Chapter 48 - Deal with the Devil

Yu - ...So that's the earth element spirit Gnome.

Grant simply nodded at my statement before he turned around and cupped his fist towards the Gnome.

Grant - Please watch over our conference oh guardian spirit.

Gnome - Very well young Dwarf, but remember your actions represent that of the whole faction.

After giving a short nod Grant turned towards us and raised his hand. Following the movement of his hand the ground below him moved as well and in seconds a table and 2 chairs made of earth appeared, and both Grant and I sat down. The guards that came with Grant stood behind him, and my people stood before me.

Yu - You guys seem oddly prepared for this aren't you?

Grant - Along time ago before the colonization of the American Colonies we would get constant contract offers from multiple factions. Unfortunately, with the start of the industrial era, factions stopped relying on our faction and used their own means to get construction done. To be honest you are the first faction leader to come into our compound in the past 200 years.

Yu - It's an honor. *whisper* I guess.

Grant - Now what type of contract would you like to commission with us?

Yu - [Why'd he suddenly start talking like a businessman?]

Yu - Well...

----

After that, we had a roughly 3-hour discussion on the scale of what we wanted as well as the duration of how long we'd have them work. I even showed them a 3-Dimensional optical view map of Haven's territory I prepared a while back. This baffled both Grant and the Dwarves behind him. Even Gro... I mean Gnome showed some slight interest in the layout of Haven's territory.

Grant - This doesn't seem like any territory found on Earth, Heaven, or the Underworld could it be that your faction is in a pocket realm.

Yu - Um... something like that.

Different from pocket dimensions that has very limited space of around a few cubic meters, pocket realms were gigantic space pockets that could hold hundreds if not thousands of people. From the pocket realms that I knew of there were some independent factions that control a single pocket realm while bigger factions controlled maybe 2 or 3. Even the Yokai Faction also control a small pocket realm before I took it over.

Grant - It may take us a day or 2 to finalize the blueprints for construction but, I'd also have to see the designated area first.

If I were to hear someone tell me this 1 week ago I'd probably slap them until they bled, but one our way here I read a lot of past reports about the Dwarves. Besides the surface knowledge everyone knew they were involved in a lot of major construction jobs for multiple factions, and while they did work for a lot of faction they never once revealed any information on the specific details of what they did. All that was known was the feedback they got once they were done. I was already able to accept this request but I first needed to know one thing.

Yu - Before that happens I want to know how much you'll charge us for this job. Depending on the price will determine whether I decide to use your guy's services or look for another alternative.

Grant - Ah! That's true... it's been so long I forgot about that part of the deal.

Yu - It's fine, so what'll it be. We can arrange things from money, supplies, or even protection.

When I said this Grant pulled a small vial from his sleeve and placed it on the table. The vial was clear, but the contents inside were gold. It was the same earth essence that was found in the pond right behind him.

Grant - What we ask as compensation is this. It is earth essence something produced through natural means or even artificial ones. Depending on the size of your territory I'm certain you have a couple of earth mages that can complete the job. I know that creating this kind of substance takes a lot of time and effort but around 36 vials would be the right price for the job.

*gulp*

I couldn't tell who it was but I could hear some people behind me swallowing a mouthful of saliva.

Yu - [Is it that expensive?]

Yu - Is this enough?

Saying this I pulled out a 5-gallon container full of compressed earth essence. It contained about 1 years worth of earth essence because I'd empty out my reserves once a month into this container. I wanted to know if it'd evaporate or something but it never did and I just continued to fill it for a year. I had similar containers for other elements to sitting in m inventory, so if this was valuable maybe I could make some extra revenue with those.

Yu - [Hm? Why did everyone go quiet?]

The moment the container entered this room the amount of earth energy in the air got denser, and everyone became quiet. Grant who sat in front of me had his mouth wide open, and the guardian spirit in the pond was looking at the container with great interest. Seriously what was wrong.

*Ding* [The purity within Host's earth essence and the earth essence produced by the planet a vastly different in grade level. The earth essence produced by the planet may be a valuable item but it is produced by the earth vein within the planet which has been polluted by the actions of the inhabitants. Compared with the earth vein within Haven which was produced through Host's earth essence it is like comparing pure water to murky water.]

