Chapter 3: Awareness and Consolidation

Asmodeus was currently performing in front of thousands of people. And was he popular, Leithanien combines arts to play music.

And he is the hottest news right now in Leithanien with the sudden drop of his music. Focusing on gaining popularity for some clout, he decided to be a virtuoso.

Playing Scherzo Tarantelle's Wienawski. It was a piece that had a piano accompaniment, but he flexed his arts by playing the violin piece himself and he didn't need another person because he was playing the piano with telekinesis.

Finishing the main piece with an arrogant smirk on his face and controlling electromagnetic waves to create an aurora above him for visual effects.

And the sound reaching the whole stadium without any help like speakers due to him manipulating sound energy and amplifying his music. The Leithanien populace was of course crazy for him.

He was the rockstar of Leithanien in the modern era, there was just no contest. "Thank you, thank you. It was a pleasure to play for everyone."

Ash smiled at the attendees and they all gave him a standing ovation. "Please don't forget to subscribe to my channel and support me through Lorelei music."

He was publishing his pieces through his own music production company and it was quickly rivaling Emperor's monster siren records.

Emperor even called him a cheeky fuck that was trying to one up him. Making him chuckle at the memory.

His rave parties with his electro music was also wildly popular with the teens and young adults.

With his arts, he was able to control light in a huge room and make it abysmally dark. Then the light show begins that would definitely induce seizures on epileptics.

So he is both popular with nobility, the upper class, middle class, and his bootleg YouTube channel was accessible to the poor as long as they can get to a computer or phone with an internet connection.

And the reason why is because he was going to debut himself to the world as Asmodeus enterprise's chairman, CEO, COO.

He owns his company one hundred percent. And Leithanien has no power over him, because before they could strong arm him for the hydroponics tech.

Leithanien already relied too much on his company. It was a passive take over that the twin empresses did not see at all.

And with his popularity, it was a done deal that if he goes missing. There will be questions that will float because he was active in his social media that he of course created too.

"Hmm, it's time huh? I will have to make alliances outside of Leithanien." Ash squinted his eyes. Penguin logistics are fine and all.

But he needs more than influence and clout. He requires allies that has his back.

He was broken out of his thoughts by Adele that hugged him from behind.

"Ohhh? Adele, what's up? Why are you so excited?" He smiled at her and patted her head.

"Wouldn't you like to know? Oh, congratulations in being the top hit in Leithanien by the way." Adele was being coy and she smirked at him.

"Hah, let me guess for a moment. You're smiling like a dopey kid, you look tired, your breath smells of caffeine and energy drinks, your hair is greasy... You published a research paper?" He analyzed her appearance.

Adele gasped and she went wide eyed at his lack of tack. "Ash! Such lack of delicacy!" The young woman glared at him.

"What? You should've at least taken a bath you know? You're a girl, aren't girls supposed to be fluffy and smell good all the time?" He shrugged and Adele hit him on his chest.

"Stupid Ash, I'll be posting my work in your academic website without permission. I'll change it so it would be crap and your site will be discredited by the academics!" She huffed at him and he smiled wryly.

"Okay, sorry. How about I make it up by providing you with a little something?" He put his palm up and cold air flowed out, making Adele's ears twitch.

"Don't think that shaved ice would take care of my wrath Ash. We're teens now, yet you still lack tack." Adele harrumphed and he furrowed his brows.

"Okay, fine. I'll spend some time with you today and let's review your paper together. I'll provide the necessary snacks and drinks." He smiled at her and she got excited.

"Your insight has always been pretty good and incredible. Thanks, Ash." She smiled at him, but there was a deep loneliness to it.

"Adele... I'm not leaving Leithanien permanently. I'm just going on a trip to have business partners." He sighed and Adele nodded at him.

"I know... But we've been together since forever. Mom and dad are in the field researching most of the time too." Adele frowned.

"I'll send you letters constantly. And did you know this?" He gave her a paper and she skimmed through it.

"I can call you even when you're away!?" Adele gasped and she thought it was amazing.

