Underworld Negotiations VIII

"What about the last option?" Sirzechs inquired.

"The last option . . . It is the most simple and effective solution to make all of this go away without any sort of issue. The only snag is whether we are capable of such a thing." Serafall replied, making her peers and Grayfia who was still quietly in the room look at her with a bit of curiosity.

"We bribe our guests." Serafall seriously spoke.

Everyone else in the room however, froze with disbelieving expressions plastered on their unmoving faces.

"Are you joking?" Sirzechs questioned with a frown.

"Of course not." Serafall seriously replied.

"Jun-kun wants us to pay for the infraction committed against him but he is also someone who values benefits above most things. So long as we pay enough to make us actually suffer, he will take the deal for sure." She added.

"It can't be that simple. Haikami Jun does not seem like someone who forgives and forgets just because of some benefits." Ajuka commented.

"Of course not. The key is that he is punishing our attempt, not our act. We are being saved by the fact Sirzechs messed up so bad that they didn't even suffer anything. Still, it does not mean it will be easy to bribe them." Serafall spoke once again, explaining her view of the matter in greater detail.

"Putting aside the issue of his wife being far more unreasonable than Jun-kun himself, the crux of the matter is whether we are able to prepare something that can actually draw his interest." She continued.

"Because he is such a mystery, this is incredibly difficult. As such, we can only theorize what would strike his fancy and try to prepare something that will leave even his wife satisfied with our attitude."

"So long as we succeed in this matter, we just need to warn the representatives in our usual manner as Morgan and her escort will let minor issues slip, even if she herself is not the type to tolerate such things, she will still do so out of consideration for her husband's gains."

"Regardless, we must still make sure nothing too crazy happens, like some rebellious fools actually attempting to attack the entourage. Otherwise, what actually goes on in the meeting will not matter." Serafall concluded all her explanations.

And so, all that was left was to discuss which path to take.

None of them wished to take the path of conflict so it was excluded. Overly favouring Jun while heavily curbing their people, even if they were of rival internal factions didn't sit well with Sirzechs and Falbius so that option was swept aside as well.

Only giving a stern warning and not doing anything else could lead to the best result but it would mean they would lose all initiative and let things proceed in an unpredictable manner, making this option far too unreliable for Ajuka's tastes with the other three fully agreeing with his point.

As such, there were only two options still on the table. Force a smaller meeting that originally planned with only the four of them and perhaps a few trusted representatives attending so that they would be in control or try to bride the visiting party into forgiving their offense.

"I'm partial to the bribe option but I'm not quite sure how we are going to come up with something that would satisfy them" Ajuka declared.

"It is not so much a matter of whether we have the capability to get something he likes but more that we don't know what he would like in the first place." He added, reiterating a problem already briefly mentioned by Serafall when she explained all the available options.

"I have an idea . . ." Grayfia interjected in the meeting for the first time, drawing the four's attention to herself.

"I doubt there is anything material we can actually give that would interest him however, there are various non physical benefits that I am quite sure Jun-sama would be interested in . . ." She declared.

No one seemed to get what the silver haired maid was getting at . . . None except Ajuka.

The avid researcher knew there was one thing that one who embodied progress like Jun would never be able to resist. The allure of forbidden knowledge with volatile yet unlimited potential.

"You want to give him access to to some of the forbidden areas in the Underworld that we control?" The green haired Satan inquired, making everyone freeze.

It was most certainly enough for a bribe, they all though so however . . . Those things were forbidden for a reason, letting a complete wildcard like Jun have access to them was not wise at all.

"That is indeed a good idea." Sirzechs suddenly changed his stance, earning various questioning gazes.

"It cannot be done in an official manner of course but bribes are meant to be given under the table anyway. We'll just turn a blind eye to anomalies and let his people sneak in but . . ." He started explaining his idea.

"Rather than giving him something, we just mention access to forbidden areas and let him or his wife pick what they want." The crimson haired Satan concluded.

"Still not giving up gauging him? If he knows more than we expect, he'll gouge us out completely." Serafall cautioned.

"If he known, then whether we give permission or not, he'll find a way when if he so pleases. This way, we can give him a more convenient approach that will only make him give information he won't mind giving." Sirzechs replied.

"He'll certainly rip us off but that's exactly what will earn his pardon, us letting him do so and even providing the perfect opportunity." He added.

It was a risky move but . . . it was certainly worthy of consideration.

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