Lisa Vance kept her posture upright, her two fox tails swaying slightly, while she was still processing the news that the original mission had already been handed to another group.
The atmosphere in Yrneha’s laboratory stayed calm, but Lisa knew that in negotiations with figures of authority like an Archmage, every word carried immense weight. She looked at the older elf, ignoring for a moment her lingering curious gaze still weighing on Lohan.
"Lady Ylasys, Astralis Requiem values discretion and efficiency above all else," Lisa said, her telepathic voice resonating with crystalline clarity in everyone’s mind. "If you believe the work done at the northern rift was just a patch job and that the current group, the Broken Suns, represent more of a problem than a solution, we’re willing to step in. However, as a professional organization, Astralis accepts contracts in exchange for compensation befitting the risk and expertise we bring."
Yrneha raised an eyebrow, a subtle gesture of surprise that made her magical monocle flicker. She wasn’t used to being "charged" for services she requested in Thalendor, which were usually just grateful to receive a task from the Tower, but considering this was human nature, it made sense. The elf walked to the center of the laboratory, tapping her white wooden staff lightly on the floor, which made the holograms of the northern rift vanish.
"Interesting," Yrneha murmured, a faint smile forming at the corner of her lips. "You’re not just after the glory of serving Thalendor, but the material recognition of your worth. Honestly... I prefer it this way. Business is more reliable than blind heroism."
The Archmage crossed her arms over her elegant green and silver silk robe. "I’ll be frank with you. This won’t be an official investigation. Thalendor can’t afford an open conflict with the nobles backing the Broken Suns right now, even though their group has no real political weight, at the end of the day they’re still nobles, and the mere act of investigating their actions could already be seen as a grave disrespect. The support I can offer you will be minimal and indirect, to preserve my neutrality. You’ll need to carry out this investigation discreetly, avoiding contact and conflict as much as possible. However, if the inevitable happens and swords need to speak, I guarantee the Tower of Yrneha will back your side before the Council, and even if whoever requested this mission can’t openly step in to defend you, that person can mobilize plenty of help behind the scenes."
Lisa nodded, but her golden gaze stayed fixed on the matter of the reward. Yrneha noticed the fox’s persistence and let out a sigh, gesturing toward a crystal cabinet that opened silently.
"As payment for a detailed report and concrete proof of the Broken Suns’ negligence or misconduct, I’m offering the sum of five hundred gold coins for your guild’s fund," Yrneha declared, making even Aeliana let out a gasp. "And as a bonus for the unique versatility you’ve shown, I’ll include an Advanced Mana Stone. But know that, for a payment of this caliber, I’ll be demanding flawless results that I can present to whoever actually requested this task."
Five hundred gold coins. The amount was greater than anything Lohan or Lisa had dreamed of accumulating this early, totaling $5,000,000 in real world credits! Not a significant sum for Lisa, but in Elysium it represented enough Gold to fund the Guild for a long time.
Combined with the Advanced Mana Stone, which for Lohan was the fuel needed for massive evolutionary leaps, the offer was impossible to refuse.
"That’s a fair proposal, Lady Ylasys," Lisa replied, but she decided this was the moment to seal the Archmage’s trust once and for all. She stepped forward, radiating an aura of authority that didn’t come only from her class in Elysium, but from the Isabella Vance who managed billion dollar assets. "So that you can be fully assured your trust hasn’t been misplaced, know that I coordinate a considerable share of the Vance Group’s resources in my own world. My word is backed by an infrastructure that rivals the largest conglomerates in the Human Federation, with control over hundreds of thousands of people to assist us from the other side. We’re not just a small band of Players chasing coins, we understand perfectly well the weight of a contract, and we have more than enough resources to see it through."
Yrneha stopped mid step, her eyes widening slightly as she studied the white fox with a new perspective.
She knew outworlders came from a technologically advanced society, but the mention of a direct chain of command, the equivalent of nobility here, subtly shifted the way she looked at Lisa.
The Archmage turned her gaze to the blue Slime, imagining that Halon, with that frighteningly strong internal power and his intimate closeness to a "noble," must also hold a special, hidden identity in his world of origin.
"So the little fox is a leader of superior lineage..." Yrneha murmured, a subtle respect now growing more evident in her tone of voice. "That explains a lot about the refinement of your energy. If the Vance name carries the weight you say it does, then I’ll trust your word even more."
Aeliana, who had been watching the exchange with eyes shining with admiration, ran over to hug Lohan one last time. "Halon! Lisa! I knew you two were important! Please be careful with the Broken Suns, they also have powerful people among them, don’t underestimate them!"
Lohan vibrated his membrane, pleased with the outcome of the negotiation. "Thank you, Aeliana. We’ll do our best not to disappoint your mistress... and to make sure Thalendor stays a good place for sweets and mages."
The farewells were quick.
Yrneha handed Lisa a small emerald wax seal that would serve as a mark of recognition should they need a diplomatic emergency exit, which would be stored in the Astral Chest.
Lohan and Lisa left the tower, feeling the fresh air of Thalendor touch their bodies from this world.
As they made their way down Thalendor’s suspended walkways, they decided to keep their perception abilities active.
They weren’t in a hurry to head back, their goal was to listen to the pulse of the city. They wanted to understand what the residents, and especially what the other Players, were saying about this new power on the rise.