Chapter 950 - 948-Price.

’Now that arrogant prince Raze is out of the question, while prince Bale, that snake who has already betrayed the world, will only act on his own interests.’

Azrail mused as he walked through the streets. The talk with Sabrina had gone well; details and some plans were ironed out. Now all that remains is for certain things to fall into place. And for Prince Bale, it will be hard to deal with, as the dude has been trying to get close to me for some time, me being the biggest threat to the existence of the corrupted side, at least they think so.

’Leaving a good impression on me is very important for him.’

Thinking of this, a smile came to my face. Perhaps he could be of some use, but I will have to be careful about how I deal with him. A small mistake and things could fall down fast. This dude definitely wants me dead or worse, corrupted, which means he will try everything possible to make things shine for me.

I shouldn’t show too much to him, while keeping a check on what kind of control he thinks he can have over me. A smirk on my lips as my steps lightly walked through the street, the chaos and students being quite the collected data centre as I now, in a different sector, walked into a posh-looking establishment.

The whole place inside was empty, except for some well-dressed workers moving inside. And the moment I walked in, I made sure to cut off my power, hiding my presence. My direct presence made the waiter who was standing at the door surprised, as they regained their calm, walked to me with a smile and spoke.

"Please, this way."

I nodded my head at it, walked with light footsteps as they led the way, soon reaching a more open hallway, where a great feast had been set up and waiting for me with a smile on his face was Bale.

Bale looked like the typical prince, with certain blonde hair and sparkling golden eyes, a light smile on his face, with a handsome look as he welcomed me in.

"Welcome, I hope the arrangements aren’t too much."

Saying so, Bale gave me his hand, which I shook with a smile on my face.

"Not at all, it’s okay. I feel quite hungry myself."

The words made Bale laugh.

"Indeed, then let’s get to it. I made sure to get the best of the best to prepare all this."

"Then I won’t hesitate."

Replying so, I took a seat at the well-arranged table as Bale sat opposite me. And as soon as I took a seat, good-looking servers started to come around serving the food. The guy was going all out to arrange a feast for me, and I wasn’t one to reject as I took in the food.

"For starters, we have a unique loin of a rare sea beast."

I, smiling, took up the knife and fork as I cut it, and started to slowly savour and taste it. Bale was looking at me all the while with a smile, not touching his food until I got a taste of this food.

"It’s good."

I finally said after a taste, the words seemingly letting the air out of him as he, with a smile, also started to dig into his food. There was silence between us as we enjoyed the taste of the food. For now, the two of us are just focusing on eating, with perfect timing, the servers kept coming and serving the food, while taking away the plate. Soon, the two of us were at the end of the dessert, tasting it with light touches as the atmosphere now looked good.

"So what is it that you wanted to discuss?"

Bale finally asked.

"I wanted to talk about what we can do about the new introductions that are causing some trouble."

"Oh? And what do you have in mind?"

Bale asked back, clearly intrigued, and definitely ready to take action.

’He still wants to impress me and get into my main circle. Let’s give him a bone.’

"Before that, I’m sure Girika came to see you. What deal did she propose?"

To my question, Bale, after a moment of thought, spoke.

"Something good, a good deal you can say."

I smirked at his wordplay. Even Girika will never know that this prince in front of me is already corrupted, so is his kingdom. All he will be able to tell is that he is a sly individual and is quite clever with his ways.

"Did you take the deal?"

I asked.

"No, I prefer to form a connection with a being of my own level, who will definitely go to lead the world in the future, someone with great talents who seems to lead the generation. Seems like a good bet for me."

[Uff... this guy is laying it on thick.]

’I know....’

I smiled at his obvious flattery, leaning into the chair. I looked at Bale holding a sincere expression, as if he were a man who only gives more importance to his own people of the kingdom than to some outsiders. But beneath that slyness and clever ways lay a beating heart of good. I took it all in.

I leaned back further in the plush chair, letting the weight of Bale’s words linger in the air. His eyes sparkled with that practised sincerity. The dessert plate between us sat nearly untouched, a delicate arrangement of sugared fruits and cream that seemed more like a prop than a dish meant to be enjoyed. The servers had retreated to the edges of the room, their movements silent.

