RoleplayNovel Chapter 37 Negotiation
Chapter 37 Negotiation
A charming female voice echoed in the empty, cold underground hall.
The moment the words left his mouth, a barely perceptible ripple suddenly appeared in the air above the previously empty solid wood chair.
There was no smoke-filled illusion as William had imagined; instead, a graceful and alluring figure silently appeared and took her seat. The entire process was completely silent, as if she had been sitting there all along, perfectly embodying the ultimate stealth of a thief.
The woman leaned back lazily in her chair, her posture unrestrained and flamboyant. She crossed her legs like Karen, exuding a mature and charming allure that contrasted sharply with the youthful Elena.
A pair of straight and slender legs are visually striking. The matte black knee-high leather boots fit snugly against the leg lines, and the large mesh black stockings extend upwards along the skin, stretching all the way to the top of the thighs, where they are held securely by the dark, close-fitting lining, creating a sense of ambiguity.
A sleek, wide black leather belt wrapped around his waist. A sturdy leather scabbard hung on his left, neatly arranged with six small throwing knives. On his right was a custom-made potion pouch, containing several differently colored vials; the red and blue liquids shimmered faintly in the dim light. It was unclear whether they contained paralyzing agents, potent poisons, or fast-acting poisons.
Her upper body was clad in a custom-made black, form-fitting breastplate. The hard leather hugged her curves, perfectly outlining her full figure. The delicate openwork design balanced flexibility and aesthetics, without restricting her movements in the slightest. A thin black leather choker was wrapped around her neck, with a small silver pendant hanging down, resting precisely on her chest, swaying gently with her breath.
Two minimalist, lightweight leather shoulder pads draped over her shoulders, thin and delicate, not disrupting the overall aesthetic lines, yet capable of protecting vitals in close combat. A dark, matte hooded cloak covered her back, subtly concealing most of her figure and adding a touch of mystery.
She was also a half-elf, with long, pointed ears, though slightly shorter than Elene's. Her long, flowing, greyish-white hair cascaded down her shoulders, highlighting her delicate, fair skin. Her features were exquisite and alluring, with slightly upturned eyes that exuded a captivating charm. Every smile and gesture radiated the mature allure of a sophisticated woman, captivating to the core.
Unlike Elaine, who was innocent, pure, and lively, the woman before him was a thorny rose blooming in the shadows, weathered by time and cunning.
She looked up at William, a faint, mocking smile in her eyes. Her gaze was fixed on William's hand, which was still hovering in mid-air, about to touch her chest. She looked at him with a half-smile.
William's pupils contracted slightly as he instantly realized how abrupt his actions had been.
A soldier dispatched by the kingdom to conduct an investigation reached out to an empty chair in front of strangers, and ended up touching the breast of a strange woman, creating an extremely awkward situation.
He abruptly pulled his wrist back, his ears burning slightly. His expression instantly became serious, and he sincerely apologized, "I'm sorry, ma'am, I was being presumptuous. I sensed someone hiding nearby, but I meant no offense."
Seeing his forced composure and serious demeanor, the woman's smile deepened, and the amusement in her eyes became more pronounced, but she didn't continue teasing him. She simply raised her chin slightly, her tone languid and relaxed: "It's alright. Please sit down, sir. What business do you have? You can tell me."
William did not sit down next to her without warning; his guard was already high.
This woman is too dangerous.
It wasn't just the unknown pressure of her strength that was intimidating, but also her aura. She was adept at using her looks and charisma as weapons, manipulating every move, even her smile and gaze, to deliberately seduce and test people. Such people are skilled at breaking down psychological defenses and disrupting others' thoughts for their own benefit.
Ordinary men are easily overwhelmed by her striking appearance, losing their composure and becoming easily defeated.
Unfortunately... Hmph, William sneered inwardly. I am an elite soldier trained by Lord Herod in the secret realm.
Taking advantage of the moment when they were adjusting their seats, William took two steps back, creating a distance of several seats, and chose a relatively central seat that was far away from the woman.
The moment the distance widened, the pressure in his heart eased slightly. He quickly gathered all his distracting thoughts, composed himself, and looked calmly at the other person.
Almost the instant their eyes met, he activated the system panel.
A pale blue, semi-transparent light screen instantly appeared before his eyes, and lines of clear text quickly refreshed, catching William's attention.
[Name: Vicara Nightweaver (Guild Master of the Ambermill Thieves Guild)]
[Race: Second-generation Half-Elf]
Age: 131
[Class: High-level Stalker (Shadow Master)]
[State: Composed, in control, highly rational]
[Combat Strength Assessment: Proficient in shadow assassination, pharmacology, first aid, and psychology. Years of training have made wielding shadow power effortless for her; a true master of the shadows.]
William was startled when he saw the information on the panel.
Advanced Stalker, Master of Shadows!
The current system has long since shed its original detailed level values, only indicating the professional rank and combat power evaluation, no longer displaying the specific level. But William knew perfectly well that a professional who could be given the title of "Master" by the system was no ordinary person.
He vaguely remembered that at his peak, before the system degraded, his highest level was only around level forty.
The Shadow Master before us, conservatively speaking, is definitely at least level 60.
The difference in combat power between the two is like an insurmountable chasm. If they were to actually fight, he probably wouldn't even be able to see through the opponent's stealth trajectory.
William suppressed all his relaxation, sitting up straighter and looking extremely serious.
