The Snake God with SSS Rank Evolution System

Chapter 390: Blood and Bargains

Adam’s voice rose, sharp with disbelief as he processed Selena’s words."Wait—what? They want to take over this region? Turn Myrta into a Solarian military outpost?"

Isolde’s voice was sharp, dismissive, her pale blue eyes narrowing with cold logic.

"That’s a foolish move. Myrta sits on a strategic trade route. The terrain alone makes it a natural choke point. If Solaria establishes a military base here, it won’t go unnoticed. Melium will not sit quietly while Solaria extends its reach this close to their borders."

Selena inclined her head, her voice calm, measured.

"You’re right. Melium won’t be happy. But what will they actually do? They’re already indebted to Solaria politically and economically. They can’t afford to make a move without risking their own stability. And if Solaria succeeds in fortifying this position, the demon territory will be the one to suffer most. They’ll be boxed in, cut off from key routes, and forced to either fight or starve."

Ignis, who had been quietly munching on a handful of dried berries with Azrynn, glanced between the two women. Her voice carried a note of cheerful confusion.

"They’re saying complicated things again..."

Azrynn nodded slowly, her yellow eyes fixed on the conversation with a mixture of confusion and fascination. Her voice came out just as quiet.

"I... I don’t fully understand either. Maybe we should just stay quiet and listen."

Adam let out a low, troubled breath, his crimson eyes fixed on the table as he processed Selena’s words.

"This is going to be a problem. Our goal is to reach demon territory without drawing too much attention. If the situation here escalates into a full-scale conflict, it’s going to make our journey much harder."

Isolde’s voice cut through, sharp and decisive, her pale blue eyes gleaming with cold purpose.

"Or it could be an opportunity. If Solaria’s forces are gathering here, we can intercept them directly. We can find the ones responsible for the massacre of my village."

Selena’s lips curved into a slow, knowing smile, her amber eyes glinting with calculated intrigue.

"What if I told you I know who gave the order to destroy your village, Isolde Draven?"

Lilith’s crimson eyes narrowed, her silver threads stirring faintly around her fingers as she studied Selena with renewed suspicion. Her voice carried a sharp, probing edge, smooth as silk but laced with unmistakable wariness.

"That’s convenient. How exactly do you come by information like that? Are you truly that skilled at gathering intelligence or are you planning something?"

Selena’s amber eyes held Lilith’s gaze without flinching, her voice calm and steady, carrying no trace of deception.

"I wouldn’t dare plan anything, especially not against a dragon. I’m not foolish enough to make an enemy of someone who could level this city with a single breath."

Alice’s ear twitched, her tail lashing with impatience. Her dark violet eyes fixed on Selena with cold, feline suspicion, her voice flat and dismissive.

"Still suspicious. Lilith, why don’t you just extract the information directly from her mind? It would be faster."

Lilith’s crimson eyes gleamed, a slow, predatory smile curving her lips as she considered the suggestion. Her voice carried a note of dark amusement.

"Tempting."

Isolde stepped forward, her pale blue eyes fixed on Adam with quiet intensity. Her voice was steady, carrying a note of solemn purpose.

"Adam. May I change our destination?"

Adam’s crimson eyes met hers without hesitation, his voice carrying a note of unwavering certainty.

"Of course. This is your revenge. I’ll follow you until every last one of them is dead."

Isolde’s composure cracked—just a fraction, a flicker of warmth passing through her pale blue eyes. She turned to Selena, her voice carrying a note of cool, measured acceptance.

"Very well, Selena. What is your price?"

Selena let out a slow, visible breath of relief, her shoulders easing as the tension drained from her frame. Her voice carried a note of genuine gratitude, laced with dry humor.

"Finally, you accepted my proposal. You have no idea how close my heart was to bursting."

Alice’s ear twitched, her voice carrying a note of flat, reluctant acceptance as she crossed her arms.

"Hmph. Do what you want. It’s your decision."

Lilith’s crimson eyes gleamed with dark anticipation, a slow, satisfied smile spreading across her lips.

"This will be far more entertaining than I expected."

Selena’s amber eyes met Adam’s, her voice carrying a note of careful calculation as she laid out her terms.

"I have a stash of valuable items—resources, artifacts, and supplies I’ve accumulated over the years. I hid them in a secure location outside the city, far from the chaos of Kaelthar’s fall. But now, that location is being guarded by Solarian soldiers. They’ve set up a small outpost there, using it as a forward supply depot. I need you to retrieve my stash and bring it back to me."

Adam’s brow furrowed, his crimson eyes narrowing with suspicion.

"You have a hidden stash of valuables, but you left it behind? Why not take it with you when you fled?"

Selena let out a slow, dry laugh, her amber eyes glinting with a hint of self-deprecating humor.

"Because it’s a lot of things. Weapons, enchanted items, gold—enough to fund a small army. I couldn’t carry it all on my own, and I didn’t trust anyone else to know where it was. So I hid it, planning to retrieve it when the chaos died down. But then the Solarian soldiers moved in, and now it’s trapped behind their lines."

Alice’s ear twitched, her dark violet eyes narrowing with flat confidence.

"That’s simple enough. We just go in, take the stash, and leave."

Selena’s voice dropped, carrying a note of caution.

"Yes—but I need you to do it without drawing attention. If the Solarian forces realize someone is stealing from their supply depot, they’ll lock down the area. It’ll make things much harder for both of us."

Lilith’s crimson eyes gleamed with a flicker of disappointment, her voice carrying a note of theatrical regret as she let out a soft, exaggerated sigh.

"That’s a shame. I was hoping for something more... bloody."

Alice’s ear twitched, her tail lashing with irritation. Her voice carried a sharp, pointed edge as she shot Lilith a flat, unimpressed stare.

"Is blood all you think about? You should fix that twisted mindset of yours."