Bale’s flattery was a calculated move, and I could feel his intent weaving around me, probing for weaknesses, searching for a crack in me. He wanted to be seen as an ally, a partner, someone worthy of standing shoulder to shoulder with the likes of me. But beneath his polished exterior, I could sense the snake coiling, waiting for the right moment to strike. He wasn’t just here to impress me; he was here to control me, to steer me, to bind me to his own ambitions.

I let my smirk soften into something warmer, more approachable, as I swirled the wine in my glass. "A good bet, you say?" I replied, my tone light. "That’s high praise, Bale. But I wonder—do you bet on me because you believe in my talents, or because you think you can steer the outcome?"

His laughter was immediate. "Ow....you wound me!" he said, pressing a hand to his chest in mock offence. "Can’t a prince simply admire another’s potential without an ulterior motive?"

"Not in this game," I said, my eyes locking onto his. "Not with you."

For a split second, his smile faltered—just a flicker, barely noticeable, but enough to tell me I’d hit a nerve. He recovered quickly, leaning forward, his elbows resting on the table as he steepled his fingers. "Fair enough," he said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. "We’re both players here, aren’t we? No need to pretend otherwise. So, tell me, what’s your move? You mentioned these ’new introductions’ causing trouble. What’s stirring the pot, and how do you plan to handle it?"

I took a slow sip of my wine, letting the silence stretch just long enough to make him lean in a little closer. The truth was, I hadn’t come here to lay all my cards on the table. Bale was too clever for that, and I wasn’t about to hand him the keys to my strategy. But I needed to dangle something—something shiny enough to keep his interest, but vague enough to keep him chasing.

"And you want my help solving it?" Bale asked, his tone careful, probing.

It was a challenge, plain and simple, and I watched his face closely for any sign of how he’d take it. Bale was no fool—he knew I was testing him, trying to gauge just how far his ambitions stretched. Would he play the loyal prince, defender of the status quo? Or would he show his hand, reveal the traitor beneath?

He held my gaze for a long moment, his expression unreadable, before breaking into a slow, deliberate smile. "You’re bold, Azrail. I’ll give you that. Most people wouldn’t dare ask a prince where his loyalties lie, not so openly."

"I’m not most people," I said, my voice steady.

"No, you’re not," he agreed, his tone almost reverent. "And that’s why I’m here. You’re right—there’s rot in the system, and it’s been there for a long time. I’ve seen it, felt it, watched it choke the life out of my own kingdom. But tearing it all down? That’s a dangerous game. You need allies, Azrail. Powerful ones. And I’m offering to be one."

There it was—the pitch. He was dangling the promise of an alliance, but I could hear the unspoken terms lurking beneath his words. Bale didn’t offer anything without expecting something in return, and I did not doubt that his price would be steep.

I leaned back again, folding my arms across my chest. "An alliance, huh? That’s a generous offer, Bale. But forgive me if I’m sceptical."

Bale’s smile didn’t waver, but I caught the faintest tightening around his eyes. "Fair enough," he said. "But if we’re going to work together, we need to be honest with each other. No games, no secrets. So tell me—what’s your next step? How do you plan to deal with them and where do I fit in?"

I paused, considering my options. Bale was fishing, trying to pin me down, to get a clear picture of my plans so he could decide how best to manipulate them. But I wasn’t ready to show my hand—not fully. Still, I needed to keep him engaged, to make him think he was part of the equation without giving him too much.

"For now," I said, "I’m..."

Bale nodded slowly taking in the words I am saying, his expression thoughtful. "And you think I can help with that? My network is... extensive, I’ll admit. But rooting out the clubs? It’ll take time."

"Time we don’t have," I said, my voice firm. "The longer we wait, the stronger they get. So here’s my offer, Bale—I’ll let you in, but only if you prove you’re worth it. Find me something concrete. Names, locations, anything I can use. Do that, and maybe we’ll have something to talk about."

He studied me for a long moment, his golden eyes searching my face for any hint of deception. Then, slowly, he nodded. "Deal," he said. "I’ll see what I can dig up. But don’t think this is a one-way street. If I’m putting my neck on the line, I expect you to do the same."

I smiled, raising my glass in a mock toast. "Wouldn’t have it any other way."

---

The feast wound down, and Bale escorted me to the door with all the charm and grace of a prince born to rule. But as I stepped back into the cool night air, the weight of our conversation settled over me like a cloak. Bale was in—how far, I couldn’t yet say. But one thing was certain: every step I took with him would need to be measured, calculated, and precise. One misstep, and the snake would strike.