As Lucas cleared his throat, adjusting his tie as though the very fabric of his suit was ufortably tight, he began to outline the government''s proposal with calcted precision.


    His voice was measured, carefully stripped of anything that could be construed as too enthusiastic or too urgent, though an undertone of barely contained eagerness lingered beneath the surface.


    Lucas was a man who had been trained in diplomacy, but Lyerin could see through his well-rehearsed demeanor with ease.


    "We''re looking for a mutually beneficial partnership, Mr. Stonehooves," Lucas began, locking his gaze with Lyerin''s as though attempting to probe his mind.


    "You see, as an independent government unit, we operate with a certain... autonomy from the families. We''re not bound by their influence in the same way.


    "However, weck certain advantages that the families possess in terms of advanced technology and military strength. And it''s precisely for this reason that we''re interested in what you and your tribe can offer."


    Lucas paused, giving a nod to one of his men, who stepped forward holding a polished metal case.


    With a soft click, the case opened, revealing an array of gleaming, high-powered firearms, energy emitters, and other weapons Lyerin didn''t recognize but could sense their dangerous potential.


    The firearms were sleek, with smooth surfaces and reinforced steel exteriors.


    Some glowed faintly with a blue light, while others gave off an intense, silent hum that vibrated through the air.


    "These," Lucas continued, gesturing toward the weapons with a hint of pride, "are just a fraction of the firepower we''re prepared to offer. State-of-the-art warfare technology, engineered for precision and impact.


    "Energy emitters that can decimate entire structures, thermal rifles capable of prating armored beasts, and grenade systems that can neutralize clusters of enemies at a single shot."


    He allowed himself a small smile, as if anticipating the impact of his words.


    "You could lead your people to new heights of strength. These weapons would give you power few others possess, perhaps even a degree of independence from... outside interference."


    Lyerin''s eyes drifted from the weapons back to Lucas, expression impassive, though a spark of disdain glinted in his eyes.


    Lucas, however, took the silence as permission to continue, his voice growing bolder as he expanded upon his offer.


    "In return," Lucas said, lowering his voice with a gravitas that hinted at the importance of his next words, "we would be interested in... shall we say, knowledge that only someone of your particr experience could offer.


    "You''re well-versed in dealing with these creatures—Shuras, Asuras—and other entities, we understand, beings from beyond our knowledge andprehension.


    "Information on their nature, their vulnerabilities, their patterns. This is a new frontier for us, one that traditional military intelligence can''t crack."


    Lyerin held Lucas''s gaze, his expression inscrutable. He already knew Lucas and his team were here not for an alliance but for leverage.


    The government sought a shortcut, a way to crack the mysteries of these powerful entities without the grueling trials of understanding them firsthand.


    They wanted him to deliver this knowledge neatly packaged, like a product on a shelf.


    "And, of course," Lucas continued, undeterred, "this information wouldn''t only be used to benefit us. We can ensure that you and your tribe receive protections, support, resources, things beyond even these weapons.


    "We would ensure the stability and security of your people, Mr. Stonehooves. You would have the full backing of the United Governmental Alliance."


    He paused, as if expecting Lyerin to respond.


    The faint hum of the helicopters in the background filled the silence as Lucas waited, his eyes fixed on Lyerin with a mixture of hope and carefully hidden desperation. But Lyerin didn''t respond immediately.


    He allowed the silence to linger, watching as Lucas''s confident smile faltered, just slightly.


    Finally, Lyerin tilted his head, a slow, almost mocking smile spreading across his face.


    "So, let me understand this clearly," he said, his voice rich with amusement, though a steely edgey underneath.


    "You want me to give you knowledge about things I''ve learned firsthand—creatures that I''ve faced, entities that even your government probably still considers myth.


    "In return, you''ll grant my people the privilege of wielding your technology. Convenient for you, no? Tell me, Lucas, have you ever seen a Shura face-to-face? Have you ever seen the way they rip through metal and flesh alike as if it were paper?"


    Lucas''s confidence wavered, a slight tension tightening his jaw. He forced a smile, but it was clear Lyerin''s words had struck a nerve.


    "I understand your skepticism, Mr. Stonehooves. But with the alliance of someone like you—"


    "No," Lyerin interrupted, his voice cutting through Lucas''s words with a sharp finality.


    "I''m not interested in bing your liaison for knowledge. If you want to protect your people from Shuras and Asuras, perhaps you should step into the wild yourself and see what you can learn. However, I have a proposal where I cpuld free you all from the grasp of those families."


    Lucas''s polite facade faltered, a hint of frustration shing in his eyes.


    He took a moment to collect himself, then nced over his shoulder, signaling to another man nearby.


    The man approached and handed Lucas a slim, ckmunication device.


    With a brief nod, Lucas stepped aside, speaking in hushed tones as he contacted someone on the other end of the line.


    "This is Fairbanks," he murmured into the device, keeping his voice low though Lyerin caught every word.


    "We have a unique situation here. Sir Lyerin Stonehooves is… less receptive to the initial offer. He''s suggesting he could provide us with… alternative support, a solution to the families'' influence altogether."


    The voice on the other end responded, inaudible but tense, and Lucas listened intently.


    His eyes shifted back toward Lyerin, a wary, spective gleam in his gaze.


    He murmured responses into the device, nodding at intervals, and then, finally, he ended the call with a clipped, "Understood, sir."


    Turning back to Lyerin, Lucas''s expression was carefully measured, though a glimmer of anticipation now sparkled in his eyes.


    "Our superiors are intrigued," he said, forcing his voice to remain even.


    "We would be… open to further discussions about what you''ve proposed. If you truly have a way to free smaller, independent groups like ours from the grip of these powerful families, we''re all ears. But I must admit, we''re curious as to what exactly you''re proposing."


    Lyerin''s smirk widened, his eyes narrowing as he studied the shifting expressions on Lucas''s face.


    "Let''s just say I have a solution that''s far more effective than a few guns or alliances of convenience," he replied smoothly.


    He took a step forward, meeting Lucas''s gaze with a dark amusement that made the government agent shift ufortably.


    "You and your alliance can y at independence for now. But when the families turn their eyes back to the world beyond their infighting, you''ll be the first to be crushed, buried under their influence and resources."


    Lucas''s breath hitched, though he quickly recovered, his expression a mask of intense interest. "So… what do you propose we do?" he asked cautiously.


    Lyerin raised a single finger, his eyes gleaming with the spark of a calcted scheme.


    "Only one thing," he said, his tone carrying a deadly calm that silenced the men around him.


    The words hung in the air, like the calm before the storm, leaving Lucas staring at him with equal parts dread and expectation.