Read Novel Full Chapter 324: PR
Chapter 324: PR
Apparently, a drunk man wasn’t a good driving instructor.
After Grady became aware of the situation, or more so, after witnessing the situation go bad, he stepped in and gave Vale a non-drunk instructor who was actually a driver.
Eric, despite appearing knowledgeable, had never driven before!
It was through this new instructor, Loko, that Vale learned about the gas, brakes, emergency brake, shifting, stalling, and a few more technical terms.
By the end of the lesson, he could comfortably drive in a circle, slowly…
He’d been somewhat traumatized by Eric’s tutelage.
When that was done, Vale was given a bit more of a tour of the facility; however, it didn’t last too long.
Before night could fall, Vale, Salome, Eric, and crew departed for Lust.
While under Akkuron’s and Grady’s watchful gaze.
A gaze that promised retaliation should Celestia, Rivania, attack Vale.
***
Despite having [Severance] at his disposal, Mias only had his half with Greed severed at the moment. He needed his mind linked between all other portions of him, excluding the half which was still missing with Ophelia.
Currently, Mias’ perception was split into six.
One watching over Salome and Vale, then three others watching the stronger dungeons, and the final two were watching the weaker dungeons Mias had discerned they had the best chance of converting.
Sadly, Mias wasn’t able to go inside the dungeons, as that would alert the Masters, but he was able to watch the entrances. Meaning he saw all delegates who entered.
Which was a surprisingly steady stream.
It was near constant that foreign emissaries were entering another dungeon, except for the bats.
They kept to themselves mostly, and others kept away from them. The only ones who visited them were the dragonkin.
Well, the spiders too; however, the spiders weren’t there to talk on friendly terms, per se. Not that they were there to harm them. But, just like Mias, the spiders had spies watching the same scenes. They too observed each dungeon entrance, save for the dragonkin’s. Measuring their influence and comparing it to the others.
‘They are dangerous.’
While what they were doing wasn’t inherently harmful, it showed a clear goal that lay beyond defeating Lust. An obvious goal that Salome and Mias had long discerned.
‘But grand ambitions cast long shadows, and make deeper graves.’
To make their machinations so clear before having defeated Lust?
Well, that made Mias’ job simpler.
All he had to do was make his targets realize the ambitions of those they followed.
Which, while it sounded easy — like all he had to do was stroll in and point it out — it wasn’t that straightforward. For if Mias, an agent of Lust, came to them, it would only be seen as suspicious — an attempt at subversion (which it was).
Instead, they had to come to Lust.
To that end, they had to not only realize it themselves, but Mias would have to change their perspective of Lust. Make Lust seem like the victim.
It was time for a killer public relations campaign.
To that end…
‘Master Vale isn’t going to like my methods.’
After all, Mias’ methods involved the potential sacrifice of warriors.
With the first fight having already broken out, more small skirmishes had begun when the warriors went out to scavenge. What Mias planned was to have these groups never attack first.
For the Warriors of Lust to merely be trying to survive.
Then, Mias would even go as far as helping an enemy out in a sticky situation. If a group was backed into a corner by a strong, wild Emergent beast, the warriors would save them, then leave.
While incidents like that may be few, once one instance turned into multiple, it would start to paint a torturous picture the Masters would have to accept: they’re being manipulated into fighting a peaceful group.
Maybe they’ll suspect foul play. Maybe one will be resistant to the trickery. But all it would take is a kernel of doubt. That small kernel would break the alliance at its foundation.
If all went according to his plan, at least.
‘If Master Vale’s morals stay out of my way…’
It’s not like Mias didn’t like Vale. But that Vale’s methods were simply different. To Mias: inefficient.
The Reaper of Knowledge, who lacked care for kinship, put no method off the table.
Meaning, the first step in this plan would not involve tricking the enemy, but his master.
***
Vale returned in a peaceful descent.
Going down this time, it was much faster, as Salome could glide straight there. Same for Cole, who was half dive-bombing toward the entrance.
Celestia, whether due to Grady’s gaze or not, hadn’t attacked, but they had watched and witnessed Akkuron forces entering the Dungeon of Lust.
[A challenger has entered the dungeon]
[A challenger has entered the dungeon]
[A challenger has entered the dungeon]
Vale smiled as he descended into the dungeon and felt the blistering cold tickle his skin. Ximena, the gate guardian, was somewhere below, sulking in a corner like a kid in time out.
But as he descended, it came to Vale…
‘Ah, those dirty looks are about to multiply.’
Since Salome had quickly become well liked, Ximena, the “aggressor” who shattered her arm, would become even more disliked.
Especially so since she already made the Akkuron forces have to huddle for warmth half the time.
It was as he took the step onto flat ground and waved to Ximena — the sad Crystal Owl’s face lighting up and giving a faint smile — that he heard a whisper in his ear.
“Master Vale, I have a proposal I’d like you to hear out.”
Vale’s eyebrow lifted as he looked at the empty air next to him where Mias’ voice had come from.
‘A proposal?’
Why had he said ‘proposal’ over ‘idea’ or ‘plan’?
Such a discrepancy wasn’t too hard for Vale to figure out…
He knew very well the difference between them and how he and Mias operated.
‘Alright…’
Vale nodded, then looked at Eric, Anthony, and the still transformed Cole.
“I have matters to attend to, but that was a wondrous experience.”
Vale placed a hand on his chest and touched the [Nexus of Beginnings].
‘Plus, I got a cool souvenir!’