"So, Lucy, you originally wanted me to help you win Inferno Rider?"
Belle listened to Lucy and Caesar's conversation and quickly pieced together the terms of the deal.
But Caesar, the leader, was far more generous than anyone had expected.
"Inferno Rider is our own business. How could we stake everything on someone else?"
With one well-reasoned sentence, Caesar shot down Lucy's proposal.
"That's right, Proxy! Even if you don't agree to help, you can still take Perlman," Caesar added boldly.
Belle couldn't help marveling inwardly.
Caesar was the leader of an organization for a reason. Her personal magnetism was undeniable.
"Caesar, after you've shown this much sincerity, I can't turn down the commission. Phaethon's way of doing things is to put ourselves in others' shoes and treat people honestly."
Belle smiled and held out her hand.
"Haha! Well said. I like that!"
Caesar laughed and shook Belle's hand, then nudged Lucy with her other elbow.
"See? The Proxy's a good person. You can relax now, right, Lucy?"
Lucy could only answer with silence. She was at a loss for words.
This wasn't some game of make-believe.
How could a negotiation be this casual?
But then she thought about it...
Of course!
Hadn't she come to the Outer Ring because she hated the family's hollow, insincere negotiations?
"Thanks, Phaethon," Lucy finally said, accepting the deal.
And with that, the commission between the Sons of Calydon and Phaethon was official.
In Blazewood, the group settled into Cheesetopia while its owner, Casa, hurried back and forth attending to them.
After Caesar had bombarded her with Outer Ring terms like "a contest of strength" and "the selection of an Overlord," Belle more or less understood the situation.
The Outer Ring's current Overlord was Pompey, whose faction, The Victors, had held the title