Chapter 117: Negotiations

Words : 1083 Updated : Sep 25th, 2025

"Ohh, hello there!" Rex greeted him warmly, his voice carrying a friendly and almost disarming tone. He leaned back on the throne, still casually holding Cleo on his lap like it was the most natural thing in the world. "My name is Rex. We’re just a normal mercenary group that happened to be passing through when we saw the commotion. Thought we’d lend a hand." The old administrator, whose weathered face betrayed years of hard-earned wisdom, narrowed his eyes. Despite Rex’s smile and casual demeanor, there was something unsettling about him. Something that made every instinct in the old man’s body scream for him to run. "If you’re mercenaries," the administrator began cautiously, his voice steady despite the cold sweat forming on his back. "Does that mean you’re here to demand a reward?" Rex tilted his head slightly, as if amused by the question. "Mmm, I like people who catch on quickly," he said with a grin, his golden eyes gleaming. Without missing a beat, he began patting Cleo’s head like she was some kind of house pet. This, of course, caused Cleo’s face to flush an even deeper shade of red. The administrator’s frown deepened. "I see. Unfortunately, we don’t have enough credits to pay for your help. The pirate blockade and their attacks have completely halted trade traffic for over a year now. We’re barely scraping by." His voice carried the weight of exhaustion and sorrow, a man who had seen his station struggle against impossible odds. Rex raised a hand, wagging his finger as if to stop the man mid-thought . "Oh no, no no, I think there’s been a slight misunderstanding here." He leaned forward, still smiling, as though he were about to share some wonderful secret. "We’re not here for your credits. What we want is your full cooperation with what we plan to do in this region." The administrator stiffened. "Full cooperation? And what exactly does that mean?" His voice carried a sharp edge now. Years of dealing with shady merchants and opportunistic contractors had taught him to be wary of vague promises. Rex gestured lazily to Cleo, who was still very much trapped in his arms. "Well, you can talk out the details later with my wife here. But, uh... judging by the look on her face, I don’t think she’s quite in the mood for negotiations right now." Cleo, who had been struggling to free herself from Rex’s iron grip, let out a barely audible groan of protest. Her flushed face was buried against his chest as if trying to disappear entirely, and her muttered "idiot " didn’t go unnoticed by Ys, who was now covering her mouth to stop herself from laughing. Rex ignored Cleo’s predicament entirely and turned his attention back to the administrator. "But if I remember correctly," he continued, "the deal was something like this: permanent discounts for us on all goods and services, priority when buying or selling, and maybe a few other perks. You know, nothing too crazy. " He smiled brightly, as if offering a friendly handshake. "What do you say? Sounds good, no?" Rex said, his voice cheerful and carefree as he signaled Carlos with a casual wave of his hand. Carlos, who had been waiting near the transport ship, gave a polite bow and disappeared inside without a word. Moments later, Carlos returned, followed by two towering Aegis units. Between them, they dragged a figure whose head was concealed by a black bag. The person’s once-pristine white suit was now tattered and smeared with grime and blood, giving the impression of someone who had been through hell. The metallic footsteps of the Aegis units echoed ominously through the cargo bay as they brought their prisoner forward. "Thanks, Carlos," Rex said with a nod. "Before you leave, though, would you mind uncovering the gift we brought with us?" Carlos gave a sly grin, stepping forward to grab the bag. In one swift motion, he yanked it off, revealing the prisoner’s face to everyone present. The moment the bag was removed, a collective gasp rippled through the crowd. The residents murmured among themselves, their voices a mixture of shock, anger, and confusion. Even the old administrator, who had worked hard to maintain his composure during the entire ordeal, faltered. His eyes widened as he recognized the man in front of him, and for a brief moment, his mask of calm authority cracked. "W-what is the meaning of this?" The administrator stammered, his voice shaking as he struggled to process what he was seeing. Rex, as always, remained utterly composed, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement. "What? You don’t like my gift?" he said, feigning a pout. "You’re hurting my feelings, you know. I went out of my way to bring you the one responsible for all your recent pest problems here at the station." The administrator’s hands trembled as he stepped closer, his gaze fixed on the battered prisoner who was now slumped between the Aegis units. "But... that’s not possible," the old man muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. Then, louder, with growing anger: "How could the mayor... of all people, be behind this?!" The crowd erupted into chaos at his words. "What? The mayor?!" "Is that really him?" "It can’t be! This station belongs to him! Why would he attack it?" "He must’ve been framed!" "No way, look at him! He looks guilty!" The crowd’s reactions ranged from disbelief to fury, and even a few voices of sympathy. The revelation that the man lying in a broken heap on the floor was none other than the station’s mayor sent a shockwave through the room. The once respected leader, the man they had trusted to protect and guide them, was now exposed as a traitor. Rex leaned back in the throne, watching the unfolding chaos with a grin that bordered on smug amusement. The reactions were exactly what he had expected, and he seemed to be enjoying every second of it. "How... dare you? " The administrator hissed, turning his attention back to Rex. "You expect us to believe that he, the man who built and ran this station, was behind the attacks? What proof do you even have?" Rex raised an eyebrow, his smile never fading. "Proof? Oh, old man, you wound me. Do you really think I’d drag this sorry excuse of a leader here without something to back it up?" He motioned toward Carlos, who stepped forward and tapped a small device on his wrist.

Chapter 117: Negotiations

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