The private room was the same one I had used the last time with Cassandra.
An oval table of dark wood occupied the center of the place, illuminated by white light descending from a floating lamp.
Beside her, standing stiffly, was a middle-aged man with short hair, a weathered face, and a gaze as sharp as a knife's edge.
His military uniform was unmistakable: golden insignia, a row of medals, and the flag of the United States on his shoulder.
"Seth," Cassandra said, rising from her seat upon seeing me. "I introduce you to Colonel Nathan Briggs, Head of the United States Army's Reincarnated Coordination Project."
The Colonel barely nodded, offering no hand.
His eyes scanned me up and down, as if he were evaluating me.
"So you are the famous Seth," he finally said, with a deep voice and a tone that denoted interest. "An untrained rookie, without military experience, without discipline... but with results that even my most veteran men cannot match."
"I suppose that makes you valuable... even if only by accident."
Cassandra glanced at him, tense. She didn't understand why her superior was provoking Seth from the very first minute.
I, on the other hand, simply crossed my arms, unfazed.
"Nice presentation," I replied calmly. "Although I expected something more elegant and friendly coming from the self-proclaimed most powerful country in the world."
The Colonel frowned, but continued, as if he hadn't heard my comment.
"I'm here to make you a formal proposal," he said. "The United States wishes to offer you full nationality in case you are a foreigner, and a position within our ranks, as part of the Reincarnated Division."
"You will have backing, resources, and protection," Cassandra added with a small smile.
"In exchange, we want the complete strategy for the impossible dungeon in the Safe Zone, Minecraft, and for Floor 1 of the Tower of Trials." Colonel Briggs continued, his eyes briefly shining.
"Your method could strengthen all our Reincarnated from the moment they first enter the Reincarnation Space at the Military Academy. We have data from your transactions; with the amount of Reincarnation Points you generated selling minerals, even the weakest of our soldiers would reach Rank D immediately."
"Imagine it, Seth, an entire army ascending together."
"No nation could compete with us."
I smiled slightly, holding his gaze.
"Only that?" I asked. "I'm sure any other country would be willing to pay much more."
Cassandra looked at me in surprise, and Colonel Briggs narrowed his eyes, his jaw tightening.
For an instant, I thought he was going to slam his fist on the table.
In reality... I hoped he would.
"Be careful what you say, kid," he growled. "You are not in a position to negotiate."
I sighed, looking away and back at Cassandra.
"This has been a waste of time," I said, slowly standing up.
Cassandra warned me that I should be patient... But why should I be in the first place?
I have what they need, not the other way around.
Clearly, the only one in a position to negotiate at that table... was me.
I just needed to contact another country's representative in the Reincarnation Space, and they were screwed.
I wouldn't even flinch when doing it.
Not one bit.
I didn't care in the slightest that we were from the same country.
Cassandra quickly intervened, also standing up.
"Wait, Seth!" her voice, though firm, sounded slightly desperate. "Listen to my proposal first. Please ignore the proposal my superior made. Let's act like none of this happened."
The Colonel looked at her, visibly irritated, but she didn't back down, warning him with her gaze.
Despite being of a lower rank, Cassandra was still the World Ranking Number 2, the Princess of Death.
With a wave of her hand, she deployed a small holographic interface over the table.
"On behalf of the United States Army," Cassandra said. "I offer you an item of your choice from the military storage, one hundred thousand Reincarnation Points, and..." her voice softened as she pulled something from her personal storage. "This."
A metallic tube the size of two fingers, with a glowing blue liquid inside, appeared in her palm.
"I obtained it during my stay on one of the Upper Floors," she explained. "It is known as the Super Soldier Serum."
"It increases physical strength, stamina, and reaction speed. The effects are permanent. All your stats will exceed 150 after taking it."
Colonel Briggs watched her as if she had lost her mind.
"Lieutenant Kane! Are you out of your mind? The Super Soldier Serum is classified! We haven't managed to replicate it yet!" he roared.
But Cassandra didn't take her eyes off me.
I stared at her for a few seconds, thoughtful, and then nodded to myself.
"Alright," I said. "I accept... but I have three conditions."
I held up three fingers.
"First... from now on, when there's a negotiation, only Cassandra will come in person. No representatives or intermediaries; they are just a nuisance."
My gaze went directly to Colonel Briggs, making it clear who I was referring to.
I closed one finger.
"Second... a guide fairy must confirm our transaction. Breach of the agreement will result in the death of the one who breaches it and related parties."
The Colonel looked at me with contained fury, and I knew immediately.
He had planned to cheat.
To remove the most valuable items from storage before I chose them.
I smiled, pleased to have caught him before he tried.
"And third..." I closed another finger. "The strategy will not be delivered until I have completed Floor 5 of the Tower of Trials."
Cassandra frowned, worried.
Colonel Briggs, however, exploded.
"That is impossible!" he bellowed, slamming his fist on the table. "Do you know how many Reincarnated die before reaching Floor 5? 60%!"
"Your probability of survival is nil. No one can get that far without support!"
I crossed my arms again, smiling confidently.
"Then you have nothing to worry about, do you?"
The silence became thick. Then, I rested my hands on the table and leaned toward him, without wiping the smile from my face.
"I propose a bet, Colonel," I said slowly, enjoying it. "If I reach Floor 5 intact, with all my God-Level SSS ratings, the reward will not be one hundred thousand points... but two hundred and fifty thousand."
Briggs slammed the table again, furious.
"Ridiculous! We gain nothing by accepting that!"
I shook my head, smiling even wider.
"How stupid," I told him directly. "You haven't let me finish. You need to be a little more patient, Colonel."
His eyes widened in surprise, and I continued:
"My guide fairy will keep the impossible dungeon strategy. In the event that I die before reaching Floor 5, she will personally deliver it to the United States Army."
"So, even if I die, you win."
"And if I live... well, you win even more."
Colonel Briggs seemed torn between fury and greed.
Then his gaze hardened.
"Also include the Floor 1 strategy," he said. "We want it complete."
I leaned back against the chair, raising an eyebrow, and turned my head toward Cassandra with a mocking smile.
I pointed to the Colonel with my thumb.
"Is he serious? Or did he hit his head on the way here?"
Cassandra smiled slightly, though her eyes showed concern.
I shook my head, amused.
"Don't get so excited, Colonel. Don't try to bite off more than you can chew, or you might choke."
Silence returned to the room.
Finally, Colonel Briggs extended his hand towards me.
"Alright, we have a deal," he said coldly.
I looked at his hand with visible disgust.
"I'll pass," I retorted.
Then I looked at Cassandra and extended my hand to her. "I prefer to seal this deal with you."
Cassandra smiled, accepting my hand without hesitation.
Colonel Briggs clenched his teeth, a mixture of frustration and contained fury.
Without another word, he disconnected from the Reincarnation Space and vanished, without even saying goodbye.
"What a lack of manners... Doesn't he know that manners make the man?"
Only Cassandra and I remained in the room.
She looked at me with a mixture of reproach and weariness.
"You have been reckless, Seth. Too much. Briggs is not someone who forgets humiliations easily. He is cruel."
"I have seen what he does in the Tower to get the best ratings... and I wouldn't be surprised if he tried to ensure you never reach Floor 5 alive."
I simply nodded.
"I'm already taking that into account," I replied calmly.
And without adding anything else, I turned towards the door.
"See you in a few days, Princess of Death."
I left the room, leaving Cassandra alone, watching me in silence as I departed.
Once alone, Cassandra sighed heavily.
"It took me two months to prepare to reach Floor 5... And he thinks he'll do it in a few days?"
"He really is reckless!"