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n“Absolutely not. This place needs no saving, but it does need a protector. It needs somebody who can become an idol of peace and protection… so, I’ll grant you a title that will give you useless political power, monetary power, but the will to control every single living being in this city. How does that sound? Pretty good deal right?”

n“Is that the only benefit? Any systematical benefits included with that title?”

n“Oh, yeah. When I talked about improving your poison-related skills, this title will do that for you. It’s a bonus for seeing how hard you worked.”

nIf I had to be honest, the man proposed this knowing I’m from the future. He knows I’ll return to my timeline which is why he baited me into a false sense of familiarity by saying the useless political power and monetary power since I won’t be able to access it… but then he offers me the power to control every single person in this city. I guess he just wants me to use this place as a playground of some sort.

nGeez… what a dumbass… he may know everything about my status, but that doesn’t mean he knows what’s really going on with my skills… this is too overpowered… the amount of power I can gather with this is unfathomable.

nBut, if I make I agree right away he might get suspicious and place some people on me to figure out what I’m doing. Plus, I would like to negotiate more in order to take back some viable power that I can use once I return to hell.

n“That sounds pretty good, but do you think I’m a dumbass?”

nI’ll come off as overbearing. As long as he can’t read my mind I should be fine… but what worries me the most are the two women by his side… again, they aren’t that strong but something is off. I need to tread carefully.

n“I knew you wouldn’t fall for it… but still, what else do you want? I’ll add something on top as an extra bonus?” he asked, a vein straining from his neck.

nClearly, he was mad that I hadn’t taken such an obvious deal. Even though I wasn’t as strong as him, intelligence was something innate. It wasn’t something you can improve through your status without specific skills… but even then, raw intelligence can outclass all.

n“*sigh*… I’m not as stupid as you think I am. But anyway, besides that, I want a skill. Something I can use.”

n“That prince of manipulation intrigues me… tell me more about it… you aren’t using that on me to gain the upper hand, are you?”

nAlthough it was subtle, his right hand squeezed the woman on his right, the skin on her shoulder slightly denting with his firm grip. She showed no reaction, but as I replied with a simple, “Of course not,” she turned towards him and whispered into his ear.

nLie detection… but he can read my heartbeat so easily… or is it that he expects to be able to control my heartbeat to the extent where lying to him would be undetectable… that’s a shame, but I’m glad I caught it early.

n“Give me another skill. I want something else other than you upgrading my passive. Something I can attack with.”

n“Hmmmmmm… an attack skill? Sure, but what exactly would you like? I can only offer so much since I’m not a god.”

n“An area of effect skill. Something that can spread across a wide range of units while dealing heavy damage to all. Preferably I’d like them to die quickly, but if it’s over a couple of ticks I also don’t mind as well.”

n“That’s simple. I’ll grant you that skill on top of everything… as long as you answer one question of mine,” The man muttered, leaning forward on his throne that looked more like a couch than anything. His slim pupils quivered in place with excitement, prepared to rebound at even the slightest rejection.

nI expected something like this. It wasn’t just a simple prize and now that he’s dished out so many delicious aspects of this deal, I didn’t mind lending him a helping hand. Of course, I had assumed this situation and prepared for it, even down to the very question he was going to ask. With an ego as big as his and a presence so large it could envelop my world if he was present in the future… it was so obvious as to what he was going to ask.

n“Do I exist in the future?”

nMy lips turned upwards and with a calm and gentle smile, I opened my lips.

n“No.”

nHe waited, saving his reaction for confirmation. Both girls leaned in, whispering something in a language I could not even begin to comprehend. I already knew the one on his right was for lie detection… but were both for lie detection at the same time? Was there something else to detect in my voice?

nWell, whatever it was, I told him the truth. I doubt there was anything he could be mad at me about and if he did burst out in a fit of rage, it would be because of that sole fact… he didn’t exist in the future. My present.

n“Well, what a shame…” he sighed, leaning back and staring up into the ceiling of darkness above. His pupils stopped vibrating and sat easy on each bed of white. “… Alright, I’ll give you your reward…”

nYou have completed the other half of the Hidden Quest: Negotiations With A Tyrant

nThe Hidden Quest Line: Marking The First Eon has been completed

nI guess even a guy like this isn’t outside of the system. Seeing as how it was waiting for me to finish this conversation, I have no choice but to continue following it for quite some time. Until I surpass this man in front of me, I have no choice but to listen to its every beckon and call… how **ty.𝒪𝒱𝓁xt.𝑐𝒪𝔪

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