The Martial Unity

Chapter 3531: Direct Offer

”Though...” Emperor Rael continued, ”...we differ in other ways as well.”

”I think I can see how,” Lord Vakratunda remarked with a hint of amusement. ”Your son can be a... stubborn man.”

”Tell me about it.” Emperor Rael matched the informal energy that Lord Vakratunda had brought to the table. ”I often have trouble dealing with him for those very reasons. I trust that he has been a good ambassador of human civilization.”

”Most certainly, he has. He has helped us solve a large problem and has been rather gracious about how he uses his... power over us,” Lord Vakratunda replied, referring to Rui’s willing abstinence from using his Authority to try and enslave the therianthropes of Kiriket. ”However, given that you don’t seem all that concerned about his well-being, I can only assume that you have already found him?”

”We have,” Emperor Rael admitted. ”He should recover in about four days. He will likely return to the Continent of Kiriket under normal circumstances, but...”

His tone grew serious.

”We aren’t in normal circumstances, are we, Lord Vakratunda?”

Lord Vakratunda heaved a heavy breath. ”You speak the truth, Emperor Rael. Indeed... my actions, our actions, and the actions of the Dragon Emperor have propelled us into circumstances that I regret.”

”That is a sentiment I deeply resonate with, but we play with the cards we are dealt, not the cards we wish we had.”

Lord Vakratunda knew that he was correct, of course.

What had happened had happened.

There was no way to undo it.

He simply needed to act with perfect leadership if he wanted his people to survive and prosper in the long term.

”I’m sure you have considered what I’m about to propose, so I will not beat around the bush,” Emperor Rael remarked with a serious tone. ”We both know about the negatron matter erupting from the depths of the planet into the ocean floor of the Great Void Ocean. We both know that the other civilizations are likely already aware of this situation. We both know that it is likely to cause an underwater war on a scale that the waters of the true world have likely never seen before. A war that could inflict great suffering on our people, and yet force us to go through with it nonetheless due to the fact that we simply cannot afford to fall behind on such a priceless resource.”

Lord Vakratunda simply listened with rapt attention to the Emperor of Harmony speak.

”This is a war where even the victors will have to suffer tremendously,” Emperor Rael declared. ”However... I believe that we can avoid that fate if we work together. If we forge an alliance regarding the mining of negatron matter from the bottom of the Great Void Ocean. We can ensure a much greater deterrence against those who would seek to attack us to secure greater resources. Messing with one of us is something that is conceivable to the giants, the Imperial Tekvorian Federation, and the Evolutionary Army, but together we provide far too much of a deterrence, especially since both of us can mobilize much of our respective continent’s power.”

The Emperor of Harmony’s control over the Panama Continent was remarkable. Despite the fact that the Esoterist had shattered his monopoly over the World Bridge technology and shared it with the rest of the continent, the Emperor of Harmony was still regarded as the de facto leader of the entire civilization.

In comparison, however, Lord Vakratunda did not yet have the kind of control over Kiriket. He had just freed his people from the oppressive control of the Dragon Emperor, creating an atmosphere of liberation. He had not been eager to jump into the power vacuum to seize control. That was not why he had sought to assassinate the Dragon Emperor in the first place.

However, now that the situation had caused the dialectic of conflict to escalate so much because of a new avenue and incentive for war, he realized that he truly didn’t have much of a choice.

The sheer irony of the situation was not lost upon him.

He heaved a deep breath. ”I will need to centralize power within my continent first. There is a lot of political instability caused by the death of the Dragon Emperor that I previously had no intention of touching. But it appears that reality will won’t allow me to simply rest on my accomplishments.”

Emperor Rael’s smile grew bitter.

”It’s the defining hallmark of reality, unfortunately.”

The two of them shared a moment of silence.

”I imagine the dark elves are also in this deal?” Lord Vakratunda raised an eyebrow.

”Speak of the devil...” Emperor Rael’s projection shifted his gaze to the side as Lord Vakratunda heard the sound of a door opening. A woman appeared in the projection, standing beside the Emperor of Harmony.

Her ears were long, characteristic of elves, while her skin was of a rich, dark color. Her hair was composed of long, flowing strands of silver hair, while her belly was protruding and large. Her sapphire green eyes sparkled as they shifted to Lord Vakratunda.

”Elephant, it has been a while.” Mother Alicia smiled at him with genuine delight.

”Alicia... indeed, it has been a few years, I believe.” Lord Vakratunda nodded. ”It seems you’re doing well. How has your pregnancy been coming along?”

”It has been going swimmingly, of course.” She gently patted her belly with an affectionate smile. ”Though the complications of a new hybrid child have been challenging, so far everything has worked out just great.”

”I’m glad to hear that... since you’re here, I assume that you’re familiar with what we’re discussing.”

Her expression grew serious as she nodded. ”As you know, we elves are much weaker outside of our territory, which is where the priceless negatron resources are, unfortunately. That is why we have unanimously decided to team up with the Panamic Alliance in a joint negatron venture with a 66:34 split, although the agreement has yet to be ratified officially. It will be done soon because the others have already begun mobilizing, as I’m sure you’re aware.”