‎"What's the reason for your visit, Count?" Luke asked, his heart was beating fast and he wondered if anyone could hear his heartbeat.

‎"Let's make it quick because I know the demons might come at any time..." Rasmus sat down on the dining table, waiting for Luke to sit down with him.

‎Luke glanced at Videl, terrified by his existence because he knew who Videl truly was. He glanced at Harot, and even Harot couldn't look at Videl in the eyes anymore. He then took a deep breath, calming himself down as he sat at the table. He knew if he panicked and showed his fear, Rasmus would take advantage of his fear.

‎"There are four parties on this continent right now. The first party is Satan and her demon army. The second party is humans. The third party is us here. Lastly the fourth party is you and your cult, including your lord," Rasmus tapped his fingers on the table with his eyes stared right into Luke's eyes. "None of us are siding with each other. However, the three parties are interested in one party," he leaned forward, resting his arms on the table, clasping his hands together.

‎Luke swallowed his saliva and his throat was so dry that it almost hurt to swallow. He knew that Rasmus was right that the cult was the only party that the other three parties were interested in. Each party had different intentions from their interests, but none of them were good for him or the cult.

‎"One party wants you and the cult to disappear because I just told them the whole truth you told me. The other party, they want to devour your cult so they could grow even stronger," Rasmus said with a calm and unreadable expression. "However, the third party, I'm not sure what the third party wants from you yet. Although the third party has not decided what to do to you and the cult, I suppose we can have a negotiation," he suggested.

‎Luke narrowed his eyes, clenching his fists under the table. Once again, Rasmus was right that the humans would hunt him and the cult down while the demons wanted to devour them as they were connected to the Zevrathis and the angels. However, for the third party whose intentions were still unknown, it was more dangerous than knowing the danger that came from the other two parties.

‎"Negotiation, Count?" Luke asked as his fists clenched even tighter until his nails dug into his palms.

‎"There's no reason to be nervous, Lord Luke. Right now, the only one you could use your words to get you out of this mess is me. I wouldn't do any harm without a reason, but I wouldn't protect without a reason either. I'm a man you can use reasoning to talk with," Rasmus said as he leaned back and his eyes never left Luke's.

‎Luke's clenched fists loosened up a bit, but he knew he shouldn't feel relieved as the man in front of him was the man that wanted the world to burn. He closed his eyes, thinking that at this moment, everything he said would affect the future of the cult and the Lord he served.

‎"I know that we have no choice but to agree, but if the negotiation didn't give me or my party any benefits from it and I chose to renegotiate, would you listen or would you force us to accept it? I know you're a man of your word, and negotiations should benefit both parties," Luke asked, trying to not look away from Rasmus' cold gaze.

‎"Of course," Rasmus closed his eyes and nodded. "I wouldn't waste my time talking with you if I wanted something else. I would have sent someone else instead," he opened his eyes, his glowing draconic eyes making Luke and Harot froze.

‎Rasmus closed his eyes and rubbed his nose bridge, trying to avert his attention to the feeling of his fingers rather than the pain in his eyes that felt like thousands of needles had stabbed his eyes from the inside. He didn't mean to use his draconic eyes, but something primal within him was trying to rip his body open to free itself.

‎"Let's negotiate..." Rasmus said as he opened his eyes, his eyes turned back to normal. "You need the bodies to possess the angels, and you have all the list of people that could be candidates. My only request is for you to erase one name in that list," he calmly said as the pain inside his eyes faded away.

‎"One name?" Luke asked, his voice almost cracked as he gulped. "You want Aurelia Angelis to be erased from the candidates?" He asked.

‎"Yes, that's the only thing I want from this negotiation. In exchange, you'll be safe, your cult, your Lord, and your purpose. I'm also not the only one who doesn't want Aurelia to be taken away, meaning they will do anything to make it happen. So, as you said earlier, you actually have no choice. However, you can choose to let go of her and walk away," Rasmus answered, nodding slowly.

‎Aurelia was the most important candidate in the list because she could be the only suitable body or vessel for Archangel Michael. To remove Aurelia from the list, that was equal to failing their plan to bring back the world like how it used to be, without evil in this world.

‎"If we chose to refuse?" Luke asked because he shouldn't be the one to decide in this matter. "I'm not the one who should make this decision, Count," he explained, his fists tightening once again.

‎"Then take the risk and be ready for the consequences," Rasmus answered with a calm expression. "Some people choose their goals over their survival. But your situation isn't that simple, is it? To choose goal over survival toward the only party that gives you survival while the other two want you and your cult to disappear is quite foolish," he pointed out.

Luke sighed, not hiding his frustration anymore because he felt it was the only thing he could do, to show his frustration. He didn't know why, but to show his frustration to Rasmus felt seen more than anyone could ever be, not even his own people.

"Then that part is unnegotiable?" Luke closed his eyes, waiting for Rasmus' answer.

"I only have one thing to negotiate. Removing it, there won't be negotiation, Lord Luke," Rasmus answered as he shook his head.

Luke lowered his head, rubbing his brow with a troubled expression, something he had never shown to anyone, not even his people. He was the one that everyone called the family of Kingmakers, such a reputation and how he was raised, to show his own emotions would be their downfall. However, at that moment, he didn't care anymore because the choices would either bring the fall or the rise of the thing he believed in.

"You wanted to negotiate..." Luke slowly opened his eyes and stared into Rasmus' eyes. "You don't want me dead or the cult to disappear. You used this approach to gain something else along the negotiation," he pointed out, trying to track back and put aside the dilemma for a moment.

"You want to create a connection with the cult. You're after something else entirely, something more important to your goal than this mere negotiation," Luke said, noticing the thing he almost missed entirely. "I'm not trying to change the topic, but I want to know your intention before I can give my answer," he explained as he sat straight, trying to regain his composure.

"Yes, because I see your cult and the Zevrathi to be as valuable as anything else. I'm not naive, I'm not a hypocrite, and I don't care with which side I'm making a deal with," Rasmus answered as he nodded. "Your cult and your lords, the Zevrathis, they're going to be one of the pillars that will push the demons back to where they belong. I know I have powerful beings behind my back, but I don't like to make a bet where the chance of losing is greater than a certain point," he explained.

"That means you won't let us die?" Luke asked.

"No, and we can work together in the future," Rasmus shook his head. "Of course, if we want to work together, there's a requirement to show each other good intentions. I already showed mine, coming here to negotiate, giving you a way out. Now, it's your turn, don't you agree?" He asked back.

Luke sighed as he furrowed his brows, knowing there was no escaping it especially after Rasmus said that. He finally decided to accept the negotiation and let go of the only thing that could bring the cult to its glory and gave back the Zevrathi to its glory as well.

"We will agree to the negotiation, Count Blackheart. We will remove Aurelia Angelis from the list, and I believe our Lord will understand this decision," Luke nodded with understanding as he stood up and offered his hand for a handshake.

Rasmus stood up as he buttoned his suit before he shook Luke's hand firmly. Luke tried to look at Rasmus' expression, but he saw nothing, not pleased expression, no pride, no arrogance, no desire, nothing, just a man staring at him with something similar to sincerity.

"You can sleep in peace now, Lord Luke. Have a good evening," Rasmus said before he left with the others behind him.

Erlina glanced at Rasmus with a smirk on her face, fascinated and never got tired when seeing Rasmus in action.

"Another one falls into your palm," Erlina chuckled softly.