A Talk

Sitting back in my chair where I had been listening to Hinata's peace proposal I contemplated what she had been offering. 

When we had first emerged in the room she calmly and smoothly sat down, waiting until we both followed her in sitting. Slowly descending into our seats we began to listen to Hinata who had begun by informing us on the actions of the Eastern Empire. I knew most of the information already but stayed quiet as she spoke. 

It seemed that the Eastern Merchants had been slowly influencing Western Governments on the continent. This was particularly true with regards to Falmuth and Siltrozzo. The church of Luminous apparently has been weary about showing their comprehension of the Easter Empire's actions, wishing not to poke a thought-to-be sleeping lion. 

"Another party seems to be influencing current events as well...?" 

Hinata's tone changed to something more unsure, uncertain. Her visage did not change as she sat there but her hand tightened momentarily. Briefly switching my gaze towards Rimuru, his hands steepled and his face pinched in deep contemplation. Turning back to Hinata I tilted my head to the side in hopes of hearing her explanation on how they found that fact out and possibly finding who it could be.

Noting that we were not speaking, presumably letting her continue, she began to monologue once more.

"Our information on this is limited... But we wished to come to peace with you to understand who this third party could be."

"Mmm, do you have any images of the members from this 'third party'?"

"Images, no, but we do have a basic description. But first, we must come to an agreement."

I frowned, my eyes zooming onto the details of her face. The attempt at seeing her facial expressions was inspired but gained me nothing, my understanding of the woman before me being only cemented in her anime counterpart. A very different animal to the woman who currently stood opposite me. 

"An agreement... Fine, what would be the conditions of this agreement?"

I slowly tapped my fingers on my chair, the dull taps making small echoes in the room. Rimuru did very little more than hunch forwards, his eyes staring at Hinata like a hawk. Hinata herself glanced at Rimuru before calmly adjusting her robes, lowering the hood and adjusting the placement of her cloak over her sword. The reaction from my instincts to reach for my gun happened once more but I stopped this by gripping onto the arms of my mahogany chair. Splinters of wood fractured from the remnants of the seat's armrests. Ignoring this change despite the poking that I experienced from the splinters, I refocussed on her next actions. A dull blue glow emerged from behind me, a haze of light slowly flittering in the corners of my eyes.

"First."

She took her sword, unhooking it from the side of her waist. With both hands she held it aloft before her, the lack of emotion on her face depicting the lethal calm that she had control of.

"Both sides, the Luminous Church and Tempest. We both agree to not bare arms against one another unless one of us betrays the agreement we have here."

I nodded whilst settling backing into my chair, my right hand gliding over the armrest and immediately restructuring it to completeness once more. Cushions met my lower back as I waited for her to continue... Her hands softly dropping to her sides, slowly looking over us both as we waited.

"Tempest and the Western Church agrees to share all information on the Eastern Empire?"

Me and Rimuru nodded, the latter of us both settling down as a small confident smile slipped onto his face.

"That works for Tempest."

His words were calm and utterly confident as he put his arms to rest above his head, the black trench coat and rich-looking fur creasing from the movement. Hinata raised her eyes somewhat but lowered them moments later.

'Very skilled control over her emotions... This almost doesn't feel like Hinata...'

"Very well. The final condition. Luminous will stay neutral when it comes to you both vying for rising to official Demon Lords at Walpurgis."

I grinned, knowing that there would be a catch or some sort of favour being asked of us for this. I didn't particularly care for manoeuvring such as this but her tone suggested that this might be worth it for us.

"In recompense for such neutrality, we wish to spread a church here into Tempest."

"Denied. Think of another outcome. I will not get a temporary benefit for a permanent one for you and your Demon Lord."

My voice was harsh as my power flared, the space around me minutely halting in time. The effect was not long lasting but had an effect on the woman as the action broke her emotionless façade. She glared towards me as her own power came out. Golden light flickered between my shadowy-blue Magicules, our power vastly different. My Magicule amount was infinite whilst hers was but a puddle in comparison.

"Don't get moody now, I have some imaginative ways that I can send you back to your 'god'..."

She glared at me whilst her face scrunched, her posture was very rigid with her hands clasped onto the edge of the table, pressure placed at the very tips of her fingers.

"Fine. Luminous said that this could happen... Our second offer would be our neutrality in Walpurgis for the temporary instatement of a Church Member in Tempest."

"How is this different to allowing the church here permanently?"

Rimuru asked this before I had a chance to respond, his query interesting enough to make me stop my own words.

"This member would be from the Paladins and would agree to have surveillance on them at all times. Not to mention, that when Walpurgis is over and our part of the deal is finished, we would recede our paladin and we can keep the first two parts of our deal."

Rimuru stood in an instant and held out his hand, gesturing for a handshake. It was a common sign of agreement between two parties in corporate meetings and thus he no doubt thought it was the best action to seal the deal. I stood also, showing that I supported his decision. Whilst I had my worries and insecurities about this sudden deal it was overall a good one and would at least create a small cooperation with another Demon Lord. We would now have the secured neutrality of Luminous, the support of Milim, the support of Carrion and possibly even Ramiris. The extent of Rimuru's relations with Ramiris was unknown to me and thus I couldn't feel certain in it.

Now there was just Guy, Frey, Dino, Leon, Dagruel and Clayman. Standing up Hinata grasped Rimuru's outheld hand, her emotions under complete control once more. Lavender prevailed as the most prominent smell in the room as her hair softly tussled to the side, her hand de-clasping from Rimuru's and reach for mine. I took her handshake and shook it somewhat powerfully before receding.

"Has the Walpurgis been called yet? You spoke of it..."

"Luminous has told me little on this, but from what I have gathered, it will be called within the week. Guy Crimson has taken a personal interest it seems as he has called it himself."

My mind began to search through all of my memories at what seemed to be light speed. Nothing of Guy taking action this early never came up in the light novel, anime or any other materials from my past world. My tails' hair stood up a little as my ears twitched ever so slightly. There was no fear within me, but my instinct told me something much greater was happening and it wasn't just about our ascension.

"Either way, we need this down on paper, could you...?"

I flicked my left hand and made three copies of the agreement we had come to. Space wasn't rent or broken, reality wasn't bent or perforated... The papers simply began its existence, coming to perception within a second of it becoming real.

"Take one, we will both keep a copy. If you fuck us, prepare for hell."

"I would say the same for you two. Now, I must get back to Luminous to inform them of our agreement."

"Very well, go." 

I snapped my fingers and teleported her back to her paladins, along with her entourage that was waiting at the edge of the city. Rimuru looked at me, his eyebrows raising.

"Why did you let her go without asking for more information?"

"It doesn't matter. She is a pawn to Luminous. Her information is limited and honestly she gave me all I needed to know... We need to enhance our power, quickly. Not only do we have Walpurgis, but there is something that can even make Guy move."

"Who is this Guy?"

"Hmmm, well, let me tell you..."

---------------------------------------------

Please check out my discord: https://discord.gg/hSbBpKjwDc

Also, I have a Pat.reon, any donations are heavily appreciated! : https://www.patreon.com/user?u=111976696

If you don't like Pat.reon here is my paypal if you still are interested in helping me out! : paypal.me/RBSMFF