Chapter 9: Failed? Negotiations

"And this condition?" Arnold asked with his arms crossed over his chest, trying to salvage whatever he can out from this negotiation.

Too bad it was already a lost course. Miho had completely caught him off guard with the level of intelligence she possessed.

{In exchange for your assistance, we would take all the remaining human population off this planet safely to settle elsewhere.}

Arnold almost choked on the tea he had ordered sometime when Miho was writing.

All the population of humanity? One should know that that was an absurd number. Even if most of humanity had long died out during the initial emergence of the End times, the remnants of humanity were still not few in numbers.

"I have no time to humor you miss Miho." Arnold replied, perfectly concealing his surprise.

{I believe you should be well aware of my character by now. I'm not one to make jokes.}

"What do you gain out of all this?" He questioned.

{That's not important. Take it as me offering an olive branch...well, for a small price, of course.}

"And what is this small price?"

{Monetary and militaristic assistance. With a seal that grants VIP privileges for life.}

After hearing this, Arnold couldn't hold back his laughter. It's been so long since he had heard something so funny in his life. It's been so long since he laughed this hard.

In fact, he laughed so hard he forgot his caution towards the organization behind Miho.

{I think we are done here.} Miho wrote then stood up.

"Aha- haha… I'll be sure to think about what you said… pffft!"

Miho turned around sashaying her way out of the booth. Her face was expressionless like a Noh mask, so no one could tell how many times she had killed Arnold in her mind.

As soon as Miho left the privately reserved booth, Arnold's laughter suddenly stopped.

"Should I have someone tail her sir?" An old man dressed like a butler appeared out of nowhere and asked.

From how he wasn't detected by anyone before his appearance, one could tell he was a highly skilled assassin. He was Mason, a skilled butler, expert assassin and Arnold's shadow.

"Yes. And send the best trackers we have to monitor her." Arnold said as he stood up and tossed the last of Miho's writing into the blazer.

"Should I contact the other survivor bases?" Mason asked as he kept staring at the door Miho had just left through with no expression on his face and an unknown meaning in his eyes. Unfortunately, even Arnold didn't notice it.

"No, but strengthen the guards around Annabella." Arnold said as he put on his coat before pulling on a cup in the cupholder.

A section of the wall gave way, revealing a flight of stairs heading downwards.

"Get someone to investigate the matter of Annabella's pregnancy. Don't let her know, and use as few men as possible. Only those you trust." Was Arnold's departing words before he disappeared down the stairs.

The departure of Arnold left the booth eclipsed in silence. That is, until Mason started to soliloquize.

"Youngsters these days are terrifying. She actually discovered me, didn't she?" Mason soliloquy could hardly be heard in the empty booth.

Mason couldn't help but recall the glance that seductive vixen sent to where he thought he was indistinguishable. It was shortly after Arnold smashed the table in anger.

"Interesting! Ahahahahahahaha!!" No one knew why he was laughing, but anyone seeing this scene would call him creepy. "Very well, you'll be my woman!!!"

Miho, who just left the teashop shivered suddenly. She couldn't help but feel an evil gaze had been set on her.

[What's wrong, Miho?] 

(I just felt that someone had bad thoughts about me.)(Miho)

[Interesting. So, following the introductions of the pills her instincts became sharpened enough to perceive ill intent.]

(What was that?)

[Nothing. So what do you do now that we totally flopped the negotiations?]

(Hmm...not necessarily flopped. I naturally never expected him to believe me without a reason to fear me in the first place.)

[Then what's your next plan?]

(Fae, using your usual means, sort out all the characters left on Aquamarine that have the highest potential and send me their information.)

[Oooh! What are you going to do?] Fae asked, getting excited while multitasking on what Miho just ordered.

(Going talent hunting.)(Miho)