Chapter 894: Whispers behind closed doors

Chapter 894: Whispers behind closed doors

The delegation that the Martial Alliance Branch of the Wei Dynasty sent to mediate the conflict of interest on the Soft Meadow Continent was small, but packed with important people, as this matter concerned a link to a Main World of the Boundless Mortal World.

The leader of the delegation was two levels under the Martial Alliance representative that Wu Long met in the Emerald Falls City, the Head of Administrative Affairs for the Branch.

And this man had his own ambitions, including a lofty dream to rise to a position of his direct superior, the Branch Head, who reported directly to the Martial Alliance representative.

But none of the three big Sects, of course, could offer him that, their shady deals to win the favor in the arbitrage of the World Stone control being of a lower level. It satisfied him, of course, as he never expected any of them to offer anything better.

But…

“What did you say?”, he turned to the Inner Court Elder of the Ember Palm Pavilion who came for a yet another secret meeting.

“I am saying there is an offer for you to become… the Branch Head of the Martial Alliance if you help us”

“I would tread very carefully from now on… very carefully”, the leader of the delegation spoke slowly, as he narrowed his eyes, and then turned to close the wooden shutters of the window he stood in front of, more layers of formations activating in the room than previously.

The Inner Court Elder gulped, as he was also not sure if it was a good idea to make such big promises, but at this point he was too deep in his deal with the mysterious partner, and had no choice but to plow through whatever situation he found himself in.

The delegation leader made sure the security was airtight, and continued, “I did not think that the Ember Palm Pavilion’s power grew so much you could make such offers… nor did I think you would place such a big bet on this World Stone… sure it’s important… but not to the point you would risk your Sect’s position itself for it”

“Khm… we are aware of the risks of making such an offer. But there is a way…”, the Inner Court Elder spoke carefully.

“And what is that way? Pray tell… I am very curious”

“I cannot say”

“Are you playing games with me?”, the delegation leader furrowed his eyebrows.

“I-I wouldn’t dare… it is just that I really don’t know. I am acting as an intermediary to an extent… ”

“Intermediary?”, the delegation leader raised his eyebrow, his interest piqued.

If it wasn’t the Ember Palm Pavilion, and if it was someone who could reduce the high and lofty Inner Court Elder of a big sect to a lowly messenger, perhaps it wasn’t such an outrageous proposition.

The Inner Court Elder sensed the interest and hurried to add, “A-all that I know, and all that I have been told is that it is somehow connected to the Wei Dynasty’s prince who just arrived”

“Hah! The 9th prince?! You’ve gotta be kidding me! That brat doesn’t have any-… wait…”, the delegation leader scoffed, his expectations completely crushing down, until he remembered a crucial detail, that the prince arrived here on behalf of a princess.

He thought it was curious when he first heard it, as no princess was active in the politics of the Wei Dynasty as far as he knew, but sent for a confirmation.

“Hmm”, he reached to trace his chin, sinking deep into thought. It was true that something big was happening in the Wei Dynasty while he was away. And if it was the Imperial Family, they could have some influence even over the Martial Alliance Representative, who was an elected official acting on behalf of the Martial Alliance itself, let alone the position of the Branch Head who was picked by the joint decision of the Martial Alliance Representative and the Wei Dynasty’s Imperial Family.

“And the proof that the Imperial Family is indeed willing to intervene?”, he then turned to the Inner Court Elder who waited with baited breath.

“Ah… yes, if you send a formal letter of greeting to the 9th prince’s current residence within a day, you will receive back a letter completely identical to this one”, the Inner Court Elder took out a scroll, placing it on the table, and a small jade token, “It also will have a hidden array that displays the offer when you use this jade token”

“Hah! If I send an formal letter, the Martial Alliance delegation here would be taking an official stance of supporting the prince’s mission here and solidify his position! Do you take me for a fool?!”, the delegation head scoffed again, turning away from the Inner Court Elder who slightly shrank from that outburst.

‘I… I told him this isn’t going to work… and it’s too risky… we might just lose it all!’, the Inner Court Elder thought as he looked at that back, but his instructions were to not try to persuade the delegation leader when it came to this point in the conversation.

He then thought in a panic, ‘Should I… try to salvage this situation by distancing our Ember Palm Pavilion…? Or to try and convince him…?’

