EMPEROR'S RECKONING

Chapter 253: Negotiation

The atmosphere turned tense albeit the relaxing fragrance of the incense that was permeating. The leader's gaze was like a dagger that sculpts the truth behind Lyon's mask. What gave it away he wondered, but the 'how' was less important than the situation he was in.

"Don't worry, no need to be so tense, even though they considered me the best assassin in the world, I still no match for some individuals. But forget about me, the reason that you are here means that the contract has been accepted, albeit forced," the leader chuckled.

Lyon smirked under the mask. Though the man in front of him was an assassin of a different caliber he still had some flaws in his attention to detail.

"The heavens must have sent you here to me, the fact that you can kill one of the Abyss is already proof of your skill. I need you to help me, uproot the coup my followers are planning, at least some of them. This means that you will be inevitably fighting against some of those monsters if it comes to that."

(Even the leader praised the soon to be ex-followers of his).

"Don't we have like another ally? It couldn't be just the two of us against them, could it?" asked Lyon. By the sheer number and the power they had, he didn't think they had much chance to overturn the situation when the time came.

The leader appeared to be furrowing his eyebrows. He seemed to realize something odd about Lyon's voice. A tinge of familiarity perhaps.

"Sadly, we did have one, but alas I realized it too late. He was the first one to find out about the coup the others are plotting against me. His death was kept hidden, no, his death was faked as an accident of breaking the contract. That was until I investigate it personally not so long ago. I don't know which one of them or it might be more than one of them that killed him, however, what I do know is that the 7th Abyss is one of those that planned a coup.

"Until recently, he was scouting, searching for a certain mother and daughter that could possibly blow his cover to me. As you might have guessed, they were his wife and daughter. For many years now, he hunted them like prey whilst being on the job until he met a certain fortune-teller, she is a talented fortune-teller I have to admit. Then through her expensive service, the location was most definitely revealed to him."

Lyon's mind was immediately occupied with an image of a sweet girl he met by fate. Under the tasteless water did they meet. A house only opened to the invited, a girl cursed by her own mother. To the masses, it sounded cruel but it was more merciful than being killed by an assassin, an enemy of her father. He was the first friend she ever made and her tears would ignite the fury inside him that could burn even the deepest of hell.

"Elize..." Lyon muttered.

The leader squinted his eyes as he heard what Lyon said. (Don't tell me! Hahaha! Of course! Of course, you are!).

Lyon put his hand on top of his mask before taking it off slowly. The leader's eyes turned wider and wider as he saw his face. His mouth turned into a grin before he let out a laugh. However, Lyon's face was glaring at him, it was evident that his emotion flared up as he remembered Elize's tears.

"Astonishing!" exclaimed the leader, "your growth is astonishing! It's beyond miraculous! To the point it's frightening, threatening to the world itself! I wonder how many blows can we exchange right now."

"If we were to go all out, this place would be nothing but dust, though, with your caliber you would still be alive albeit barely," said Lyon.

The leader smirked, "I don't take a threat lightly you know, know your place!"

His eyes turned sharp as killing intent rain down on Lyon's figure. However, he immediately retracted it before it went longer than two seconds. He released a breath of relief as he realized something in that short window of time. (His body didn't turn rigid, not even a flinch! I killed probably thousands of high-ranked cultivators, but he didn't even feel anything? Who are you exactly?).

The leader took a peek at his shaking fingers and smiled inwardly (Would you look at that, I can't remember when was the last time I'm getting nervous).

"As you might have known already, us fighting would benefit no one but your hidden opposition. So let's make a deal instead," said Lyon with a smirk.

The leader kept his emotion and heartbeat in check before replying, "Oh? That's interesting, why should I make a deal with someone already bound by my contract?"

"That's because I'm not," answered Lyon as he slightly bent his neck and showed his clean skin.

The leader was baffled (How can this be?! There is no magic brand on his neck?! Did the contract fail?).

Lyon knew on the negotiation table, they were now equal. One must strike the iron while it's still hot.

"I ask that you give me the identity so that I could come and go as I please in this place."

The leader looked relaxed as he leaned back on his chair, "Doable, I was about to do that anyway."

"Secondly,"

"Second?"

"I want full access to your information bank."

"Hah, don't push your luck."

The leader laughed as he pulled out a drawer on his right side. There were stackable papers and one spatial ring on top of it. He closed the drawer before pulling the one under it. There was a dagger with unknown engravings on its blade. He took the dagger and placed it on top of the desk.

"I want you to hold on to this."

Lyon looked at the fancy dagger with interest. He touched the hilt and there was no reaction whatsoever but he kept having a hunch that this little weapon held something extraordinary.

"I see that you like the dagger, that's good then."

Lyon furrowed his eyebrows, "What is the reason behind this?"

"Either that or no deal."

"What makes you think I can trust an assassin's word? Especially you."

"You have no choice."

"Then I guess I will make my second demand."

"You still want to gain something? Hahaha, let's hear it then."

Lyon's eyes turned sharp, "I want to have all the information you have regarding a group called Legion."