"That's a serious accusation," Jonathan spoke coldly.
"I'm just speaking the truth," Nick said. "What's so serious about it when it's the truth?"
"Big Gourmand does not work with Gluttony!" Jonathan shouted as his aura intensified.
He released his Zephyx to threaten Nick. "You might have become a Late Specialist, but you are weak in battle. If you prove to be an obstacle to Big Gourmand, you will vanish."
Nick snickered. "Vanish. Funny wording."
Jonathan's aura became more intense.
"I know you're working for Gluttony," Nick said. "And you know that I am responsible for the disappearing Extractors."
"You're admitting it?" Jonathan asked with narrowed eyes.
"Yeah," Nick answered as he ate more meat. "So? What you gonna do about it?"
Jonathan pulled out a sword and attacked Nick.
However, the sword stopped mid-swing, and Jonathan's eyes widened in horror.
Nick just calmly took another bite as he held the sword in place with his telekinesis.
"Sit down," Nick answered.
WHOOOM!
The next moment, an apocalyptic wave of Specter Zephyx washed over Jonathan, and he felt like his heart stopped.
This power!
How was Tarren so powerful?!
He had to be a Mid Hero, no, Mid Demon, at least!
Nick's telekinesis forced Jonathan to sit down.
Then, Nick cleaned his clothing before calmly standing up from his cart.
Jonathan saw Nick's body transforming.
He lost all his extra weight and turned into an athletic version of himself.
The next moment, Nick walked over to Jonathan and put his hand on his head.
"You think this is my first city?" Nick asked with a friendly smile. "You think I've never done this before? Oh, please."
"This is my fifth city," Nick said. "I'm already a Peak Demon, and I will soon become a Fallen."
"You think having Gluttony as your backer helps you? You think Gluttony will protect you?"
"No, Gluttony will write this city off as a loss and abandon you."
"The only thing I have to do is call Aegis and tell them everything. Within a couple of days, a team of Agents will arrive to take your precious Specter away." 𝘳𝓪ƝȎ฿Ёṩ
Jonathan gritted his teeth. "You will die if that happens! You're a Specter yourself!"
Nick laughed. "Have you already forgotten all the tests they did when I came to the city?"
Nick's arm morphed into different shapes. "My most powerful ability is the power to disguise myself as a human."
"Blood, Zephyx, whatever. I can make myself into a human, and all the Specter tests will come back negative."
"I've done this a couple of times before. Every time, Aegis thanks me for alerting them, and I get a cushy job beneath the new Governor."
"A bit of persuasion here, a bit of bribery there, and I get to shape the city into whatever I want."
Nick leaned on his luxurious table and took a bite of the pheasant.
"Oh, how I'm going to miss the Gourmet Spice. It's amazing."
Then, Nick just laughed loudly.
"What do you want?" Jonathan asked. "Why are you telling me all of this?"
Nick sat back down in his transporter and put his athletic legs onto the table.
"I want in," he said.
"You want in?" Jonathan repeated in confusion.
"I want to work together with Gluttony," Nick said.
"You want to be a servant?" Jonathan asked.
"Not servant. Business partner," Nick corrected Jonathan. "Aegis is my shield. As long as I am human, Aegis will protect me. Gluttony can send all the Fallen it wants, and they won't be able to find me. I'll just disguise myself as somebody else and vanish from the city."
"How did you think I got all those Specters? My greatest power is my ability to essentially turn into a human, but my second greatest power is my perception."
"I can sense Specters, my friend. I can feel when they are near."
"Will Gluttony send several Fallen just to deal with one lone Peak Demon? Come on, we both know Gluttony's smarter than that."
"If Gluttony and I can work together,we can achieve many things."
"So, will you hook me up?" Nick asked.
Jonathan glared at Nick for several seconds.
"You don't know who you're messing with," he said.
Nick just snorted. "That was a yes or no question."
"Yes," Jonathan answered. "I will bring you into contact with Gluttony."
"Great," Nick said with a smile, and the pressure on Jonathan vanished.
"Go ahead. I'll wait here," Nick said.
Jonathan became confused again.
Tarren was letting him leave just like that?
Wasn't he afraid that he would be exposed?
But as Jonathan thought about his options, he realized why Tarren had just let him go.
There was no danger to him.
He was right when he said that Gluttony wouldn't send a Fallen to deal with him.
It just wasn't worth it.
And if Jonathan exposed Nick, he would just kill anyone who came and alert Aegis.
They couldn't win a fight against a Peak Demon.
They were helpless.
"I'll prepare everything," Jonathan said.
Nick just turned into his fat self again and continued eating.
Nick gave Jonathan a thumbs-up while he kept eating.
After a bit, Jonathan left the office.
He was beyond shocked.
Jonathan walked back to Big Gourmand and talked to the CEO of the company.
When the CEO heard everything, he went to a seemingly random Specialist.
The two of them entered a secret room, and the random Specialist activated the Greater Relay.
They needed to ask Gluttony about what they should do.
About two hours later, Jonathan appeared in front of Dark Descent again, and Nick rolled out of the building.
"Everything ready?" Nick asked, eating more food.
Jonathan nodded. "Follow me."
"Great," Nick said. "Hey, can we stop for some food on the way? I'm starving."
After a short stop to get a boatload of food, the two of them entered Big Gourmand.
Jonathan led Nick to the CEO, who led Nick to the secret room with the Greater Relay.
And a moment later, the Greater Relay activated.
'Step one done,' Nick thought.
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