Chapter 1354: Tension
"I don’t appreciate this sudden change in tone." Robin’s eyes glinted with a strange, otherworldly light. "I may be just a Martial Emperor—someone who relies on the Law of Truth, a law not known for its combat prowess—but make no mistake, I am not someone who can be threatened or coerced so easily... Lord Morval."
"Who said anything about threats, Lord Robin?" Morval tilted his head slightly, his tone calm, even amused. "I merely stated a fact: you have nothing to fear from us. We’ve had full knowledge of your existence, movements, and growth for over 170 years now. So tell me—what difference does it truly make whether you deal with us directly, or through proxies and intermediaries?"
Robin’s lips curled faintly in distaste as he responded, "I don’t like the idea of having to ask permission before making decisions that concern me. That’s what it would come to, wouldn’t it? If I accepted your offer and joined your system? Let’s not sugarcoat it, Lord Morval—if I took your first offer, I’d be tying myself to your society, handing over full rights, giving you control over everything related to my creation."
Then he gave a soft, knowing smirk. "As for selling Breath of Ages independently... well, the difference between 400 million and 12 billion pearls is more than just a number. Wouldn’t you agree?"
"Not quite as vast as you think." Lord Morval gave a slow, deliberate nod. "You see, the fairy assigned to you—Timari—offered 400 million merely as an opening figure. It was meant to be a starting point for negotiations. With proper back-and-forth, we could have easily reached a billion or even 1.5 billion. That would’ve been a fair, market-adjusted price for a martial technique, especially one intended for use by a single individual, not as a legacy to be passed on."
He then spread his arms slightly, as if unveiling a grand truth. "Now, compare that to your actual profits from today’s auction."
Robin raised an eyebrow, his voice cautious. "What do you mean actual profits?"
"Of course." Morval’s smile widened faintly. "This was a top-tier auction, one that spans the entire planetary belt. Normally, we take a standard 75% commission on any sale that happens in this environment." He let that sink in before continuing, "Which means your actual earnings from today amount to 3 billion. The other 9 billion? That’s our share—the Soul Society’s fee for creating the kind of high-level platform capable of bringing buyers like the ones you saw today."
Robin’s expression hardened. "You seriously take seventy-five percent of the final sale? That’s absurd. Doesn’t the discount for the Truth Chosen apply here?" He turned toward Morval sharply, seriousness flooding his face. It was clear this wasn’t new information—it had been told to him before—but in the heat of the moment, he had willfully ignored it.
"The discount applies in other areas—namely in-store sales and purchases. There, the commission drops from 25% to 10%. Possibly in the Chamber of Truth too. But this?" Morval gestured to the grand auction hall. "This is an event that spans worlds. Entire star systems. Not some backroom trade. So no, it doesn’t apply here."
Then, with a grin that teetered between generous and condescending, he added, "But tell you what—I’ll do you a favor. I won’t be stingy. I’ll lower the commission rate specifically for you by another 15%. You’ll only pay 60% instead of 75%. So out of the 12 billion... what does that leave you with? About 4.8 billion, right? Still think all this fuss and noise you made today was worth it?"