System S.E.X. (Seduction, Expansion, eXecution)-Chapter 326: The Price of a Miracle

The Auditor sighed, his face tightening into a mask of professional neutrality. "The decisions of the High Deacon are not something I can interfere with, regardless of my personal stance. I cannot answer for the shadow, Mr. Blake. But I can tell you that for the world to function, the status quo must be maintained. Chaos is a hungry beast," the Auditor said.

Ethan leaned back in his modern chair, eyes like flint. "Let’s cut to the chase. If I accept this invitation, what is it you actually want? You haven’t chased me into the desert out of the goodness of your hearts. You want something," Ethan said.

The Auditor agreed slowly, realizing that further redirection was useless. "Indeed. You are a high-level strategic resource. Those Level 4 potions of yours are not just medicine; they are tools that can rewrite the global power structure or sabotage it entirely. In fact, the change has already begun. You cured the ’Bloody Rose’—the Blackwood Matriarch. In just one month, she has systematically dismantled over thirty-five organizations. Her thirst for blood was legendary, and now that she is restored, she is a devastating force of nature," the Auditor he said.

He leaned forward, his voice dropping into a conspiratorial whisper.

"There are organizations across this world whose Ancestors are in similar—or even worse—states than the Matriarch. These are beings whose power at their peak far exceeds theirs. We ask that if you have more of these miraculous potions, you be kind enough to sell them to the Union first. We will pay any price. We can fulfill any demand. We simply cannot allow more ’miracles’ to fall into the wrong hands," the Auditor said.

The truth was finally laid bare. The Union wasn’t just worried about "order"; they were terrified. They had accumulated centuries of blood debts, and the thought of ancient, vengeful monsters returning to their full strength was a nightmare they couldn’t ignore.

Ethan maintained a mask of cool indifference, his mind racing. He had guessed the potions were valuable, but he hadn’t realized they were the key to the Union’s survival.

"I’m afraid you’re a bit late. The potions I had are gone. I’ve already distributed them, and as of right now, I have no more. They are extremely difficult to craft, and I haven’t been able to gather the necessary materials," Ethan said.

The Auditor’s eyes lit up with a predatory spark rather than disappointment. "Materials? Mr. Blake, you have the full support of the Union at your disposal. No matter how rare or ’extinct’ a component may be, we will provide it to you immediately. Tell us what you need, and it will be delivered to your doorstep," the Auditor said.

"I’ll consider it," Ethan said.

A flicker of frustration crossed the Auditor’s face. He knew he had moved too fast, showing his hand and revealing the Union’s desperation. It wasn’t just about the declining families; the most vital members of the Union itself were crippled by old wounds that limited their battle power by more than fifty percent. There were Ancestors in total isolation, clinging to life, waiting for a cure that didn’t exist.

If the Union could heal their own legends, their power would reach an unprecedented level. They wouldn’t just manage the world; they would own it completely.

"Do not take too long to consider, Mr. Blake. The world is getting smaller, and the enemies of the Union are getting stronger every day," the Auditor said.

"That covers what you want from me. Now, let’s talk about the other side of the coin. What exactly do I get from the Union?" Ethan said.

The Auditor’s smile finally reached his eyes, sensing he had finally found a hook to snag Ethan’s interest. This was the territory he knew best—the trade of power and safety.

"The primary benefit, Mr. Blake, is security. Once you accept our invitation, you can forget about the petty headaches of the past. The Union will act as a mediator to resolve any ’complications’ with your enemies. We will grant you absolute sovereignty over your territory. You will have total freedom; no one will dare to disturb you," the Auditor said.

Ethan raised a hand, cutting him off mid-sentence. "When you say ’disturb me,’ I assume you’re talking about the police, the military, and the local governments. But let’s be real—I already handle them. What about the organizations? If an outfit at the level of Parthenon decides they don’t care about your mediation and attacks me, what will the Union do then?" Ethan said.

The Auditor fell silent, the air around them suddenly feeling heavy. He hesitated, his grandfatherly mask slipping for a fraction of a second. This wasn’t a hypothetical question. In the past, such "interferences" had occurred, and the result had been total extermination for the victim.

It wasn’t that the Union didn’t want to punish the aggressors; it was that the Ancestors of Gold-level organizations like Parthenon possessed enough raw power to hold the Union at bay. Parthenon was no "soft fruit" that could be easily crushed. Every top-tier organization had enough military and spiritual teeth to defend its own interests. The Union could restrict them, tax them, or pressure them, but stopping a direct assault from a vengeful Gold-rank faction was a different story entirely.

"The Union has... protocols. We exert immense pressure on Gold-rank factions to maintain the peace," the Auditor said, though his voice lacked its previous conviction.

Ethan let out a short, dry bark of laughter. "Protocols? That’s a fancy word for ’we’ll send a strongly worded letter while they burn my city to the ground.’ You can’t stop them, can you? You just hope everyone plays by the rules so you don’t look weak," Ethan said.

The Auditor straightened his coat, his expression hardening. "Gold-level entities are a complication for everyone, Mr. Blake. But being under our wing still provides more protection than standing alone in the rain," the Auditor said. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Ethan stood up, his chair vanishing back into his inventory in a flicker of light. "I’ll give you my answer when I feel like it. Until then, keep your ’puppies’ on a short leash. If another ’recruit’ shows up to test me, I won’t be so gentle next time," Ethan said.