Yu - [Okay but why the difference is so large?]

*Ding* [The answer lies within Host's body. Currently, Host's race is that of a [Primordial Helix] but Host's body is that of a human. Host has yet to awaken Host's full bloodline awakening Host's primordial energy, but this does not mean there is no primordial energy in Host's body. When my creator rebuilt Host's body he stored a small amount of primordial energy within Host's astral body. This energy not only nourishes Host's soul, and body but also upgrades and mana or elemental essence that enters Host's astral body.]

Yu - [Why have I never known about this?]

*Ding* [Host, has never really thought about the purity of Host's mana nor investigated Host's astral body. Plus Host never asked.]

Yu - [(-_- ).... Fair enough.]

Yu - So is this enough?

Grant - ...Huh I mean *cough**cough* Can I ask where you procure this Yu-dono?

He was shocked by my reveal but when he heard my question he soon became serious and asked me a question. Honestly, I was okay with telling him I made it but, then I remembered the quest I received not too long ago.

Yu - This was extracted from one area of my Faction's territory.

Yu - [Can Haven produce naturally formed elemental essence?]

*Ding*[Up until yesterday yes.]

While I was pumping my fist in my mind, I closely watched as Grant was contemplating my response. He seemed to be lost in though so I just waited for him to come back to reality, but before Grant could say anything Gnome spoke up first.

Gnome - Young man previously you mentioned something about protection I'm I correct?

Yu - Yes.

Gnome - Can you clarify what you mean by protection.

Yu - Well here's what I meant, on my way here I noticed that your people were living peacefully down here but I also noticed that some of your people didn't like the way things were going for your faction.

Gnome - ...Regrettably, that is true.

Yu - Yes so I began to wonder why, could it have been due to the factions decline, or something else. Before coming here I couldn't understand why, however, that all changed when I entered this castle and also when I found out the compensation for the task I requested. If I'm not wrong you Sir Gnome blessed the Dwarves with your blessing as a guardian spirit I'm I correct.

Gnome said nothing and simply nodded.

Yu - Well then I started to remember everything I learned about the guardian spirits and then it came to me. The four guardian spirits Gnome, Slyph, Undine, and Salamander get their strength from the planet's elemental veins, and their strength gets distributed to the races they blessed. You ask for earth essence as compensation as a way to make up for the decline in the planets earth vein which has ȧssisted in your faction's downfall.

Yu - I won't lie I need your strength, because my faction will continue to grow and in order to support that growth I need builders which is where your faction comes into the mix. If things continue to go as they have been once my faction stops growing our deals are done and you will stop getting a steady source of high-quality earth essence, but I admire your guy's craft and wish to learn a little from you give.

As I talked Grant's face started to pale a little.

Yu - No Grant it's not what you think I don't plan to force you into anything but here's my offer... Join me in my faction I don't discriminate between races nor do I throw away those who have decided to follow me. Haven is a place where multiple races have come together to live in harmony, what I'm offering you isn't just a business deal but also a better life for your people. The Dwarf Faction has declined because the strength of the Gnome has declined. You might be thinking that if you join me your faction will no longer exist but that'll happen eventually if you stay like this. Haven not only has wide lands, but it also has the potential to strengthen the now weakened Dwarf race into something stronger. Gnome!

This time I turned my gaze from Grant towards Gnome.

Yu - I don't want just the Dwarf Faction but I also want you to join as well. Honestly, I think you'd like Haven better than this place. Truth is I think you'd be a perfect candidate for one of Haven's proctors. My selfish dėsɨrė right now is to make both the Dwarf Faction and the Guardian Earth Spirit Gnome my subordinates, but I'm not a cruel man. If you don't agree with my offer we can still be business partners.

Standing up from my chair I walked up to Grant gave him a fearless grin and extended my hand.

Yu - So what do you say?

Some might call this a deal with the devil, but for Grant and Gnome who no more about their situation then I did this was a major focal point in their lives. Their prosperity or their downfall could be decided at this very moment, and nobody knew if this was the right choice. Nobody, but me.