"Robin, I know that you are a busy man, so I will go straight to the point... since your departure and until now, we are analyzing and consulting almost daily about what we can offer you in exchange for the continuation of our relations.
For the first few days after you left, we were very confused because we thought you were going to stay with the royal family, if that happened then it has been impossible to offer something that the royal family doesn't have, but after we knew you were here.. the task got much easier," Mila took the initiative and spoke, then looked at Patriarch Brian. "No offense"
"Ahaha, none taken." The Patriarch laughed, for he knows the value of his family well.
Robin smiled, "Okay then, and what's your final conclusion? What do you have to offer in exchange for continuing our business relationship?"
"We have a lot of money, you can increase your sales prices for us, and we will pay you grants equivalent to one million gold coins annually to support your researches." Mila smiled a smile full of confidence
The patriarch's eyes almost jumped out of place.. a million gold coins annually!!
"I can sell runes at any price I want to anyone I want, so this part can not be used as an argument, and the million gold coins your speaking about, I can get them myself after a few auctions... What else do you have?" Robin chuckled
Mila's smile faded and doubt began to enter her heart, "w-... we have a huge trading network. We can provide all kinds of resources you want for your research, anything that can be considered rare we can get them for you, pills, hides, metals... Anything you want will be yours for free!"
Robin nodded vigorously, "Good argument but flawed, I have already formed a good relationship with the royal family, anything you can access the royal family can access and some more... what else do you have?"
The saints started to look at each other out of their eyes, the conversation was not going well as they imagined...
Robin started laughing when he saw their faces, " haha, what? I can't be blamed for forming a good relationship with the royal family, the traitor in YOUR family was the one who pushed me to their lap, if you want to blame someone for this, blame yourselves!"
"Robin, show us some regard, we have been working together for quite some time, we were the ones who supported you from the very start, damn it!!" Mila raised her voice a little
"It was a purely commercial relationship and you earned far more from it than I did, but whatever... Because of our previous relationship, I value the Bradley family and that is why I'm giving you this opportunity to convince me.
Please note that you are not giving me a favor with those offers, as I do not need this relation anymore as I can just sell everything I make to the royal family... now let us get back to the topic, What else do you have?" Robin replied with the same smile as if he hadn't heard anything
Mila hesitated a little, as this was the last card they thought of and if he rejected it they would be in trouble, but in the end, she mustered her courage and spoke, " Robin, with the route you have chosen to yourself, you are destined that you will never have peace... even without your identity fully known, you have tasted an assassination attempt, then what would happen later when one of the enemies of the Black Sun know of you?
With all due respect, the Burton family does not have the strength to protect you from any assassination attempt, that's why the five of us came together... we can strengthen the Burton family's defenses as long as you are in it, and we will take turns to make sure you are protected no matter where you are, and if there is another war concerning you or the Burton family we can participate in with you free of charge."
Patriarch Brian smiled big ear to ear upon hearing this, currently, only he and Billy were in Jura City and he was indeed terrified at the thought of an assassination attempt on Caesar.
"I have an agreement with His Highness Sage Albert that he would send a few high-leveled Saints to protect me all the time as well, they are most likely outside the building now, ready to step in if we had a quarrel… What else do you have?"
" WH- WHAT?!" The patriarch rose from his seat, there have been high-level Saints inside Jura City the whole time and he didn't know? And they are so close that they are watching over Robin all day long? This is terrifying... and reassuring!!
Robin's words were a fatal blow to the Five Saints, there is only General Edward among them who can be considered a high-level Saint, and he is here because he volunteered to come himself...
Duke Galan doesn't have the power to send more Saints of these levels!
Their morale plummeted to zero after they were sure of success, whatever they came up with is nothing in Robin's eye...
"Robin..!!" Mila shouted angrily and stood there staring at him
Robin chuckled and shrugged, but he didn't respond.
"Noble Robin, in fact, we have no other offers to make, but this really baffles me... You are a smart man and you must know that our existence on your side as a duke family will benefit you sooner or later, so it is impossible that you permanently want to cut ties with us...
then what will satisfy you? As long as our offers do not live up to your expectations, please give us your terms and we will do our best to make them come true." " Edward spoke politely, as usual, he hadn't lost hope yet, he knows that he was not talking to some brat, but a wise adult.
Robin smiled and looked at Saint Edward, "You are probably right, General, someday I probably will need the Bradleys, and when that day comes and weren't friends anymore, I will seek you out, beg, and pay you a lot to gain your help...
but guess what... I already did that anyway when I lived among you and we had an excellent relation... What good it does for me then if we have a good relationship or not? ...at the end of the day, there is nothing between me and the Bradley family but plain trade and benefits exchange..."
These sentences silenced Saint Edward, who was preparing to negotiate and try to persuade Robin further.
Opportunities come once in a lifetime... Previously, Robin used Galan to take his revenge, and Galan took advantage of Robin's need for him and snatched from him the method of making one of his most important and effective innovations.. the talisman of fire.
And this for Robin concluded that it doesn't matter if he kept in contact with them or not, as when he really needs them he will make high offers to gain their help whither they are friends or not... if that is the case then why should he split his focus between them and the royal family then?
Previously there was Robin who needed the Bradley family and the Bradley family who needed Robin, but now the balance has been broken... Robin no longer needs them
Finally, Saint Edward understood what Robin wanted to say... All their preparations were in vain... This is no longer a relationship based on equality.
In fact, the 3 other saints finally reached this conclusion as well and lost hope, even the patriarch sighed and shook his head
The only one who didn't understand yet was Mila, who was still looking angrily at Robin!
Robin chuckled in a low voice when he saw her angry look, then stood up, "As long as there is nothing the Bradleys can do for me, there's no need to talk about it anymore, I have more research to get back to... If you come up with other offers that you think might work, you know where to find me!" Then turn around and walk to the door
"Robin!!!" Mila yells and hits the ground, she knows if they leave today they won't come back... after hearing the affirmation of the new relation between Robin and the royal family they already lost hope of offering any material thing!
As if they measure everything they can offer against what the royal family can... then there is nothing else that the family has that Robin would want.
But Robin didn't stop upon hearing the shout and made his way to the door, knowing she wouldn't say anything new.
When Mila saw this, her eyes turned red, filled with tears... Most likely, after Robin exits this door, they will not meet again, and perhaps she will only see him from afar...
The Patriarch was watching everything silently from the side. He was shocked when he saw Milla's tears and an idea struck his head like a thunderbolt.
He quickly stood up and shouted, "Wait a minute! Robin!! The relationship between you and the Bradleys doesn't have to be just commercial!!!"