"Yeah, just for you. So auntie and uncle can also talk with you. They can't send letters after all, penguin logistics must have arrived with their new phones by now." Ash smiled pleasantly at her excitement.

He was really getting pissed off by the letters and inconvenient communication in Terra.

So he created some drones that were powered up with originium for maximum efficiency.

They created an array of radio towers that will be able to send messages and connect calls for his private line.

It was super expensive to maintain. But with him the only one having international communication, it's an advantage that leaves everyone in the dust. The usefulness of it was so insane that countries would hunt him down for it.

"Thank you Ash..." Adele teared up and she looked at her contacts. Emma and Hans were already in it so she texted them.

And after a few minutes, she received a reply that made her beam.

"Pretty neat right?" Ash patted her head and Adele forgot his transgressions from earlier.

'Heh, too easy. But I guess with this, she won't get as lonely.' Ash sighed in satisfaction.

They then hung out for a bit and discussed her papers. Which propositioned that catastrophes were natural phenomena that is most likely caused by high levels of originium.

And the reason why it's so destructive is because the magic increases the resulting disaster's potential.

Adele was able to create this paper because Ash gave his permission for Adele to use his research on the energy of originite.

That it is the source of arts and the concentration of it in the air is what makes arts units viable.

It just relies on their talent and understanding of arts. That's why there are stronger ones and infected are more inclined to be a caster.

And with that, Adele also became a celebrity. With the Naumann household being a legendary family in Leithanien.

__

Asmodeus dialed in the number of penguin logistics and the one who answered the phone was someone he didn't know.

"Long live the penguin empire! Whatcha want? An armed escort? Courier? Or maybe a pathfinder? We can do that all for you as long as you have the cash, maybe give a little apple pie too." An excitable voice blindsided him.

"Ahhh, I don't know you. Can you tell Emperor of Texas that Asmodeus wants to talk?" Ash raised a brow at the one who picked up the phone.

"Aye! I know that, you're that genius that made that helicopter right? It's so much easier to gun down people in that thing! I'm gonna give you an apple pie and throw a party if we meet later!" The girl yelled at the phone.

He then heard her call for Texas begrudgingly, calling her a cold Lupo ice queen.

"Hello." Texas' voice was heard and she was quite surprised, even though her tone is flat.

"Hi big sis Texas. Surprised that I was able to call you when I'm in Leithanien and you're in Lungmen?" He chuckled.

Texas furrowed her brows and thought that he would be doing something annoying again.

"Hah, what do you want?" She sighed heavily and massaged her temples for the incoming headache.

"I want to partner up with other organizations Texas, you know? For world peace and all that jazz?" He said softly.

And Texas could already feel the smirk on his face from behind the phone. She groaned after covering the phone. "What companies?"

"Everything... Everything that would like profit. Except the enemies of the penguin empire of course." Ash grinned and Texas thought that was a bad idea.

But they're allies and it was much better to leave Terra in the hands of someone who innovates she thought.

"Oh, and one more thing. I really want to have a retinue of my own people. Infected or not, they're fine. Asmodeus enterprise needs some guards no?" He ended the call after giving them his number so they could call him later.

"I'm not paid enough for this crap." Texas took out a Pocky and the excitable girl from earlier who is an angel, a Sankta. Grinned at the Lupo.

"Heh? Someone that can make you that nervous, Texas? I didn't expect that." The girl had a smirk on her face that promised pain and Texas groaned.

"Leave me alone Exusiai. And that guy's super dangerous, you wouldn't understand." Texas rolled her eyes and contacted Emperor.

__

"Hmm, I need to learn how to fly." Ash was in the basement's training area and thought of a super fast way to get around.

His choppers were based in Lungmen right now with Emperor and they weren't as fast as commercial planes anyways.

The only reason he made heavy lift choppers is because it would be impossible to land commercial planes.

And with kinetic energy manipulation, he was sure that he could fly faster than the speed of sound.

He just wasn't confident that he'll have enough energy to fly to different countries while high up in the sky.

