Chapter 507: A Deal!
Chapter 507
The Crimson Lotus Clan. A mercenary clan unlike any other, known for their neutrality across the great factions.
They could move from one faction to another without stirring conflict or facing punishment from any leader. Wherever they stepped, doors opened— not out of kindness, but out of fear and respect.
They were similar in nature to the Midnight Sun Clan, but there was one key difference. The Midnight Sun didn’t have full access to the Noxarian faction, while the Crimson Lotus could walk in and out without restrictions. Their reputation and neutrality gave them an unrivaled level of freedom.
And yet, the most shocking part of their existence was not their neutrality but their size. The entire Crimson Lotus Clan was made up of just seven members.
That was right— seven individuals, and still, their name echoed across every faction in the world. Their influence was far larger than their numbers suggested, and their presence commanded both fear and awe.
At the head of it all was Alba— their leader. A fearsome stage seven warrior whose name alone made people hesitate before crossing her path.
Her power was overwhelming, her battle record unquestionable, but she wasn’t just strength. Alba’s beauty was also undeniable, the kind of beauty that carried a dangerous edge. A perfect fusion of elegance and menace. Beauty with brawn.
With such strength and influence, she had access to countless treasures and rare artifacts. Nothing was beyond her reach. She had seen what most people could only dream of, obtained what others would consider myths.
That was why, when she asked Dame to bring her something she had never seen or heard of, she hadn’t expected much. To her, it had simply been a way to politely turn him down. She believed nothing he could possibly offer would shock her.
But she was wrong. Very wrong.
"The Supreme Magus? Who the hell is the genius that made this?!" Alba blurted, her usual calm cracking as she stared at the pills in genuine disbelief.
The reaction she displayed was more than enough for Dame. Seeing her shocked expression, an idea clicked instantly in his mind.
A sly smile spread across his face. The drunken fool from earlier was gone; in his place was the shrewd, calculating version of Dame who knew when to press an advantage.
"And why should I tell you who he is?" Dame asked with a raised brow, his tone steady and challenging. "He trusts only me, and hence, I’m the only one who knows his identity."
"But we don’t really know his identity," Finn whispered cautiously into Dame’s ear.
"Shut up," Dame hissed back before stomping on his friend’s foot under the table. Finn yelped but quickly fell silent.
Meanwhile, Alba’s thoughts were spiraling. ’This pill... it’s priceless. A person capable of creating something like this can change the course of a war.
The pills we have can barely restore half a warrior’s Ki for a single minute. But this? This can fully restore one’s Ki for five entire minutes? This is beyond revolutionary. I must secure the Supreme Magus for myself before anyone else hears about him.’
Her hands tightened instinctively around the pouch as she made her decision.
"Can you arrange a meeting with him?" Alba asked at last, her brows drawn together.
Dame leaned back, folding his arms across his chest. "Nope." He grinned.
Her calm façade cracked. "Then what the hell do you want?!" she snapped, frustration bubbling over.
"Two things." Dame raised two fingers. "First, you help me survive this upcoming battle, since that was the original deal.
Second, I need a way to sell these pills. I can get more of them for you, but they must go out into the world. Or rather— the Supreme Magus wants them sold."
"And why should I care about your second demand?" Alba asked coldly, though her curiosity betrayed her.
Dame leaned forward, lowering his voice with a smirk that made his words more convincing. "Because only I know who the Supreme Magus is. Only I can bring you more of these pills.
Think about it, Alba if we market these properly, the profits will be endless. We’ll monopolize the entire market. No one will be able to compete with us, because no one else can produce them. This is more than just money. This is control."
Alba fell silent, but her yellow eyes gleamed with a dangerous light. She knew he was right, and that was what made it even more infuriating.
’Come on! Agree, damn it.’ he thought inwardly, his heart racing in anticipation. ’This is the only way to get the Supreme Magus fully on my side.
If I can help him sell these and bring the profit over to him, he might make more things for me. Things that no one else in this world can ever dream of having.’
"So how will we now split the profit? Huh?" Alba asked with a raised brow, her tone sharp as she tapped the pouch of pills lightly against her palm.
"Simple." Dame snapped his fingers, his grin widening. "Fifty for the Supreme Magus, thirty for you, twenty for me. I don’t really need much money considering who I am, but that doesn’t mean I don’t need money at all. I feel like this is a fair deal, right?"
"You haven’t really answered my question." Alba said, leaning in closer until her brown eyes locked firmly on his, sharp and unyielding. "Why should I really help you? Considering the fact that you would die in a few weeks’ time."
"Simple." Dame replied, mirroring her movement as he leaned forward as well, their faces only inches apart.
"I’m the one who knows the Supreme Magus, and if you get me out of this mess, which I suppose you will, and you do a good job selling these pills, I can strike up a meeting with him for you. Think about it carefully, Alba. This is your only chance."
"He has a fair point." The man seated beside Alba whispered into her ear, though his eyes never left the pouch. The temptation in his gaze was undeniable.
’I guess I don’t have any choice. I just have to do what he says for now. Let me take this back to the base for Ash to dissect this and find a way to replicate it. If he can’t, then I will help Dame so I can get close to the Supreme Magus myself.’ she thought grimly, her mind already running calculations.
"Fine then." Alba said at last as she rose from her seat, her movements graceful but sharp. Dame raised an eyebrow, surprised at how quickly she made her decision.
"I will ask Killian to help you. He is the next strongest member of our small clan after me and he is a stage 6 warrior, so he would help you.
That’s for your first offer, since you really brought something I haven’t heard of or seen before. As for your second, I will be thinking about it. If you manage to survive the upcoming battle, then I might consider helping you sell these."
"Don’t go back on your word, Alba. My life is on the line here and so is your wish." Dame muttered seriously as he also stood up from his seat, squaring his shoulders.
"We have been together and known each other for a year now, yet you still don’t really know me, huh." Alba muttered as she leaned in a little too close towards Dame, her lips twitching into a sly smirk before she turned on her heels.
"A week before the battle, you will see Killian. Goodbye." She said firmly, her voice echoing as she walked away, the man who came in with her following close behind like a shadow.
The moment she was fully gone, Dame slumped back into his seat with a long sigh of relief before bursting into laughter. He grabbed his drink and raised it slightly in a mock toast to himself.
’I did it. I’m saved! Kek!’ he thought gleefully, his chuckle turning into a loud, unrestrained laugh that filled the quiet room.