103. Cannot Refuse

... Due to the Dragon Orchid, the situation today is very different from when you guys visited Nebu last time.

The Relic sealed in Nebu is a classified national secret.

If the situation in Eastrise didn't happen... Nebu would never reveal the fact that we have the Relic.

We knew very little about the mysteries of the Relic so it is impossible to use it as a weapon in battles.

So, the best option for Nebu is to hide its existence from the public.

I see... I start to see it from your point of view now. Has Horus been blocking information about the Relic to prevent Rasparta from seizing it?

You're very clever. Rasparta is experienced and has the technology to use the Relic in battles, but if Nebu were to just give it away,

and watch them grow stronger, Lord Horus' status would be in jeopardy.

That's why Lord Horus deliberately hid the existence of the Relic in Nebu and intends to use it as a trump card against Rasparta.

So as long as Horus hides the Relic. Rasparta will not take action against her, right?

Exactly. On the contrary, if we were to openly search and excavate the Relic in Nebu now, Rasparta will also immediately find and seize it.

We must avoid it at all costs.

By then, Rasparta would have no reason to let Horus stay alive.

Of course, the reality cannot be determined by one factor alone.

Lord Horus is not a weak person who can be easily manipulated. But there is no doubt that we will lose a trump card as a result.

That's why the Lord was always tight-lipped about the Relic's location even in front of her close friends, including me.

As long as no one knows where the Relic is, Rasparta would have no way to seize it.

I don't know'' can be the strongest defense after all...

Exactly... this is also what Lord Horus thinks until now.

However, after learning about the Dragon Orchid's power, she had to change her plan and decided to retrieve the Relic as a defense.

If we continued to be indecisive, this may be the end of Nebu.

The ideal outcome would be that everything goes to plan and we manage to find the relic and keep it within the Alliance...

However, there is no way we can stop Rasparta from seizing it after the location of the Relic is revealed.

After all, this country is full of their people.

, That's where you Teslovikers comes in.

I have a feeling that we won't want to hear what you are gonna say next, but please continue...

We want Teslovik to find Nebu Alliance's Relic and keep it with you for a while. This is Lord Horus's suggestion.

You... want us to keep the Relic for a while?

... The more I listen, the more I'm certain there's a hidden agenda behind this. This suggestion isn't beneficial to you at all.

We knew you would be suspicious. But even so, as long as you...

No, at least, after listening to my next words, the only option left for Awakener is to accept our offer.

Wait, what do you mean...?

The Relic hidden in the Nebu ruins has a characteristic, which seems to be called ''single displacement reaction.''

We don't know its specific power, but this ''single displacement reaction'' can be classified as ''material decomposition.''

Decomposition...?! Eriri, could this be...

Hmm... yup. If what she said is true, then this relic could potentially save Rayna!

Rayna...?

Well, I don't know much about your personal issues, but it seems that everything is as what Lord Horus expected. We share a common goal. It seems that there is potential for us to work together.

Well, hmm... Do we want to take on this job...

Hold on, Awakener. It is still too early to decide.

That's right. I'm not trying to stop you from saving your sister, but so many things don't seem to make sense.

If Teslovik keeps the relic for a while, how is it beneficial for us? Even if we managed to get the relic, we would be targeted by Rasparta.

Not only so, but you can just ''take'' it back whenever you need it, right? Is this just a perfect plan for you?

If you want to form an equal partnership, then you should list all the benefits we may get.

I'm afraid I can't give you an answer. After all, it's Lord Horus who has chosen Teslovik, from among the countless possibilities, to keep the relic for the time being.

All I can say is that this choice has a long-lasting significance for the future. Only Lord Horus isn't here, so there is no point for us to discuss it any further.

One day, you will understand the Lord's intentions.

If the Lord says this is the best plan, then all I can do is execute it thoroughly.

It seems that we won't get the answers we want even if we discuss it further.

Feel free to refuse if you want. But Lord Horus has also given me another order.

If you refuse, ''From that moment on, Teslovik will be Nebu's enemy.''

Hey! Don't you think it's mean that you're only saying that now?

That's right. You only tell us this after we're all here in the heart of the Nebu Alliance. You're just forcing us to say yes, aren't you?!

How can the head of a country use this kind of shameful trickery?

... I don't mind taking what you just said as an insult to Lord Horus, and start a fight with you all here.

Eriri, Snezhana, calm down. It's frustrating, but now isn't the time to make a big fuss.

But...!

Sova, you want us to just put up with it? This isn't a partnership! We're just errand runners with a title!

I understand what you mean. But for Teslovikers, the Relic also has the highest priority.

Now that we know it is in this country, we all know that we can't just do nothing about it, right?

I know that... but... I'm still furious!

, Anubis. We accept your offer. Teslovik will retrieve the Relic.