'I hoped it wouldn't come to this. Turns out I was too naive.'
Ariella sighed before returning to her seat. She took a deep breath before clarifying things for Eren.
"Grimdawn, I know it sounds like I don't wish to cooperate with you. But that's not how I want you to feel. I want you to understand our perspective– our struggle against oppression."
Eren was about to talk to Ariella. But the latter raised her hand and pressed on.
"Please let me finish.
Let me tell you something about our side. The Last Blood Bastion is already stretched thin trying to fight the Anfang Alliance with whatever limited resources we have. So we can't pick a side.
We will need to prioritize our benefits before we can even choose between the various allies we have. So it's nothing personal. Also, you need to know that we will not be moving against you just because Demonmir wants us to. We have decided to play neutral to the conflict between you two."
Eren chuckled at Ariella's words. He knew there was nothing more convincing than someone lying to themselves. There can never be a true neutral sentient being in any world. Living and mentally functional people always have a bias toward certain things or people. They may not think it exists. They may not realize they have a bias. But it always existed deep within anyone's mind.
'The Last Blood Bastion plays safe. It wants to see who brings more profits between me and Demonmir. After it ensures that it has used us both completely, it'll pick someone less threatening to its existence. This is regardless of whether the choice has given them more profits or not.
Do they really think I won't be able to get what they are trying to do? Or do they just consider me naive and hopelessly romantic about certain concepts of life like honesty and integrity?'
Eren thought to himself as he listened to Ariella's words.
"Therefore… I hope you didn't drag House Lowin between you and Demonmir. Whatever your differences are, I'd appreciate it if you settled them individually without getting us involved.
Or… here's another suggestion. And I know it may seem difficult. But why don't you shake hands and bury the hatchet between you two?"
Eren couldn't help but crack a smile which eventually turned into laughter. He saw Ariella angry at him for laughing at her words. But that didn't stop him from laughing more before blurting out what he had wanted to say all this time.
"It is impossible. There can never be a true truce between hunter and prey."
Ariella disagreed with Eren's hardline stance against Demonmir. She hadn't worked with Demonmir for long. But as far as she could tell, Ottoman was highly pragmatic and driven.
Ariella slammed her hands on the table and almost broke it before saying her words with conviction.
"Why not?" Why can't there be a truce between you two?
Demonmir is excommunicated by the whole Anfang Alliance now. Alliance forces actively hunt him. The last thing he wants is to keep fighting with you for a city he can no longer control or use in any form.
You can't do anything about him either. I don't want to put you on a lower pedestal than him. But let's face it. He is Demonmir.
He has a Demon Prince's soul fragment within him. What can you do against someone like him if he really decides to kill you?
I admit that he may have plotted a lot against you in the past. But today's reality is different. So why not move on for personal growth?
After all… we can't change things that happened in the past, can we?"
Eren pursed his lips and tapped his fingers over the table. "Well… actually," he was about to say something but Ariella silenced him once again.
"My point is… there is nothing to be gained for both of you if you keep fighting between yourself. If you want, House Lowin can pay as the mediator..."
"Enough!"
With a grim look on his face, Eren's eyes threatened to turn white. Ariella's mind froze when she looked Eren in the eyes. In the next moment, she closed her eyes and turned her head towards her left, as if trying to render Sedating Gaze useless.
However, unlike what she expected, the butcher did not use his ocular Ability on her. Neither did he let his soul sense overwhelm her or threaten her. He smiled as he said what needed to be said.
"My dear Ariella, I suggest you don't jump to conclusions by reading the reports about me and Demonmir. There are certain things you will never find in the reports."
Eren spoke calmly and non-threateningly. This was a privilege he extended to her because she approached him for a business proposal.
Eren took out a bottle of booze from his storage. Two silver chalices appeared beside the bottle next. He made two drinks on the table and placed one in front of Ariella.
"Here. Drink this."
Ariella opened her eyes and confirmed that it was safe to open her eyes. She looked at the drink warily before inhaling its aroma. She pointed at the bottle before speaking accusingly.
"This brand… I paid for this elven ale last night."
Eren laughed and shrugged his shoulders before saying nonchalantly.
"All the more reason to drink up."
Having a shot of the same booze the next morning was Eren's solution to beat a hangover. He had a habit of saving a peg or two for himself in the morning before getting completely shitfaced.
Grimdawn chuckled as he watched Ariella drink from her chalice with extreme caution while looking at his nose to avoid eye contact. It was like watching a cat drink her share of milk while looking at her owner.
Eren watched Ariella finish her drink. He then finished his drink in one gulp before speaking to her.
"You wanted me and Demonmir to sort out our differences without getting you involved, right? That's what I wanted to say to you.
All I want you to do is arrange a simple meeting between me and Demonmir. Your House and the entire Last Blood Bastion can walk away from any potential conflict after that.
Does this sound like a reasonable deal to you?"
