Negotiation

"I really don't know your way of thinking, Volker." Lord Jurgen complained while looking at Volker. "You haven't gained anything from your investigation. But you've already pulled all the soldiers back. There should be some reason enough for you to share with us."

The next day after the Elders heard that Volker returned with all the soldiers of Remilis, the Elders immediately summoned him. They needed an explanation from Volker about the decision.

"We have a plan that I cannot share with the Elders. I hope the Elders understand." Volker bowed slightly in respect to them.

"We?" asked Lord Hector. "Who do you mean by 'we,' you and the soldiers?"

"I can't say, Lord," said Volker.

"You refuse to tell us?" Lady Loyce asked, raising her eyebrows.

"Forgive me, Lady," Volker replied again.

Now the Elders looked at Volker in unison. Something needs to be understood about Volker's attitude today. The man seemed to give off quite an unfriendly aura. Lady Loyce and the other three Elders shared a look. Even shaking his head, Lord Hector implied that he didn't understand why Volker had changed his attitude.

"You, mad at us?" Finally, Lady Alegra was the one who asked first to express her curiosity. "You came to this decision because of our conversation back then? About Goldana Aerta?"

Volker didn't answer. He just kept his head down, showing his reluctance. He had hoped that the Elders would consider his request. But Volker knew none of that would ever happen. Hence, he was slightly rebellious by not saying anything about what was being planned.

After all, he's the one running everything. Then he would only report to the Elders when he had caught the troublesome killer. A little arrogant indeed.

"Volker!" Lady Alegra spoke coldly. "How dare you ignore what I said."

Volker looked up and looked at Lady Alegra respectfully. Yes, even if he was irritated, he couldn't leave politeness.

"That's right, it's about Goldana Aerta." Volker answered calmly. "But I know the Elders won't let that secret be exposed right?"

"We did it for your own good." Lord Jurgen, who had been silent all along, finally spoke. "We are satisfied with our current life so you don't have to bother about that thing," he continued. He was trying to give Volker an understanding that they don't need Golana Aerta.

Whatever was said by the Elders did not make Volker discourage him. Volker has high confidence that he can conquer the seven Goldana Aerta shards.

"Don't because you feel our clan is threatened then you think that far ahead, Volker, we have been living peacefully for hundreds of years." Lady Loyce replied. "Now, you say, what is your plan to withdraw all the soldiers from Delmar Village."

"I wouldn't say it if the Elders didn't reveal about Goldana Aerta."

Lord Hector pounded the table at the surprising answer from Volker's mouth. The knight had indeed crossed the line. How could he say something so incredible like that? Wasn't Volker being too audacious by contradicting the Elder?

The three elders who were there, as well as Volker, were slightly surprised. Lord Hector is the oldest of the three Elders in Remilis. He is already 350 years old. Despite that, there wasn't a trace of wrinkles on her face. He still looks like a 30-year-old man.

"How dare you." His voice was low, full of warning. "This is not the time to show your arrogance. But it is imperative to discuss anything related to our clan," roared Lord Hector again. "We are Elders. If something bad happens, we will also be blamed."

Unfortunately, Volker is more stubborn than imagined. So he did not answer Lord Hector's words. Volker's attitude like that made the room feel even tenser. The aura given off by the Elders was nothing but annoyance printed on his face.

They stared at Volker like an enemy who had to be eliminated. But Volker is the owner of extraordinary composure. The decision is irreversible. If he proposes to negotiate, then he wills it.

And in the end, Volker didn't give any information to the Elder. Volker was silent throughout the meeting, much to their anger.

"I can't believe how he could be so stubborn." Lord Jorgen spoke when Volker had left the room. "It seems that he wants to get the magic stone."

"But still, we can't let him do it. I don't want to lose him and let him just disappear. He is indeed strong and talented, but I'm not sure he can do it," continued Lady Alegra. "He might be angry now, but he'll get over it with time. Volker isn't leaving if we don't permit him. Or else he will be cooped up in the dungeon for a very long time."

When Volker is determined to keep going, he is considered to have betrayed the Elders. For a traitor, of course, there would be a deserved punishment. That was a rule Rodenis had set hundreds of years ago.

But they miscalculated because Volker never wanted to get anything as big as he wanted to get Goldana Aerta. According to Volker, the magic stone was a talisman to protect his clan. Considering what happened recently, the appearance of the Meiga and making a mess, Volker is even more excited to get the stone.

"We'd better be careful and keep an eye on him." Lady Loyce warned. "We know Volker is not a man who will back down on a warning. He's ambitious."

"You are right, Lady Loyce. A thousand warnings won't make him back down." Lord Jurgen agreed. All of the Elders naturally knew how Volker was. He is a persistent man. The word surrender does not exist in his life.

That's why he became the leader of the soldiers. Many were talented in Remilis, but the Elder certainly didn't, without reason, choose Volker to be his confidant. Not only Volker but there was another man. But he decided to go on an adventure. When there was a great war between the two clans of Rodenis and Eorta, Volker, with his war skills, was able to bring Eorta to his knees. The Eorta clan that always looked for trouble with Rodenis had to shut their mouths with death.

And it was Volker who finished them off. The urge to kill was so strong when Volker removed the sword from the sheath. Nothing could stop Volker if they didn't decide to surrender.

***