Chapter 44. Deal

First Lord, Magician Ecion.

Two words could summarize his personality as depicted in the original work:

An extreme rationalist who made every decision based on thorough calculation and reason.

And a terrible egoist who pursued only his own benefit.

At first glance, he might seem like a cold-blooded person, but to me, that kind of disposition was rather easy to handle.

As long as I didn't provoke him first, there was no reason for him to be wary of me, and even in the original work, he was described as the most rational among the Lords.

Ecion would clearly recognize that he was a guest, and therefore, there was no way he would cause reckless havoc by trying to test the Lord’s qualities in another's territory.

So, when I first met him, I felt a sense of relief.

Unlike when I met the Gwonseong, he acted politely and, like an intellectual, offered a handshake.

Of course, befitting a Magician at the apex, the condensed mana in each of his steps pressed down on the air, but what did it matter?

I was already clad in the cheat code of permanent invincibility.

'I'm glad I finished it before meeting him.'

Of course, since I didn't have a single iota of mana in my body, there wasn't any significant reaction, but it was impossible to suppress even the slightest physical response.

Unlike Killing Intent, which resonated with the mana within the body, the atmospheric pressure caused by emitted mana was practically physical pressure.

With the observational skills of a Magician at the continent's peak, he would definitely have picked up on quite a bit of strangeness.

Ecion said since this meeting was fate, let's take our time and talk.

I had no reason to refuse, and I had no intention of avoiding the gentlemanly conversation that I hadn't experienced in a long time.

So, when he offered a handshake, I naturally accepted.

I even slightly raised the corners of my mouth to give a good impression.

But then.

"...?"

Suddenly, his words trailed off.

I didn't know the reason, but he was even sweating.

From the standpoint of simply shaking hands, his reaction was puzzling.

So, I asked him how he was doing, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible.

“Is there something wrong?”

“……”

“You don't look well.”

Blue mana light flickered ominously in Ecion’s eyes as they met mine.

He stared at me for a long time, then let out a hollow laugh.

“……This is enough, so stop it.”

“…?”

Stop what?

I was speechless at his sudden request, so I didn't bother to reply.

I simply released the strength in my clasped hand and ended the handshake.

“I don’t understand. Why would someone of your caliber, 6th Lord, reveal their true nature now? I’ve heard bits and pieces about you, from the story about you killing a True Ancestor. I thought I knew enough about you, but I was mistaken.”

“……I don't know what you're trying to say.”

“I didn’t mean anything in particular by it. Well, if I had to put it into words, let’s just say I’ve become interested in you. When I heard that a mere human was sitting in the Lord Position, I doubted the Great Lord’s judgment, but it seems the ignorant one was me.”

He muttered in a metallic voice, like scraping metal.

Because of his incessant murmuring of incomprehensible words, there was no room for me to interject, so I just listened silently.

Seeing my lack of response, he stared at me for a moment before letting out a chuckle.

“You look bored.”

“……”

“Then I’ll get straight to the point.”

He took off the hood of his black robe, and his silver hair shone brilliantly in the sunlight.

His appearance, reminiscent of a beautiful youth, matched the description in the original work exactly.

He plopped down on the spot and opened his mouth.

“Do you know about the outside existence?”

“I do.”

“I heard that the Lord Council recently secured its corpse. I requested to borrow it for research purposes, but the Great Lord told me to get your permission.”

Only then did I understand why he had come all the way here.

After defeating Ouroboros, I had separately asked Arkan to collect the body.

Ouroboros’s corpse, in itself, held a value equivalent to a nation's treasury.

Leaving a corpse, which was valuable down to the last Scale, even without the Reverse Scale, in the Bottomless Pit would have been pure waste, so I had asked Arkan to collect it and store it at Headquarters.

'I was originally going to give it to the protagonist later.'

When the time of the original story approached, the moment of encountering the protagonist would inevitably come.

At that time, I planned to hand it over with a suitable excuse.

It was a gift for the guy who would be bewildered by the future unfolding differently than expected because of me.

So, until then, I was planning to keep it stored at Headquarters, but an unexpected situation arose.