"Ahh, I might gas out and fall from the sky." He shivered from the thought.

Flying will also cost a shitton of energy. With him accelerating and manipulating his kinetic energy. And creating an aerodynamic barrier in front so his flight would be more efficient.

With enough drag, the energy needed to just cut through the air would be at the 50% mark because of physics and the property of fluids. In which air is like thinner water when you go really fast.

"Hmm, let's just try what's my max for now." He put on some weights to mimic the energy needed to accelerate to mach 1 and maintain its velocity while moving particularly slowly in the pretty large basement.

Using the 100 meter track, he put enormous weight on himself. Manipulated gravitational energy to make the weight not have any pull on him.

Creating a barrier in front for the wind, then increasing his kinetic energy slowly to accelerate and start flying by manipulating electromagnetism.

And as expected, he gassed out incredibly quickly. Like a damn floodgate light that used some car batteries for energy.

"Ugh, fuck." He dropped down on the ground face first and thought that was a failure for sure.

"Damn, this is shitty. Terra can't have jets because of the crappy weather and little space for runways." He groaned and dusted himself off.

Terra has cyclones that can have wind speeds equivalent to the storms in Jupiter. That was some dangerous crap.

And commercial planes that aren't that maneuverable will be hard pressed to travel with those storms around.

"Hmm, maybe I should build a personal VTOL? But it's much more stealthy and cool to fly on my own." Ash sighed and was brooding about it.

He then remembered the Laterano locals. The Sankta there with wings but can't fly.

"Why should I brute force it when I can use physiology and physics to get me flying? Though I should probably still make that VTOL." He started to focus.

Creating wings made of energy on his back, it was much much more efficient than plain ergokinetic flight with his reserves.

Then he would just train to use them and every time he flaps them, a burst of energy would be released for propulsion.

Basically glide and just accelerate with burst of energy. And with an aerodynamic barrier in front accompanied by some energy constructs that will provide lift, he was golden.

"I'll try this later then, kukuku~ My path to roaming around is at my grasp." He thought about the alliances he can make.

And if they don't like him, he could escape in a jiffy, ez pz.

He received a message from Emperor and looked it up. "Ahh, the list of people that I would like to meet. Thank you very much Emperor, maybe I should arm them with Gatling guns for their choppers as thanks?" He chuckled.

But Laterano would get on their asses because the majority of guns come from them. And their buttholes were really tight about it.

He had a gun from Emperor for being a G. But he was perplexed by it. The thing uses originite for propellant and you have to make a small fireball in the chamber with the originite to fire bullets.

Which is terribly inefficient, not to mention expensive as hell.

So he created some nitrocellulose and made modern bullets. With a 1911 colt on his hand, he was able to make guns that don't rely on arts.

But of course he quickly disposed of it. No need to introduce guns to a dystopian world that use a terrible equivalent to it.

It was pretty much the same stuff too, a little weaker than originite propelled guns. But quantity would always beat a small advantage in quality.

Using arts to fire guns is much smaller than automatic fire like lmg's that can fire a thousand rounds a minute with cyclic fire.

Not to mention that with nitrocellulose propellants. Higher calibers would be born, artillery fire and large caliber high explosive or incendiary rounds would lay waste to cities pretty quickly.

Mortar fire and bombs would also fuck em up real good because of tight spaces. He does not want to make those kinds of things.

Unless threatened of course, if they announce him as an enemy and try to hunt him down. He'll be showing them chemical warfare that would bring down entire cities in hours.

"Let's see... Kjerag with the Silverash family and their Karlan trade?" He saw the first one and it was a pretty good business proposition.

With their country being in the snowy mountains, they'll really like his products due to low amounts of food there.

"What else, Black Steel? Hoh... They also have operators that deal with biohazards and infected? I can make a deal with them with my anti-oripathy suit."

"Rhine labs, led by a crazy bitch that has no ethics and have dubious morals. But have signs of repentance... I guess I can share my research with them? Probably... Maybe meet the leader there first." Ash would scout it out later.

