Chapter 224: New Gear
The room went still. Even the soft buzz of the holo-tablet faded.
Vaelira’s eyes locked on him.
Kaiden continued without being bothered by the change in the atmosphere. "The cherished A-tier awakened of Nova Circuit peddles drama like a street vendor slinging shit just to juice her stream’s engagement numbers. Jack acts like we’re in a perpetual dick-measuring contest. And Sasha? If I had a coin for every time she looked at one of my girls like they were beneath her, I’d have enough to buy a private dungeon."
His gaze flicked to Talia’s face on the hologram. "And Diaz. Strong or not, he’s the sole survivor of a nineteen-man slaughter. I’ve got doubts about him."
Silence.
No one interrupted him.
Not Talia, whose lips thinned on the other end of the screen. Not Tessa, whose brows furrowed as she realized the negotiation had shifted. And definitely not Vaelira, who sat with her head tilted, eyeing him like she was about to slap him.
Kaiden gave her a wink before continuing.
"So here’s how it is. I want seventy-five percent of all spoils."
Talia’s expression tightened.
"Diaz is experienced, sure," Kaiden went on, "but it’s your guild that’s under threat of dissolution. You’re here because you’re desperate. Runewoven is being done a favor just by being part of this conversation. That alone is worth your cut."
He shifted, turning toward Tessa now. "As for Nova Circuit... Vaelira might be A-rank, but the rest of her squad is simply not ready. Back in the desert, my team did most of the heavy lifting while they threw tantrums and pouted through it."