章 1941: Diplomacy
Since his Irregular status was pretty well known these days, at least among the upper echelons of the Tower, Vahn didn't have to worry about triggering any alarms via the method he used to climb. With this in mind, he decided to pay a visit to the Guardian, a giant carp with horns reminiscent of an eastern dragon.
After a number of remarks regarding his taste, Vahn was mildly annoyed to learn that his task on the 44th Floor required him to procure an item known as the Sky Pearl from the Floor Ruler. This was was an exceptionally rare material that functioned similarly to raw Suspendium, but, unlike its comparably common counterpart, the Sky Pearl afforded those with the means to make use of it the ability to manipulate the weather. More specifically, it could be used to generate or dissipate a storm front, and, when used to construct the core of a Suspend Ship, it added an inherent lightning property to the Shinsu pumped through it.
Simply put, the Guardian was asking him to either reach a compromise with or steal directly from the Floor Ruler. This wasn't particularly difficult, but, as could be expected, the Ruler of said Floor was a rather prodigious member of the Ten Great Families. More specifically, it was governed by a member of the Tu Perie Family, one of the most prolific of the Ten due to their Leader inventing the Lighthouse and pioneering the Lightbearer Position. He was also responsible for the creation of the three known Operas, Lighthouses so powerful that their observation range was effectively infinite.
Though Sky Pearls were traditionally used in the production of Flagships, their ability to substitute Suspendium meant they could be used in quite a number of ways. This included the production of Lighthouses, and, while they were exceptionally rare, there were a few famous members of the Tu Perie Family with the ability to manipulate the weather to their benefit. There were even rumors of the Leader of the Tu Perie Family attempting to incorporate the Sky Pearl's functionality into one of the Operas, effectively granting its wielder the ability to freely manipulate the weather throughout the Tower.
In actuality, the person desiring the ability to manipulate the weather was none other than Gustang. More specifically, his foundation had been working alongside a few members of the Tu Perie Family to provide the Empire with the means to control weather throughout the Tower. This would no only reinforce the notion that Jahad was a God, but, most importantly, it provided an extreme advantage during military deployments.
Taking these factors into consideration, stealing the Sky Pearl implied that he would need to offend both the Tu Perie and Po Bidau Families. He would be throwing a wrench into an ongoing operation by the Jahad Army, so, in more ways than one, this was a task that directly put him at odds with the Tower's established powers. This made it pretty obvious that the Guardians wanted him to sow even greater discord throughout the Tower, not with the subjective intent to do harm, but for the sake of overthrowing the existing system and ushering in a new era.
Fortunately, while theft was the simplest method to employ, it wasn't Vahn's only option. He could always try to reach an agreement with the Floor Ruler, and, while this inspired complications of its own, it would at least demonstrate to the factions within the Tower that he was willing to deal with them diplomatically. This served the dual purpose of making it easier to forge alliances, and, most importantly, it would allow him to mislead his enemies into believing he actually had an interest in certain material possessions.
Though he could appreciate the beauties sent his way, Vahn was more than a little annoyed by the fact there were people who genuinely believed he could be manipulated via his relationships. There might be an inherent truth to this, but, while he would readily shape mountains and relocate entire oceans at the behest of his lovers, that didn't mean he would capitulate to 'any' woman thrown his way. If anything, their presence only served to increase his disdain for the people that had deployed them, the obvious exceptions being members of the Ha and Eurasia Families. At least in their case, it was genuine interest and instinct that compelled them to seek him out...
---
With the intent of resolving things peacefully, Vahn snuck into the residential district reserved for members of the Ten Great Families and their delegates. As for why he was sneaking around, it was primarily due to the fact that any sensible team of Rankers had numerous Lighthouses deployed in and around their place of residence. This made it exceptionally difficult for a person of interest like him to wander freely, as, the moment he appeared, groups would immediately mobilize in order to be the first to speak with him.
Fortunately, much as members of the Arie Family were reared in the myriad ways of the sword, the descendants of the Tu Perie Family were taught from a young age how to excel as Lightbearers. As a result, the delegation from the Tu Perie Family had the most comprehensive observation network among those currently visiting Last Station. This made it remarkably easy to contact them in private, and, due to their astute natures, they were able to understand his intentions nigh-instantaneously.
Though he could have forced his way through by rending space-time, it was a lot easier to enter a person's room when they opened the door directly or teleported you via Lighthouse. Since he was traveling incognito, Vahn allowed the delegation from the Tu Perie Family to make use of the latter method, and, as a result, he soon found himself in front of a rather intelligent-looking woman more suited to the position of a scholar than a sacrificial pawn.
Seemingly understanding his thoughts, the bookish-brunette offered a polite smile as she stated, "I am grateful for your concerns. However, if your abilities are as reported, you should be aware of the fact that I willingly volunteered for this mission. I find your existence rather fascinating, and, if it will help to foster a position relationship between our two Empires, I will do what I can to achieve peace and mutual understanding. To that end, there are a number of questions I would like you to answer. Before that, however, I will do my best to facilitate your needs and answer whatever concerns might have brought you here."