"MountainDash logistics huh? A healthy rival of Emperor's penguin empire?" Ash laughed and there was another delivery company that was in Lungmen.

"Hmm, if Emperor is allies with them. Then I can give them a contract like penguin logistics. With MountainDash concentrating on the east and Ursus. While Emperor goes to the west."

Ash was really happy with the revelation of another logistics company. It would make his company spread like wildfire.

"Rhodes island... A pharmaceutical company? Who are they trying to fool?" Ash laughed and it was clear as day that it's a private company that has its own military like a mercenary band. Albeit with their own interests.

Unlike his innocent looking Asmodeus enterpise that leaves the work to penguin logistics. Rhodes island has a clear agenda. And that is to help the infected.

"Hmm, I'll partner up with them. Pretty interesting place over all." He was surprised that they even have a small landship on their own.

So he thought of creating one himself too in the future. But not like the mundane crap of cities on wheels. He was thinking of a grand project, a floating island.

"I can probably make levitators, it will take time though." And he was thinking of making it a haven for infected.

"I guess I'll gather them as my employees for now. Their oripathy won't get worse as long as they wear my suits and they don't use arts." He started to mass produce his anti-oripathy suits.

"Now, who should I contact first? I'm interested in the Silverash family head..." He smirked. Kjerag was located in the Himalayas.

And they don't have a mobile city because it's protected by the mountainous regions. And Himalayan salt is a good fad to exploit privileged people.

He hasn't found any in the market and neither do penguin logistics. Salt is really scarce in Terra, because they can't create seasalt.

With scary motherfuckers swimming in the depths called the seaborne. They were like the deep sea dwellers that will rip your face off in Aquaman.

Making a call, he quickly contacted Emperor. "Yo, Emperor. I have a pretty good business plan with Kjerag. And it would be two birds with one stone."

"Yo, brat. What the hell are you planning now?" Emperor was curious and he laughed at his antics.

"Contact black steel for me, they'll be coming as escorts alongside penguin logistics. I'll go to Kjerag and have contact with the Karlan trade." Ash informed him and Emperor nodded.

"Sure thing kid, you're probably going to offer black steel that huh?" Emperor chuckled and thought it would be good for the company.

Because the infected and non infected are having a tense relationship inside the company. With black steel's rules being seen as exploitative.

"Black steel is just being careful, with segregating infected with moderate oripathy. But of course there will be tension with that. They give them some kind of treatment to keep it at bay at least. But that's not enough. And terminally ill infected's contacts are terminated instantly. A severance pay won't pay for their hospital bills." Ash smirked.

Black steel would be insanely grateful for the anti-oripathy suit. Infected can't go on operations with clean operators. So this will clear up a lot of the tension and increase their efficiency. Especially with the operators with improved arts due to oripathy.

"Don't suck them dry though, but that's a worry I shouldn't have. You're swimming in LMD after all." Emperor laughed and he ended the call to quickly contact black steel.

"Hmm, I should prepare for the meeting. Emperor said that the Silverash head is quite fond of traps." Ash squinted his eyes.

__

After a few weeks, he was going to be escorted by Black steel and penguin logistics. The Silverash head already accepted the request to meet up.

Ash was decked in regal clothes from Higashi that was inspired by Japan. It was just right up north of Yan which is china there.

And while penguin logistics were delivering products in Yan, he requested them to also procure a pretty suiting formal dress for himself.

He likened himself more to the Oni and he was correct in his choice of clothes. It quite suited him nicely. (pic)

"How do I look Adele? Pretty good right?" Ash posed in front of her and she nodded. "Where are you going!? Are you going to seduce a lady? Kyaa! Tell me!"

Adele squealed, seeing his majestic look today. "I'm meeting up with a potential business partner. Now, I already left a lot of spice mixes and instant souls okay? Don't forget to eat, or you'll never grow."

He snickered at her height because she was only 145 cm tall, 4'9. A bit too little, considering he was already 2 meters tall.

