The Proposal [Chapter 127]

I feel the last bit of power drain from Nevereth and Azeroth, and I can tell their feeling the effects. They both seem to be shaking slightly, but still standing. Nevereth picks up Ayvex and pats Azeroth on the shoulder. Azeroth stares at me for a moment.

"Seems like our previous goodbyes were premature."

"Yea, so they were. But I think this time... it's actually goodbye."

We stand, silently nodding. I can feel my eyes starting to sting, the weight of what's happening finally setting in. I extend my fist towards Azeroth.

"Hey, do me a favor. Take care of yourself, and don't try screwing people over in card games anymore."

Azeroth chuckles sadly, shaking his head.

"That feels like it was so long ago."

Azeroth puts his fist to mine and nods.

"You take care of yourself too. And, if by some chance, you find a way to come visit us. Just know I'll always be there if you ever want to visit."

I nod, Azeroth patting my shoulder as he steps to my right side to walk past me. I notice something as he pats my shoulder, but I don't say anything. I had forgotten about it, and I was sure it would disappear after I absorbed all the magic and undid the system, but it didn't. I quickly roll my hand over, surprised to see the guild symbol still on my hand. As Azeroth and Nevereth leave the tent, I mumble to myself.

"But without a system in place, without magic, how does the guild symbol remain?"

I stand in silence for a moment, trying to find an answer in my mind. Before I can come to an answer, the blonde man speaks up.

"That tattoo, it shares an energy signature with Everia. Did she give you that marking?"

I look back to him, shaking my head. He steps closer and looks at the tattoo, staring at it intently.

"It seems as though it could serve any number of purposes. Anywhere from tracking its owner to passive absorption of energy over time, it would be best to remove it."

I pull my hand back and stare at him.

"This is our guild symbol; it was made for only us."

"That may be, but it also could be used for Everia to suddenly drain all the power for whoever is attached to it. It's a blade to your throat, you just weren't aware of it."

Before I can react, he grabs my hand. In an instant, I feel a warm pulse through my entire body. He pulls his hand away, the guild symbol slowly dissolving away. I stare at it as the last bits of black vanish. I stand, staring at my hands. I feel a sadness deep within me, having to say goodbye to the only things I had left. I inhale then exhale deeply.

"Alright, what do I have to do? Just take that from your hand?"

"Yes, when you grab my hand, the barrier will transfer to you. But first, I have to discuss something with you."

He exhales, and all foreign sounds stop. I hear nothing outside the tent, not the breeze or the chatter of people outside.

"What did y-"

"Time stasis. For a short range around me, we are at a highly accelerated rate of movement. One hour here is one millisecond past the boundary of my ability. Now, let's discuss a few things. First off, since you will control the barrier, we will be considering you the supreme authority of this world from here forward. You will be able to observe the world without difficulty, that includes everyone living on it. If at any time, you feel a threat appear that you feel is too great for any force on this planet to handle, hold this tag and ask for help."

He pulls a small piece of paper out of his pocket. The paper is slightly larger than my hand, but is completely red.

"That will contact us, and we will come to aid you. Hold this tag if there is a troublesome task that you need aid with. And this one if you have any questions about anything."

He says, handing me a gold tag, then a blue tag. He then hands me a purple tag.

"If there are people that need healing, yourself included, that is out of anyone's ability here, hold that tag. Next, I would like to discuss transfer rates for different metals and materials, and the possibility of opening trade routes with this world."

"I'm sorry, I don't quite understand."

He pulls a small silver coin from his pocket.

"What is the primary currency here?"

"Uh, gold. But I'm not sure if the other countries have different currencies."

He closes his eyes, continuing to talk.

"So, is it different size gold coins? Gold bars? How does the system work? How much would one gold buy me?"

"Err, depends on the place you went too. I think one gold would get you a night at an inn. Or a satisfying meal."

"So how much is a bad meal worth then?"

I pause, starting to see what he's getting at.

"Well, people don't typically buy bad meals. One gold buys you materials to cook your own meal, but the few places that serve food cost a gold to buy a decent meal, that way they don't have to cook themselves."

He nods understandingly.

"The currency we use is made of an exceedingly rare material and can only be found within The Hunters organization. We try to open trade routes to give new worlds access to other materials, but each place has their own trade values. It makes it exceedingly difficult, but it typically balances out over time. For example, here a coin could buy you a delicious meal. On some of the worlds I've visited, a gold coin couldn't even buy a shoe. But, on other worlds, that very same gold could buy a mansion. You must see why finding conversion rates is difficult."

I nod as he continues talking.

"I propose a changing value of our currency. It will lose, or gain value, based off the currency values of all allied worlds. Alongside my offer, this world will be given new materials."

"Wouldn't they panic if they suddenly started discovering new materials? It's been an exceptionally long time of only finding a few different types."

"Of course not, every civilization takes to the new materials naturally, integrating them into their daily lives quite easily. Of course, they aren't aware that we will be planting them. They wouldn't understand the idea of trading with other planets, so we act as a mediator. But that's a different branch. I mainly handle the establishment of relations and killing of threats on established allies' domains. After you agree to our terms, we will send a member from our diplomatic group."

I stare at him, confused by the sudden well of information I have to absorb. He extends his hand, the barrier glowing white on his palm.

"Just know if you decline my offer to be an ally, we will not help you if another threat attacks your world, or when you inevitably encounter a resource shortage."

I think for a moment but decide to agree to his proposal. I shake his hand, the barrier coming under my control. Unlike last time, I only feel a slight weight on my shoulders. It doesn't feel like my body is being crushed like before. The sound of the outside resumes as the blonde man starts walking away. I quickly speak up before he gets outside.

"Since we're working together, I should get to know your name. My name is Dante."

He looks over his shoulder, then turns around and bows.

"How rude of me, I got ahead of myself. Apologies. Orion Himigaya."

He straightens back up, resuming his perfect posture, and walks outside.