People in Terra, governing a bizarre little country

Everything will naturally become a secret.

"Stop!"

Therese's action of drawing his sword clearly provoked Saria. The heavily injured Vayvan wanted to step forward, but Ernst stopped him with a single look.

In her current state, even if Saria rushed forward, she wouldn't be able to defeat the person in front of her.

Ernst recognized him immediately.

Before news of the Sarkaz's "peaceful takeover" of Londinium spread throughout Terra, Ernst, who had learned of it from Duke Windermere, had already begun investigating the identities of the Sarkaz who had entered Londinium.

This wasn't actually a very difficult task. Theresis's identity wasn't hard to ascertain; he was a Sarkaz who had been active on this land for over a century, and the de facto leader of the entire Sarkaz tribe, leaving countless traces across the land. In modern society, the appearance of a leader is hardly a secret; a simple online search will yield plenty of results.

Even disregarding that, after the Sarkaz occupied Londinium, despite the Grand Dukes' vehement denials and restrictions on domestic media coverage, numerous foreign news outlets still published lengthy reports on the matter. With a simple search, Ernst could easily obtain information about Theresis from these sources.

It's not hard to guess why Therese came here.

For that Flame Demon who has already collapsed and gone to sleep.

To be honest, Ernst didn't really have any objections to Theresis taking the Balrog away. After all, it wasn't his own person, and taking him away would be a loss for Rhine Lab and Columbia. As long as it didn't harm the lives of the people present, he wouldn't mind turning a blind eye.

Unfortunately, Theresis didn't give him that chance.

Taking a deep breath and remaining calm, Ernst gave a formulaic smile, took a slight step forward, and spoke from a position slightly ahead but out of reach of his sword:

"Wait a moment, sir. It would be rather impolite to barge in here and start a fight."

"If you're here for that Balrog, you can take him with you, just don't harm the innocent."

Therese paused slightly, glancing up and down at Ernst with some surprise.

He was not surprised by Ernst's words, but by Ernst's courage.

The more formidable Vayvan was one thing, but the first person to step forward and try to negotiate wasn't the Water Sprite or Dulin, but a Philin.

As everyone knows, the Felin are arguably the most widely distributed and numerous race on this land, yet also the weakest in individual strength. Their courage in overcoming fear and their own oppressive aura to stand before them is truly commendable.

pity.

"Want to negotiate?"

Therese's eyes were cold as she raised her longsword.

"I am the butcher, and you are the flesh and blood. Why do you think I would be willing to negotiate with you?"

Without any warning, and without giving Ernst any further opportunity to speak, the next second, Therese's sword casually slashed down, and a scarlet sword aura slashed out in an unscientific way. The safe distance that Ernst had deliberately maintained seemed like a joke under the sword aura.

Vina and Levi's expressions both changed, and they instinctively wanted to push Ernst away. But the gap in distance and time made it too late for them to act.

The next second, a bone-chilling aura exploded out, and the air that had just been ignited by the Flame Demon quickly turned cold again, with the temperature plummeting at a speed beyond the laws of nature, making everyone present feel what it meant to experience "a world of ice and fire".

The powerful cold air collided with the hot air, and a thick fog quickly filled the entire room. It then turned into rain in a short time, but within a few seconds of hitting the ground, the rain turned into hail, which pelted the tiles covered with ice shards and covered with a layer of white frost.

Therese frowned, a sudden sense of crisis gripping his mind. He leaped backward, and almost by a hair's breadth, an ice pillar pierced through him from beneath him!

After adjusting his posture in mid-air and landing steadily on the ground, Therese's expression shifted from cold to solemn as he looked up. He gazed at the spot where Ernst had just stood, feeling the immense power and will permeating the air, his voice now tinged with disbelief:

"how is this possible?"

"Behemoth?"

"Cough cough cough cough!"

A violent cough interrupted Therese's astonishment, and a scene was reflected in his scarlet pupils.

Contrary to his expectations, the fearless snow leopard was not cut in two by the sword energy. He remained standing unharmed, his silver hair disheveled by the fierce wind, and only a few shards of ice stuck to the hem of his clothes.

His expression was calm, as if he had expected this scene. Although there was still some apprehension in his eyes as he looked at Theresis, he clearly had a lot of confidence now. And this confidence clearly stemmed from the strange stone that was floating in mid-air beside him, emitting a dazzling blue light.

Therese sensed an aura of anger within it.

The rage, as vast and overwhelming as a mountain, comes from a magnificent and eternal being.

In times when mortals were not yet civilized, people called it the "wrath of the gods".

Their gazes met in mid-air, the snow leopard still wearing a polite smile. But at this moment, that gentle smile made Theresis feel incredibly uneasy.

