Chapter 304: An Unexpected Deposit

[Councilor Odette: Then, on behalf of the Homeworld Council, I will have no choice but to condemn Divine Province in the strongest possible terms.]

Crown Lords nearly laughed themselves sick.

Even Cassian was a little surprised. The new councilor seemed content to let him continue.

The Black Banner understood at once. No help would be coming from the Council.

What frightened them most was the speed of the enemy fleet. They still could not explain it. Ghost ships appeared without warning, struck, and vanished. Many crews never had time to open a Gate before their vessels sank.

In less than half a day, thousands of ships hunting monsters, fishing, or gathering resources in Black Banner waters were destroyed.

The surviving Lords hurried to open Gates and withdraw their vessels to their harbors.

Anger and humiliation swept the nation. Military headquarters called another emergency meeting to find an answer.

——

Aboard Ghost One, Cassian lay in the sun beside the Clearjade Pool, wearing a pair of shorts.

Rhea’s hands worked along his shoulders and back. Her Massage skill had reached Transcendence, and he could feel the difference. She found every lingering knot of tension and eased it away. He nearly sighed aloud with pleasure.

Water stirred in the pool.

A blonde woman rose from beneath the surface and walked slowly up the sloping edge. Sunlight caught the droplets sliding down her pale skin. Her face looked barely twenty; the woman herself had the assured grace of someone much older.

She settled into the neighboring chair, making no effort to hide how well her swimsuit suited her figure.

"You certainly know how to enjoy life, Lord Cassian."

He admired the view openly, then smiled.

"You’ve had lunch, Councilor. You’ve enjoyed the pool. Unless there’s something else, I won’t keep you."

He pointed toward the water. The pool began to drain and refill. ℴ

Odette’s smile stiffened.

Anyone who had just read her public condemnation would have been astonished to find her here, lounging beside the man she had denounced. She had gone to considerable trouble to arrange this visit. Cassian usually kept private messages closed; only by approaching Mira had she managed to reach him at all.

Then she had paid a billion Aether for lunch with him.

She had expected a young man like Cassian to be easy to charm. A little time alone ought to have been enough.

Instead, he was changing the pool water the moment she climbed out.

Even the swimsuit had failed. There was little left she could remove without losing it altogether.

Odette shifted closer for one last attempt. Her voice softened beside his ear.

"Are you really in such a hurry to send me away?"

Cassian would not have objected to an attractive woman taking an interest in him.

Unfortunately, that was hardly all she wanted.

"Rhea. Kill her."

Rhea paused, then brightened. She had endured quite enough of the visitor’s posing.

Her fist struck with a burst of Aether.

Aether Burst was only a Grade-E skill. In the hands of a Legendary Nine-Star Praetorian whose fighting strength surpassed ordinary troops of the same Quality, it was still a devastating blow.

Odette flew dozens of meters and crashed against the ship’s rail.

Rhea looked surprised.

"You survived?"

Her Heartsense Sword appeared in her hand.

"Let’s try again."

Odette dodged the next attack with her blood still churning from the impact.

"Lord Cassian! What are you doing?"

He watched with a faint, interested smile and gave no answer.

A few seconds were enough. If this continued, she would die.

Golden wings burst from her back, spreading nearly twenty meters across. Her aura surged until it rivaled Rhea’s. Crimson filled her eyes, her nails lengthened into sharp claws, and her already fair skin grew paler still.

A Bloodkin.

"So you knew what I was from the beginning."

"Tell me why you’re here," Cassian said. "Otherwise, I’ll have to invite you to my Domain."

He wondered whether the Mindseal Tower could control someone this strong. It was still only an Epic Building.

Odette gave a soft laugh.

"We know you have a way to control Lords. When I return, I’ll undergo the strictest mental examinations, whether you’ve used it on me or not."

Cassian’s eyes narrowed. One word interested him more than the rest.

"We?"

She bowed with measured grace.

"Allow me to introduce myself properly. Odette Ravelle, of the Homeworld’s thirteen Bloodkin clans. I mean you no harm. I’ve come to ask for your help."

An apologetic smile touched her lips.

"I had hoped we might become a little closer before I made the request. You saw through me rather quickly."

"Bloodkin asking me for help?" Cassian sat up. "Now I’m curious."

"Our branch was driven out, for reasons..." She let the words trail away, then resumed more firmly. "We lost the recognition of Blood Throne. With your introduction, we hope to return. In exchange, we are prepared to pay a hundred billion Aether."

She was avoiding the reason for their exile, but the request itself was clear enough.

Cassian was still puzzled. When had he gained that much influence among Bloodkin?

Then his eyes widened.

Surely not.

Odette’s next words confirmed it.

"Everyone knows you met Commander Vespera of Blood Throne during the Contest of Champions. For your sake, she was even willing to go to war with the Divines."

Her gaze grew intent.

"We have confirmed that her standing in Blood Throne is exceptionally high. If she would speak on our behalf, we would have a very good chance of returning home."

For a moment, Cassian could think of nothing to say.

"My relationship with Vespera isn’t nearly as close as you imagine."

"Of course." Odette smiled as though they understood one another perfectly. "Relations between Humans and Bloodkin are difficult. Lady Vespera denied it afterward as well."

Cassian stared at her.

Then he began to consider what this misunderstanding might be worth.

There was no cost to letting her keep it. Even if the truth came out later, what would he have lost?

"I can consider helping," he said. "But I’ll need to wait for the right opportunity. In the meantime, shouldn’t there be a deposit?"

Odette’s delight was immediate. She folded her wings away and settled to the deck, once again the graceful blonde who had stepped from the pool.

The transformation had torn the upper part of her swimsuit. She seemed unconcerned.

"We’ve already waited thousands of years. We can wait a little longer. As for a deposit..."

[Lord Odette Ravelle has sent you 10,000,000,000 Aether through the Exchange.]

Cassian’s heart lifted.

Ten billion, delivered straight into his hands. Together with the fee for lunch, that made eleven billion Aether.

His expression remained composed.

Odette mistook his silence for disappointment.

"The whole Homeworld knows you’re as greedy as a Dragon. You’ll understand why I dare not pay too large a deposit."

It was not an entirely unfair judgment. In the half year since the sector opened, money had proved far more effective at winning Cassian’s cooperation than anything else.

He rose and personally draped a garment around her shoulders.

"The wind can be cold out here. Take care of yourself."

Odette looked at him, briefly speechless at how quickly his manner had changed.

Then she continued.

"There are other ways we can help. We can support you in the Homeworld Council. And if you eventually establish a nation—or a Realm of your own—we can arrange for several Provinces under our influence to join you and contribute National Fortune."

She offered him an encouraging smile.

"With Divine Province’s population, even the top hundred would be an excellent result in the first Provincial Ranking. Once those rewards are distributed, the lead you gained from the Legion Contest will narrow considerably."

Cassian saw no reason to explain how certain he was of taking first place.

"Then you have my thanks. Have some fruit." He gestured toward the chair. "Would you like Rhea to help you relax too?"

Rhea gave him a wounded look.

Odette glanced at the woman who had nearly killed her and hastily declined.

The rest of the conversation was perfectly pleasant.

When Odette finally rose to leave, she paused.

"What is your next step in Black Banner waters, Lord Cassian? If I know what you intend, I can prepare the Council’s response and support your operations."

Cassian opened a map. He had never meant to keep this target secret.

"First, I’m going to clear this place out."

He touched a stretch of sea on the map.

Odette followed his finger. Her composure broke.

"The Gildwake Banks? You’re going to cut off their lifeline!"