77 Mascardos Offer (2/2)

”An ambush? That's something that was already within my expectations. You had better give me a better sign of good faith than that, Mascardo.” He knew that Greg was communicating directly with the General, and so he addressed him directly. He also didn't call him 'General' because he wanted him to realize that his title meant nothing to him.

This was a tactic Luna used to beat down their confidence bit by bit, indirectly. He was aware that the fact that the General sent his most trusted man to negotiate with him was a tell-tale sign that things were definitely not going well up North.

”The General apologizes for underestimating your foresight, Lord Luna. The General does indeed have something else he wishes to do for you.” Seeing as Luna was already aware that he was directly communicating with Mascardo, Greg decided to acknowledge that fact.

”And that is?”

”He's willing to stage a Coup d'état.”

”No need. If he really wants to show me a valid sign of good faith, then he'll have to somehow incite Emil to do something drastically stupid in the eyes of the citizens. Or at least help me with it.”

”What does Lord Luna have in mind?”

”Emil will probably try to assassinate me. I've known of his vanity even before the new world. If there's one thing that this new world highlights, it's the ugly side of humanity. It doesn't take a genius to know that he has done a lot of evil. I just need to expose him at the right time. What I ask of you is simple, Mascardo. He will probably have some sort of speech in order to try and rub it in when I 'fall for his trap.' I need you to be there when that time comes.”

”Lord Luna, what do you plan on doing?”

”Mass communication. Expose him, and I will at least grant you a respectable position in the Sovereign Nation. Of course, you will have to follow our rules just like anyone else. It's much better than dying with Emil, no?”

It took a while for Greg to respond, until finally, he said, ”Alright. You have yourself a deal, Lord Luna.”

”Good. Show me your sincerity, and I'll show you mine. You may leave.”

Greg was then escorted by the troops while he was still blindfolded and had earplugs stuffed in his ears as he was escorted away.

***

During the trip back, he conversed with General Mascardo regarding his experience.

”Greg, how was he?”

”I didn't get to see his face, unfortunately. I was blindfolded the whole time. But I felt his aura. Even when he was just talking normally, it felt as if I was within an enormous beast's maw, where he could devour me at any second.”

”We kill beasts on the daily! Hahaha!” General Mascardo laughed boisterously. He was obviously feeling a bit insecure, as he had never heard Greg describe someone like that. Hence why he resorted to his psychological defense mechanism of using humor.

”Not like that, Tomas. When his troops captured me, their aura already made me shiver. But this was when they showed their intent to kill. That man, Luna, I mean, Lord Luna,” he corrected himself. Even though Luna would have no idea of what their conversation entailed, the feeling he gave him had obviously left an incredibly deep impression. ”He's not someone we can mess with, Tomas. If you want my sincere advice, it's that we don't piss him off and show him that we are willing to be loyal to him. I know that's going to be hard for any of us prisoners, but do we really have a choice? Tomas, you know me, I never get scared. But the fear I felt was instinctual. There was no way I could have steeled myself for that.”

General Mascardo was quiet for a while before he said, ”Alright. We'll convene at the main base. We'll have to discuss this with the others.”

”Alright.”

Back in his private quarters, General Mascardo had a solemn look on his face as he murmured, ”Luna... What kind of man are you? Greg, who is one of the most fearless men I've known my entire life, even in this new world, shivered at the sight of his men alone? Cowered during a conversation? To the point where he felt instinctual fear?” He was hoping to somehow negotiate some extra terms with Luna, but after hearing Greg's suggestion, he wasn't so sure anymore.