I only came here to take a Balrog away, and I didn't even want to cause trouble in Columbia. I never imagined that I would have to fight a behemoth representative here.

Therese's expression shifted slightly, and she straightened up, but did not swing her sword again.

Ernst breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Fortunately, he had prepared in advance. The so-called safe distance was never a guarantee that Therese's longsword wouldn't hit him. Rather, it meant that Ernst would have ample time to cast his summoning magic when this ruthless killer came at him!

In life, what we pursue boils down to one word: stability!

After calming his racing heart, Ernst spoke again in a loud voice:

"So now, Mr. Sarkaz, can we negotiate?"

Chapter 198 I'm waiting for reinforcements, what are you waiting for?

Upon Ernst's question, the expression of the unnamed Mr. Sarkaz softened slightly.

The appearance of the behemoth was unexpected by Theresis. If this unknown behemoth's representative really wanted to fight him to the death here, he would find it extremely troublesome.

It wasn't that he was terrified of the behemoth's power. As the pinnacle of Sarkaz combat strength in his time, Theresis believed he wouldn't be completely helpless even facing the behemoth in its entirety. A more likely outcome was a stalemate, a battle that would rage to the edge of Terra, until even the Great Dao was obliterated. His only concern was that if it really came to that, in a contest of endurance, he would most likely be unable to defeat such a bug-like being as the behemoth.

What Theresis found most unacceptable here was being forcibly held back and staying for too long.

Colombia is a dangerous place. He might get away with quietly killing some scientists, but if he makes too much of a fuss and attracts the attention of Colombian officials, then he'll be in big trouble.

His plan was to stir up trouble in Terra by using the Shards, causing nations like Victoria, Columbia, and Letania to fight amongst themselves, thus creating more space for the Sarkaz to establish their own nation. Instead of single-handedly forging another anti-Demonic alliance, he also managed to bring the previously at odds, father and son, Columbia and Victoria, back to the same side.

Ernst's words undoubtedly gave him a way out, clearly indicating an intention to ease the situation. Regardless of whether he genuinely didn't recognize him when he said "the unknown Sarkaz," or was deliberately pretending not to know him—Theresis was more inclined to believe the latter. A representative of a behemoth, even if there was no reason for the behemoth behind him not to tell him his identity—he had given Theresis a chance to back down gracefully.

Therese finally sheathed her sword. The initial disdain in her gaze as she looked at Ernst was gone, replaced by a slightly more serious tone as she replied:

“I am here to take away my people, and I have no reason to be an enemy of your people and the giant beast.”

You should have said so earlier; I wasn't planning on stopping you in the first place.

Besides, you attacked without saying a word, and now you've backed down because you were scared by Yeragand. Doesn't that seem a bit like bullying the weak and fearing the strong?

Ernst rolled his eyes inwardly, despising Theresis's shameful act of blatantly lying.

But Ernst knew very well that getting Therese to put away her sword was only the first step.

Theresis's strength should not be underestimated. Just like the Balrog fragment, the power Yeragand invested here is nothing more than a divine stone, which is not as strong as it is in Sherag's home territory. If a fight really breaks out, it will not benefit him.

We must keep Therese in check and maintain control of the negotiations.

Ernst pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said:

"This request is a bit unreasonable. Rhine Lab and we have put in countless efforts and invested a lot of money for the success of Project Flame Demon. Do you really think you can just barge in like this and take away our final results with a single sentence?"

Results?

Therese frowned, somewhat displeased with the word.

The Sarkaz are not anyone's creation. Ernst's words are undoubtedly a objectification of their lives.

But then, Therese suppressed her anger.

Although this statement sounds annoying, Therese has to admit that it is the most realistic situation and the most normal thought.

Because at this moment, the man standing before him was not simply Felin, but the embodiment of a colossal beast. Such a being had long transcended ordinary races and lives, becoming part of an immortal behemoth. In his eyes, let alone the newly resurrected Balrog, even the Crown Prince Aslan standing beside him, the injured Vaiva, the silent and oblivious Caprini, and the darting-eyed Dulin… weren't they all mere pawns?

In the game of Terra, the behemoths and their representatives are undoubtedly chess players. Moreover, their qualifications are not obtained through superior strategy, formidable calculation ability, or vast power, but rather through sheer, unreasonable strength.

Ernst's willingness to speak to him in this way was less an act of contempt than a sign of respect. Only such an arrogant and repulsive attitude was befitting the status of a behemoth.

This is how giant beasts are perceived by the world: they regard mortals as ants, regardless of your race, treating you as an equal ant.

Unbeknownst to Theresis, Jeragand, who "viewed the world as ants," was concerned about Ernst's health.

Therese's slash just now not only terrified Vina and Levi, but also Jeragand.

