Chapter 304: Terms (Patreon)
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Jason looked over at Other Gordon.
Are you sure that this guy should be hearing all this? he asked.
Participation in formal negotiations with outside parties is part of our agreement with the government, Keith said.
You know that when word about magic goes public, thats where its coming from, right? Jason asked.
Oh, we know, Keith. But that decision is settled, regardless of our personal viewpoints.
I resent the implication that Other Gordon started, only to trail off as a room full of hostile eyes turned on him. The Prime Minister will hear about my treatment here!
And do what? Jason asked. Crap his pants in McDonalds again?
Thats an urban myth, Other Gordon said.
Sure it is, Jason said, turning back to the others. So, your real problem with the capabilities of your higher-rank members isnt a matter of enough cores to break to category four. My understanding is that monster core use is your primary means of advancement?
We call them magic cores, but yes, Gladys said.
I can tell from your auras that only some of you have been using cores. Just looking at the group of you, Im assuming that essences are a privilege of rank. Anna and Asya, you are clearly sitting at baseline, with no advancement at all. Do you even have all your abilities awakened?
No, Asya said. And youre right. Anna and I are executive level, while Keith is committee level. Nigel and Gladys are in the tactical and medical tracks respectively, which have their own standards, although Nigel is out of the ordinary.
I heard you had one guy doing things differently, Jason said, looking at Nigel. So, youre him, yeah? Whats stopped you from sucking up cores? Ive heard its been slow going.
It has, Nigel admitted. When I was first brought into the Network, I did all the research I could on magical combat. I found a number of references to non-core advancement in the oldest records, but it was like someone had gone through and excised them.
Nigel Keith said warningly.
Im sorry, Mr Culpeper, Nigel said, but Im not letting this opportunity pass by, even if it is a controversial position. Mr Asano, I believe that core-based advancement was originally introduced as a method to control members through the magic core supply, only for that truth to be lost somewhere across the centuries and leave us with core-based advancement as the only path.
Well, I cant speak to the history of your organisation beyond the broad guesses Ive already made, Jason said. All I can do is to tell you is that theres another way. It isnt faster and it doesnt make your abilities any more powerful, but the end results are individuals that are much more capable.
Jason took a sip of lemonade before continuing.
That man who attacked me, who you currently have in your possession. Hes silver rank. Category three. He should have had no problems handling me. Yes, he was trying to take me alive rather than take me out, which meant he couldnt use a kill move with his opening attack, but he had me in one of the worst circumstances I could be in for a fight. He should have trounced me, but he didnt.
Youre saying he was weak? Nigel asked.
Profoundly weak, Jason said. Same for his minions who tried to drag me off to France.
Where are those individuals? Other Gordon asked.
Last time I saw them they were heading up to Hanging Rock, Jason said.
Hanging Rock? Other Gordon asked.
Im not offering a quick solution, Jason said, ignoring Other Gordon. I cant really help your people who already use cores. What I am offering is a thorough solution. I can help you to bring up a new wave of people who are stronger than the last, using their powers to the fullest. I was taught using some of the best methodology for creating powerful essence users there is. I cant train them as well as the people who trained me could, but I can still pass along the lessons I learned. I also have some tricks of my own that should prove useful.
Youre willing to train our people up to the standards of the other world? Nigel asked.
As best I can, Jason said. Ill start with you, since youve been trying to reverse engineer the process yourself. I suspect that with some supplemental techniques, youll start leaping forward in advancement.
Cant you just teach the people already using cores? Annabeth asked.
No, Jason said. Cores impede other forms of advancement. Once you go cores, you dont go back, which is why professional adventurers on the other world dont use them. They sell them or save them for their families so they can get the benefits of being essence users without putting themselves in danger. Basically, cores are what you give your Mum so she doesnt have to fight monsters.
None of this changes the issue of not reaching category four, Keith said. You said you have a means to sidestep that problem.
If you have sufficiently capable people, Jason said, then you dont need category fours. As I am right now, I could handle most silver-rank monsters alone. Category three, sorry. Dont you find the number system less evocative and harder to remember? Sorry, Im digressing. So, I can handle most category threes, and so long as it isnt out on an open salt flat, Id be willing to at least try any of them.
Youre that confident? Nigel asked.
I am, Jason said. That doesnt hold true if you jump it up a rank, though. I dont expect to do solo takedowns of category four monsters unless they happen to be very and specifically susceptible to my particular powers set. A team of well-trained, silver-rank essence users should be able to handle almost any gold-rank monster, though. Itll take probably more than half a decade to get there, but if I teach your people the foundational approach, then it should just be a matter of time before they get there themselves. Im talking just about power use, here; Im sure you have plenty of capable people to instruct them on combat skills.
That we have covered, yes, Nigel said.
So, thats what Im offering, Jason said. Everything you need to transform your roster of essence users over the next decade. There are other things, but theyre all secondary. Im offering you the chance to transform the magical world.
You talk about big results, Other Gordon said. But you only promise them years in the future. This all sounds like a con.
Youre such a politician, Other Gordon. The network doesnt need a sound bite solution they can sell to people who arent paying that much attention. They need a fundamental change in the underlying infrastructure of how they operate. If they cant see the value in that, Im not the one losing out.
Jason shook his head.
