Chapter 552: Good Negotiations
(Planet Koral, 7 days later)
Over the next seven days, the Cult Army soldiers secured one strategic victory after another, eventually overwhelming the enemy through sheer numbers alone, as they gained complete control over every major city on the planet.
With only a couple hundred thousand rebelling troops for them to confront, progress across all battlefronts was made swiftly, while loss of life remained minimal, as the Dragon’s Army succeeded in their first planetary conquest.
"Lord Dragon, I’m proud to report that the conquest of Delta City is now complete.
With this, the entire planet is now firmly under your command, my Lord," Legion Commander Garra reported, as Veyr clenched his fists in joy.
Koral’s planetary conquest had proven to be much smoother than they could have ever hoped, with total personnel lost on the Cult side amounting to only about 40,000 men, far less than the initial estimate of 300 to 500 thousand.
"What do you think, Cousin? Is it time to contact the Righteous Faction yet, or no, or do you think us contacting them first will give us a weaker position in negotiations?" Veyr asked, as Leo lazily popped a fresh grape into his mouth.
"You’re the Dragon, Cuz, not me. Some decisions you must take on your own..." Leo replied, taking no interest in the backend politics that followed the end of a war.
"Well, they have opened a communication line with Planet Tithia, but I don’t want to consult the First Elder on this.
Ideally, I requested a direct line to Juxta, but the Elders Council rejected it.
They said if it’s urgent, they would reroute the call.
So I can’t connect with Commander Charles without talking to the Elders first..." Veyr complained, as Leo simply laughed at his words.
The pettiness of the Elders Council no longer surprised him.
Those idiots went to unbelievably long lengths to ensure nobody one-upped them when the time came to claim credit.
"Like I said... this is your headache to handle.
In the end, I was only here as your helper.
It’s you and your army that won this war.
And it’s you that will handle all the headaches that come with it..." Leo reiterated, as with a long sigh, Veyr walked out of the room, already making up his mind to call the Universal Government and begin the first round of negotiation procedures.
—------------------
(The Dragon’s Personal Ship, The Command Deck)
A couple of female soldiers quickly turned into part time make-up artists as they straightened Veyr’s ceremonial robes and applied the final touch-up to his eyebrows and nose, to make him look intimidating and regal.
A few minutes earlier, under Veyr’s instructions, contact had been established with the Su Clan and the Universal Government. They were informed of planet Koral’s capture and instructed to prepare for a negotiation dialogue set to begin in two hours.
Veyr requested that they send a representative with full authority to negotiate, as he stood at his most imposing, ready to receive the call.
*Ring* *Ring*
*Ring* *Ring*
The communication panel beeped, as Veyr gave a silent nod and signalled for his underlings to accept the call.
*Shua*
The communication channel flickered to life, a swirling blue hologram forming in the air before Veyr, as it revealed the smirking face of a triangle faced warrior adorned in glistening Universal Government uniform.
His posture was relaxed, his arms folded behind his back, and his smile was sharp enough to cut.
"You must be the newest Dragon of the Cult," the man said, voice dripping with mockery. "Their new messiah... also known as the latest pig for us to slaughter. Hahahaha!"
He gave a dramatic bow, full of theatrical flair.
"I’m Commander Entrail. I’ll be handling these negotiations."
Veyr didn’t respond to the insult. He merely raised an eyebrow, clasped his hands behind his back, and spoke with the calm authority of someone who didn’t feel the need to posture.
"This is a formal communication to notify the Universal Government that Planet Koral is now fully under Cult control. I am here to begin the hostage transfer procedure and negotiate the price of every life you wish to buy back."
"Hostage transfer? Oh, my," Entrail said with a mocking gasp. "I suppose I should be terrified. And tell me, what ransom does the great Cult of Ascension demand?"
He leaned closer to the hologram, eyes gleaming with sarcasm.
"One MP per life? That way, if we pay for all 250 million civilians, you lot might finally scrape together enough to upgrade from those third-rate robes you call uniforms."
He burst into laughter at his own joke, doubling over slightly, hands on his knees.
Veyr remained motionless.
"10,000 MP," he replied coldly.
Causing Entrail to blink, and then smirk.
"10,000 total? Sure. That sounds like a generous offer for some crusty prisoners."
He chuckled again, clearly trying to provoke, as he burst out laughing once more.
*Clench*
Veyr felt his fingers twitch in anger, but his face stayed neutral.
If he weren’t handling this call in the official capacity of the Dragon, he would have already lashed out, but for the sake of the Cult, he remained calm.
"Strike one," he warned gently, as Entrail tilted his head in response.
"Ooooh, I’m so scared. What are you gonna do when we hit strike three? Send an attack over the holographic channel?"
Entrail mocked, however, Veyr didn’t answer.
Instead, he pointed behind himself toward a small, visible recording device mounted on the wall.
"No. I won’t send an attack over hologram," he said coolly. "But I will send this video to every neutral planet and all your superiors in the Righteous Faction. I’ll show them how their esteemed Commander Entrail conducts himself like a clown."
Entrail’s grin faltered, ever so slightly.
"The last negotiated rate between the Cult and the Righteous Faction was 1,000 MP per life 33 years ago. You insult me with an offer of just 1.
Right now, you’re acting as nothing more than a clown who belittles his own negotiation protocol and behaves like a jester."
Veyr took a step closer, voice lowering but growing sharper.
"So go ahead. Keep playing the fool. I’ll see to it that everyone in the Cult, and all my friends in neutral systems, come to know you as Entrail the Clown. I trust that title will suit someone of your... temperament."
Entrail’s jaw clenched. The amusement in his eyes began to fade.
Like most Monarch-level warriors, he held his pride sacred.
And although he was playing the role of the fool to rouse his opponent and garner a reaction, he never really wanted his own reputation to be spoiled.
"2,000 a life," he said flatly.
"3,000," Veyr countered without pause.
A beat of silence passed.
"2,500," Entrail muttered. "Not a single MP more."
"Deal," Veyr said, offering a cold smile.
Entrail didn’t respond. He merely reached forward and ended the call, the hologram fizzling into sparks.
Veyr exhaled, then turned to his attendants.
"Prepare the prisoner transport list. Begin sorting by age and medical condition. Prioritize older civilians and those with medical conditions to evacuate first. We are not inhumane, we won’t keep them here to die."
He ordered, as he began walking out of the ship with a big smile on his face.
These negotiations went much better than he expected....
Since he was initially willing to settle for just 1,000, walking away with 2,500 felt like a heist.