"My name is William, from the Cathedral of Holy Light." He looked directly at Vicara, his tone calm and measured: "Madam, if I may ask, what is your name, and what is your position in the Thieves' Guild?"
Upon hearing this, Vikara casually tossed a strand of gray hair over his shoulder, his fingertips tracing the hair as he met William's gaze with a faint smile: "I am the head here."
"You can call me Vicara, the head of the Ambermill Thieves' Guild."
The woman spoke with confidence, her tone leaving no room for doubt.
Karen, standing to the side, remained expressionless, seemingly used to it all. Elena, standing behind, bowed her head slightly, her expression one of genuine awe.
"Now, you can talk about your business, sir from the kingdom." Vicara leaned forward slightly, revealing a bit of her white skin, and looked calmly at William.
William glanced around the empty hall, his gaze sweeping over Karen and then over Elena behind him. After a moment's thought, he said, "President Vicara, what I'm about to say is quite important."
"Could we ask the others to step aside temporarily so I can speak with you alone?"
Upon hearing this, Vikara gently shook his head, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable certainty: "No need."
"Elena is now your personal assistant, following your every move and knowing all your intentions. Karen is my protégé and the next guild leader, and can participate in all guild affairs, big and small. She is the person I trust the most."
"Regardless of whether the next deal is ultimately reached or what the details are, their deep involvement and follow-up are necessary for its implementation. There is no point in avoiding it."
At this point, she looked at William with amusement and asked calmly, "Or do you not trust your assistant, Elena? Do you think she's unworthy of knowing your secrets?"
In short, William was placed in a dilemma.
William's heart skipped a beat, and he subconsciously turned around to look at Elena behind him.
The girl tensed up instantly, her hands gripping the hem of her clothes tightly, her eyes filled with trepidation and unease as she looked at him pleadingly, afraid of being disliked and rejected in front of her former friends and elders.
William understood.
Regardless, Elena is now his assistant. They've finally built up a small sense of belonging and trust. To insist she avoid it now would be tantamount to publicly questioning her loyalty and reliability, severely hurting the young woman and shattering the hard-won trust between them.
After weighing the pros and cons, William stopped insisting and slowly nodded: "Since the president says so, then let's do it this way."
As soon as he finished speaking, he reached out and took out a well-sealed parchment scroll from his pocket.
The insignia of the Lordaeron military was printed on it, serving as his official identification for this trip and the basis for his confidence in all his actions.
William raised his hand and handed the scroll across the long table.
"You can verify my identity first."
Vikara took the scroll, his fingertips gently stroking the paper as he slowly untied the knot, his gaze quickly sweeping over the text and seals on it.
She read it very carefully, the playfulness in her eyes gradually fading. She read the last line of text carefully and meticulously before slowly closing the scroll and handing it to William.
After the other party finished inspecting and put away the scroll, William slowly spoke: "As you can see, I am an investigator dispatched by the Lordaeron military, and Commander Durand, the supreme commander of the kingdom's army."
"Five years have passed since the outbreak of the natural disaster war. The Silverpine Forest area has been completely turned into a no-man's land, with monsters running rampant, undead roaming, forces mixed together, and order collapsed."
"The kingdom has decided to conduct preliminary investigations and make arrangements in advance. Once the situation stabilizes, it will gradually reclaim the lost territory and bring the entire forest back under the jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Lordaeron."
"My core mission for this trip is to thoroughly understand the situation in this area and compile detailed intelligence to pave the way for subsequent troop reconstruction work."
At this point, William looked directly at Vicara and said sincerely, "Elena told me that your Thieves' Guild is the group of people in the entire Silverpine Forest who are most familiar with the local situation, without exception."
"Where are the lair of monsters? Where are the places where the undead roam? Which nobles have established private properties here? What unstable forces are entrenched here? Your intelligence is undoubtedly what the kingdom needs right now."
"I need your assistance and full cooperation in completing this investigation."
Vicara listened quietly, his expression unchanged, and only after William finished speaking did he calmly ask, "And then?"
"We cooperated with you, gathering all the intelligence for the kingdom and paving the way for the military. What benefits do we get in return?"
She knew very well that this group was an underground force, something that couldn't be brought into the open.
Underground forces can only operate in the shadows and never make any contributions without expecting something in return; all cooperation is based on prioritizing profit.
Upon hearing this, William pondered for a moment, his mind racing as he carefully considered his words before throwing out his biggest bargaining chip.
"With my limited authority, I cannot make any empty promises to you, such as money or official positions."
"But I can submit a detailed and impartial recommendation report to Commander Durand."
"You should know about MI7, the military intelligence agency of Stormwind Kingdom, such an organization."
"The reason why the Storm Kingdom was able to quickly handle the internal uprising of supernatural forces and quell various signs of internal strife is because they have their own intelligence agency. Operating in the shadows, they can eliminate hidden dangers in advance, gather intelligence, purge traitors, and suppress unrest."
"Lordaeron is now in ruins, and the post-war order has collapsed. What it lacks is a group like yours that operates underground, knows how to gather intelligence, and has the ability to control the shadow power of extraordinary professionals."
William's gaze was intense, and his tone was firm: "My proposal is that the kingdom can establish its own intelligence system, modeled after MI7."
"If the higher-ups really agree, then this organization will be based on your Ambermill Thieves Guild and will expand outwards."