Strategic Maneuvers: Negotiations, Realizations, and Departures

Darius and Alistair came rushing towards the banquet room, Darius face show an angry expression when he set his eyes on me, while Alistair show a face of acceptance towards my self.

without any warning Darius brandish his axe and dash towards me, from the side Saul was already prepare to return to his original size and prepared to clamp Darius with his paw, but Jeanne Immediately came in front to intercept him with a shield made of light attribute, seeing this he intend to break it with a heavy strike from his axe.

seeing his action I use said "what do you mean by this Darius?" using pure mana around to make the air heavier around Darius to stop him from continuing his attack.

finally Alistair step in and grab Darius by his shoulder and look into his eyes to ask him to stop.

"Raiya, how about we talk in another room that is not messed up."

"sure, lead the way."

I followed Alistair while behind me was both Jeanne and Darius, Saul was perch on my shoulder enjoying the snacks he brought using telekinesis.

after a moment all of us now are seated in a room with a rectangle table in the middle of the room, in the opposite side where i was seated was Alistair, Darius, and Jeanne while on my side there only Saul sitting on the table.

"now that we are here let me open the talk."

"I don't think I will agree to that Alistair, before anything I want to ask for the penalty of the breach in the alliance."

"ok we will pay for the breach we will pay in installment how about it?"

"fine, but I want the term to be change, seeing on the very first day there already a breach it makes me doubt about the city true intentions."

"It is fine but before that can you explain how can you be prepared of the ambush before?"

"it is because I always prepare, even if we sign the alliance doesn't mean you can't just kill me and pay the breach, that's why I make sure to add the penalty to be very heavy that was the plan from the start."

"from the very first beginning we all are dancing in your palm, not only you remove and make those who become your enemy fear you, you also gain more benefit of resource and policy wise."

"it is just a difference in preparation at the start after all how can I trust your side when you can't even have the basic control over your subordinate, the moment Austin visit us I already prepared for a trap, after all cooperation can only be establish when we are an equal."

my word sounded cold and cruel, being nice is fine thing to do but you need to remember this is the reality, there is no evil person but the situation where that person was put into will shape his choice.

Alistair show a disappointed expression towards me.

"so when you said you want peace it is just a lie?"

"this may sound like hypocrisy, but I truly want peace from both side, bit you can't blame me after all you are the one to blunder in believing that everything will be fine, after all your mistake is that you forget the nature of a person itself."

behind Alistair Darius was showing clear dissatisfaction towards my action and words.

"is there any problem with my words Darius?, is there something wrong with what I said?"

asking this question I was hoping to make Darius stop his irritating action towards me, but the one who respond to my question was Jeanne.

"since you know there's a trap and prepare for it why don't you spare them?"

hearing her question made me lowered my evaluation of Jeanne, but still I answer her question. "why should I spare them?, I already told you the before they want my life, it is good enough that I order my troops to spare some of those who surrender when they attack the dungeon."

the room become even more quite and tense, I decided it was time for me and Saul to leave and return to the Dungeon.

"It is enough for today, the rest of this problem will be discuss by our subordinate, I will just give you guys a warning any person coming into my Territory will be killed without question, at least until we finish the renegotiation of the Alliance if you still want it."

after saying that I stood up from my seat and exit the room with Saul and walk towards the open balcony of the building, feeling my presence the 2 Bone Dragon let a low roar and one of them fly closer towards my position and lowered his wing as a path for me to climb on his back.

after mounting on it's back, it started to flap his wing and fly towards the location of the Dungeon, while the other Bone Dragon started to follow behind me like a guard.

on the back of the Bone Dragon I was contemplating on all of the event, I may downplay on how dangerous it was to enter a trap, if I miscalculated on how powerful my enemies are or if there was no Saul who can help me if there is a change in the situation, I may not be alive and act very domineering and can only hope they spare me and gave me a chance to mount a comeback in the future.

this realization made me realize that having more power was never wrong, the problem is if I let the power rule over me and not the other way around.