"What!? Why you!" She kicked him on his shin, but his bone was too hard. "Sturdy bad guy, I hope you get rejected!"

"Now, now, haters only make me stronger. Rest well and good luck with your new findings in research okay?" He patted her head softly and kissed her forehead.

"Yes, dad. I'll sleep and eat well. Good luck..." Adele smiled at him and was a bit lonely that he'd be on a trip.

"Remember, call me okay? It's okay to be lonely, uncle and auntie can be reached now with a text. And me too, because of my devilishly outrageous intelligence, woe is me." He laughed and cheered her up.

"Go, or I won't let you leave." Adele chuckled and he smiled. "Yeah."

He went to his escort party. "Big sis Texas, long time no see. I see that you haven't grown at all?" Ash teased Texas.

The Lupo woman just glared at him and took out a Pocky from her pocket. "Yeah, whatever. Let's get it on with the operation."

"Hi~ Are you Asmodeus!? Waw, I didn't expect you to be so huge!" A girl with maroon hair and a halo on top of her head walked up to him. (pic)

"Hmm? You're the one who answered the phone." Ash recognized her voice and the Sankta nodded with a smile.

"I'm Exusiai, nice to meet you! Hey, can you teach me how to get under Texas' skin like that?" Exusiai wiggled her eyebrows and he laughed.

"Enough play time Exusiai, though it was pretty surprising that Texas would be stressed enough already to grab a pocky." A short haired girl carrying a big shield was chuckling. (pic)

"Hi, I'm the defense specialist! Croissant!" The girl greeted with a dazzling smile.

"And I'm the long range shooter that will take care of hordes of enemies!" Exusiai raised her Kris vector and was really fond of guns.

He nodded at them and looked towards the black steel operators that was together with them.

"I am Liskarm, reporting for duty." A short stack with draconic features saluted at him. "You're too serious Liskarm, hello. I'm Franka, we're a special unit in black steel." A fox girl smiled softly towards him. (pic)

"The Biochemical Protection Response Staff right? Good, black steel is interested it seems." He smiled and gave a clear, thin sheet to Franka.

"What is this sir?" She was confused. "You have oripathy right? That suit prevents particulate originium to go in or go out. Basically, you won't get worse. And you can't spread oripathy if you wear it." Ash explained and she went wide eyed.

"Is it really!?" Franka thought about the potential of it and he nodded.

"Wear it, it's a little free trial from Asmodeus enterprise. I'll be hoping you would give a message to black steel that I'm selling those. It's sturdy too, you can have a fight and it won't be compromised that easily." Ash winked at Franka.

"How do I use it sir?" Franka looked at it at different angles and it just looked like Saran wrap.

He took it from her and smacked it on the middle of her chest. Then it started to cover her all over like a vacuum sealed bag.

"Franka! Are you okay?" Liskarm squinted her eyes towards him and Franka was frozen.

"It feels like nothing..." Franka looked at Ash and he nodded. "Of course, it would be annoying as hell if you could. Now, how about we travel now to Kjerag?"

They all nodded and entered the chopper. The operators then talked about what their capabilities are.

Exusiai is their striker, croissant will be the heavy defender. Liskarm is an arts defender unit with lightning arts by using her arts unit shield. Zapping enemies with it.

Franka is a heavy unit exterminator with her rapier. Her thermite blade that can pierce through metal.

Texas was a commando unit with high mobility and she could use arts to stun enemies with energy blades that she conjures from above.

__

One Enciades Silverash, the family head of one of the three ruling families that control Kjerag received a letter.

"Asmodeus Naumann... Interesting, I've learned of his enterprise ever since I studied in Victoria. And it seems that he will be useful in opening up Kjerag's borders." The Silverash smirked and thought it would be a good opportunity.

"Weiss, welcome them. Kjerag won't be able to survive by isolating the country. Tradition makes the people sedentary and their minds rot. Asmodeus will be a good ally." Silverash ordered a subordinate. (pic)

"Yes, m'lady. It will be done." Her confidant bowed and sent another letter that they would accept trade with Asmodeus enterprise.

