'The ignorant are fearless' went a saying.
When he first came across it, Varian dismissed the saying as drivel of a stubborn old fool. That firm opinion began to crack as the time trickled away.
"Do you want to visit our business district next?" Aion stroked his long white beard and asked with a relaxed expression.
Shortly after his status changed from a lab slave to a guest, the old man took him out and personally showed him the city.
For someone who's madly obsessed with research and spent no time cultivating any relationships, this was something out of line.
Elder Aion himself was very famous for rejecting invitations to social events. If any Heaven tribesman were in Varian's place, they might be flattered.
But Varian only felt anxious.
[6 hours left]
He didn't know if the Neveah would start attacking the moment the clock hit 00:00 but he didn't want to bet on their kindness to wait.
Varian thought he'd see clues to Heaven's extermination. Maybe there was a traitor? Maybe there was a secret organization? Maybe there's a coup?
Nothing. He checked everything he could check. He even used the power of slivers subtly while hiding it from Aion. And he found that Heaven were only more powerful than the old man showed.
So, why in Eden were they defeated?
"I would like to see the advanced products sold." Varian spoke, gaze slowly turning heavy.
He already spent a few hours touring around the city, visiting residential areas, public spaces and scenic attractions.
While they all held secrets that were lost in the passage of time, they weren't worth mentioning compared to the tribe itself that was about to be destroyed in a few hours.
"I sense a business opportunity here, hoho." Letting out a pretentious and fake chuckle, the elder said with confidence.
Inwardly, Aion was satisfied with Varian's performance.
From the dismissive attitute at first when he visited the civilian areas to the gradual solemity after learning the deep technology used for these buildings and his subsequent attempts to appear dismissive and failing each time.
'Good, good. He's realizing how advanced we are compared to his tribe. Maybe we don't even need to slaughter them. If his status is high enough, he might just ask them to submit on their own.'
What Aion didn't consider was that the young man in front of him was a crazy deciever. He once fooled an entire kingdom that he's the arrogant young master.
"Elder Aion, I am grateful for everything you've shown me. I've never seen a more refined, more sophisticated technological advancement anywhere in Eden."
The praise in a flattering tone was the right opener in this situation. Even though it felt cheap, Varian didn't let it bother him.
Aion leaned on the guard rails, with his back facing him. The smile on the old man's face after hearing his words grew wider and he concluded that this matter had ended.
There's even no need to wait for a few days. Just tomorrow, he could send a delegation to Ares tribe.
This youngster could try persuading his tribesmen to surrender. If they didn't, Aion was sure he'd rebel and tell their secrets to the tribe of Heaven.
Even though Heaven saw themselves as overwhelmingly superior compared to Ares, completely slaughtering Ares involved a risk.
The sliver of chaos might be lost in the heat of war.
An insider would minimize that risk. And if he could persuade them to surrender, that's for the best!
As he's about to turn around and call it a day, he heard Varian continue in a shaky tone.
"But you should've sensed my unease. Perhaps it is due to what I've been through in the past few days."
Aion's brows furrowed. 'Huh? If you had even an iota of political sense, you shouldn't talk about that stuff.'
"Or perhaps it's due to the prophecy of City Lord. But I am scared of the coming invasion."
Aion raised a brow and said in a careless tone. "They're all gonna die. The stories you told me are just getting to your head."
"Maybe they are." Varian nodded. "The past, the future and the extermination of Heaven. My mind refuses not to believe even after everything I've seen."
"Are you cra—"
"I want to convince it. Can I see the defense measures you've prepared for Neveah? That, more than anything will persuade me there's no way Neveah can ever win against you, much less push you to extinction."
Aion turned around soundlessly and stared straight into Varian's eyes for a few seconds.
The complacency in his eyes at having persuaded a simple-minded youngster was reduced by a few notches.
Perhaps he began to sense that Varian was not what he showed himself to be.
With a hint of solemnity for the first time, he said. "Follow me."