Chapter 52: The Final Bargaining Chip
"As for Allen Watson," Gustavo Flynn said slowly, "I still need you to cooperate with us in staging a little performance."
Ambrose didn't even hesitate. "A performance? That's going to cost extra."
Flynn forced down his anger. "You haven't even asked what kind of performance."
"Any performance costs extra. That's not aimed at you. It's a principle that I live by."
Flynn sneered. "Liches have principles?"
Ambrose chuckled. "Racial discrimination? In that case, we'll have to renegotiate the price."
Grinding his teeth, Gustavo Flynn had no choice but to continue bargaining with him.
The Alchemists' Council had made Flynn aware of their final decision even before he set out: no matter the cost, Allen Watson had to be secured. He could not be returned to the Lyon Empire too easily.
The City of Alchemists needed the Lyon Empire's help, but simply returning the High Arbiter's son would create an ambiguous debt, neither a small nor overwhelming favor. At best, it might earn them the man's personal goodwill; it likely wouldn't be enough to push him into advancing an alliance between the two nations.