And when Ash arrived at Kjerag via a chopper, Enciades had a small smirk on her face from hearing about the flashy entrance.

They met up at the border in the train stations to get inside Kjerag, because they will be violating the airspace of the country.

Enciades was already waiting for him to disembark, a sign of respect. Because Karlan trade is pretty new in the scene.

Asmodeus Enterprise isn't that old as well, but its influence in Leithanien is enormous.

Ursus and Victoria were reliant on them too to feed their empire's large population.

Ash exited the train and looked for a snow leopard person. Not really knowing what the head of the Silverash family looked like.

Enciades, meanwhile. Quickly knew him, it was unmistakable with his presence after all.

"Asmodeus Naumann?" The tall woman walked up to him and gave a slight smile.

"Silverash's head?" Ash analyzed her from head to toe with surgical precision and the woman got even more interested because it seemed he was just like what the rumors have said. An unparalleled genius.

"Enciades Silverash, it's a pleasure to meet you." She held her hand out for a shake and he reciprocated.

"Yes, it's good to meet you. Shall we?" Ash gestured for them to guide them.

Texas gave some signs to her team that nothing was wrong. Her ears twitching as she looked around the area.

Croissant and Liskarm went behind Ash and his retinue followed closely.

"Ahh, right this way. It must be cold, right?" Enciades acted concerned.

"Thank you for worrying, but I assure you it's fine. Come on then, I'm quite excited to talk to you and most likely make a contract." Ash smiled and he followed her to the Silverash house.

Travelling to the estate of the Silverash, they were welcomed warmly to the mostly wood house.

"If I may? I've brought tea so we could enjoy this pleasant leaves I grew." Ash took out some tea leaves and Enciades ordered her maids to make some.

"Now, Asmodeus. I think it's quite nice for you to come here in your own Accord and make a deal with Kjerag. What is it about I wonder?" Enciades had a small smile.

"Hmm, thanks for the reception too. And as for what I could bring to Kjerag through your Karlan trade? Many, here's a list of what I can sell and the market price." Ash slid a piece of paper to her.

It was a myriad of products that Kjerag won't be able to get a hold of by the Karlan trade alone. At least not in that price range.

A slew of fresh vegetables, especially potatoes and root crops that last a long time. Grains like barley, wheat, rice.

Kjerag as the snowy lands would love to get their hands on those produce. There is also one more thing that Ash has been trying to get his company to develop right now.

Meat through animal husbandry and livestocks. They need quite a big facility. So they were only trying it on rabbits for now.

The buggers rapidly replicate after all if the environment is stable. And they're not really that big.

He was actually thinking of building it on Kjerag. They'll just send the feed for the animals there. And in Leithanien alone, Ash have tons of employees.

Most of them with oripathy. But that's not a problem anymore.

"I see, how is this possible? Clearly, you must make a profit for your business to grow this large?" Enciades was suspicious and thought that this might be a project of Leithanien.

Her sharp mind quickly coming up with all kinds of scenarios as a cutthroat leader of the Silverash family. In which she reinstated her family back to the parliament from exile.

Due to her parents dying while she was still young. So she can't rule and be in the parliament as the Silverash matriarch.

"Hmm, we use a system that is called hydroponics. Look at it, there's the explanation of it. You'd be surprised on how efficient it is." Ash gave her another paper.

It explained the basics of the system to Enciades, but of course. They won't be able to recreate the most important part which is the nutrition of crops and the rate in how it should be infused to the roots.

"What an amazing invention. Is there a limit in how much produce we can get?" Enciades quickly calculated the amount she wanted to get and hoard in the Silverash family.

Then artificially control its release so they'll centralize the power of controlling food supply to their family.

"As much as you want." Ash smiled and Texas closed her eyes from the side, praying for the matriarch.

"Really? That's delightful, but one thing though. How would this benefit you at all? And your transportation methods must be really expensive." Enciades probed for information.

