Abyssal Awakening-Chapter 994: Conditions For The Offer

"First of all, I cannot give you full access to that blood." Alice crossed her legs, narrowing her eyes at the Lord who sat in front of her. "I'm sure you understand why."

"Even if you are someone Allura once chose to grant a favour to, that was the past." She tilted her head ever so slightly, her gaze never leaving his. "Not the present. Certainly not the future. People change. Circumstances change. Intentions change. That is not something even you can deny."

"And to hand something of this... nature to you, of all people..." Alice lifted her chin.

"A Nine Sigil Lord."

"!!!" Faust snapped his gaze up.

How did she know?

He had revealed nothing. Not a single technique, not a single action, not even a fragment of aura that should have exposed him. He had been meticulous, restrained to the point of absurdity. There was no display, no slip, no evidence that should have allowed her to make that claim so casually.

At most, she should've only guessed his rank.

However… She didn't guess. She wasn't probing. She was stating a fact.

Her tone held no uncertainty, no bluff.

"To give someone who stands at the pinnacle this kind of power… Full access no less. Don't you think that would be a little excessive?"

Her eyes locked onto his.

Faust had stood before monsters, monarchs of old and ancient Lords who instilled fear into all who appeared before them. Yet the pressure Alice was giving off was unlike any of them.

And she was only a Six Sigil Hunter a that. A strange one who could use multiple abilities beyond six, yet lacked the aura of a Lord.

Someone who transcended that level of power despite not having reached it.

The thought itself felt absurd but it was with good reason.

That final attack of hers had not been something a mere Six Sigil Hunter should have possessed.

Even now, recalling it sent a faint chill through him.

If he didn't have his fail-safes… Faust didn't want to imagine what kind of fate would have awaited him had that attack truly landed.

"However." Alice continued. "That doesn't mean I won't give you access. Rather than full access, you'll be getting partial access. With conditions."

Faust's eyelid twitched faintly as he gestured for her to continue.

Alice lifted a finger.

"First. You'll receive a fixed allotment of this blood per month. No more. No less. It will be full concentration. No dilution. No tricks. So you don't have to worry."

She kept her gaze on him.

"You won't be restricted in quality. Only in quantity."

A second finger rose.

"Second. You are allowed to research the blood, refine it and integrate it into artifacts, consumables and defensive tools if you wish. I won't stop you from doing that."

Her eyes narrowed.

"But you cannot replicate, synthesize or mass produce it at the cost of civilians."

That was the key point.

If Faust got carried away and started using people as fuel for replication, then this deal would be no different from what the Zenia family had done. The method would change, but the result would remain the same.

Alice had no intention of allowing that.

"If your methods cross that line, the contract ends immediately."

A third finger.

"Third. Anyone you share this blood with will be subjected to the same conditions. No exceptions. You are responsible for enforcing that.

"If they breach it, then the fault falls on you. The contract is void. And all remaining blood is to be returned."

She lowered her hand slowly.

"This isn't something you get to spread freely. You control it properly. Or you lose access to it entirely. The risks of this blood spreading to unknown parties… I'm sure you can imagine the consequences."

Faust exhaled slowly.

Indeed. Knowledge about this blood should be kept to close ones that have his trust.

His eyes lingered on Alice. He contemplated the conditions that she proposed, the risks and the responsibilities that he has to fulfil if he wanted access to the blood.

Not only that, but it was only partial access too.

"You left me with very little room to work with." Faust sighed, resting his chin on his knuckles.

Alice simply shrugged.

"That was intentional. I left you very little room but it's also plenty for someone like you to work with right? And I'm sure you know exactly why I put those conditions in place."

Faust scratched his hair in annoyance before letting out a deep sigh.

"I do." He relented.

Of course he understood.

Every condition she stated was to make sure things remain contained. To ensure that he doesn't cross certain lines from the lust for power.

The easiest paths that required him to perform heinous deeds will be cut off.

No civilian harvesting. No quiet replication through disposable lives.

No careless circulation of this blood through subordinates and allies until it become impossible to track.

Tapping his fingers, Faust considered the proposal carefully.

"How much will I receive every month?"

"Depends on what you want to do with it. Enough to be used, not enough to be indulged and exploited." Alice waved her hand.

