The Villain's Side of the Novel - Chapter 225: Negotiation Battle

General Roderick found himself in a small, dark dungeon, his body battered and broken from the battle he had fought.

He lay on the cold, damp floor, his mind filled with questions. Why hadn’t the Niram Empire come to his rescue yet? Had they abandoned him? Doubt and frustration gnawed at his thoughts.

Suddenly, a surge of energy coursed through his veins, jolting him back to consciousness. Roderick’s eyes flew open, wide with surprise.

“What the hell is that!?…” He could feel the power emanating from a specific direction.

….

The sun cast a warm glow over the back yard of the Palace, where the Parada family and their loyal servants had gathered.

They stood in a semi-circle, their eyes fixed on the ornate door of a separate room. Anticipation hung in the air, mingling with whispers of excitement.

Elisa, stood at the forefront, her face etched?with anticipation. Adam stood beside her, a proud smile gracing his face. Noram, shifted his eyes darting between the door and the expectant faces around him.

Suddenly, the door swung open, revealing Montaser, dressed in formal.

A soft, golden light enveloped him, emanating from his very being. The space seemed to hold its breath as Montaser stepped forward, his expression calm and composed.

All eyes were on him as he emerged, and a hushed silence fell over the gathering.

The servants exchanged excited whispers, their voices filled with joy and relief. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the Parada family had produced another warrior of the ninth kingdom.

Elisa’s eyes shimmered with rare joy as she stepped forward. ” Master Montaser congratulations.”

Adam, his voice filled with paternal pride, added, ” It seems I’m not worthy of being your rival any longer.”

The rest of the family, including servants and knights, joined in the chorus of congratulations. They surrounded Montaser, showering him with words of admiration.

Montaser, humbled by the outpouring of support, thanked the family members with a calm smile. “thank you, but it’s not me who deserve admiration it’s all thanks of the head of the family. ”

Isabel stood at the edge of the crowd with her maid, perplexed by the events unfolding before them.

Montaser’s words caught Isabel’s attention, but she couldn’t help but wonder why is he saying that it’s because of Fray.

Rumors had been circulating that Fray had started inventing, and Isabel couldn’t help but question if there was any truth to them.

As Isabel pondered Fray’s activities, she realized that she had no touch with his life. She felt a pang of sadness, realizing that she no longer knew what he was up to or what he was capable of. The thought weighed heavily on her.

( How is this possible!!) Aya, who was also at the edge of the crowd, shared Isabel’s confusion. Not only was she puzzled by the newfound power of the Parada family, which was said to have weakened over time, but she also noticed that Fray’s name was constantly mentioned in every accomplishment they achieved.

Aya couldn’t help but wonder if Fray was truly capable of all these achievements.

….

Montaser, Norman, and Elisa sat across from each other in a spacious room.

Montaser held a thick report in his hands, detailing the progress of the various projects the Parada family had been working on recently. As he perused the pages, a sense of contentment washed over him.

“Great work,” Montaser said, his voice filled with genuine appreciation. “The developments outlined in this report are impressive.”

Norman nodded, a hint of pride gleaming in his eyes. “Thank you, Montaser. It has been a collective effort.”

Montaser’s gaze shifted back to the report, his brows furrowing as he came across a particular entry. He looked up, his eyes meeting Norman’s. “I have one question, Norman. Why did you choose to send Casper and Rin to Verilian? This is a delicate diplomatic mission, there were other candidates more suited for the task.”

Norman leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. “I understand your concerns,” he replied, his voice calm and measured. “While Casper may have an unpredictable personality, he possesses exceptional negotiation skills. He can be a genius in delicate situations.”

Montaser nodded, acknowledging Norman’s point. “I see your reasoning, but what about Rin?” he asked, his curiosity piqued.

Norman’s gaze shifted slightly, a hint of hesitation in his voice. “Well, Montaser, the decision to include Rin was actually an order from Master Fray,” he admitted.

Montaser’s eyes widened in surprise. (The Master?) he thought , his mind racing with possibilities. (Verilian City… Could it be?)

…

As the tension in the room reached its peak, a sudden stillness fell upon Simmons. Confusion etched across his face as he felt an inexplicable resistance, preventing him from taking another step forward.

His eyes darted downward, widening in disbelief as he discovered a nearly invisible wire wrapped tightly around his legs.

The wire, so thin and inconspicuous, seemed to blend seamlessly with the surroundings. It was as if it had been conjured from thin air, its presence undetectable until it ensnared its unsuspecting victim.

Simmons followed the wire’s path with his gaze, his eyes tracing its delicate thread until he saw it connected to Rin’s fingers.

Rin stood behind Casper, his eyes cold and focused, his hand extended with an air of quiet confidence. The wire, barely visible against the backdrop of the room, seemed to be an extension of his very being.

Both the butler and Lord Hastings were left bewildered, their minds struggling to comprehend the inexplicable turn of events. How had this happened? The wire had been so stealthily placed, so expertly concealed, that it hadn’t caused a single sound or raised even the slightest suspicion.

A smile danced upon Casper’s face, a mix of amusement and triumph. His eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint as he observed the scene before him. “What do you think of it, Simmons?” he asked, his voice laced with a hint of playful taunting.

( This is humiliating.. ) In the realm of warriors, where power reigns supreme, the most crushing blow to a warrior’s pride is defeat at the hands of a lower-ranked comrade. With these thoughts consuming his mind, Simmons clenched his teeth, his fury evident as he bellowed,”Release me!”

Rin, unmoved by Simmons’ frustration, maintained his grip on the wire, awaiting Casper’s signal. Casper, his smile unwavering, looked at Lord Hastings and confidently declared, “We have emerged victorious, Lord Hastings. Now, do we have a deal?”

( Imprassive ) Looking at Casper and Rin, Lord Hastings couldn’t help but admire them. While their actions may appear immature to ordinary individuals, Lord Hastings discerned Casper’s strategic intent. .

In protracted negotiations, it is crucial to establish an advantageous position from the outset.

( They not only demonstrated their competence and intelligence but also exhibited fearlessness in standing against us if it necessary. As the one with the greatest desire in a negotiation is often the one who loses, I can see why the Parada family entrusted them) Lord Hastings, his expression a mix of admiration and determination, responded, “It is indeed impressive, Master Casper, but I’m afraid it won’t be as easy as you think.”

Casper’s smile faltered slightly, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the Lord’s response. ( As expected this man isn’t simple)

Lord Hastings leaned forward, his commanding presence filling the room. “The Parada family’s offer is intriguing, but the land you seek holds great value to me and my city. I cannot simply part with it without proper compensation.”

….

The night was thick with darkness, the deep forest enveloped in an eerie silence. Underneath the towering canopy of a massive tree, a campfire crackled, casting flickering shadows on the forest floor. Fray lay peacefully, his eyes closed, lost in a dreamless slumber.

Suddenly, a sharp crack split the air, and a whip of vibrant blue energy lashed out towards Fray.

In the nick of time, his eyes snapped open, and with lightning reflexes, he reached out and caught the whip with one hand. The crackling energy surged through his veins, but he held firm, his grip unyielding.

As the blue energy dissipated, Fray’s gaze shifted to the source of the attack. Standing before him was Lyla, she had been the one wielding the whip, her intentions unclear. By her side stood Lysander, his bow at the ready, Targeting Fray.