Your friends here had me kidnapped, Other Gordon, so they dont get to claim the moral high ground on this one. Im not making any concessions for the purpose of proving that Im on the level. You can accept it or not. If you cant give me what I want, Im happy to walk away. Im pretty sure I can get everything I need on my own, just with a little more effort.
You wont find retrieving the other outworlder so easy without us getting them released, Annabeth said.
Youre right, Jason said. But the hard way is kind of my thing. You havent seen the list of who bet against me and lost, Anna. If I have to make a whole new list in this world, then so be it.
Lets not go making any hasty decisions, Keith said. Youre saying youll help us rebuild our entire tactical program if we get the other outworlder released?
No, Jason said. Getting the other outworlder released is what brings me to the table. You dont get to ransom them to me.
We dont have them, Keith said.
The man responsible for kidnapping me is sheltering in your headquarters at this very moment. The person who kept him alive is in this room. Youve got the same letterhead on the official stationary, so dont try selling me on their part of the Network not being your part of the Network. I had the crap kicked out of me, got collared and shoved into the boot of a car. You should be grateful that Im not holding you responsible for that.
We have wide-ranging concerns that go beyond just you, Annabeth said. We cant just drop everything and work towards your agenda.
I dont care about you, your problems or your perspective, Jason said. This negotiation isnt about trading football cards. Your Network is holding a person against their will for no more crime than having something you want. The only reason Im here to negotiate instead of in some shady rendition site is because the people you sent after me were pathetically weak.
Jason took a floral shirt from behind the bar and slipped it on, buttoning it up as he continued to talk.
I know I come a cross as a light-hearted guy, with the lemonade and the sandwiches and the jokes.
Although his voice remained jovial, there was an undercurrent to it that tickled the hairs on the back of his guests necks.
I recognise that this may have led to the gravity of my concern on this matter being undercut. Allow me to rectify that. I am going to get that outworlder, whoever they are, out. Thats just a fact. Maybe I die trying, but Ive died before and it hasnt stopped me yet. If you help me, then we can put any unpleasantness behind us. If you wont, but you dont make yourselves into obstacles, then okay. Its your organisation and I cant expect you to go against your own team. But when I say gods help anyone who gets in my way, Im being very specific. I know exactly what it means and that truly is what its going to take.
As Jason talked, his aura ramped up until it was bearing down on the Network contingent like a weight. Only Gladys was able to truly hold up and even she was feeling pressured. The normal-ranked government official panicked an ran out the doors, sprinting around the outside deck towards the dock. The incongruent menace pouring off the barefoot man in a Hawaiian shirt and board shorts somehow made it all the more eerie.
The pressure receded, leaving the iron-rank Asya and Annabeth taking deep breaths, as if theyd just breached the surface of the water. Keith wasnt looking much better, while Gladys looked at Jason warily. Nigel was staring at him with wide eyes.
Can you teach me to do that? Nigel asked.
To a degree, Jason said. I cant replicate all the conditions that led to the current condition of my aura and you dont want me to. Some things arent worth the price.
And what is it that you want in return? Gladys asked, taking over while the others were still recovering. You havent told us, yet.
Nothing onerous, Jason said. Mostly I want monsters.
You want us to catch monsters alive? Keith asked.
No, Jason said. I want dibs on killing any category three monsters in Australia. Further afield, if you can swing it. I want right of refusal on category twos as well.
You want in fighting the dimensional entities? Nigel asked.
Yes. Im open to negotiation on dividing the loot, but I have no issue handing off most of the cores and spirit coins. I just need enough to meet my own needs. Aside from that, I have a few other requirements.
Gladys turned an looked at the wall.
What is your shadow creature doing to Truffett? she asked.
He just mana drained him until he passed out, Jason said. Cant have him causing trouble. Hell recover quickly on the houseboat.
Asya, go check on him, Gladys said. Upper deck.
Theres an elevator just through there, Jason said, pointing to the inner door. Show her, please Shade.
How many of those shadow creatures do you have? Gladys asked as Asya followed Shade deeper into the houseboat.
Just one.
I sensed another one outside, Gladys said.
Shade is an excellent multitasker.
What are your other requirements? Keith asked, getting the negotiation back on topic.
Small things, Jason said. I have some gold Id like the Royal Mint to take off my hands without my getting audited or accused of arms smuggling.
Gold from the other world? Annabeth asked.
Yep, Jason said.
I dont see that being a problem, Keith said. What else?
Im going to get my family ready for when magic goes public, Jason said. The Networks support isnt strictly necessary, but it would be useful. You would also get to keep an eye on things, to head off any potential information breaches.
Again, not a deal-breaker, Keith said. It seems like what we need to hammer out are the specifics regarding your participation in our incursion response program.
How much are you allowed to decide now? Jason asked.
Im empowered to make a preliminary agreement that I can put before the Steering Committee of our Branch and the International Committee. We arent looking to monopolise everything or well just get more branches following Lyons lead.
You know that all this is predicated on the other outworlder, Jason said. I need to see some movement on that or we dont have any kind of deal at all.
I can make that plain to the committees in question, Keith said. For now, Id like to get some specific terms down that I can take back with me.
Alright, Jason said. Lets get down to it, then, Jason said.
As he and Keith moved to a table, Asya returned.
How is he? Gladys asked.
Snoring, Asya said. Loudly.
You realise that he will be the one responsible for getting your gold organised, Annabeth told Jason.
What gold? Asya asked.