Zhang Mengyao read the contract. It was a simple contract with no hidden clause. Just like Yury Semenov said, if he lied about the oath, the contract would tell her. However, there was a chance that Yury Semenov tricked her. He could do this willingly without the contract. The Federation of Allurion might have his family and force him to do this too. She could not cross that possibility too.
"Not enough," She pulled out another blank system contract and made a new contract. The second contract was to ensure that the location was not a trap and that Yury Semenov was not under force or threatened.
After she finished drafting the contract, Viona came closer and whispered something to her. She was relaying the message from Mongolia to confirm that the Polar Guild's people did not kill anyone during the attack. The confirmation surprised her as Yury Semenov was telling the truth. Viona confirmed directly from Abaka that the people were killed during the fight against the mercenary hired by The Federation of Allurion.
"How about this," Zhang Mengyao handed the contract she just made to Yury Semenov, "If you agree and prove what you told me is not a trap, we can have a truce until the fight against the federation and the church is over."
She said it was a truce instead of a temporary alliance. Meaning they would not help each other in the fight against the Federation of the Allurion and The Divine Church. They would not attack each other either, a temporary peace until they got rid of their common enemy.
"In exchange, we will get rid of the mercenary and also the one hundred federation's elites. I don't trust any bullshit temporary alliance."
Yury Semenov read the contract in his hand carefully, making sure there was no trap clause. Even though the contract was simple and so few clauses, he had to ensure everything was safe. He understood why the opposite party wanted to double-check if what he would say to them was not a trap or a lie.
"I agree," After some time, he made the decision. Yury Semenov felt like this might be the best he could get out of this meeting with the Tang Empire. He never intended to make the alliance permanent too because a clash between them in the future was inevitable.
"Then we will proceed with your proposal. You give us the two traitors to handle, and you two will become our temporary hostage until we kill the federation's force in your territory," Zhang Mengyao put a drop of her blood on the contract, both contracts. The two contracts took effect immediately, and they did not change color. It meant the proposal was genuine for them, not because they were forced to do this.
"Don't worry. We will not put you in our dungeon. We will provide decent lodging for you, but we have to blindfold you two until we deliver you to your room," Zhang Mengyao put two blindfolds on the table, "Do you prefer to stay in a separate room or just one room?"
"Give us one room, and let me contact my people to deliver the traitors," Yury Semenov agreed. The plan was simple; The Polar Guild would not fight the Federation of Allurion and the Divine Church. He would let the Tang Empire fight them while he strengthened his people with the Survival Game. After capturing the whole of Russia, then he would focus on the Dimensional Tower. The winner of the war would be weakened, and he was confident to face the weakened winner.
The federation and the church would focus on the Tang Empire, so the Polar Guild should be safe from the two factions. This was the ideal situation for the Polar Guild.
"Do you know that the federation and the church have not sent their main force yet? The people they deploy against us are meant to be trained?" Yury Semenov shared the information he just got from the traitors. He was telling the Tang Empire that the Federation of Allurion and the Divine Church were much stronger than they actually showed.
"Oh, there's no need to be worried about that. We are aware of that, but fighting against us is part of their training. Unless it's necessary, they will not use their main force against us. However, we should worry about the God Rank's threat. From what I know, their God Ranks are the ones who are interested in our world," Zhang Mengyao shared the valuable information for Yury Semenov out of goodwill. She was telling them to be prepared for future disasters.
Yury Semenov was shocked to hear the God Rank's involvement. That was much scarier than the main force of both factions. It was just a being in another realm. But then his mind cleared with how calm Zhang Mengyao was. The way she told him, it seemed the Tang Empire had a way to handle the God Rank, 'I will gamble it that the Tang Empire had a way to fight the God Rank.' That was his decision.
Yury Semenov could go back on his words and left the tower city without telling Zhang Mengyao the federation force's location and going back to his territory. No one stopped them from doing so because they were inside the city. However, he chose to gamble by choosing the Tang Empire. If anything else, he would rather join the Tang Empire than the federation who looked at them like slaves.
Yeon Hee got closer to Zhang Mengyao's ear and whispered something, causing Zhang Mengyao to frown. It was unpleasant news that the unwelcome guest tried to barge into their building. Herman Bonivido heard her arrival and tried to barge into the building to meet her. She frowned because he was supposed not to know her arrival because the teleportation was inside the building. No one outside should know her arrival unless the insider informed Herman about her arrival.
