Chapter 379: Battle Of Words
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They walked back to the café, the rest of Emir''s cohort trailing behind, ever watchful. Inside, the atmosphere was warm, starkly contrasting with the cold outside.
Richard led them up seven floors to a room in the corner, away from prying eyes and ears.
Only the two of them entered; the rest stayed outside the room, standing in a row with Lyra in the middle.
As they settled in, Emir felt a pang of nostalgia, remembering his first-ever intellectual battle.
It was him against a dog of the GoldLeafs, Vincent Reinfield.
Magnus Valerius.
A name he equipped as a weapon, using it to kill the man before he could even realize that death had arrived to im him.
Since then, and the direct call with the tenth leader of the Order, Emir hadn''t noticed any more moves in their game of chess.
Magnus got rid of a pawn of his, but that pawn''s removal resulted in bettering Emir''s position, not worsening it.
And it stopped there, with nothing big happening-the pieces going back and forth, repeating moves, awaiting the chance to strike.
Being reminded of that feeling almost excited him, but he reigned himself in.
Richard felt the same, though for a different yet slightly simr reason.
It was in ces like this, over cups of coffee and whispered conversations, that his real power ys were made.
During a time when he was eyeing the position he managed to nab a few years before Olivia''s birth.
So like before, he studied his opposition; he studied Emir, wondering what his next move would be.
Truth was a raremodity in this za of secrets, and Richard knew better than to offer it lightly.
"Emir..."
He began, leaning back in his chair.
"What grand scheme are you plotting this time? And don''t weasel your way out of answering;
I read your records, though halfplete, I can make out your personality."
Emir''s smile disappeared, his face donning a nk mask.
"Certainly not the first time I heard that. Oh, and you know how people like me operate... Always looking for the next big thing."
"True..."
Richard admitted, but as his eyes narrowed on Emir, he repeated:
"But can you share a little? I''m interested in whatever ''big thing'' you''ve found."
Emir shook his head, his voice measured.
"I''m under oath, can''t say much. But I assure you, our presence here is part of routine business. Our position in the relic market has no more room for growth, so we''re looking for acquisition offers and special opportunities-all legal, of course."
Richard had a glint of skepticism flickering in his eyes.
"Routine business, you say?"
Hemented, his tone casual yet probing.
"Forgive me if I find that hard to believe, especially with your reputation for ''unconventional'' methods."
A subtle tension hung between them, the rain masking the intensity of their exchange.
Emir was forced intoing here.
He couldn''t say no; doing so would announce that he hade for something shady, or at least put him under suspicion.
Not only that, the crafty scientist had invited him out in public.
If he was rejected, it would be heard by those around them and spread to all as a stain on Ster Solution''s name.
It was a trap that Emir had to willingly walk into.
He couldn''t leave either; he was stuck and had to weasel his way out bit by bit.
Any slip in his words could reveal more than he intended, so he trod carefully.
Unlike him, his opponent had words as his preferred weapon.
Richard Alexander, the most formidable figure in the scientificmunity, added unwanted tension to his ns with his undying curiosity, but he saw no need to deviate.
The man moved slow, as expected of someone in his position, his every move careful.
So retreating would only cause Emir to experience an avoidable w bacsh.
He might not win this battle of words, but he would at least survive on equal grounds.
"My methods are driven by necessity. Like any in my line of work, we deem efficiency as key, and to be that, we have to be adaptable, frequent the grey... I''m sure you''re very familiar." Emir replied evenly while taking a stab at Richard.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
"Efficiency and adaptability..."
But the man acted like he didn''t notice, echoing thoughtfully.
"It seems that our genes share the same DNA as you hunters. Don''t change; those traits will serve you well when navigating the webs around here."
Emir nodded his head in acknowledgment.
"Indeed... The wastnd is no different than this ce. Both are full of challenges and opportunities alike, only difference is that the monsters here hide in human skin, especially
those at the top."
Their conversation circled like predators probing each other.
It was as if they were in a merry-go-round, each man taking potshots at the other, missing, but their aim was slowly getting better, their bulletsnding closer to their opponent.
Emir had long since read Richard''s barely hidden purpose-to discern if his ''routine business'' would affect the bnce between the Big Eight.
