Supreme Bloodline Evolution System

"Then why not become my vassal instead?" Max asked, his expression remaining completely serious as he leaned back into his chair.

Caratacus remained motionless for several seconds, his glass suspended halfway between the table and his lips. The wine inside shifted as his fingers tightened around the stem, while his sharp green eyes searched Max’s face for some indication that he was joking.

Max gave him none.

Caratacus slowly lowered the glass without drinking and placed it back on the table.

"You certainly do not waste time," he said, a disbelieving laugh escaping him as he shook his head. "You entered my kingdom only a few days ago, frightened half of my border guards into abandoning their weapons, demanded a secret path through my lands, and now you are asking me to surrender my crown."

"I didn’t ask you to surrender it." Max rested one ankle over his opposite knee, appearing almost too comfortable while discussing the fate of Britana. "You can keep your crown, your palace, and even that expensive wine you’ve been trying to tempt me with. You would simply acknowledge me as your lord."

"How generous of you," Caratacus replied, the corner of his mouth twitching. He stared at him before breaking into another laugh. This one lasted longer, filling the private chamber as he leaned back in his chair and shook his head.

"I offer you one of the most beautiful and capable women in Britana, a hidden route into Frankindia, and enough land to establish your first territory within the human kingdoms." Caratacus spread his hands across the table, emphasizing everything being offered. "Somehow, you still find a way to ask for more."

"I didn’t build Voidstar by refusing opportunities," Max answered with a small shrug.

"No, from what I have heard, you built it by invading your neighbors, stealing their people, sleeping with their queens, and forcing their rulers to kneel before you."

Max’s lips curved upward.

"There’s some truth to most of it, but rumors are still rumors. That doesn’t mean everything you’ve heard is correct."

The two kings stared at each other across the table, neither willing to lower his eyes. Although their words carried humor, both understood that they were discussing a future that could one day become painfully real.

Caratacus reached for his glass again but stopped before touching it, tapping one finger against its golden rim instead.

"Britana has existed for thousands of years," he said, the amusement gradually leaving his voice. "My ancestors protected these lands through wars, famines, magical disasters, and repeated attempts by the Imperial Court to place us beneath its heel. What kind of king would I be if I handed that history to an eighteen-year-old ruler simply because he asked?"

"Nineteen, actually," Max replied, leaning forward and resting both forearms against his thighs.

The finger tapping against the glass stopped.

"You already admitted that you expect me to come for your head eventually," Max continued, watching the tension gather around Caratacus’s jaw. "That is why you are offering me Senuna and land near our border. You want a connection strong enough to make me hesitate before turning my armies toward Britana."

"I would prefer to call it building a lasting friendship." Caratacus forced a diplomatic smile back onto his face.

"You can call it whatever helps you sleep."

Caratacus narrowed his eyes, but the irritation appearing on his face soon gave way to reluctant amusement.

"You are remarkably unpleasant when negotiating," he said.

"And yet you’re still negotiating with me."

"Because throwing you out would be even more unpleasant," Caratacus admitted as he reached for his wine.

Max laughed quietly and finally extended his hand toward the bowl of golden berries. He selected one between two fingers, examined its thin, almost translucent skin, and placed it into his mouth. Sweet juice spread across his tongue, carrying enough mana to leave a faint warmth inside his body.

Caratacus noticed and raised his eyebrows.

"So you finally trust me enough to eat?" he asked, raising his glass toward Max.

"No." Max swallowed the berry and reached for another. "I was getting hungry."

"That is the closest thing to progress we have achieved since you entered this palace," Caratacus said before taking another drink, appearing more relaxed now that Max had finally accepted something from his table.

He lowered the glass and slowly rotated it between his fingers.

"I will not become your vassal merely because you desire it," Caratacus continued. "Britana is not one of the broken dragon kingdoms you gathered after a war. We have armies, allies, trade routes, and enough influence to make invading us far more expensive than you seem to believe."

"How expensive?" Max asked immediately.

The direct question caused Caratacus’s smile to weaken.

"Expensive enough," he replied, sitting straighter in his chair.

"I’ve got gold."

"It was not intended as an invitation for you to test it," Caratacus warned, tightening his hand around the glass.