"I have other business, but I will stay here until you fulfill your part," Yury Semenov nodded, and the three women left the room. As soon as they left the room, Mikhailovich turned toward his friend, "Are you crazy? Are we really going to fight the God Rank!? That's much worse than their main force."
"We are not fighting them, but the Tang Empire will. From the way she tells us, it seems they have a way to fight the God Rank. I will take the gamble with the Tang Empire," Yury Semenov typed the message to his subordinate to deliver the traitors. Even though he was anxious and nervous about the God Rank, he did not show it outside.
"This is a losing gamble. You are crazy to make such a decision by yourself. They will come after us if they know that we betray them!" Mikhailovich was angry that his friend made the decision without discussing it with him and the others.
"They will come after us whether we betray them or not. You are aware of that, and I would rather die than become the federation's subordinate. Do you forget how they look at us? They don't regard humans as humans but as livestock. You can see it from their eyes, and you can tell how the hundred people treated us," Yury Semenov showed a strong determination to oppose the federation.
Mikhailovich went silent when Yury Semenov brought up that matter.
*** ***
Zhang Mengyao glanced at the two women beside her, "No one should know about my arrival except our people, so how did Herman know about my arrival? Check your people. It seems they receive a bribe or they have betrayed us." It was dangerous if TEID received a bribe or even betrayed the Tang Empire. TEID was the Tang Empire's information source, and they knew many things, including the information about the Tang Empire itself, "Is there a loophole on the oath?" She muttered by herself. That was more a question for herself. TEID's members took an oath for the Tang Empire, the same as the Tarrior if not stricter.
"I will take care of that," Viona nodded and disappeared into the shadow before Zhang Mengyao could stop her. Viona was a fallen noble from the Ortis Continent. Her house fell because of the betrayal, so she was quite sensitive about it. She did not want the same tragedy to happen to her new home, so she wanted to deal with the issue quickly.
"Follow her. I am afraid she is going to kill those people," Zhang Mengyao sighed, gesturing to Yeon Hee with her chin to follow Viona.
Yeon Hee nodded and left.
Zhang Mengyao headed to the lobby where Herman Bonivido and two people she did not recognize. His face brightened at the sight of her as he rushed toward Zhang Mengyao, "I am glad you are willing to meet me."
"I don't have much time, get to the main point," Zhang Mengyao did not even bring Herman Bonivido to a room to talk, just the lobby.
She then raised her hand, "If you are asking me to release Reinar Thamsen, then consider the talk is over. My answer is always the same, NO! We will never release him!"
"You talk big for a woman!" The person behind Herman rushed forward, getting closer to Zhang Mengyao. The Tarriors in the lobby raised their weapon, but Zhang Mengyao waved her hand, "There's no need to raise your weapon. I want him to attack me so I don't have to deal with these people."
Herman tried to stand between the man and Zhang Mengyao, "He is a Legend Rank from the Giteron Dynasty. He is Sir—" His words were cut off.
"Release Young Lord Reinar, or your puny empire will also face the Giteron Dynasty's wrath! You are too ignorant and arrogant if you think you can fight three factions at the same time!" The Legend Rank threatened Zhang Mengyao, yet another threat.
Zhang Mengyao let out a chuckle, "You are speaking as if we are not fighting against three factions already. If not for our trap, you will be fighting us right now. And if you think that I am afraid of Legend Rank, then you are gravely mistaken," Her expression turned somber, "We have killed dozens of Legend Ranks. Adding you to the list is not a big deal."
Zhang Mengyao has her reason for not releasing Reinar Thamsen. It was because Reinar Thamsen knew the Tang Empire's hidden card, Kalliyan, The Demi-God Rank. If they knew the Demi-God Rank's existence; The Federation of Allurion, The Divine Church, and the Giteron Dynasty might call their Demi-God Ranks as well. It was not because she had a grudge or something against Reinar.
"It seems we are done talking, Sir Herman," Zhang Mengyao was about to turn around, but the second man spoke up, "What if we take an oath that we will not step into Earth anymore if you release Young Lord Reinar? Not just that, we will not attack the Tang Empire as well."
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