77 Mascardos Offer (1/2)
”Boni! How long are you going to be lazing around for?!” Luna opened the door, only to find his best friend sprawled on the bed. ”Go grab something to eat. If you continue to laze around and whine, I'm rescinding your 'Star Child' title and renaming you 'Star Baby'.”
”Hik! Okay, okay! I'll get up!” Boni replied as he struggled to get up. He struggled to walk as he made his way outside to eat. Every single time he flinched from the pain, Tala couldn't help but snicker,
”Boni, Tala has agreed to become your mentor. Now, I know I've said this before, but the responsibility you have on your shoulders now is equal to what I myself carry. Do you understand what that means?” Luna asked. Although he was confident in Boni's competency, the stakes were far too high. He could not afford for anybody with any type of inheritance or innate advantage to slack off or die.
”I understand.” Boni nodded. The moment he decided to accept the inheritance, he had already steeled his resolve. Aware of what Luna had to give up, he would not dare to even think of wasting this gift.
”Don't worry, I'll make sure he'll have the tools he needs to not just survive, but also dominate.” Tala confidently said. She had absolute confidence in her capabilities. She might have lost her powers and had to restart all over again, but the Star Anito was familiar with her as well as vice-versa.
”Also, you'll be in charge of making sure Tala gets power-leveled.”
”Of course! It's the least I can do!” Boni bowed toward Tala, ignoring the pain and said, ”Thank you again. Star Goddess!”
Tala shook her head, ”Don't call me that anymore. It's best to keep my background a secret. I don't want people having any expectations of me when ironically, I'm the weakest member of the Sovereign Nation right now.”
”Not for long!” Boni patted his chest. ”Ah!” he winced, forgetting that his body was still extremely sore.
”There's no need to try and encourage her, Boni. She didn't say that out of self-pity, but because of self-awareness,” Luna said. It was indeed ridiculous to think that Tala would need encouragement. She has been through this process before and she knew what to do and what mindset to have.
”You're quite good at measuring people, aren't you Luna?” Tala commented.
”Just learning as I go. Alright, I'll have to leave you two, for now, I've already spent too much time here and the Northern front requires more of my attention.” Luna bid them farewell as he left the two.
The journey didn't have any hiccups there weren't many that could threaten Luna and his mount.
As soon as he got back, a report that a man who claimed to be Tomas Mascardo's messenger was caught in the Boracay islands. After hearing this, Luna proceeded to the area where the man was being held and currently blindfolded.
He was being kept as far away as possible from the major area of operations, especially the caves where the <Visanium> were being harvested.
One of the soldiers gave a salute as soon as Luna arrived. ”Lord Luna, we've asked this man about his intentions. He says he's a messenger for General Tomas Mascardo, the leader of the prisoners in the Bilibid Prison. They have expressed the willingness to negotiate their possible desertion to the <Sovereign Nation>.”
”Oh? First of all, what is your name? Second, why run to me?” He asked. He emphasized the question of ”why run to me?” which he did to psychologically put himself on top of whatever negotiation Mascardo wanted to have. This on top of the fact that he already had almost all the leverage in this talk, meant that there was no way he would suffer a loss, and the Mascardo would know of this well.
Basically, he was telling them ”How much of a loss are you willing to bear? Because coming out on top in this negotiation is an impossibility, and even your best case scenario will be as if you are refugees coming to me for asylum.”
Of course, he couldn't say this outright but only hint at it, since he had to start the negotiations with at least some modicum of ”friendliness.”
”Lord Luna, my name is Greg, I'm one of General Tomas Mascardo's right-hand man. The reason why I... ran all the way here, or rather why Tomas wanted me to run to you, is togive you information as a sign of good faith.” He explained. From him calling the General by his first name out of habit, it gave away the fact that they were probably close friends.
”What information?”
”That the current President of the Philippines, Emil, has set up a trap to eliminate you. The so-called 'summit' is nothing but a farce.”