Returning a smile of his own, Vahn gazed into the bespectacled woman's vibrant blue eyes to find no traces of fear or hesitation. She was someone who had stood in a leadership position for more than eight-hundred-years, and, despite numerous setbacks, never waned in her sense of purpose. This had allowed her to ascend to a rather comfortable position within Tu Perie Family, and, though she was only Rank 3019 in the Tower, she was relatively famous among other Advanced Rankers.
Feeling rather bashful due to Vahn's unwavering gaze and handsome appearance, a hint of red slowly built in the woman's cheeks as she habitually adjusted her glasses while doing her best not to avert her eyes. Vahn was reported to be a genuine Dragon, and, while she wasn't overly familiar with their ecology, she suspected they might have a preference for capable and confident women. Thus, even though she had never been particularly confident in regards to her physical appearance, she at least wanted to be able to meet his gaze without shying away.
Understanding the woman's thoughts, Vahn's expression softened almost indiscernible as he said, "I admire your convictions. However, as commendable as your spirit is, it would only trouble me if you viewed every interaction between us through a lens of self-sacrifice. There are countless methods of exchanging information that does not require such an extreme level of...dedication. Case and point, the reason I have come here today is to reach an accord with your Tu Perie Family."
Realizing that she might have come across as sounding desperate, a prominent blush surfaced on the woman's face as she invariably broke eye contact and nervously replied, "Oh...I did not mean to be presumptuous...please, if I have offended you-"
Raising his hand to silence the woman's apology, Vahn maintained his smile as he lightly shook his head and said, "Just relax. Trust me, your behavior is infinitely more refreshing than the majority of women thrown at me by the Ten Great Families. It is because of your dutiful nature and sensibilities that I had the confidence to seek you out like this. I believe there is much we can learn from each other, but, before that, there is a request I would like to make of the Tu Perie Family. In exchange, I will provide you exclusive access to my secret domain and allow you to both research and report its contents. I believe this adequately coincides with the mission you have been assigned, correct?"
Offering a smile that was equal parts as bashful as it was wry, the woman quickly pushed up her glasses as she replied, "That is, indeed, the case...it would seem your ability to ascertain information was not exaggerated..."
Returning a light-hearted chuckle, Vahn casually gestured towards the nearby furniture as they had been standing ever since his arrival. This, too, caused the woman to blush, but, after her earlier faux pas, even the most trifling mishaps would result in her feeling disconcerted. Vahn found this type of behavior rather amusing, and, had she been completely sincere, he might have even been charmed. Instead, it was pretty clear she was forcing herself, and, though her reactions were genuine, she was willfully exaggerating them based on his words and responses...
Once they had both taken a seat, Vahn earned the attention of the entire delegation by producing a fresh pot of tea and a number of snacks. This particular capability was something many in the Tower had taken an interest in, as, rather than making use of a traditional Inventory, Pocket, or Lighthouse, there were several reports of him producing objects from thin air. This included the account of him dropping the Zygaena's corpse onto the Yeon Family's Floating Castle, so, while it wasn't the subject they were most interested in, seeing him produce items out of nowhere still garnered considerable intrigue.
Amused by the group's reaction, Vahn supplied a casual smile as he raised his cup, savoring its rich and fragrant contents before exhaling a contented sigh and saying, "Simply put, I wish to obtain the Sky Pearl in possession of the 44th Floor's Ruler, Tu Perie Perdue. Since it possesses an ability similar to one of my companions, I wish to provide my people with the opportunity to analyze its internal structure and investigate its properties. Once they have finished conducting their analysis, the pearl will be yielded to the Tu Perie Family. In reference to my prior proposal, I believe these terms should be more than agreeable."
Though it would have been a contentious issue if Vahn asked to keep the pearl, things were quite a bit different if he genuinely intended to return it. This, combined with the fact he had already stated his willingness to allow them to conduct their own research served as more than enough collateral to reach an agreement. Thus, after a very brief moment of consideration, the representative of the Tu Perie Family nodded her head in affirmation, saying, "I will need to file a report with Lord Tperie, but I can't imagine him refusing such conditions. We will have the contract drafted and formalized within the next few hours. Is there a method we can use to reach you, or would you like to stay here in order to facilitate swift correspondence? We are more than willing to accommodate any and all needs you might have..."
In response to the last few words, nearly every member of the Tu Perie delegation reacted with a subtle blush. This gave Vahn an almost overwhelming desire to release a wry chuckle, as, despite their intelligent and bookish appearances, each of the women present gave off the impression of a sleeping predator. It wasn't without reason that Loki had always told him to be cautious of the quiet ones...
After a brief moment of consideration, Vahn came to the conclusion that it would probably smooth things over if he expressed a willingness to 'cooperate'. Thus, with an awkward yet amused smile, he answered, "I believe there are considerable merits in sticking around..."
Offering a girlish giggle in response, the representative of the Tu Perie Family once again pushed up her glasses before adopting what she hoped was an alluring smile as she said, "I believe you are correct...your majesty..."
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Guardians be like, "Let them fight..."','The art of the deal...','The wisdom of Loki persists through all Records...')
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