Chapter 129 129 - Refusing a Golden Offer
"Then, tell me why you don't want to join my family?" she asked Aiden, clearly unhappy with the current situation as her smile disappeared from her face.
Aiden didn't know how to respond in a non-aggressive way, as he didn't want to be making an enemy out of one of the strongest people that existed.
It just wasn't that great of an idea especially when he wanted to lay low.
However, it was now probably impossible to lay low as everyone had learned of the Reaper since one of the heads of the founding families had called for him in front of everyone who had passed the first round of elimination.
Many were probably going to be expecting a strong opponent which meant that he won't have that element of surprise for the next fights.
"Why can't I join your family?" Aiden repeated the question, gaining time for him to think about an appropriate answer.
"Well, it's quite simple, I'm not going to leave my current family, especially after all they have done for me," said Aiden, saying the best excuse that had come to his mind.
He couldn't really say that he wanted to hide from the top powers of the world as it wouldn't make any sense considering his current power level.
"Um, and what family are you a part of? It was hidden on your profile. And just so you know, I'll be able to find out so just tell me it will make us lose a lot less time," said Melinda, not wanting to waste some time searching for his family.
Sure, she could do so, but she wouldn't have the opportunity to talk with him in a one-on-one at that time.
She wanted everything to be resolved today or before the tournament ended as it would simply simplify the task ahead of her which was of recruiting Aiden into her family.
'Do I even have a choice?' thought Aiden, as he knew that he couldn't really hide anything from the person in front of him.
'I should comply, it will make it less likely for her to investigate me,' thought Aiden, not wanting her to learn more about his arrival in the Everheart family as it really was quite the weird one.
He wanted to be perceived as a normal awakener who hadn't done anything bad in his life.
Well, he couldn't really do that, because of the dark aura which he had released but he just wanted no one to pay attention to him.
Was that too much to ask or what?
"I'm part of the Everheart family, you probably haven't heard of it," said Aiden, assuming that there was no way that a founding family would be able to know the existence of a middle-level family.
"Do you think I'm as ignorant as you, of course, I know of the Everheart family," she said, showing that she was proud of knowing such a thing.
Aiden hearing her say that, only nodded as he took the insult quite well, not minding it that much as it was simply a fact and there was nothing he could do about it.
After all, it hadn't been long since he had arrived in that world so it was quite normal for him not to know everything about it.
It was the same as if Aiden asked them questions about the Earth and where he came from, they would be the ignorants in such a case.
"But, do you really want to stay in a middle-level family when I'm proposing you to join a founding family? Do you even realize the chance which you currently have?" asked Melinda, not understanding how someone could refuse such a thing, especially for her demands which were practically non-existent.
The only thing that she had asked of him in exchange for joining was to show his face, it really wasn't much, and any other people would have accepted in a heartbeat.
But unluckily for her, Aiden was different from the rest, having a complicated past.
"I know that I have a great chance, but I want to help my current family," repeated Aiden as he couldn't change the reason that he had said earlier.
And then, he thought about something, as he added something.
"And why do you want me to join your family so much? It's kind of weird, many people other than me would beg to join your family," said Aiden, wanting to know the true reasons for her proposal.
"But, they're not as special as you, isn't it obvious?" she said, as she was desperate by Aiden's stupidity. "Don't you get it, no one is able to do the things you do. I'm not dumb alright I know that you modified the Everheart technique," said Melinda.
"Such an achievement is incredible and practically no one would be able to do such a thing. And if they would be able to do such a thing, they would need an incredible amount of time and resources. However, since you come from a middle-level family you probably don't have many resources. Hell, you don't even have an inventory," she said, letting some of her frustration come out.
Aiden, hearing all that, nodded without showing any emotions as he had a mask hiding the entirety of his face.
"And, I don't even know why I'm asking you to remove your mask, you do know that I could remove it if I wanted to. In fact, I would be able to find your identity in a heartbeat if I wanted to," she said as emotions took over her words as she really was frustrated with everything that Aiden had just pulled.
However, Aiden needed to show that he wasn't to be pushed around or else who knew what might happen in this room.
He needed to protect his identity at all costs, and he would everything in his power to do so.
Nonetheless, he couldn't deny that she could do whatever she wanted with him as he was simply too weak. He hadn't done enough trials to have enough stats to defeat such a behemoth.
There was also something else, Aiden knew of all the opportunities that he could gain by simply joining her family. Honestly, he was interested in her offer a little, the benefits were just so big that it was hard to resist.
Greed is something that is quite dangerous, especially in moments like this where benefits are so massive.
"Everything you're saying is true, you can do whatever you want to me. In fact, take my mask off if you want, but I think there's a reason why YOU are asking ME to remove it. It's as if you don't want me to be frustrated against you, as if you're trying to please me as much as you could," said Aiden, turning the current situation around.
He wasn't the one that was going to be the victim, she was going to be the victim, she was the one who would have to admit that she would like to have Aiden.
"What even is your name?" asked Aiden, as he continued in his current inspiration.
"Melinda, yours?" said Melinda, laughing as she said that.
'Look at this attitude of his, how long has it been since someone has talked to me like this?' thought Melinda, realizing that he really was different from any other awakened of his age or even her age.
It was like he didn't care about status at all.
And that part of him, Melinda liked it, she liked it a lot.
"Nice one, but I still won't tell you," answered Aiden, as he had almost said his name by accident.
"So, Melinda I have a counter-proposal, want to know what it is?" said Aiden, as he had thought of one thing which could make him go over to her family.
He knew that accepting such an offer was dangerous, however, if there were big enough benefits then he would take the risk.
There was just too much that he needed to know about his system, this world, and all those things that he was so ignorant about.
He wanted to have more knowledge and the mercenary which Maelis had called still hadn't given any news, so he was tempted in asking her instead as she was almost sure to have some of the answers that he needs.
"Sure, what is it big guy?" said Melinda, mocking his current attitude toward her.
"It's quite simple actually, before saying my proposal, I also need to know some things about how your family relations are with the rest of the founding families," said Aiden, wanting to know if her family was close with the Nightshade family.
Melinda nodded, noting all his demands in her head, as she really didn't mind whatever he was going to ask she really wanted to have Aiden as he was too much of a special person.
It was as if he wasn't from this world.
Then, Melinda opened her mouth as she was about to reveal whether or not the Emberbane was close to the Nightshades.
It was going to be a dealbreaker.
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