Chapter 362 |
Chapter 362: Reaching a Preliminary Deal
“Phew… Sorry, Mr. Kane, the fault was mine earlier. I apologize. Although I can’t yet fully confirm Poseidon’s purpose, it’s foreseeable that if his conspiracy succeeds, Asgard will suffer tremendous hardship. Please, Mr. Kane, for the sake of the countless lives in Asgard, help me!” Feeling the evil little cosmos controlling her body and already giving orders, Hilda took a deep breath and said to Josh.
“Then I accept your apology, but I’m afraid you still don’t understand one thing: we’re just trading partners, not a mutual aid society. The lives of countless beings in Asgard have nothing to do with me! So if you want help, you must pay the corresponding price!” Josh said very bluntly.
Unlike previous traders, Josh’s attitude toward Hilda was not very good.
Because compared to other main trading partners, Hilda’s true self was too righteous.
Although not as saintly as Athena’s incarnation Saori Kido, she was basically a benchmark for justice.
Overall, her way of acting was completely different from Josh’s profit-driven personality.
So trying to win Hilda’s favor with kind words to make the trade Josh needed was not easy.
But unfortunately, the trading system is soul-bound, and the evil persona of Hilda cannot be controlled.
Since that was the case, Josh could only use the war between Asgard and Sanctuary—while it hadn’t started yet—as leverage by threatening Hilda with the safety of Asgard.
Although this might completely sever this trading dimension once Hilda was freed, at least Josh could gain some benefits in the meantime.
Like the most basic forging method of the Cloth and the cultivation method of the Cosmo.
Otherwise, given Hilda’s previous behavior, she might not have been willing to trade at all, and Josh would get nothing.
Moreover, after learning this was the Saint Seiya world, Josh had an idea—if the goal could be achieved…
“What do you want?” Hilda understood Josh was no longer hesitating and sighed, asking.
“The forging technique of the Cloth and the cultivation method of the Cosmo!” Josh said straightforwardly.
“Agreed! If you can help me get free, I will certainly provide them!” Hilda immediately nodded in agreement.
The forging technique of the Cloth and the cultivation method of the Cosmo were no secrets in the Saint Seiya world; any god or god’s representative could obtain them.
However, the strength of the Cloth did not entirely depend on its material or forging method, but on the constellation it corresponded to and the user’s Cosmo!
And the Cosmo was even more demanding, requiring very high talent from practitioners, and it had to match the Cloth.
Those without the Sixth Sense were cannon fodder.
Humans who could cultivate beyond the Sixth Sense were less than one in ten million.
As for the Seventh Sense, there were fewer than a hundred under all gods combined.
So Hilda wasn’t too worried about these two techniques leaking.
But just after Hilda finished speaking, she saw Josh looking at her as if she was an idiot.
“Is there a problem?” Hilda was confused.
“Of course there’s a problem! What do you mean ‘if you help me get free, you will certainly provide them’? Who knows if you’ll keep your promise after you’re free? Even if you do, how can I be sure what you give me is genuine?” Josh retorted.
“…You doubt me? As Odin’s earthly representative, how could I deceive you on such matters!” Hilda’s expression darkened when she heard Josh. “If you really don’t trust me, I can swear by Odin’s name!”
This was a challenge to her credibility.
As the queen who had protected Asgard for so many years, when had she ever been questioned or insulted like this?
“Sorry, before meeting you, I have connected with countless universes and met many cunning people, including various gods, so no need for oaths. First, tell me the forging and Cosmo cultivation methods. After I verify they’re effective, I will find a way to help you!” Josh shook his head. “Don’t tell me you don’t know these two techniques, as Odin’s representative on Earth!”
“…Then how do you guarantee you won’t break the deal?” Hilda asked solemnly.
“Do you have a choice?” Josh sneered.
Hilda was speechless. Yes, she was the one seeking help now, and naturally she wanted to get free as soon as possible.
“Fine, I’ll tell you! I hope you keep your word!” After a moment’s hesitation, Hilda had no choice but to agree.
Then she carefully and clearly recited the two techniques to Josh word by word.
“Good. Once I verify, I will arrange for your rescue immediately!” Josh nodded with satisfaction after recording the techniques.
“Please hurry! Once Asgard and Sanctuary go to war, who knows what terrible consequences might arise!” During their exchange, Hilda’s evil persona had already issued orders to gather the Saints and expressed a desire to start war with Sanctuary to her subordinates.
Because of Hilda’s extremely high prestige in Asgard, although many were surprised by this decision, no one questioned or opposed it.
This made Hilda’s true self very anxious.
“I actually think a war between Asgard and Sanctuary isn’t a bad thing!” Facing Hilda’s anxiety, Josh proposed a completely different view.
“What do you mean?” Hilda frowned and asked.
“Simple. You can use this opportunity to put on a show with Sanctuary!” Josh smiled slightly.
“A show? You mean to use the war between Asgard and Sanctuary as a pretext to expose the hidden troublemakers in the sea realm?” Hilda was clever and immediately understood Josh’s meaning.
“Exactly. You share a common enemy with Sanctuary, and you can also measure Sanctuary’s strength...If it’s weak, why not replace Athena as the guardian of the land?” Josh chuckled.
Josh obviously knew that given Asgard’s foundation, opposing Sanctuary was unrealistic.
But this didn’t stop him from planting the seed of ambition in Hilda’s heart.
Even if it failed, he would lose nothing.
If it succeeded, maybe he wouldn’t need to change trading partners.
Indeed, from the moment he saw Hilda, Josh had already been calculating how to replace her as a trading partner.