If he only knew that this bnce would shift overnight due to a single invention, by an impure man no less.
The prince wanted to reveal a bit of that to get Richard off his back. Yet, revealing too much would jeopardize his strategic position.
It was a dilemma.
Divulging too much risked exposing vulnerabilities, while saying too little risked making an
enemy.
"You must understand, Sir Richard..."
Emir continued after a brief pause, his tonepletely neutral:
"Every move I make is calcted to advance my objectives without having anysting effect
that might render my exit difficult."
Richard''s lips quirked in a faint smile, a hint of amusement coloring his features as he mused
aloud:
"Objectives... I''m sure they are as lofty as they are ambitious."
Emir''s facade remained impassive.
"Perhaps, but that would be putting the chicken before the egg."
Raising a brow, Richard asked:
"So you''re saying that this ''ambition'' won''t be sedated much if those objectives are
completed?"
"...Perhaps."
Emir answered simply, inwardly happy with the point of conversation they had reached.
He really didn''t expect to see this man today, but that didn''t mean that he wasn''t prepared. When they met, he gave Richard the upper hand by lowering his head, even if slightly, making him appear more important even though they acted as if they were on equal terms.
It was a sign that he didn''te to attack, submitting to the authority of the za. Richard abused that authority, inviting Emir to the cafe, both knowing that he couldn''t be seen refusing him in public.
Their back and forth began the moment they saw each other, and even now, it didn''t stop.
Though Richard gained what he wanted, which was the insurance that Emir wouldn''t affect the ''bnce,'' his objectives being too low-stakes for it to matter in the bigger picture, he wanted to know more, greed an integral part of his being.
Such a thing didn''t surprise Emir; it only confirmed what he knew from the ''novel.''
"Emir..."
Richard leaned closer, his voice lowering fractionally, bing more earnest.
"I trust that your interests will always align with the progress of this za." "Can''t say. I''m no Primordial; who knows if the za will turn into a hellhole in a few years?"
"But if it stays the same?"
"Sure. There''s no reason to stop Earth''s advancement."
"Really?" "Yes."
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"..."
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Pushing his hands down the coach, Emir stood up, breaking the silence:
"I appreciate your curiosity. Rest assured, our objectives will bring you and your people no
harm. Our presence here serves a purpose that aligns with the za''s existence."
Richard inclined his head, admitting defeat.
His opponent was a tough nut to crack, repeating what they both knew over and over without
sharing anything new.
"I understand. Just as you understand the necessity of discretion in our respective
endeavors."
Emir''s face finally showed emotion for the first time since the beginning of their duel.
"What do you mean? We never met today."
It was a wide grin.
"Mhm."
Richard matched that grin, yet his gray eyes remained dead.
"Don''t forget, in this ce, every move has a consequence, and it always arrives when you''re
looking the other way."
Emir''s gaze sharpened, and for a moment, the air between them seemed to crackle.
"Of course. You know, I''m always prepared for the consequences. I wouldn''t have gotten
where I am today if I wasn''t."
Gesturing for the door, Richard bid him goodbye:
"Then I won''t waste any more of your time, do teach my daughters well."
Turning around, he exited the room, the door automatically opening.
"I will."
The door closed as his voice resounded, leaving Richard alone in that room, presumably
sitting to enjoy the rainy mood.
But Emir was in no shape to think about that.
[Fucking hell... That was stressful!]
Though he looked beyond calm on the outside, his telepathic scream at Lyra was anything
but.
[Yeah... how was it?]
[Ah, my bad for not showing you a live feed, I didn''t want distractions.]
[It''s fine, I''m only a little sad, like negligibly sad, that you think of me as a distraction.]
Inwardly chuckling, he ignored her teasing and said:
[I didn''t win or lose, just diverted his attention and fed him a few lies. I''ll share my memories
later, but just know that we''ll still be watched.]
[Right, he might trust your words because of his lie detector, but he''ll still spy on us to satiate
his curiosity.]
[True.]
With him as the lead, the cohort walked in silence.
None of them asked a question, knowing that it wasn''t the time for that.
They simply moved as a unit, dominating the street with their presence.
Their destination? Apex Dynamics''s only tower.