It was natural for him, a Magician, to show interest in Ouroboros's corpse, but since its use had already been decided, I couldn't easily hand it over.

Ecion, perhaps noticing this, cautiously asked while subtly observing my expression.

“It seems you have a specific use in mind for it.”

“That's right.”

“That means the ownership of the corpse belongs to you. Did I understand correctly?”

“Yes, because it was me, not the Great Lord, who killed Ouroboros.”

In the quiet stillness, Ecion’s clear blue pupils scrutinized me.

And then, he slowly nodded.

“Then I’ll make a different proposal. Would you allow me to borrow the corpse of the Outer God you killed?”

“Borrow?”

“Yes, I promise to handle it purely for research purposes, without any processing or alteration. Once the research is complete, I’ll return it to you exactly as borrowed. What do you say?”

“……”

Magicians are beings who explore the essence of all things.

Generally, when one thinks of a Magician, they imagine someone manipulating elements and the laws of nature, but that is merely a means, not the ultimate goal.

That’s why a Magician who has reached a certain level, like Ecion, cannot help but be obsessed with Ouroboros’s corpse.

The corpse of a being from outside this world is itself an unknown territory, and exploring that unknown is the key for a Magician to transcend their limits.

“For free?”

But I'm not a sucker.

Knowing full well the value of the card I hold, there was no reason to just hand it over.

The one who should be anxious is him, not me.

When I openly demanded compensation, Ecion opened his lips.

“Of course, I didn’t intend to ask for it for free. If the 6th Lord has a price in mind, I’ll pay it separately.”

Ecion spoke in a subdued voice.

It wasn't a warning or a threat, but a tone close to resignation.

Once one becomes a First Lord, there are quite a few options to demand as compensation.

Ownership of rare magical artifacts or the First Lord’s magical legions were prime examples, but frankly, they weren't very attractive conditions to me.

I was no longer weak enough to rely on someone else's strength.

What I truly needed wasn’t his power, but his influence. Therefore, the conditions I would demand were naturally determined.

“I hear the First Lord’s Territory borders the main temple of the Holy Order. It’s said you have a close relationship with the Holy Order. Is that true?”

“That’s true, but…?”

“What I demand of you is simple. Sever ties with the Holy Order and turn hostile, then announce this fact across the continent. Adding that the Holy Order’s Saintess is a fake as justification should be sufficient.”

At those words, Ecion looked at me with startled eyes.

I made no reply and met his gaze.

“…Are you serious?”

“Of course.”

Dead serious.

Since I've already made an enemy of the Holy Order, a confrontation with them was unavoidable.

So what choice do I have? I have to throw the first punch.

However, even though I have ascended to the position of Lord, the influence of a newly appointed Lord is insufficient to confront the Holy Order.

So, only one option remained.

‘I have to cause some chaos.’

And the first step is the First Lord, Ecion.

The First Lord’s Territory, also called the Magic City, is the largest of all the Lord’s Territories and has a significant influence on the continent.

Two out of the five Magic Towers on the continent are located in the First Lord’s Territory, so it's no exaggeration to say that it's the most technologically advanced nation.

The Holy Order was also aware of this, and that's why they've maintained a close relationship with the First Lord for hundreds of years.

However, Ecion will definitely accept my proposal.

Even if his relationship with the Holy Order is strong, it's merely a relationship maintained because it benefits the First Lord.

Given his thoroughly self-serving nature, he’d be weighing the Holy Order’s relationship against the Outer God's corpse right about now.

And, as a Magician, his choice was already obvious.

I asked in a calm voice.

“Will you make the deal?”

At those words, Ecion's blue pupils narrowed like those of a predator.

Soon, the corners of his lips twisted sharply, and he let out a bright laugh.

“Is that all?”

I stared intently at Ecion and then spoke.

Is that all?

Well, of course…

“It’s not enough.”

“What?”

“I also demand separate rental fees, the dispatch of research personnel, and Artifacts. Ah, and partial transfer of ownership of the Guimaseok mine located in the northern part of the First Lord’s Territory, priority access to the Guimaseok refinery directly operated by the First Lord, and 300 basic theoretical magic books, and…”

“……Huh.”

Ecion, who had been staring at me blankly, burst out laughing.