"Given the urgency and gravity of the situation I’m sure the Viscount will agree to this partnership but that doesn’t address my needs....why should I offer my help."

After understanding the particulars from Darkness, Frost leaned back in his chair, took a swig of his drink and asked with a smile on his lips, giddy at the chance to fleece Sedrick Northrend.

Unfortunately he severely overestimated his position of power.

Fully expecting Frost to inquire about the benefits for himself and his territory Darkness donned a large smile, his expression calm and his gaze relaxed.

"Of course Lord Frost, it wouldn’t be proper to not enlist your aid without promise of an equivalent exchange." He sounded like an affluent and generous merchant very willing to pay the bandit’s tariff to ensure safe passage.

The sudden swap in perceived morality didn’t faze Frost but Darkness’s demeanour gave him a sense of foreboding. Perhaps fleecing was not an appropriate term at least not by him.

"We’ve noticed that you’ve been purchasing construction and military resources in mass recently regardless of the price hikes. Likely fearing the upcoming embargoes yes." With the civil war about to really kick off anything that could be used in the war effort would face strict controls and embargoes thus preventing purchase beyond their borders and by individuals without special permits, Frost obviously lacking such a permit.

"....Go on." He liked where this was going, accruing materials to develop Niflheim quickly relied heavily on these specific materials, the Dungeon only able to support a small percentage of their current demand. Calder the head of the city’s merchant guild and his go to man for bulk and speciality purchases had been pulling out his hair and grinding his teeth as he was forced to pay sometimes ten times the usual price for something as simple as reinforced steel and condensed stone. His merchant blood screaming at him, cursing him a fool and questioning why he was willing to be a sucker rather than being the one pilfering fools. His only grace was a very generous budget that quickly restored itself with every visit to Frost’s office.

Darkness’ smile grew, "We’re willing to offer you two choices, either a minor discount on certain materials and a slight loosening on the embargoes when they fully come online orrrrrr we can enforce the embargoes now and leave you dead in the water." He tilted his head to the side in a playful manner generating a stark contrast with the threat he just unveiled.

"...." Frost’s body visibly tensed, taken by surprise, not expecting sudden aggression.

Findley and Khuno’s eyes practically radiated the intent to kill, their weapons appearing at the ready in response to Darkness’ slight.

"Stop...." Before they leaped at Darkness, Frost raised his hand to stop them. He looked dead ahead clashing with Darkness’ relaxed and unperturbed gaze. He understood the message.

We may be making a deal but don’t forgot we can easily destroy you with a simple wave of our hand.

An S-rank protector was formidable, but such entities usually obeyed certain rules, rare to interfere with the lower world but even if that wasn’t the case the sheer fact that Frost dared to erect a territory so close to their border offered innumerable ways for them to restrict his influence.

There would be no fleecing today.

"I understand your intentions; the first choice will be more than adequate." Help us and we won’t mess with you, refuse and you’ll be unable to develop this city of yours.....the choice was obvious.

"Hehehe I knew you were a smart man Lord Frost." Darkness clapped his hands as if dusting off the earlier tension.

"Is there anything else I should know or are we done here?" Frost couldn’t help feeling a little deflated and frustrated with the situation, once again realising his lack of power within Nova. A mere underdog Prince could quash his development ambitions with a simple wave of his hand. His irritation towards Darkness growing with every passing second wanting nothing more than to see him leave and never return. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"Hehehe I can see that my presence is no longer appreciated." Darkness was no fool he could see the displeasure in Frost’s expression. "Don’t worry Lord Frost I won’t overstay my welcome. We’ve covered all the necessary details, and you’ve accepted the terms of the deal, so I’ll be on my way now." Darkness rose from his seat, dusted off his robes and bowed politely towards Frost before moving to the door. The young Lord would certainly not show him out given the lingering contention, best to vanish like a shadow.

Frost’s mood immediately improved upon seeing Darkness get up and leave but before he could fully let down his guard the man stopped, his hand grasping the door’s handle.