It didn't make sense in her mind. Not really knowing the chinooks that penguin logistics are using can supply literal tons of food in one trip.

Guarded caravans that takes weeks to months in delivering products were the norm. Enciades already predicted that the only option was through air transport.

But heavy lift choppers are just recent there through Asmodeus. At most, small planes and VTOLs that can't really carry much are the main air transport vehicles.

Choppers are there too, but unlike chinooks that specialize in cargo. Penguin logistics just had everyone beat in transport.

"Ohhh, we have special heli carriers for that. They can carry containers that are at least 20 tons." Ash shrugged and Enciades' tail twitched. Her greed acting up.

Coughing, they discussed what Karlan trade would be buying from them.

And with his research on the Silverash family, Ash knew that they have control of several mines in the area.

"Enciades, do you perhaps have seen any mineral in the area that is pink?" Ash would give them a boon and they'll be indebted to him due to salt's importance because of its lacking supply.

"Pink minerals? Weiss, in our mines. Are there any reports of pink minerals?" Enciades was curious and thought it might be an important material that is valuable to Ash.

So she planned on leveraging it against him. Making Karlan trade be the only source of it.

"Yes, ma'am. It is suspected to be a crystal, but it doesn't have the properties of a precious one. The miners ignore it for coal and other metal ores." Her confidant reported.

"I see, do you want to know what that is?" He smirked at her playfully and Enciades smiled. "Hoh? It sounds important and valuable." She thought that he gave them information for free.

"Un, it's salt. Pink Karlan salt." Ash revealed and Enciades was surprised. "Salt? So it was rock salt that is pink huh?"

Her brain did the math quickly. Karlan trade having large amounts of salt to sell would make their economy boom. And their rise to power would hasten.

"How about we help you transport it so you could sell it all over the world?" Ash offered. Kjerag was between Columbia and Victoria.

But its shit location in the snowy mountains will greatly hinder the Karlan trade in selling salt. Especially because of its weight and delicateness.

It would take weeks to reach Victoria and Columbia. So they would need to send out literal tons of it at a time.

Which is a royal pain in the ass. And due to Karlan trade being pretty new, they can't sustain the expensive transport of that scale. They don't have the resources yet.

"Is that so? That seems to be a really good offer mister Asmodeus. How about we end things here for today and write up contracts first?" Enciades needed to overthink about it some more first.

"Sure, all is well. We will present the contracts tomorrow when we meet up again. Please do guide us in a hotel where we can stay?" Ash smiled and shook hands with her again.

They went into a hotel and while travelling there Exusiai sighed. "What a boring meeting, you guys were just testing each other~"

"Exusiai, shut up." Texas squinted her eyes at the angel and she gestured in zipping her mouth.

"It wasn't just testing Exusiai. They're having large trades. And boss Ash here put them in a tough spot." Croissant who was savvy in business explained.

"What do you mean?" Exusiai of course doesn't understand.

"Boss Ash revealed a valuable resource, but we're in Kjerag. It would take weeks to even reach Victoria or Columbia with these treacherous mountains." Croissant elaborated.

"And with boss' offer of transporting it. The Silverash family would both be indebted and grow from the trade. But there's a nasty trap in it." Croissant smirked at him and he shrugged.

"The Silverash will focus on the salt which is valuable and they can mine. But boss basically chained them down to his company. Because if they betray him or even try to do mental gymnastics to get a better deal, boss can pull out and they're doomed. Or better yet, reach out to the other families." Croissant sighed and was impressed by his thoroughness.

"Nasty as ever, they can't refuse or make the contract have any traps. Because they'll be risking it if you ever do find any." Texas thought she prayed for them. But that's the best she could do.

"Woah~ Boss Ash is a genius. Are you gonna be a supervillain? Laterano will try and stop you!" Exusiai playfully pointed her finger at him.

Because Laterano's Sankta are peacemakers and they are with their angel theme as the lawful goodies.

"You do know that Laterano can't do anything right?" Ash smirked at her and Texas sighed.

