Richard watched Beelzebub's shift from arrogance to deference, a faint smile appearing on his face.
"So it was a misunderstanding. If it's a misunderstanding, then this is easy to resolve."
Richard took a Fate Contract from his pocket.
"Since it's a misunderstanding, I assume you have no problem signing this contract, Beelzebub."
Beelzebub glanced at the contract. Its contents were simple: the Abyss would join the Wizard Alliance and jointly resist the Civilization Devourer.
Until the Civilization Devourer was destroyed, alliance members were forbidden from waging war or engaging in hostile acts.
Having read the contract, Beelzebub's mind turned, and he said with a broad smile, "Hahaha, of course there's no problem with signing it. But Dominator Richard, you also know that the Abyss is not mine to command alone. Without Samael, I alone cannot make decisions for the entire Abyss."
"There's no hurry," Richard said with a smile as he looked at Beelzebub, though his gaze was nowhere near as friendly as his expression. "I believe Dominator Samael will agree to this contract."
Seeing that he could not bluff his way through, Beelzebub could only take the contract and leave his mark upon it.
He knew that if he dared refuse to cooperate, Richard had plenty of ways to make his life miserable.
Once the contract had been signed, Richard put it away again.
Just as Beelzebub had said, he alone could not decide for the entire Abyss Civilization. His mark alone did not fulfill the conditions for the contract's completion.
Samael would have to leave his mark on it as well before the contract could truly take effect.
After the contract was signed, the atmosphere on the platform eased somewhat.
Taral Peak remained in a corner, slowly purging the virus from his body—this virus was likewise something Beelzebub