"By the way Lord Frost is it possible for me to meet with your honourable protector? Northrend hasn’t managed to foster an S-rank individual in centuries, so I’d very much like to experience such grandeur." Although he was here to help facilitate a deal between his master and Lord Frost he didn’t forget to pilfer as much information as possible, they weren’t allies after all.

"Hmm she normally has no interest in the people of Northrend but...if you choose to attack me, relying on your rank to bully a junior she’ll likely respond in kind." Feeling a chance to pull some of the power back to his side Frost answered with clear provocation, his eyes daring Darkness to make a move.

"Haha it seems that my path isn’t fated to cross with the esteemed individual." Darkness only felt a slight pity never truly believing he’d get the opportunity to confront Maya but at least from Frost’s words he was able to sense a disinterest towards individuals like himself, likely only making a move when as Frost put it when someone dared to use their superior rank to bully him.

"Tsk how disappointing...Farewell Darkness." Frost clicked his tongue acting as if annoyed by the man’s lack of courage but internally he was thankful that his bluff passed muster.

"Farewell Lord Frost." Darkness bade him farewell, passed through the door without an escort and seemingly vanished into the shadows the moment he left the Lord’s manor, as if he was never here to begin with.

A normal person would find such skill eery and frightful, but Frost merely glanced at the Dungeon menu, watching as a vivid red dot masterfully escaped through a dense crowd of people, alerting none as he left.

"Haaaaaaa that was stressful." Maintaining a somewhat relaxed and annoyed attitude in front of a man who could easily kill not just him but also Khuno, Findley and Yuna was rather demanding for his heart and mind.

"Yuna hand me the bottle from earlier." With the sense of danger being uplifted his body without the aid of adrenaline started trembling, a cold sweat running down his neck....A-rank assassin types are damn scary.

"Here master." Like a dutiful secretary Yuna fetched the opened bottle of alcohol and passed it to him, his empty glass being unnecessary as he directly drank from the bottle.

"Gyah that’s good stuff, Khuno, Findley, Yuna you want a swig?" Just a few glugs and he already started feeling much better, a sense of calm and ease returning to his mind.

"I’m fine master." Findley instead of feeling stressed by Darkness’ presence instead felt emboldened, a desire for battle fostering in the depths of his heart. His mind long focused on achieving A-rank himself so as to better serve his master.

"Well I’m not, I’ll take that swig milord." Said Khuno while reaching for the offered bottle, taking large gulps.

"Hoh damn that’s got quite the kick." Tears forming Khuno started coughing not expecting the concoction to be so potent given Frost’s ease.

"Can I open a red wine Master?" Yuna being the weakest of the four felt even worse than Khuno, her hands visibly shaking as she fetched the bottle of strong liquor from its shelf.

"Sure, you’ve all earned a reward for that performance."

The group thus calmed themselves with alcohol, Findley eventually imbibing after feeling left out.

"Alright return to your regular duties, I’ll discuss what happened with Maya and make some plans." He only had a few days before the first wave of Sedrick’s forces would arrive plus Douglas needed to be informed.

"Master! Frost are you alright." Teleporting to the private space Frost was immediately greeted by a concerned Nanna and Maya. The former forcibly taken from her place of work with nary a reason given while the latter was stressed by the power revealed by Darkness....she was no longer at the S-rank thus unable to quickly eliminate him if he proved hostile. The best result would be a pyrrhic victory.

"Yes, yes I’m fine. Sorry about pulling you from you work Nanna but I couldn’t take any chances." Frost first ruffled Nanna’s hair, soothing her before looking at his enchanting Fenrir, pulling her in close for a sensual kiss.

"You can return to the Sleeping Fenrir tomorrow Nanna, just stay in the private space or the Dungeon for today." Darkness had long left the influence of the Dungeon, but Frost didn’t want to take any chances with the two children.

Seeing the depths of care and concern in his eyes Nanna felt her heart heat up. "Yes master." She obeyed without question not wanting Frost to worry.

"Good girl." Frost lightly kissed her forehead before asking her to either head to her room or meet up with Loki in the lower floors. He needed to discuss some sensitive topics with Maya and didn’t want her involved.