"Wow, you're quite the devious businessman sir." Franka chuckled and he shrugged. "All in a day's work."

Liskarm had a shocked look on her face, but it quickly returned to her flat expression like Texas, being a pragmatic operator that's currently in the mission.

__

The next day, Enciades already worked up a contract for the transport of the salt in their end and after reviewing it all night, she cursed.

"Damn, Asmodeus... I've been had." Information about their meeting was already spreading to Kjerag.

And of course it was the work of Ash. He already sent a letter to the other ruling families that he will be providing cheap foodstuffs through the Karlan trade.

Meaning that Enciades was trapped without any means of escape. She had to go through with it no matter the cost. The parliament would go crazy on them if she refused.

The matter with the salt also made her ruffle her hair in defeat. "Clever guy. That's why he just gave the information for free. Because we need him to sell it."

Karlan pink salt as he called it also does not have a reputation in Terra. Salt is salt, but it being pink would need a major advertisement.

People would think it has strange minerals in it after all. Or it's a scam, but Asmodeus enterprise is well known already.

And with Ash's knowledge of modern propaganda. As well as his old world's false advertisement hell, it's a piece of cake.

"Lady Enciades, sir Asmodeus is here." A butler informed her and she sighed. "Let them in."

Ash was carrying a suitcase where the contract is and Enciades looked worse for wear, though she was calm as expected of her position.

They both read their contracts and Ash frowned. "Miss Enciades, it says here in clause 15. That upon disputes, the governing law would be Kjerag."

He squinted his eyes, because Kjerag is an oligarchical theocracy. The three families will be in favor massively towards Kjerag.

The snow leopard woman's eye twitched when he noticed that and she held herself back from clicking her tongue.

"This here too, you're saying that the salt would be a trademark of Kjerag. But liability goes to us, isn't this quite unfair?" Enciades tried making the contract vague.

So Kjerag could sue them for the selling of the salt because it's trademarked.

"Just in proofreading this, I'm feeling disappointed. I thought the Karlan trade would be amiable in doing business with us. But it seems I was wrong." Ash shook his head and sighed.

He then stood up quickly. "Let's go everybody, Karlan trade does not want this partnership."

Before Enciades could even try to stop them, they already left the premise.

"W-wait!" The budding matriarch with dreams of reforming Kjerag in opening up to the world followed them desperately.

"We are done here Ms. Silverash, thank you for your hospitality." Ash quickly rallied his team and they left with Enciades having no way to stop them.

"What am I gonna do? The tri council will know of this meeting. And they would learn that I let it slip!" She bit her lip and bled.

"How about that? I can be an actor no?" Ash chuckled while his guard team laughed at his antics.

"You were right, she would try to sneak advantages because it was too tempting. And due to backing her in a corner, she tried to risk it." Croissant snorted.

"Now we wait, the oligarch families of Kjerag will be forced to agree to our terms. The Silverash matriarch's dreams of reform would come true. But she'll have no hand in it, Asmodeus enterprise will be the one doing it." He smirked and was fine with this outcome.

"What a bad guy." Texas rolled her eyes. "But what now? If the deal here is off, then do we just return and it's mission complete?" Exusiai pouted because they didn't even party or get some apple pie.

"We'll be going to Rhodes island. Emperor already gave us their current location." Ash knew that someone there was a leading originium and catastrophe researcher.

He would like to get their research about it in order to give it to help Adele with her research. Something she would get busy with.

'Hah, the things I do for family. I guess she does get lonely easily.' He sighed and thought it would be a great present.

"Rhodes island is a pretty small landship, only about 800 meters squared in area. Are we sure that their position is accurate?" Liskarm raised a brow.

"Pretty sure." Texas replied, Emperor was sure to give accurate information.

Though they'll just be talking to two people. They don't want them to enter the landship and see their facilities according to Emperor.

"Their organization is called Babel, it's gonna be a small partnership for now." Ash is fine in not entering the place anyways.

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Thanks for reading everyone, ciao.