Even through a small divine stone, Yeragand could sense the power of Theresis's strike. If Ernst hadn't maintained a "safe distance," and if He hadn't been watching Ernst's every move today because of Gawain's warning, even for a fleeting moment of distraction, He might have been too late.

"Ernst, are you alright?"

So anxious that she even forgot to turn on the voice changer, Yeragand spoke in her usual natural voice.

Ernst paused slightly, subconsciously raising his head to look at the divine stone with some surprise. He opened his mouth, asking incredulously:

"elegant--"

His voice was interrupted halfway through by Yeragand's somewhat flustered voice:

"Look...it seems you're alright! That puts my mind at ease!"

"What were you trying to say? What did you mean by 'elegant'?"

The voice took on a strong magical tone, sounding like a howling wind when flustered and like lightning when asking questions.

Ernst opened his mouth, as if to say something, but in the end he shook his head:

"It's nothing. I'm fine. Thank you for your help, Okamon."

Yeragand carefully examined Ernst's expression through the gaze cast by the divine stone. After confirming that he had no unusual reaction, he breathed a slight sigh of relief, and then his gaze toward Theresis was filled with even more anger.

I was terrified! I thought my identity was about to be exposed!

It's all your fault!

If Ernst found out that the great god Yeragand was actually Al, and that she hadn't been doing anything productive all along, but was just secretly watching his live stream in the Manju Academy, then his image of the diligent, tolerant, and reliable great god Yeragand would be completely shattered!

In addition, I had told him so many times before, in a serious tone, that he could do it without worry and that Yeragand would protect him.

I feel so ashamed!

Unaware that she had accumulated even more blame, Therese pondered Ernst's words, feeling somewhat helpless for a moment.

Ernst clearly intended to offer his own benefits in exchange; otherwise, he wouldn't have agreed to let the Balrog be taken away.

But what could the Sarkaz possibly have that would interest the Beast Spokesperson?

I won't go into the vulgarity of money. After the Military Council occupied Londinium, many Victorian nobles "voluntarily contributed" a lot of it, but Theresis himself didn't care for it. Apart from the necessary amount for building the Shard Tower and updating weapons and equipment, he generously spent the rest of the money, recruiting many Sarkaz mercenaries from all over the land to come to Londinium.

Well, most of the mercenaries were recruited by him with money. Surely no one really thinks the Military Council can just make empty promises and get so many Sarkaz mercenaries to risk their lives for the nation's cause?

We're all just ordinary people, Therese is just asking for a higher salary—it's not his own money anyway.

He looked down on gold and silver treasures, let alone the agents of giant beasts.

But besides those things, what else does the Sarkaz have to offer?

Technology? Sácaz can't compare to Colombia.

Culture? There are only so many literate people under Theresis, and most of them are members of the Royal Court. It doesn't make sense to send out another member of the Royal Court just to get a Balrog. Besides, the Royal Court wouldn't agree to that, would it?

Or rather, a secret?

Aside from the Dead Soul airship and the Shard Tower that guided the Cataclysms, Theresis couldn't think of any other secrets the "Beasts" would be interested in. But both were his secret weapons, key to his future plans, and naturally, he couldn't tell Ernst and Rhine Lab.

After counting and recounting, it seems that besides his special skills, he doesn't have anything else to offer. And if his skills were so useful that they could make giant beasts hesitate to approach, he would have been invincible and could roam freely across Terra long ago, instead of ending up in this predicament.

Therese pursed her lips, speechless for a moment.

This surprised Ernst.

Therese? General? Chairman? No, buddy, we're negotiating. Have you ever seen a negotiator who doesn't say a word?

Was I not obvious enough? Now it's your turn to set the terms and let me choose!

No way, does the Sarkaz really have nothing of value left? That can't be! You managed to conquer Londinium, you should at least have some money, right?

Ernst didn't believe that the Sarkaz army had such high discipline, never committing any offenses wherever they went. Did he think he was some kind of rebel leader?

Even the rebel leader Li Zicheng (Chuang Wang) killed scholars and officials and cooked Prince Fu alive, though the latter is a rumor, the fact that gold and silver treasures were found in their homes is undeniable. If the Sarkaz had such high moral character, Terra wouldn't be so infamous.

After some thought, Ernst became certain of one thing.

Therese was incredibly stingy. Although he pretended to be negotiating to stall for time, Therese was still being quite disrespectful to him.

Others at least symbolically offer some money to bribe you, but you're not even willing to test me, a cadre!

A flicker of anger rose in Ernst's eyes. He lowered his head silently and glanced at the pocket watch in his hand.

Therese assumed Ernst was reminding him of the time, and gritted his teeth, about to speak. But Ernst had already shaken his head: