Chapter 239 - Rhyner's Threats

"Don't forget your intuition and loyalty!" Rhyner added with a chuckle. "Those are also key qualities that any leader would want from their most trusted aides."

"I have the greatest respect for you and everything you've built, Rhyner. But you also understand what it means to seek the best for your family. And I must sadly admit that joining Oliver's territory would be the best opportunity for my family."

"... Hmm…" Rhyner sat in thought for a few moments. The rest of the room let the man stew and ponder while they came to grips with the shrewd determination they hadn't seen from Hurman since his time at the Institute.

"Excuse me, but I believe we're also part of this discussion, both as people you'd like to take hostage and as the ones responsible for offering the Practor Family such a deal." No one was prepared to hear Oli's sudden objection, apart from Vloz that is. All eyes came upon Oli as he continued without skipping a beat, "We're the ones who mentioned such a deal in the first place. Hurman and his family knew nothing about me or my family's territory before we brought it up."

"Then tell me, why are you in my territory right now?"

"That's a complicated answer that I refuse to discuss with so many people present."

"For someone calling himself a hostage, you sure are talking like one," laughed Rhyner.

But Oli laughed as well, "And for someone acting so kindly to Hurman, you don't seem to have his family's best interests at heart."

"Touche…" 

"But I genuinely have come here to learn how to create my own cultivation technique," continued Oli. "While we do have an academy set up, it doesn't have the means of teaching the basics of self-made cultivation. And seeing Hurman with his own technique is the reason I dared offer him anything on behalf of my territory."

Lifting one eyebrow and again leaning on his hands, Rhyner retorted, "You speak more like a territory leader than I do."

"Thanks, but I'm not naive enough for compliments to lower my guard."

"All the more proof…" chuckled Rhyner. "So you came to my territory in secret, instead of coming with the direct support of your territory leader, to negotiate? Given your intellects, you two should've expected an encounter like this to take place eventually. Don't tell me you came unprepared to prove yourselves and you want me to let you go on a whim?"

"That depends… I will admit that your territory is more powerful than we had expected and estimated," Vloz stated, stepping in front of Oli. "We could've prepared better if we were given the chance to plan at the time, but we can't make excuses for our lack of preparation right now. Though we may not have as much proof as you would like, it doesn't mean we can't discuss things properly."

"Oh really?" 

"Really."

"You're quite bold to be admitting that in front of all of us…" sighed Rhyner. "But I don't see any reason why I should believe you. It would make sense given the strange circ.u.mstances, but your current professionalism is shared throughout your little plan. If you were part of a territory, then why wouldn't you have approached me properly and done something like an exchange program? I would've gladly sent you Burt in exchange for training Oliver. Yet you came like this and are now daring to take away a treasured member of our society… I'm not sure how I feel right now."

"Then go ahead, ask us any questions you'd like," stated Oli.

"Alright… What's the name of this territory?"

"The Iron Territory."

"Never heard of it."

"Because it's not from this region," replied Oli, leaving a frown on Rhyner's face. "You don't believe me?"

"Not exactly…"

"Well, that's the name."

"Hmm… Then what region is it found in?"

"The Slithering Fang Region."

Rhyner again shook his head. "Never heard of it… Jarrit, have you heard of it?"

"No, I haven't," Jarrit replied.

"Because it's not from this prefecture."

"What?!"

Oli repeated himself, startling everyone again, "Because it's not from this prefecture."

"That doesn't make any sense. If it's not part of this prefecture, then how did you ever manage to get here?"

"That's more complicated than you'd assume," stated Vloz.

"So you have an explanation for that?"

"Like I said, that happened due to a series of complicated events, some of which were not under our control."

"Then what happened? You happened to stroll across the prefectural border, cross a few territories, find my city, and then think it was worth paying a visit?" joked Rhyner.

"I wouldn't put it quite like that…" Oli itched the side of his head in thought. "We weren't planning on stopping here but it was the best option."

"Then how about this. You hand over your void equipment, cultivation techniques, and battle arts, then I'll let you two leave my territory unharmed?" Rhyner questioned teasingly.

"That doesn't sound like the Rhyner that I know," claimed Hurman.

But Rhyner refuted, "And you aren't as loyal as I pegged you out to be."

"I'm loyal to any deal I make, hence my current impartialness to how you're addressing us at the moment."

"I'm sorry, Territory Leader Rhyner, but we can't agree to your terms," Oli interjected.

"Who said you had to agree?" Rhyner laughed, surprising both Hurman and Lizbeth a little more with each passing second. 

"I do."

Rhyner abruptly turned around and stared at the back wall. His eyes shot open wide as, if he had just plunged into ice-cold water without any clothes. 

"Would you prefer I threaten you publicly, or without them in the room?"

That soft, amiable voice chilled Rhyner to his bones. And before he could look back to the others, who were startled by his sudden, unexpected movements, Rhyner felt someone calmly grab his shoulder. But Rhyner was unable to find anyone beside him.

"Honey, what's wrong?" Knowing him the best, Lizza got up to try and comfort her startled husband."

"Get out…"