Chapter 185 - It Will Have To Be
The trip back to the busy City was just as quick as the trip there. A few hours later I was right back to where I started, staring ahead at what would be my first diplomatic meeting.
It wasn't that serious, as we were fighting a common enemy, but it was technically my first meeting with another City Lord. Tracy didn't count as I knew her from the tutorial and I hadn't actually met their City Lord.
The fact her pylon was leagues away from mine helped matters because even if I did cause offense, it wasn't like they were going to chase me all the way North.
But this was different. This pylon was one of our nearest neighbors and there would be no running away if I managed to flub things. While highly doubtful, the possibility was there.
I had watched how the people who visited us acted and how they talked about their City and it gave me a decent idea of what I was walking into. Nothing specific was revealed, but an idea nonetheless.
The group was courteous and polite without any direct arguments breaking out during our time together. Unless the City Lord was the complete opposite of the people he sent, I wasn't overly worried.
My biggest thought was on how I would get him to abandon defense and go on the attack.
Even as I walked up to the settlement gates, more traps and defenses were being constructed. Even after knowing help had arrived, he was set on building up what he could.
The worst outcome from our meeting would be his refusal to go out and attack the Demons once they were found which would be monumentally stupid.
Demons were a ticking time bomb and the sooner they were vanquished the better. We didn't have time for him to turtle up behind his walls as their number grew with every new summon.
And if there was an intelligent Demon in control, they would wait until they had overwhelming numbers before doing anything. Waiting was death, and I wouldn't allow that to be an option.
I had Carson walking next to me as I entered the gates and the people inside parted for us to pass. I left Remi behind with the group and chose to go at this on foot.