Chapter 1329 (2/2)

He folded his arms and released an even breath. “It’s late, Miss Greyman. Let’s get down to business. Especially because I am under the impression that we are not friends.”

That finally got Theodora’s glaze of amicability to fade away. She looked at him with sharp eyes. “...fine then, let’s not bother with pleasantries. I’m here because I believe that we can help each other. No one else might have asked, but you can guarantee they were wondering about it the entire time: during all this cooperation to defeat the threat to the Earth, where will Randidly Ghosthound be? I wonder how inconvenient a question that is for you, someone who claims to have the Earth’s best interests at heart.”

Randidly had thought it strange that no one brought up how he would be involved, but that had been part of the fearful gazes that people were casting his ways. So he didn’t dwell on it for very long. It made him uncomfortable. “There is something in the test that I will be required to handle. Most of my attention will be spent preparing for that.”

“Something that you don’t even bother asking for any help dealing with?” Theodora asked skeptically. She rotated her glass, causing the amber liquid within to circle the rim.

Randidly couldn’t suppress an amused smile as he pictured the people of Earth standing up against someone as powerful as Lady Iellaya or Octavius Shrike. “If any of you had enough power to help me, I would be only too happy to ask for assistance. But you don’t.”

“...of course,” Theodora Greyman said sourly. It was clear from her expression that she didn’t believe him, but that didn’t matter much. After taking another sip of her drink, Theodora finally arrived at her sale’s pitch. “But let me assure you of this; not everyone will believe in this ephemeral threat that you talk about-”

“Honestly, I believe that the very act me fighting the foe I’m talking about will be very far from ephemeral,” Randidly interjected.

The light in Theodora’s eyes grew even more intense. “The point being that we can help each other out. Zone 1 is planning on establishing a sort of… symposium on research on the System. By stating that you are participating in the symposium, I believe a lot of the political pressure that you are under-”

Randidly snorted.

“-will ease. You will be visibly part of those trying to better the world.” Theodora set down her drink on the desk with a loud click. “All we ask in exchange is some help imbuing an image into Mjolnir. Which, considering your expertise in images-”

This time, Randidly couldn’t help but laugh. “You want to try and make that pile of experimental Raid Bosses capable of producing images? Even setting aside the difficulty in doing so, don’t you worry that they will use those images to rebel against the constraints you use to bind them? How much do you think they hate you?”

By this point, Theodora’s expression was stormy. “Don’t underestimate the favor that I am offering to do for you. Although you are powerful now, you’ve already stated that you might be away from Earth. While you are gone, can the Order Ducis withstand these same pressures? This is not just about you, Randidly Ghosthound.”

Which indeed was true. But Randidly sincerely doubted whether Zone 1 could provide the benefit that Theodora was offering. “Theodora, the Symposium already exists. The people of Earth have been gathering and sharing information on the System since the beginning. I’ve been attempting to educate everyone I can this entire time. What you are offering… is something that already exists. I don’t need you to protect my organizations. So I want to ask again… why would I be tempted by your deal?”

And honestly, helping Mjolnir develop an image would be… dangerous. Randidly frowned as he did some quick mental calculations. He suspected that doing so would be almost impossible, but not quite entirely impossible. And Randidly already had some experience with massed amounts of images due to Reign of the Eidolon Crucible. He was quite a bit more powerful than the average person of Kharon, by hundreds of times.

But the spirit of all those people joined together to tear them down… it was enough to exhaust him. If hundreds of high-Level Raid Bosses were given the ability to freely create their own images… let alone just rebelling against the government of Zone 1, likely the whole of Earth would be put into danger.

After a short pause, Theodora spoke in a cold tone. “If this research was going to be going on, I had assumed you would want to be a part of it. But if you believe that we in Zone 1 have nothing to teach you…”

Releasing a small shiver while still thinking about Mjolnir with images, Randidly shook his head firmly. “I’m not interested. But thank you for the offer. If there’s nothing else, you can leave.”

“Not all threats can be resolved with power, Randidly Ghosthound!” Theodora hissed.

Randidly gave her a level look. “Theodora Greyman… do you think I would have bothered with this farce of a party if that wasn’t the case…? And let me say this: for all that you seem to look down on power… I’ll have it to fall back on if everything else begins to fracture. What about you, Theodora Greyman? What will remain when your tiny castle begins to fall to pieces…?”

After a smoldering glare, Theodora left without bothering to answer.