There were many reasons why Divine Sea might feel wary, even paranoid, about Cain's proposal—but before making any decision, she had a single question.
"And what," she asked slowly, her voice carrying the calm weight of an Archdiety, "would I gain from this arrangement?"
The red flame in Cain's eyes flared, becoming richer, deeper, almost hypnotic. He smiled—not the smile of a salesman or a manipulator, but of a conqueror offering a bargain he knew could not be ignored.
"Many things," he said simply. "First, I will establish permanent trade routes between our domains. My kingdom is wealthy and overflowing with innovation in several key fields—Runic Crafting, Genetic Coding, Treasure Forging, and Tribulation Enhancement. For the first decade, you will purchase all Scarlet Path goods at production cost. After that, you will receive a permanent thirty percent discount."