Max rolled another golden berry between his fingers while considering the king’s words.

"You offered me territory because you know fighting would cost both of us more than cooperation," he said. "I agree with that much. I have no reason to invade Britana today, and becoming enemies would only make it easier for the Imperial Court to deal with us separately."

Caratacus slowly nodded.

"On that, we agree."

"But I won’t accept a few worthless villages filled with starving people and call it a generous gift." Max placed the berry back into the bowl and wiped his fingertips together.

Caratacus’s expression hardened at once.

Max lowered both feet to the floor and turned his body fully toward him.

"I saw fertile fields filled with food, yet the people working them looked like corpses. I saw wagons carrying their harvests toward this capital while children searched through filth for something to eat. If you give me territory, I want land worth governing, not a burden you have been waiting to throw onto someone else."

Caratacus said nothing for several breaths. His jaw tightened, but he did not attempt to defend what Max had witnessed.

"What exactly do you want?" he finally asked, folding his hands together on the table.

"A fortified city along our shared border, the surrounding farmland, and every village dependent upon it," Max answered. "The territory will belong to Voidstar, not merely be loaned to me, and I will govern it according to my laws. A permanent road will connect it to my kingdom, while your merchants will be allowed to use that road without paying taxes for the first five years."

"Ten villages," Caratacus countered immediately, raising one finger. "No more."

"Twenty, along with the people living in them."

"Twelve." Caratacus leaned forward slightly.

"Eighteen," Max replied without hesitation.

Caratacus planted both hands against the table.

"Fifteen villages, one city, the surrounding farmland, and access to the nearest river. Britana’s merchants receive ten years of tax-free passage, and your soldiers will defend the region if either kingdom is invaded."

Max remained silent as he considered the offer. The territory would give Voidstar its first permanent entrance into the human lands, along with a river, farmland, and a fortified city that could become the center of trade between both kingdoms. Ten years without collecting taxes from Britana’s merchants was a considerable price, but the road would still attract traders from elsewhere.

"Seven years," Max eventually replied, raising his eyes back toward Caratacus. "If either kingdom is attacked, military support will only be provided after a formal request. I will not allow you to drag my armies into a war you started yourself."

Caratacus’s fingers curled slightly against the table before slowly relaxing.

"Agreed," he said with a firm nod.

"And Senuna?" Max asked.

Caratacus settled back into his seat and adjusted the sleeve of his red clothing.

"She is aware of my intentions and has already agreed to the union," he explained. "Though I suspect she will demand certain promises from you personally before accepting her place as your concubine."

"I’m surprised she agreed." Max’s expression relaxed slightly.

Caratacus raised an eyebrow.

"You thought I intended to hand her over without asking?"

"I’ve seen rulers do worse," Max replied.

Caratacus did not argue. Instead, he extended one hand across the table, his palm open.

"Then we have an agreement," he said. "You will accept Lady Senuna as your concubine, binding our kingdoms through a formal political union. In return, Britana will surrender the agreed territory to Voidstar and provide you with a secret route into Frankindia."

Max looked at the offered hand before reaching across the table and gripping it firmly.

"We have an agreement," he confirmed.

Their hands remained joined for several seconds, neither ruler willing to be the first to release his grip. Caratacus eventually pulled away and reached for his wine, while Max rose from the chair and straightened his black clothes.

"Now that we’re finished, can I leave for Frankindia?" Max asked, glancing toward the doors. "I need to move quickly."

Caratacus looked toward the windows, judging how much daylight remained.

"The maps and border documents will be prepared before sunset," he answered. "I will have trusted men escort you through the first military checkpoints. After that, you will travel under a false identity."

"Good." Max turned toward the doors.

"There is one more thing, King Maximus," Caratacus called before he could take more than two steps.

Max stopped and looked back over his shoulder.

Caratacus remained seated with his glass raised near his lips, but all humor had disappeared from his green eyes.

"I agree to your previous suggestion, but only on one condition," Caratacus said. "If you defeat the Imperial Court Empire, then Britana will bow its head to Voidstar. I will become your vassal, and from that day forward, I will acknowledge you as my lord."