The Spare's Second Chance in Apocalypse-Chapter 60: Ch : Breakout the madness- Part 4

Lead Negotiator cleared his throat. He was clearly trying to get Selene to have a good impression of the government officials.

"What is it that you want then?"

"Simple. I want you to claim the ’Plentiful Collections’ dungeon. If you manage to clear it, you’ll get an artifact that allows you to produce ten times the yield from a single plot of land. Infinite food, if you play it right."

Selene leaned back, relaxed, a predator at rest. Her words sounded as if they wanted to help these people, but her eyes said something different.

Her words were met with a stunned silence.

"What... what kind of artifact is this?"

The blonde woman’s voice was hoarse, as if the idea itself had stolen the breath from her.

"It’s called the Bounty Seed, a system reward for clearing the dungeon,"

Selene explained.

"It can alter soil properties, enhance growth rates, and ensure sustainability. With it, you can feed entire cities. It is something that has infinite applications for your organisation."

A murmur of disbelief spread through the officials.

"Why haven’t we heard of this before?"

Lead Negotiator’s voice was shaky, his composure slipping.

"Because you’re too focused on power and control. Besides, how much do you know about the system anyway? The system rewards those who think beyond combat. Not every dungeon is about monsters and weapons. Some offer solutions to real-world problems"

Selene said coolly. She had not lied this time and the officials looked taken aback.

The officials hesitated, clearly tempted but cautious.

"What do you want in exchange for this information? Surely you did not give it to us without any charge."

Selene’s system screen appeared, a semi-transparent interface that only she could see. With a flick of her fingers, she crafted a contract, the words forming in elegant script.

"Ten percent of whatever the Bounty Seed produces. In perpetuity. I also want guaranteed protection for a select group of people and access to information regarding new dungeons and resources."

She said, her voice confident.

The room fell silent, the weight of her demands settling over the officials.

"That’s... a lot to ask for."

The blonde woman said.

"It’s a fair price for saving thousands of lives."

Selene countered.

Lead Negotiator’s face was tight, a mixture of resentment and necessity.

"And if we refuse?"

"Then you’ll have to find the information elsewhere. I will tell someone else about the dungeon location if you don’t want to pay me. But I promise you, by the time you figure it out, it’ll be too late. And you’ll be watching your cities starve while those who adapt early thrive."

Selene said, her eyes cold.

A beat passed.

Then another.

Finally, the Lead Negotiator nodded, his face gray with resignation.

"Show us the contract. We need to take a look at it first."

Selene turned her system screen to face them. The contract hovered in the air, the terms clear and binding.

The system’s seal glowed at the bottom, a sign of its absolute enforcement.

The officials read through it, their expressions shifting from fear to understanding. But they were only humans, and reading too much made their brains become dull and miss information.

They knew the system contracts were ironclad—no loopholes, no hidden clauses, only truth and consequence.

One by one, they pressed their hands to the screen, the system’s light flashing as the contract accepted them.

When it was done, Selene felt the system’s confirmation ripple through her. The deal was sealed, and her cut was secured.

The officials looked drained, the reality of their new bargain settling in.

Selene stood, her movements graceful, as if she hadn’t just shifted the balance of power.

"You have one week to prepare. The Collection of Plenty isn’t a combat dungeon, but it tests intelligence and teamwork. If you fail, it won’t just be your lives on the line—it’ll be everyone’s."

She said, informing the government that they needed to get their act together.

One more step forward, one more piece on the board.

And in this game, she intended to win. These officials were like hyenas, waiting for Selene to make one wrong move so that they could swallow her whole.

But she was not going to give them a chance to do that.

With the contract signed and the terms set, Selene knew it was time to leave.

Her Insight skill hummed with subtle warnings, each pulse a reminder that the government officials had no intention of letting her walk away freely.

The room, once tense with negotiation, now simmered with a quiet threat.

The smiles from the officials were too wide, their tones too sweet as they urged her to stay longer, to "discuss future opportunities."

Selene kept her expression neutral, though her mind raced. Her Insight skill painted the room in shadows of intent, showing the invisible web being woven around her.

Through the walls, she could sense movement, the slow creep of ability users closing in.

’A trap? How predictable.’

She thought, a spark of dark amusement igniting in her chest. Selene knew she should get angry, but she had expected this to happen. That was why, all she felt was annoyance at being underestimated.

She rose from her seat, her movements calm, but each step was measured, her muscles ready to spring.

"I believe our business is concluded. I’ll be taking my leave."

Selene said, her voice steady.

"Oh, but there’s no rush. We’d love to continue this conversation, maybe learn more about your abilities."

The blonde woman said, her voice saccharine.

Selene’s eyes narrowed, and she let her Insight pull in more information.

The corridors beyond the room were now filled with armed guards, their positions strategic, blocking every exit.

’Oh, I am sure you will, lady. But unfortunately, I do not have time for your bullshit. You will have to take it somewhere else.’

She turned her attention back to the officials, letting her gaze settle on the Lead Negotiator. His fingers tapped a rhythmic pattern against the table, a silent signal. frёewebηovel.cѳm

Selene decided it was time to gamble.