Chapter 15: The Hostile Takeover Request
"Niceness is a luxury we can afford after the Orcs are liquidated," I retort. "Well, Ms. Treyni? The floor is yours."
Treyni, the Dryad, tilts her head. Her serene smile doesn't waver, but I notice her eyes scanning my dark, obsidian-sheened membrane. She can feel the increased density I copied from Benimaru earlier. To her, I probably look like a very expensive paperweight.
"The forest is in turmoil," Treyni says, her voice echoing with the weight of someone who hasn't seen a profit margin in centuries. "An Orc Disaster is brewing. An army of 200,000, led by a unique entity—an Orc Lord. They consume everything. They are the ultimate bad investment for the ecosystem."
"I've heard the numbers," I pulse, floating a fraction higher. "200,000 units with high consumption rates. It's not a war; it's a liquidation sale where the forest is the inventory."
"I have a request for you," she continues, looking at Rimuru and then back to me. "Defeat the Orc Lord. Become the guardians of the Jura Forest. In exchange, the Dryads will recognize your sovereignty."
Notice. Sub-skill [Law Manipulation – Copy] is currently idling. Target 'Treyni' possesses [Spatial Motion] and high-level [Spirit Magic]. Suggestion: Acquisition of spatial manipulation laws would significantly increase User's survival and tactical mobility.
Azathoth, you're reading my mind. Or, well, my data. If I can move without relying on a wolf or a cart, the ROI on my magicule expenditure for travel drops to near zero.
I don't need to touch her. The [Transaction Domain] is already active, a silent negotiation room where the very laws of her presence are being appraised by the system.
[Law Manipulation – Copy]
I focus on the way Treyni "slides" through the dimensions. It's not a physical dash; it's a temporary rewrite of her coordinates.
Analyzing... Success. Sub-skill [Spatial Motion] has been replicated. Note: Current magicule reserve allows for short-range jumps only. High magicule cost for repeated use.
I feel a sudden, sharp clarity in my spatial awareness. The world isn't just a map anymore; it's a grid of potential exit strategies.
"So," I pulse, my voice colder now that I've gotten what I wanted from the meeting. "You want us to do your dirty work. You're the landlords, and you're asking the new tenants to evict a quarter-million squatters."
"Shinji, she's asking for help!" Rimuru interjects, though he looks serious. "If those Orcs eat the forest, our village is next. We have to do it."
"Of course we're doing it, Rimuru," I pulse back. "But we aren't doing it as 'heroes.' We're doing it as a merger. Treyni, if we eliminate this Orc Lord, we want full trade rights and a seat at the table for all future forest development. No taxes. No interference."
Treyni's smile widens. "Agreed. The Forest Alliance begins with you."
"Good. Now, Rimuru, tell the Goblins to double the rations," I command. "We're going to need every ounce of productivity for the upcoming quarter. I have a war to manage, and I refuse to lose my investment to a bunch of hungry pigs."
Current Magicule Reserves: 97.5%. Location: War Room. Status: [Spatial Motion] acquired. Forest Alliance formed. Orc Lord identified as primary target.
Chapter End.