Re: Timeless Apocalypse-Chapter 135: Merchant

Uriel was taken aback but didn’t interrupt.

"During your transportation from the dungeon to the Legacy space, I’m not sure what you did, but you tampered with the fabric of the void."

"It shook the internal structure of the space and turned it into a Jade Grade Dungeon Legacy Space. You don’t understand what that means, but in simpler terms, you made the legacy space harder than it was ever supposed to be."

"But that’s not the issue."

He sighed.

"If the Legacy Event becomes harder, then the Gods must invest more resources than they originally planned, since even they can’t easily break the laws of the system."

"So, while the Gods sponsoring this event were initially going to spare mere scraps for the rewards, now they’re forced to empty a good portion of their pockets for this."

Noticing the faint smirk at the corners of Uriel’s lips, Godwyn felt a headache building at his temples.

"So yes, the Gods are angry. My goodness, I’ve never seen them this enraged."

"But then, during your evolution, you caused a spike of aether while the space was still unstable, and your Pioneer aura leaked out, infecting all creatures within the space."

He massaged his temples at the thought of what he was about to say, then sighed again.

"And then every beast in the legacy space evolved, becoming Pioneer Grade Beasts. Yet again, you do not understand what that means, but that’s bad."

"Because it makes the trials harder, and thus requires the Gods to invest even more into this."

He paused for a moment.

"Due to the fact that this is a Tutorial Dungeon, one meant for an awakening world, such a legacy space would normally be a death sentence. But due to certain laws, we cannot allow that."

"So, the group I am a part of had to invest quite a bit into the humans of your world to ensure they had a chance to survive this space."

"This is all to say that, currently, you are in—"

"—prison?" Uriel finished, and Godwyn nodded.

"And I’m guessing you have a sweet deal for me to survive this and appease the anger of the Gods? A deal that helps us both?"

Godwyn smiled. "Well, I personally wouldn’t have phrased it like that, but aye, if that’s how you perceive it, what can I say?"

Uriel inwardly shook his head. He felt like he was speaking to a more polished version of Enoch for some reason.

’Or is this how I look and sound to other people?’ He smiled, bitterly.

"So, how much of my soul must I sell?" Uriel refocused on Godwyn. "I’ll let you know I’m a very hot commodity. I’ve already given parts of it to a few individuals."

"Oh, no worry, I know. Truly, I know," Godwyn said, caressing his chin and leaning back in his chair. "But I don’t need your soul. Just a simple thing."

Uriel’s ears perked up.

"Become my disciple."

His brows furrowed. "Disciple? Of what? Why?"

"Of what?" Godwyn’s brows knit together in turn. "What do you mean ’of what’? Of me."

"As for the ’why’? It’s because you’ve impressed me. Truly, the potential I see in you is—"

"You’re lying," Uriel stated flatly. "I’ve not done anything impressive enough in this cave to warrant such a thing."

"Unless you’ve been watching since before the cave." His gaze narrowed. "In that case, you probably set me up in some shape or form."

Godwyn leaned forward, hands raised like a mediator attempting to ease tension. "No, no, of course not. You shouldn’t see it that way."

’Or like a sleazy salesman.’

"Well, maybe you should see it like that, but not in that specific manner, you know? I’ve been watching you since the beginning, but who hasn’t?"

"First in the cloud trial. First to clear his death trial. You somehow defeated an entire death advent alone in record time. You were the first Pioneer of the world, one of the first God path wielders, one of the first high mages, one of the highest contributors to the beast tide; I mean, please?"

"Who hasn’t been watching you?"

Uriel remained quiet. For the first time, their conversation seemed to take a breath, and silence filled the emptiness between them.

Uriel’s shoulders relaxed as his gaze drifted downward to the ground. The cave’s cold air brushed softly against his skin, cooling his body and soul alike.

Godwyn found Uriel’s reaction strange, yet he didn’t rush him. In fact, his demeanor shifted as well.

He leaned back into his chair once more, his presence loosening, returning to its unapproachable yet warm essence.

In one moment, he had seemed like a sleazy salesman and a disgruntled uncle; in the next, he appeared as a divine emperor seated atop the world, his cool blue eyes indifferent to all things.

Had any third party been observing, they might have found Uriel and Godwyn surprisingly similar, both unpredictable, both chaotic by nature.

Uriel lifted his head to look at Godwyn. "And what do you gain?"

Godwyn studied him for a few moments. "You’re being very difficult. Most wouldn’t be as kind or cooperative as I am, you know?"

"A mortal displaying this much composure is often seen as a sin."

Uriel stared at him all the same, entirely unimpressed.

"What do I gain? I gain a disciple," Godwyn replied. "That’s what I gain."

"In the organisation I’m a part of, having talented disciples comes with a number of boons. Plus, if you accept, in the future you’ll need to participate in various events."

"If you perform well, I receive resources. And then I grow stronger. It’s quite simple."

Uriel continued to stare for a moment longer, as though weighing the words not for their surface meaning but for the intent beneath them.

"Alright," he said at last. "I accept."

"Do I need to sign a weave contract or offer a drop of my blood or something?"

Godwyn, who had expected Uriel to resist for at least a few more hours of back-and-forth, remained frozen for a moment before visibly deflating in relief.

"You’d make a decent Merchant, you know?" Folding one leg over the other, he rested his hands calmly in his lap. "As for contracts, there’s no need."

"Your word is enough."