Chapter 1113 The Fat Squid? I Suppose That Was Me

Chapter 1113 The Fat Squid? I Suppose That Was Me

"Who was that guy?" Lord Phenix stuttered, a tremor in his voice. "His aura was even more absurd than the octopus that gobbled us up..."

"If it's a native, it can only be the Celestial," Crunch shrugged, maintaining his usual unflappable demeanor.

Jake nodded silently, affirming this assumption. Absentmindedly petting his cat without seeking its consent, he sardonically praised, "Against all odds, you sometimes say something smart."

"Fuck you, master, I've always been smart!" Crunch retorted, flipping him off in complete disregard of any sense of danger. If he had one, he would never have ended up in the stomach of a millennia-old kraken.

But the cat's blatant insult went over Jake's head, his mind already pondering something else. n/)O/-v/)e-/1..b/(1/-n

'He knows I'm here,' he realized, frowning.

He first considered he had underestimated the Celestial's perceptive talents, but after a brief mental sweep of his surroundings, he quickly came up with a much more plausible hypothesis.

'It's Anthace's doing.'

The roots and branches of the Tree of Life were everywhere in Lustris. In the underground, in the wood of buildings, the parchment used for everyday writing, even the toilet paper the city's citizens used to wipe their ass.

In that case... Jake immediately grasped a dangerous implication. From the moment they arrived, they were already in the enemy's crosshairs. The only reason they hadn't been attacked was that somehow the Radiant Conclave and Anthace had decided to tolerate their presence.

In hindsight, the explanation was obvious: Civilians. The Radiant Conclave didn't want to risk a cataclysmic battle in the capital that would endanger their innocent citizens.

The paradox was that Jake was applying roughly the same logic. Aside from preferring to regain his full powers before tangling with the undefeated top dogs of this world, he was also keen on limiting collateral damage. Even if he couldn't care less, killing too many innocents unrelated to their objective was sure to affect his final rating.

"If that's how they want to play it, I'm fine with playing nice as long as I don't leave empty-handed," Jake immediately adjusted his attitude.

He could have left the city right away, but once outside, what ensured that they wouldn't then be ambushed by the enemy? Nothing at all. So, pressing as many favors as he could from the Radiant Conclave was naturally the next move.

At no time did she consider the possibility that he might simply love someone else or have already met someone better. A narcissist of her standing did not easily doubt her superiority complex.

It's gonna be a tough one. The vixen acknowledged internally.

Aware that she had encountered another tough nut to crack, she gave up her bewitching gimmicks without regret, adopting the same cheerful but respectable attitude as her prudish comrade.

"May I assume you know why we are visiting you so late at night, sir Wilderth?" Lady Faye asked politely, interrupting the endless soliloquy of the cat and turkey, earning a grateful look from Lady Lyria.

It was the first time in their many years of interaction that the prudish Keeper of the Archives showed her sincere gratitude. It goes to show there's a first time for everything.

Jake was slightly disconcerted by the contrast between her provocative behavior a moment ago and her professional and elegant attitude now, but it didn't go any further. They were two strangers to him, and even within his own faction, he knew more lunatic and histrionic than that.

Starting with his own cat.

"Since my presence is apparently no secret to anyone and you're aware of the fat squid, I deduce you were sent to make me leave your capital peacefully," Jake responded while sizing them up with a realizing look. "Given the diplomats they've sent, can I assume the Radiant Conclave is ready to make some concessions?"

Neither Lady Faye nor Lady Lyria took offense at the implication that they might have been chosen for their attractive looks. It was indeed the truth.

Especially since it suited them well.

Moreover, beauty privilege was not a myth. A physique deemed pleasant to look at, especially by the opposite gender, was certainly a significant advantage in negotiation. At no point did it question their competence.

But they were far from understanding what was going on in his head. While there was some truth in their reasoning, Jake was primarily referring to their cultivation.

Their Lumyst Auras and lifeforce were overflowing, identifying them as two very important powerhouses of the Lustra Plains. Likely, two prominent Radiant Conclave members.

It took at least that to show they were seizing him seriously. If they had sent an ordinary underling, even one as beautiful as one in a billion, Jake would have immediately doubted their intentions.

"You are indeed correct," Lady Lyria confirmed, inviting him with a gesture to follow her to an annex of the Conclave Tower. "We are indeed ready to meet your demands to leave our territory, provided of course they are reasonable."

"Of course," Jake agreed, pursuing her without fearing for a second that he was being led into a trap. Even if it was, he was confident he could escape it.