Chapter 603: Negotiation
In the remote Thunderpoint Peak within the Thunder Range, Sein and his companions encountered the main highlight of their journey.
This area, the highest point of the range, lay close to the clouds, where thunder and lightning were particularly intense.
This resulted in an abundance of Thunderfall World’s specialty ores and other rare resources.
During their ascent, Sein had collected many materials that piqued his interest. However, given the mission ahead, he could not indulge in a collecting spree.
There was only so much he could do alone; if he truly wanted to gather quality electro-elemental materials, the most practical solution was to purchase them using magicoins from the fortress base.
The occupation of numerous resource points and the defeat of the Garths Legion by the Order of the Steel Fist had yielded a vast array of electro elemental resources—far more diverse and plentiful than what Sein could collect on his own.
On the slopes of Mount Thunderpoint, they encountered over a hundred Giant Thunder Lizards, each nearly ten meters long, with bluish-purple skin and scales.
Surprisingly, all of them had achieved a life level of Rank One or higher, even though not every Giant Thunder Lizard in Thunderfall World was capable of reaching Rank One.
In reality, these lizards represented nearly the entire population of ranked Thunder Lizards in the Thunder Range.
At the base of the Thunderpoint Peak and deep in the jungle behind it, thousands more Thunder Lizards of lower ranks roamed with their hatchlings.
The Thunder Lizards of the Thunderfall World bore some resemblance to the dragons of the Magus World— naturally strong and capable of advancing in rank with age.
However, the potential of the Giant Thunder Lizard clan was significantly less than that of the dragons.
Young dragons in the Magus World already possessed the life level of Rank One, while adults could easily ascend to Rank Two or higher.
In fact, the renowned Byrne Empire Dragon Knights each mounted on dragons of at least Rank Two.
In contrast, the Thunder Range’s Thunder Lizards only achieved a life level of Rank One or higher if they were both aged and exceptionally gifted.
For instance, the leader of the Thunder Lizards that stood before Sein, with its deeply darkened skin and slightly wrinkled scale armor, was a formidable Rank Three creature.
Its appearance was so unexpected that upon reaching Thunderpoint Peak, Sein could not help but curse under his breath.
“What the hell is the Order of the Steel Fist’s command center doing? How could the scout knights fail to report such crucial information?”
Although the appearance of the Rank Three Thunder Beast chief had somewhat disrupted Sein’s plans, everything was still under control.
There was Reina among their group, capable of confronting Rank Three adversaries.
Additionally, the two war airships above could assist with long-range fire support and tactical withdrawal.
Since Thunder Lizards were not dragons, they lacked wings.
More importantly, Sein noticed that the aged Thunder Lizard chief was nearing the end of its life.
Despite its deteriorating physical condition, it was uncertain how much of its Rank Three strength the lizard could still wield.
Perhaps that vulnerability had motivated the Thunder Lizard chief to come forward to “negotiate” with Sein and his Magus World companions.
Indeed, they were negotiating—Sein’s group had offered sanctuary and the right to live to all native creatures of the Thunder Range.
In exchange, the Thunder Lizard Clan would have to contribute seventy Rank One or higher Thunder Lizards and over five hundred adult lizards to fight under Magus World’s banner, aiming to topple the Garths’ oppressive rule.
Furthermore, a stipulation required the Giant Thunder Lizards Clan to eliminate all ranked Garths within the Thunder Range.
The common Garths below Rank One could remain, provided they were not a threat to the Magus World Army.
The three orders of knights from Magus World had likely reached a consensus that post-war Thunderfall World must not remain under the dominion of the Garths, who have the largest population in Thunderfall.
Hence, these orders were searching for new representatives in Thunderfall World to ensure this outcome.
If the Giant Thunder Lizards before them performed well, they could become suitable candidates for this role.
Perhaps in future years, Thunderfall World might even be renamed the Thunder Lizard World before joining the Magus Alliance.
This insight was not relayed to Sein by the command center; rather, he deduced it through his own wisdom and understanding.
After Sein said all of that to the ranked Thunder Lizards, their chief fell into a long silence. Even Natalya, Gould, and others around Sein were also taken aback.
When did the command center ever mention anything about this?
Fortunately, Gould and the others kept quiet and played along.
Sein had a reason for doing so; the Thunder Range was home to millions of native creatures, with the presence of an old Thunder Lizard chief of Rank Three life level.
How could Sein assert dominance with the limited forces assigned to him by the command center?
Natalya was hardly a skilled negotiator. Her straightforward nature was evident from her previous ridiculous action of challenging Sein and requesting to dissolve their betrothal.
The group of knights surrounding Sein was now following Sein’s lead, curious how he would handle the situation.
After Sein articulated his stance, a tense silence enveloped the area.
Among the hundreds of Rank One Thunder Lizards, numerous other native creatures of Thunderfall World, of varied forms and strengths, were also present.
Before the old Thunder Lizard chief could respond, a discordant voice erupted in anger.
A blue-skinned Rank One Garth declared, “You invaders from a malevolent civilization aspire to enslave the great Thunderous World? Dream on! We, the Garths, will fight to the bitter end-...”
This Garth was enraged as Sein’s terms demanded the extermination of all ranked Garths, putting it at immediate risk.
However, before he could finish his fiery speech, a black heavy sword swung through the air.
Dark, potent battle qi from the blade cleanly sliced through the waist of the Rank One Garth with decisive force.
For Gould, eliminating a Rank One creature was a trivial matter, as evidenced by his effortless execution.
On his journey to the South Coast, the Rank Two black mage he encountered could also eliminate Rank One creatures effortlessly.
Despite being severed in half, the Garth clung to life momentarily.
Its lower half spurted blue blood, spilling organs and tissues that reeked of fish.
Its mouth hung open as if trying to curse its fate, but Gould’s heavy sword plunged down once more, reducing the creature’s head to a pulp.
This brutal act escalated the negotiations into their first violent confrontation.
The ensuing attackers were primarily Garths from the Thunder Range, strong enough to have warranted inclusion in the negotiations.
Sein and his companions showed no mercy, fully intending to eradicate these doomed adversaries.
At the foot of Thunderpoint Peak, a massive battle also erupted.
Over seven thousand enslaved creatures brought by Sein and his group faced a relentless assault from all sides, predominantly by the numerically superior Garths.
Sein, alongside Reina and Natalya, did not engage in the melee.
The designated negotiation area was conspicuously devoid of any Rank Two Garths, who were merely refugees that had fled to the Thunder Range; control over the range was firmly in the grasp of the Giant Thunder Lizards.
In addition to the old Rank Three Thunder Lizard chief, there were also nine elite Rank Two Thunder Lizards present. This number actually surpassed Sein’s forces, necessitating a cautious and diplomatic approach.
Beneath his Verdant Flame Eye Mask, Sein’s gaze settled on the old Thunder Lizard chief on the ground.
Its age was evident in the creased, wrinkled scales covering its body.
Despite the surrounding turmoil, the chief seemed unbothered, its cloudy purple eyes calmly observing Sein and his companions.
Only occasional flashes of sharpness betrayed its keen intelligence.
However, the surrounding Rank One and Two Thunder Lizards grew increasingly agitated by the nearby combat, exhaling streams of white vapor through their nostrils.
Yet, without a command from the chief, they were not allowed to act.