncertainty into their business dealings or undermine the solid foundation they had built over the past nine years. Yet, there was an undeniable feeling that Eren's Hex Artifacts had even more room for improvement.
Eren had anticipated this question would arise eventually, but he took a moment to gather his thoughts before responding, making it appear as though he was providing a spontaneous explanation.
"There is indeed room for improvement, Uncle Barnes," Eren began, placing his hands on the table and speaking with conviction.
"However, enhancing the Hex Artifacts in that way would compromise their stability. What good is increased mana efficiency and output if the artifact becomes unreliable for prolonged use?
You rightly mentioned that I employ a unique method of artifact creation. It is precisely this method that has allowed me to achieve efficient mass production while ensuring the stability of each Hex Artifact for a wide range of scenarios. If you are familiar with the creation process of intent-driven artifacts, you must also be aware of the inherent volatility of this type of magic.
Can we afford to introduce instability into Hex Artifacts, particularly when the wielder's emotions are heightened? The consequences could be disastrous, not just for the wielder but also for their allies," Eren explained, his tone serious as he locked eyes with Brandon.
Sirius chimed in before Brandon could respond. "Indeed, instability in the Hex Artifacts would put both the wielder and those around them in grave danger," he affirmed, displaying House Fenris' staunch support for Eren.
Eren had no intention of providing the advanced Hex Artifacts to the half-blood forces. He had already supplied them with customized Hex Artifacts tailored to their specific bloodline origins, enabling them to unleash their maximum potential.
Moreover, these Hex Artifacts deviated from conventional designs and patterns; they were Eren's own creations, unlike anything seen in Anfang even before the Pre-Calamity Era. He was confident that the half-blood forces remained unaware of the existence of the advanced Hex Artifact variants he deliberately kept separate.
Brandon was taken aback by Eren's response. He sensed a mixture of truth and ambiguity in Eren's words, providing a response that addressed his question without revealing everything. Nevertheless, Brandon acknowledged that he couldn't afford to have unstable Hex Artifacts. Letting out a sigh, he responded, "I understand, Eren. Forgive me for..."
Before Brandon could continue speaking, Ariella suddenly stood up from her seat, causing him to pause. Yielding to Ariella's initiative, he allowed her to contribute to the conversation.
Ariella smiled at Eren, a glint of pride in her eyes, as she addressed him. "You wanted to meet him, didn't you? Demonmir has entered the Last Blood Bastian. He's here," she announced, clearly fulfilling the promise she had made to Eren, and taking pride in her accomplishment.
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