Angel was not qualified to represent Savage Cave in cooperating with the Wise Sovereign. Even if he had been, he would have treated it with caution. Abyss City, the Abyss Incident, Naraka himself, and all the experiments conducted here with the Serpent-Coiled Awl—none of it failed to show how deep these waters ran. Where the waters ran deep, one had to tread carefully.
Savage Cave was currently caught between the threat of Eternal Night City and the threat of Heart's Desire, while also having to deal with the descent of Peach Heart Theater... From Lord Rhein's perspective, it was entirely possible that he would refuse the Wise Sovereign.
Abyss City had secrets, and it had benefits. But Abyss City had not risen again for ten thousand years. No matter how great the benefits, they were only the lingering shade of bygone days.
The crises facing Savage Cave likewise held benefits, but those benefits were right there in plain sight. Angel knew perfectly well how the choice should be made.
He had guessed that, since the Wise Sovereign could get nowhere with him, he would very likely offer Black Earl a similar partnership. Yet Angel had not expected Black Earl to agree to cooperate with the Wise Sovereign.
Could Black Earl truly not see how deep the waters of Abyss City ran?
Or was Black Earl still thinking of the old ties from ten thousand years ago?
Angel looked questioningly at Black Earl. Black Earl seemed to understand what Angel wanted to ask and said flatly, "He offered terms I could not refuse."
What did "terms I could not refuse" mean?
Everyone thought for a long time, yet none of them could figure out what terms the Wise Sovereign had offered that Black Earl could not refuse. Nor did Black Earl