Chapter 481 - Tanya Swears.
Hal straightened his sitting posture with furrowed brows as he said,
"So, let me get this straight, you want me to risk my life and quite possibly die just so you can further your plans and dreams of ruling the Haron continent?"
"Is it any different from the missions you've undertaken already?" Tanya asked.
"Touche"
She was right. He had indeed risked his life to further her plans thus far. Even going after the supplier in Black lagoon must have somehow played into her plans as well.
"Be that as it may, this mission, with all you've hyped it up to be seems to go much farther than simply difficult. You make it sound nearly impossible" Hal said.
Tanya smirked,
"What's wrong Hal, a lack of confidence in your charms?" She asked.
Hal pursed his lips but said nothing.
Tanya continued,
"If it truly is a lack of confidence in your charms, that's good. You are being realistic. Charm is far from enough to take on an entire set of purist women who have absolute power in their domain.
That said, if I want the next piece of the puzzle, I will need you to suck it up and push through. With my seal getting you in, you might actually have an easier time than you think.
Actually, I don't see any need for the Silver moon sect to hold on to whatever the piece is since even if they do understand what it is and what it can be used for, they are not Haron Blood. None of them are.
However, I can not be certain that they indeed have no use for it.
The Emperor makes sure they are satisfied but it could be that he has been remiss in certain areas or they might just be greedy for power..."
"Like you are?" Hal interrupted boldly with a smirk.
The eyes of the attendant, whose presence was quite easy to ignore, flashed and she frowned deeply but Tanya waved for her to calm down.
Then she addressed Hal,
"I want what is rightfully mine. Since my father has not seen fit to make Creten the Crown Prince, being the Oldest must no longer be enough. Why then can't I rule the continent?"
Her question took the tone of a challenge but Hal merely smiled lightly as he shrugged,
"I asked if you were greedy for power but I never said there was anything wrong with such greed" he said.
Tanya composed herself,
"That's enough. There is nothing that concerns you in regards to Imperial politics" she said.
Hal raised a brow,
"Oh really? This organization you say is against you wouldn't happen to have something to do with Imperial politics would it?"
Tanya frowned,
"Not really" she said.
Hal chuckled lightly,
"The multicolored-haired dude who came after the map in Kruger estate and almost caught me is an attendant to an Imperial prince. Does that not count as having something to do with Imperial politics?
Imperial politics indeed should not concern or involve me, after all, I am only a civilian but the fact is that you involved me with the missions you sent me out on." He said.
Tanya's frown deepened,
"But you got paid. For every risk you've taken thus far in the previous two missions, you were rewarded. You did not do it out of blind loyalty for me. You did it because you wanted to be paid." She retorted.
Hal nodded,
"Exactly. And that is why I can now tell you I am no longer interested. That Blue gems and measly merit points are no longer enough incentives for me to risk my neck.
We can part ways right now.
Put an and to this potentially life-threatening relationship built upon my love for wealth." He said.
"How about you stop fighting for materialistic gain. Stop selling your skills for nothing other than Blue gems. Join my cause and I assure you that when I rule the continent, you will have a seat in my court." Tanya countered with a steely gaze.
Hal chuckled in his mind,
'My goodness, is all I have said just falling on deaf ears, or is she simply interpreting it all the wrong way.'
In all honesty, Hal did not actually want to stop going on missions for Tanya.
Even this mission to the Sliver moon sect was one that intrigued him once he had come up with a simple enough plan that would aid him quite well. More on that later.
The reason he was still interested in going on missions for Tanya was none other than the convenience.
Many were working on their own plots with the aim to rule the continent and Hal was already mapping out ideas on how to use it all to his own advantage. And it would help him greatly if he could use Tanya's wide array of information gathering.
She had such an enviably deep network in the Haron continent and by going on these missions he could use them to further his aims.
He considered swearing loyalty to Tanya in pretense and use it to get even deeper into her network but ultimately decided that it was not yet time for such a scheme.
After all, it was clear from her reply to his tirade that Tanya still clung on to the hope that she could have his talent in her corner.
All he needed to do to strengthen that desire was to keep playing hard to get.
It was unlikely that the Princess would tire of him so soon.
So carrying himself with an air of dignity and nobility, he said,
"I won't be a tool with which you fight with your siblings all so you can rule the continent.
I won't do it just so you can have what is 'rightfully' yours. Cause quite frankly, I don't give a crap about that."
"What exactly is it that you want right now?" Tanya asked with a sigh.
"To not be used. Just because I am working to be paid does not mean I should be disrespected. If the 'Organization' is just code for your oppositions in the Imperial family, you can just tell me. Tell me and I will actually consider going to the Silver moon sect for you"
Silence...
Then Tanya took a deep breath before saying slowly,
"I... Don't know."
"What?" Hal asked in surprise.
"I don't know. I knew beforehand that Pietro works with the organization but I have been reluctant to believe Nozel, my brother who he attends to, has something to do with it." She said.
"What? Because he is slight?" Hal asked in disbelief.
Tanya could not possibly be shallow enough to think body size was justification enough for whatever goes in a Cultivation expert's mind.
Sure enough, Tanya looked outraged,
"Of course not. I say that because I have investigated and Nozel seems to have nothing to do with the Organization. That said, it is clear that Pietro is a part of the Organization but I have long given up trying to open Nozel's eyes.
I have my own agenda and I refuse to spend my time trying to convince a potential enemy that his attendant, who is part human and part dystopian is part of a secret organization."
Hal's eyes widened,
"Pietro is part Dystopian?"
Tanya nodded,
"Yes, he is. His mother was a demon beast that acquired human form at the Aurora best realm. She caught the eye of a human and they made a baby that was destined to be scorned and grow up as a slave to humans.
But Nozel doesn't see him as his slave. He sees him as an equal. It's why he refuses to hear anything against him. And why many would instantly tag him as aware and a part of the Organization.
But I don't see Nozel as a threat.
He's a weakling and a coward" Tanya said but did not seem ready to explain her words further.
Hal however, was more preoccupied with the fact that he had not noticed Pietro was part Dystopian.
Was it because he was so caught up in the moment?
Tanya continued,
"Anyway, the Organization is not a code word for my oppositions in the Imperial family. It is real and from what I have gathered, it could be made up of just about anyone.
In fact, I have been a tad bit skeptical as of late as to whether ruling the content is truly the Organization's main goal."
'I see' Hal thought.
Then he said,
"Okay then. I'll go to the Silver moon sect for you on one condition."
Tanya frowned at the mention of a condition but then she replied,
"What is it?"
"Swear that no matter what, you will not keep me in the dark in regards to the Organization and you at least explain to me why I do the things you ask me to do" he said.
"Fine" the princess said but Hal shook his head,
"Swear" he said.
Tanya rolled her eyes,
"Is that really necessary?" She asked.
"Swear" Hal insisted.
"I swear by the name of Zalser, the Primeval Asura and the Progenitor of my Haron bloodline that I will follow your conditions."
As she said it, there was a sense of finality to her words.
Whether it would be enough to hold her to her words or not is remaining to see.
After all, Primevals hardly pay attention to the invocation of their names.
They are usually much too busy with more important things. Right?