While Talulah was there heart-wrenchingly counting the scales on her tail, the three of them finally began to discuss serious matters.
"So, what kind of help do you want? And how can you be sure that I can help you?"
Kashchey sat there, still wearing that expression that made Talulah's blood boil, playing a game of "verbal tennis" with Jeanne to suggest he couldn't think of any way to help. Talulah could see that Kashchey was testing Jeanne to see how much she actually knew about him, and what cards he might still be able to keep hidden.
"I want you to forge evidence. You must have connections with the warmongering nobles behind this army. As a fellow conspirator who wishes to stir up war, I will never believe you have no contact with them."
Jeanne looked at Kashchey with a smile. She believed that Kashchey, who had begun his plans even at the moment of his "death," couldn't possibly lack a way to communicate with those fellows. Furthermore, the other party currently didn't know Kashchey's true situation. Ever since his last near-death experience, he had rarely contacted even his own subordinates, fearing he might accidentally do something out of line and cost himself his life.
"Presumably, those fellows never notified you to look for those documents. After all, they don't seem like the type to let someone like you hold any leverage over them."
Jeanne looked at Kashchey with full confidence. If she wished, the power brought by her Revelation could even grant her access to extremely classified information. Moreover, such a thing didn't even require the power of Revelation. With someone like Kashchey, if she were the one who had lost a secret, she would absolutely never go to him for help.
"However, I believe it won't be long before they take the initiative to seek your help. After all, now that things have reached this point, it's no longer realistic for them to keep it from you."
Kashchey nodded in affirmation. In that battle, there must have been soldiers who successfully escaped. And the impression Talulah left on them was far too deep; it couldn't be hidden even if they wanted to. Once those people realized the Guerrillas had suddenly gained a Wyvern who could manipulate powerful flames, they would only need to investigate a little to know that Talulah was the adopted daughter Kashchey had taken in—the one who mysteriously vanished upon his death.
In that case, Kashchey, hidden within Talulah's consciousness, must surely know about this. They might as well ask him for help; after all, they were all on the same warship, and they believed Kashchey would not betray his own kind.
"If it's about this matter, I could indeed step in to help you. But how do you plan to persuade me?"
Kashchey looked at Jeanne and Talulah, his half-smiling expression looking as though he were anticipating their answer. It seemed he was quite interested in this trade.
"I can minimize the damage the Holy Water does to you during normal times. As long as you don't cause trouble, being within the range of the Holy Water won't cause you that agonizing pain from before."
Jeanne stated the price she was willing to pay directly. She believed this condition would make Kashchey cooperate with them honestly. For an existence like Kashchey, simply living in an environment with Holy Water felt like torture. For months, he had been using his own power to resist the purification of the Holy Water.
But the situation was different now; Alina's ability allowed the power within the Holy Water to be utilized at one hundred percent capacity. For Kashchey, this environment was like placing a snail in a pile of salt. Although his shell could resist the salt's harm for a time, sooner or later, he would be killed by it.
"If you can achieve that, I agree to this deal. However, I am only responsible for relaying messages; I cannot guarantee they won't make a move against you."
Kashchey very readily agreed to help Jeanne handle this trouble. To him, this deal was an absolute bargain. If selling out those allies could buy him a safer environment where he didn't have to expend his full strength every day to resist the Holy Water, Kashchey wouldn't refuse.
As for the future of Ursus? Please, he could barely save himself right now; how could he care about the future of Ursus? He would consider that once he had safely escaped this predicament.
Seeing Kashchey agree so readily, Talulah was actually somewhat surprised. She had originally thought he would haggle for a while before agreeing, but he was so straightforward?
Sure enough, Kashchey called Jeanne aside and raised another requirement, whispering something to her. He then glanced at Talulah and let out a sigh. It seemed this matter was related to her.
"I can agree to that condition, but I have one request."
"Speak."
"I hope you can put me in contact with the Emperor. I want to negotiate terms with him."
Jeanne spoke words that even shocked Kashchey. He hadn't expected this girl to be so bold! A poor country village girl like her wanted to meet the Emperor?
"I have no way of contacting the Emperor; you've found the wrong person. Besides, what method do you have to convince the Emperor to agree to anything?"
Kashchey flatly denied it. He didn't particularly want the new Emperor to know of his existence. If possible, he preferred to remain in the shadows forever. After all, that was the titular supreme power of Ursus. Although he had been hollowed out by a group of ministers until he was barely a shell, he was still the Emperor of Ursus in name—no one dared to oppose him openly!
Now, you, a person who—to put it bluntly—is a rebel leader, want to talk to the Emperor? Who do you think you are?
"That is my business. I believe the Emperor of Ursus will cooperate with me very well."
Jeanne looked at Kashchey with full confidence. This wasn't something she had just come up with on a whim. Her Revelation had suddenly told her that requesting a call with the Emperor was necessary, saying there would be some unexpected turning point.
"I agree! I also want to see what ability you, who are blessed by God, have to persuade the Emperor! Leave this matter to me, the Immortal Black Snake; my thousand years of life haven't been in vain."
Kashchey agreed to Jeanne's request with great interest. To anyone else, such a ridiculous thing would sound like the ramblings of a lunatic, but this girl before him was pampered by God. Who knew what kind of miracle she would pull off again? As a "useless snake" who could only hide here to survive, how could he not take part in such entertainment? He might just witness the most bizarre event of these past thousand years.
After concluding the talk with the Black Snake and leaving the mental space, Talulah asked Jeanne curiously what condition she had agreed to for Kashchey. She felt a chill running down her spine.
"It's nothing major. He hopes I can convince you to change your outfit. He said your taste in clothes is truly terrible, and with his slight obsessive-compulsive disorder, he simply can't stand it anymore. He hopes I'll have the chance to make you change into something with a bit more style..."
Hearing Jeanne's words, even Alina nearby became interested. She too was curious to see what Talulah would look like in other clothes; it was a pity this dragon had worn those military fatigues for so long.