Chapter 106: Budding Diplomacy

To be completely honest… Ash didn’t mind.

The kid could have hurled the greatest of praise or the lowest of insults, and it wouldn’t have mattered.

Words simply lacked the same sharpness for him that they seemed to possess for others.

Especially words that came from someone like Jack.

‘A fool. One unworthy of even disrespect.’

Still, there wasn’t much harm in pretending to be annoyed.

Again, a feint the old Ash would have considered unthinkable and lowly.

So…

Ash nodded stiffly.

“Hmph.”

Fae’s expression fell completely flat.

An awkward silence followed. Dreadful for everyone except Ash.

After a light cough, she said:

“Ahem… so, did you come here simply to introduce yourself, or is there something you want from us?”

Ash took a shallow breath, then summoned his [Stone Throne] behind himself and settled into it.

“What I want is information and cooperation. Sadly… there seems to be very little you have to offer on the knowledge front. Though I possess quite a bit that would interest you.”

Fae studied the suddenly manifested throne with a mixture of perplexity and awe before replying:

“You’re probably right on that front.”

Ash’s smile grew slightly.

“Still sticking to that rationalist mindset, huh… While I’m being cordial now, do your best to fix that quality of yours by the next time we meet.”

“Oh— uh…” Fae gulped before answering, “Okay.”

“Good. Now…” Ash leaned back, resting his head against the oddly comfortable stone. “While you may have little to offer, that doesn’t mean you have absolutely nothing.”

Fae’s smile twitched.

“I suppose you’re talking about future promises.”

“For the most part… but there’s more.”

Genuine surprise crossed Fae’s face. She tilted her head, narrowed her eyes, and fell silent in thought.

But Ash didn’t clarify what he meant.

What he truly wanted was information on their racial abilities — the Active and Passive abilities of the Harpy — along with any important geographical details or game mechanics they’d discovered.

However…

Telling her exactly what he wanted would limit him to exactly what he asked for.

He didn’t know the full extent of what they knew, and he certainly didn’t want to reveal the boundaries of his own knowledge. If he kept his request vague, Fae might offer something Ash or the other Dragonkin had never even thought to ask about.

Negotiation was all about leverage.

Even if Ash held the overall upper hand in knowledge and power, the moment he revealed that they possessed something he specifically needed, that advantage disappeared.

Well, It wasn’t so much as ‘they’ as it was ‘Fae.’

‘Fae is the only one I’m talking with…’

She might be a bit feckless, but she was nowhere near as bad as the other Harpies. Ash glanced past her at the remaining four and found himself thoroughly unimpressed. One fanboy and three who looked like they could start crying at any moment.

‘I guess I am a bit scary to the prideless…’

A horned man who fell from the sky would unnerve most people who’d been regular humans not too long ago.

Fae had yet to entirely impress him, though she’d earned enough credit for Ash to consider her worthy of addressing directly. Though perhaps his bar of judgment was being dragged down by the quality of her Vassals.

At the very least, while she’d partially buckled under his display, she’d also answered it with one of her own and continued facing him without outright submission.

Finally, Fae raised her head and met Ash’s gaze.

“I assume you wish to know our racials. After all, I am quite curious as to what yours could be.”

Ash kept his expression measured.

“One is obviously flight. I merely wish to know the other.”

The corner of Fae’s mouth lifted slightly.

“Oh? What makes you think flying is one of our racial abilities? You have a tail… does that make smacking things with it your racial ability? A trait doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a system-recognized ability, even if it is something we couldn’t do before as regular humans.”

Ash straightened in the throne. His black tail curled across his lap gave a small flick.

‘So, she does possess some level of shrewdness.’

“So you say.”

Fae shrugged.

“Well, I’ll tell you one of our abilities if you tell us one little thing… how do we breach the Level 5 barrier?”

Ash adopted a wide grin.

“What makes you think I know such a thing?”

Fae pointed past him and upward, toward the top of the waterfall.

“Because I have eyes… Ahem. Sorry. What I mean is, you would have never appeared before us alone if there wasn’t a gulf of power between us.”

Ash shrugged.

“How would I have known you’re Level 4?”

‘Furthermore… that gulf comes from my items and glitch, not my Level.’

Fae immediately pointed to his glasses.

“Those can see our Levels, correct? Or something of the sort? Maybe even our status. You didn’t seem surprised when I introduced myself despite my unusual name. Though, maybe you simply didn’t care… Anyway, don’t claim they’re a vanity item; it’s clear they serve some purpose. You’ve shown me enough of your personality to see that you measure things by function, not form. Especially given…”

Fae paused. Her gaze traveled down his body to his black boots, then back up the skintight green scales of his bodysuit, and finally to the cerulean flame crown hovering above his head.

She added:

“Yeah. The proof is in the pudding.”

After a slight pause, Fae shook her head and continued:

“The worst part is you don’t even seem insulted! Ah— oops. Sorry for shouting.”

Ash sighed.

‘Whatever…’

“Fine. If you tell us both of your racial abilities, I’ll tell you how to break the level barrier.”

Fae’s eyes widened, but rather than answering immediately, she lowered her gaze in thought.

After a few moments, she replied:

“I’ll accept such a deal, but I’m afraid there’s one proviso. You tell us what we want to know first.”

Ash’s eyes narrowed.

“Why would I do that?”

“Because we don’t possess the means to get our answer if you lie or withhold information, but you do. If we deceive you, you have ways of forcing the answer. We don’t have that luxury. I’m thankful you’re not enforcing your strength over us and are giving us some room, but because of that imbalance, it’s a courtesy I ask for.”

Ash leaned back in his throne, resting one fist against the knuckles of the other.

“And yet, it’s a courtesy you’ve done nothing to deserve. I promise to uphold my end of the deal; that is the most you’ll get.”

Fae dropped her head.

“I see.”