Chapter 361: Let Them Pay the Price

"A Golden Behemoth Hero!"

Darian stared at the Sigil Cassian had just sent him. His eyes shone.

"This is perfect. I’d already resigned myself to finding a Beast King Hero with Golden Behemoth Command once I reached Rank XVIII."

Blood Boil gave Golden Behemoths exceptional bursts of power, even among Extreme troops. He intended to make them one of his strongest forces.

A Beast King Hero usually had Grade-B Command over them. A Golden Behemoth Hero would have Grade A.

"You’ve been working hard managing our Lords in Pandora," Cassian said with a smile. "Consider it your reward."

"No wonder you’ve been so secretive lately." Darian raised the Sigil. "Divine Province has other enemies in Pandora, doesn’t it? Can we help?"

Cassian considered him for a moment.

"You’re still too weak. Get to Rank XVIII as soon as you can."

"Fine."

Darian’s mouth tightened. He was the second-strongest Lord in the Homeworld, and someone was telling him he was too weak.

The worst part was that he could not argue.

While they spoke, more foreign Lords learned that the first groups entering Pandora had suffered no attacks from its native Lords. Migration began on a far larger scale.

Darian immediately posted a statement on Divine Province’s behalf.

[Darian Frost: Pandora Forest is a safe hunting area secured by Divine Province. Lords of other nations may not move into it without our permission. Enter without permission, and you will bear the consequences.]

The warning did little to slow them.

A safe hunting ground in the Outer Realms was too tempting. Their nations began offering large bounties to encourage powerful Lords to enter Pandora and earn points.

In less than a day, more than five hundred thousand newcomers had arrived.

Before Cassian could act, Mira contacted him.

"Boss, a Lord from Fivefold Heaven has come to Divine Province."

His expression grew serious.

"So they’re finally here. I understand. I’ll come back now."

He paid for the return passage. Soon afterward, he arrived in Mira’s Domain with Rhea beside him.

A young-looking man with gentle features sat in the reception room, enjoying a cup of tea. It was not Enlightenment Tea, but Cassian’s Domain produced several other kinds of Legendary tea.

The visitor set down his cup as Cassian entered.

"Young heroes never cease to amaze me. Lord Cassian, I am Evander Ardent, of the Tide Chapter in Fivefold Heaven’s Sector 622."

After the brief introduction, he went directly to his purpose.

"What would Fivefold Heaven need to offer you for the Five Elements Temple?"

A Lord from an older sector.

Rhea spoke quietly to Cassian.

"Lord, I don’t think this is his real body. Even this form has Legendary strength."

Cassian gave a slight nod. He studied Evander for a moment, then smiled.

"This is a surprise. I expected Fivefold Heaven to come with an army."

"We’ve spent the past half month learning about your achievements," Evander said. "A fellow Human Lord with fortune such as yours is someone we would prefer to befriend."

His tone remained mild.

"We are determined to obtain the Temple. But we have no wish to be used by others or drawn into the Homeworld’s internal wars."

Cassian looked at him with fresh interest. They understood the situation rather well.

Of course, the Temple itself had helped them reach that understanding. Assaulting Divine Province under the fire of a Mythic defensive Wonder would be costly, even if they won.

It also explained why they had sent this man instead of Ilyse, whose grudge would hardly help a negotiation.

"What is your relation to Lady Ilyse?" Cassian asked.

Evander smiled.

"By family seniority, she is my ancestress, fifty-four generations back."

So her background was every bit as remarkable as he had suspected.

If Fivefold Heaven wanted to negotiate, Cassian was happy to oblige. For now, the Outer Realm campaign mattered far more than a war with another Human Realm.

"My terms are quite simple."

He had already considered the question.

"Give me another World Wonder that I find satisfactory, plus a trillion Aether, and the Five Elements Temple is yours. You will also cover all relocation costs."

Evander frowned.

"Fivefold Heaven is willing to pay two trillion Aether for the Temple."

"Please be serious, Lord Ardent." Cassian’s smile faded. "A World Wonder is priceless. If you insist on measuring one in Aether, its value would be at least ten trillion."

He held the envoy’s gaze.

"And to the Elemental Covenant, this Temple is worth several ordinary Wonders of the same Quality. Isn’t it?"

More of the warmth left Evander’s expression.

"I agree that it is far more valuable to us than an ordinary World Wonder. But you should remember that we are not negotiating as equals—in strength or in our legal position."

He spoke more firmly.

"The Homeworld Council has already donated the Temple to Fivefold Heaven. We are offering two trillion Aether out of respect for Humanity’s Paragon."

In another lesser Human Realm, they would already have taken it by force. The courtesy he was offering did not make their positions equal.

"The Homeworld Council?"

Cassian gave a short laugh and stood.

"Think over my terms, Lord Ardent. Contact me whenever you’re ready."

He opened a Gate and turned to leave.

Evander had not expected him to end the discussion so abruptly.

"Lord Cassian, wait!"

Cassian stopped beside the Gate and glanced back.

"Is there something else? My terms won’t change."

Evander was beginning to feel a headache.

"We haven’t found a World Wonder in our territory. You’re asking for something we cannot give you."

Whether that was true scarcely mattered. Cassian already had a particular Wonder in mind.

"Fivefold Heaven may not have one. The Homeworld does. I’m sure you understand."

"Our information says..." Evander stopped. His expression became very strange. "You mean the Western Beacon’s Firstborn Gate? You want us to give you their Gate in exchange for your Temple?"

Before coming, he had studied the disputes between the Homeworld’s factions. The Council’s donation was merely a political move to weaken Divine Province and Cassian.

Now Cassian had turned that same move back on them.

And for Fivefold Heaven, it was the most convenient solution available. Claiming the Firstborn Gate would be much easier than taking an occupied Five Elements Temple.

Beside them, Mira stared at Cassian. Then admiration spread across her face.

They had tried to buy favor with his property. He was making them supply the payment instead.

"It’s only a suggestion," Cassian said. "Another World Wonder would do as well. A pity you don’t have one—you just told me that yourself."