"You realise, that tells me f*ck all right?" Faust's smile twitched.

Alice let out a chuckle before nodding.

"Indeed. Let's do…" She paused before smiling.

"Six vials per month. That should be plenty to experiment with and be used for equipment if you wish." She offered.

"Six…" Faust mumbled.

It couldn't be called low, but it wasn't exactly a lot either.

Especially when they consider it to be on a per month basis.

"Why not eight? Two per week." Faust argued for but Alice shook her head.

"Who knows how much of your services I will use in the end. But the benefits of this blood is instant, don't you agree?"

Faust clicked his tongue.

"Yes but it's also too low. For proper research and development, six a month is hardly enough. Especially if experiments fail." He narrowed his eyes.

"You're the Leader of the Underground." Alice interrupted. "Are you telling me you need that much room for trial and error?"

"Rather than trial and error, it's more for safety precautions. Since your blood can negate Abyssal energy, it's true nature is most definitely far from normal. I'd even argue that it's probably more akin to a poison than some magical blood." Faust leaned back.

"To ensure a safe working environment for my employees who will be handling this blood, I need to know what works and what doesn't. And that requires blood to be used up, yes?"

Alice folded her arms.

His instincts were spot on.

Her blood can be considered to be a poison far more potent than the Abyss Waters which people are so afraid of. A concentrated mass of side effects and Abyss Blood all condensing inside her body.

Accidental exposure and allowing her blood to enter the body of those unprepared would be… rather catastrophic.

Even if they treat it early like Abyss Waters, the victim will suffer from side effects till the end unless she did something about it.

So having safety nets in place was important when dealing with her blood. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Faust caught that slight shift in her eyes.

"I'm not asking for eight so I can waste it or indulge in it." He clarified.

"I'm asking for eight because if this goes wrong, we're not just losing a sample. We could be losing one of my employees."

"Eight is still quite a lot." Alice exhaled slowly. "But I suppose your words do hold some merit. So fine, eight vials of concentrated blood per month. Treat it as a heavily concentrated Abyss blood that can corrupt you with the wrong move. Use it carefully." Alice nodded.

Snapping his fingers, Faust brought out a Law of Agreement and wrote down the conditions.

Alice read through it carefully, making sure everything matched up perfectly. No loopholes, no exploits.

She also had Cayla double check the contract to make sure it was fine.

Only after Cayla gave the greenlight did Alice finally sign it and the contract was finalised.

Looking at the contract, Faust nodded in satisfaction and put it away carefully while Alice did the same.

"With that out of the way, I suppose I should give you the blood first before we talk about the stuff regarding Allura." Alice shrugged.

Opening her pouch, she rummaged around before pulling out an Abyss Blood extractor.

"An extractor? I thought you summoned the blood with an ability?" Faust asked, confused by her actions.

"I do. But I told you full concentration right? Using my Sigil ability dilutes the blood somewhat. Its effects are reduced." Alice explained, pulling out eight empty vials.

Faust looked around the office with a concerned expression.

Since Alice was using an extractor, it meant she needed to bring out the source of the blood. And with her needing to pull eight vials worth, the source much be rather big.

Was this room even enough?

He watched her carefully. She pulled out a needle.

Was she about to summon the beast?

Where's the portal?

Alice stuck the needle into her own arm.

". . ." Faust blinked.

Miki blinked.

Blood started to flow through the tubes as it was siphoned into the vials.

"What?" Alice frowned, seeing the two stare at her so intently.

"The blood is… yours?" Faust asked hesitantly.

"Well… yeah. Why else would I be drawing out my own blood?" Alice rolled her eyes.

But this only caused more questions to appear in Faust's mind.

If this blood cancels Abyssal energy… how the f*ck was she using it???

How was she able to use Sigils at all when this is coursing through her veins?

But that didn't matter for now. There was a slight concern he has with the blood flowing through the tubes.

"Say…" Faust opened his mouth.

"Hm?"

"Do you drink a lot?" He asked.

Alice paused.

"…Why do you ask?"

"Your blood is a little thin. Could you maybe… drink less so your blood isn't so thin?"

". . ."

Alice didn't know how to respond…