Chrysalis

Chapter 1215

[I really don’t think this is appropriate, Anthony.]

[What do you mean? You used to be a merchant, didn’t you? You’ve negotiated for us a ton of times and been fantastic at it. What’s the problem now?]

[I was negotiating with towns and cities that you’d conquered! It’s not exactly hard to force a fair agreement down their throats when there’s a set of mandibles locked around them!]

[I’m fairly sure there weren’t ants standing around with their jaws poised to behead your negotiating partners….]

[Not literally, you oversized ant! I’m just saying I had the upper hand in those talks. And I was only talking to other merchants and petty city lords, not brathians!]

[What’s the difference?]

[Brathians are… different! They’re just different!]

[I mean, how have you even met brathians? I thought you’d never been this deep in the Dungeon?]

[I haven’t. There’s brathians at every level and also on the surface.]

The old woman sighed and pinched her brow. How could she explain this to this obstinate insect?

[The brathians are famous for being skilled negotiators, even in Liria. They cut hard deals and would sell the scales off their own back for the right price.]

[So they’re ruthless when it comes to money. So’s just about everyone who doesn’t have six or more legs. The bruan’chii excepted.]

[It’s pretty much a religion to them! They don’t even live in kingdoms or empires. They form trading blocs, caravans and conglomerates instead. Their leaders are usually the best and most successful traders. I got fleeced by the brathians I met on the surface, what do you think is going to happen to me down here?!]

on. Then an enormous antenna attempted to rest

[Too heavy,] she grumbled.

so that’s great, they just want to strike some sort of deal

frowned. [They

ant shifted

in. We don’t wear clothes, don’t eat fine cuisine, are only interested in ant-themed artwork and besides that, we make all our own stuff already. Even if there was something they could do better, we’d just figure out

goods from you… and then

total of

lent people your legs? Can ants do

Alright? We depend on your wisdom and expertise once again. If you feel like you can’t succeed, then just stop, tell us you can’t do it, and we’ll all move on with

and her people, and

are the brathian

already. They’ve been waiting for

[WHAT!?]

meeting hall, her back aching and her face flushed from

demanded of the big ant

were waiting for our negotiator to

DID just

things and that seemed to mollify them.

and it wasn’t slow…. Rather the

managed to bake so well when they couldn’t possibly have high ranks in the Baking or Cooking Skills was

some semblance of professionalism to her side of the negotiations, Enid approached the table and sat

of the Council had gathered, Sloan and Advant, namely, with Anthony still slumped comfortably in the corner. Across the table sat an array of clearly high ranking brathians, bedecked in gossamer silks that seemed to float in the

me they were dressed so well! I would have tried to spruce

are? I can’t

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255