"Negotiate?"

The leader spoke as if amused by Julien’s statement.

"Yes, negotiate."

Before the leader could follow up, Julien clarified his stance.

I, on my part, stayed silent, observing the entire leadership of the cult, who were openly trying to disrespect us in every possible way.

Honestly, I was evaluating the importance of this cult in my plans once again.

Should I really make a deal with them or...

"Before presenting our offer, it would be great if you state your terms again."

Julien’s words made the leader turn his attention to his subordinates.

All of them nodded in return, as one of the individuals sitting at the extreme right stood up from his seat, with some papers in his hand.

"Here."

Walking a few steps in our direction, he threw the papers before us, as they fell on the floor below.

I slightly shifted my gaze to look at them, as Julien bent down to pick up the papers.

There was a long silence, with the only sound being that of the pages being turned.

Julien took his own time to read through the entirety of all the terms that were written down by the cult.

Though I could feel Julien’s gaze on me every now and then, as he seemed to be in disbelief while reading the pages.

"This... I don’t think these terms are even remotely reasonable, given the level of cooperation we expect from you."

"As I had said—"

"Please let me complete my statement."

Julien interrupted the leader before going through the papers once again.

The leader, or to say, the man who looked like a smaller version of an elephant, simply smiled in return, not showing the slightest hint of frustration over the interruption.

"Our deal had always been entirely in your favour. We would be the ones expending all the resources and carrying out everything on our own... the only thing that you guys had to do was take the blame for our actions, which is, I believe, the most beneficial for you. Without having to spend anything, you would be able to spread the faith of your god across the entire world. So I don’t think there is any need to add extra conditions to a deal that has no loss for you."

Julien quickly summarised the entire situation for the cult, in the off chance that they still had not understood the benefits they could derive from it.

"That’s all good, but we won’t be helping you until our terms are met."

The leader didn’t budge an inch as he uttered the words with the same ugly smile on his face.

I took a few steps before reaching Julien and taking the papers from his hand to better understand what the actual terms were.

Well... there was no need for me to read everything else, as the first term itself was a foolish thing to ask, given what we were already offering to the cult.

High-tier potions from Syma Alchemist for an entire year.

As if that was something that anyone with decent brains could ask for in this situation.

For the fact, Syma’s high-tier potions were the most expensive in the market. Though, being the owners of the guild, those prices weren’t anything to us, as we could provide the potions while only suffering the loss of the manufacturing cost.

Yet, if analysed from a business perspective, the guild would lose a huge profit that could have been derived if the potions were sold in the market at their usual rates.

Reading the first condition itself, I dropped the paper to the ground, while using the basic application of the fire element on it, making the paper burn away—an act that didn’t go unnoticed by the leadership of the cult, as well as Julien and the rest, as all of them looked at me in surprise.

Well... it was surprising for the cult members, as they might have thought of us as some desperate fools, but for Arthur and No. 5, it was a signal that things were going to get heated soon.

Though, considering that there was no strategic value in fighting here... I had decided to try once again and see if there would be any change in the decision of the cult.

"That was a disrespectful thing to do, young man."

The leader spoke while looking in my direction, though his eyes had narrowed, as if looking down on me.

"Was it?"

My answer made Julien release a sigh from my side, as he stepped back before standing behind Arthur.

Hm?

Why was he being so dramatic?

It wasn’t like I was going to fight immediately.

I had always considered myself a man of control.

"We would provide you with a month’s premium potions from Syma Alchemists’, and that is us being generous, as you know how expensive the potions sold by their guild are."

At my words, the leader’s eyes narrowed again.

"Alright. Then this deal ends here—"

"Let me speak, old man."

Silence.

"Oyy, brat! Know where you are standing!"

It wasn’t the leader but one of his lackeys who spoke from the side.

I didn’t give him any attention, as I turned my gaze to the leader before moving it across the room.

"This will be the final deal for you, so if you want to accept it, come out and speak with us instead of letting your dog do all the bidding."

"Huh?!"

The leader got up from his seat, his eyes narrowed at me, as a chair fell to the ground, making a loud noise.

"Was that a bark?"

"Boss, fuck this deal. Let’s kill them—"

"Easy there."

Just as one of the lackeys on the right was about to take out his weapon to fight me, a gentle yet firm voice made everyone in the room silent within a moment.

I could even sense a trace of mana being used while speaking, as the words had a commanding effect that was hard to notice.

I didn’t show any sort of reaction, as my face stayed the same, as if I was expecting such an entrance.

Well... I had indeed expected it.

Focusing my gaze in a straight line, I could see a faint outline of a figure stepping out from the shadows that had formed at the end of the room.

"Hail the lord!"

One by one, the entire leadership of the cult performed some weird action before praising their leader...

Well... their God’s chosen, in the words of these lunatics.