But after a few moments of this tense silence, the delegation leader sighed, turning back, “I suppose… we would have had to do that regardless… I just thought to delay it to show where I stand on this… but if there’s a real possibility…”

‘H-huh? I-it worked?’, the Inner Court Elder almost showed his shocked expression outwardly, having to forcefully keep it in.

“Very well… but if I don’t receive that letter…”, the delegation leader narrowed his eyes, his words trailing off, but conveying all he wanted to say with that silence.

“O-of course!”, the Inner Court Elder hastily nodded, confirming.

“Hmm, so I guess you will be the ones winning this huh? Heh, never would’ve guessed after you refused to shake hands with the City Lord Ko… that willy old fox hid well”, the delegation leader spoke, now in a tone of someone who has almost picked a side, more friendly and openly. Thus not minding sharing some information. There was only that final confirmation of a letter, a final formality, but as long as it came, he basically was now shaking hands with the Ember Palm Pavilion behind closed doors.

“Is he… is he really already in Essence Ignition Realm?”, the Inner Court Elder decided to confirm the information he received from the mystery partners as part of the deal, as it seemed that the delegation leader who was also in Essence Ignition Realm knew from his current words.

“Hoh? You knew? And kicked his offer regardless?”, the delegation leader raised his eyebrow, not having expected the Ember Palm Pavilion already knew, and then chuckled, “Hah! Though, I guess if you already have a deal with someone better it doesn’t matter much to you…”

“Haha… hahaha, y-yes of course”, the Inner Court Elder sighed, inwardly kicking his old self for acting arrogant when he spoke with City Lord Ko and rejected his offer. He also called him a ‘boy’ to his face then, and saw the deep grudge in the eyes of that ambitious and prideful man.

“He’s just in the gate of the realm, and from what I can see can’t advance past that, at least for now… But you would still have to make effort though. Even I cannot overturn the results of this conflict of interest completely, I can only nudge one side over another slightly, enough to give you a competitive advantage and support you from the background. Officially, it has to look like you won fair”, the delegation leader then spoke.

“Ah… about that… there is a small caveat”, the Inner Court Elder spoke with a slightly awkward tone, “Since there are three parties to this deal… the other party needs something as well…”

The delegation head narrowed his eyes, nodding with understanding as he overlooked that the third party might need something else. But the offer that would give him his most cherished dream was too sweet to back out if the condition was not too overbearing, so he was willing to listen.

“What do they want?”

“They want… that the Tiebi Mountain Sect which is located near the sealed World Stone to the Great Wilderness is recognized as part of the Martial Alliance, and is given custody over guarding the World Stone, of course with the official backing from our Ember Palm Pavilion”, the Inner Court Elder carefully spoke.

“The Great Wilderness?”, the delegation leader raised his eyebrow, “Hah, what a strange ask… it’s not impossible, rather, it’s quite simple… but why?”

“I have not been given details. But I have been given assurances that the Seal would not be broken”

“Of course it wouldn’t! What kind of maniac would want to break that Seal?”, the delegation leader dismissed that outright, his expression saying ‘do I look like an idiot to worry about that?’, as he then added, “I mean, what’s the catch? Is there something to be gained around there?”

He revealed a look of curiosity, as the request was quite simple, or rather too simple. So easy for him to fulfill that he sensed a catch, like someone was making some kind of hidden profit.

“Ah, apparently, it is the only reason a small sect like the Tiebi Mountain Sect could gain status within the Martial Alliance, as guardians of the Seal, and they have their own arrangements with the one who made the offer”, the Inner Court Elder spoke.

“Tsk, heh~, and here I thought there was something more to it”, the delegation leader clicked his tongue, quickly losing interest, “Fine, I’ll make them, haha, exalted ‘Guardians of the Seal’, hahahaha”

The delegation leader then began laughing, as it certainly would be honorable for a small sect, and locals would give them a lot of respect, but they would be likely more of a laughingstock behind closed doors of the Martial Alliance upper echelon with that empty duty and empty title.

The two didn’t do much small talk after that, as the deal still haven’t been confirmed completely, and they didn’t want to let others know that the Ember Palm Pavilion reached a deal with the Martial Alliance already, ending that secret meeting there.

Hehe ^^

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