Zombie Girls Revival System-Chapter 172: The Final Seal On the Agreement — Part 2.

The room was electric following Evelise's declaration. The Mayor, though momentarily taken aback by her steel, quickly recovered, his smile widening.

"A partnership, is it?" the Mayor boomed, clearly enjoying the theatrical display of power. "I like your spirit, Evelise. Very well. Let us call this a Test of Vows. You prove your healing capability to the council— a high-profile cure, say, something terminal and the citizenship papers are signed. The marriage is then merely the final seal on the agreement."

The official who had called the humanimals "mongrels" leaned forward, his voice dripping with condescension.

"And what if you fail, little rabbit? What happens when your 'miracle' turns out to be nothing but herbal folk medicine?"

Evelise turned her attention to him, her gaze cool and unwavering.

"If I fail," she stated clearly, "then my people return to the wilderness, and you return to the reality of a world dying under a blight that your scientists cannot stop. The risk, Councilman, is yours, not mine. I am offering the solution; you are demanding the terms."

Evelise's mother, seizing the moment of political victory, finally whispered to her husband,

"She's magnificent. She's winning."

He nodded and said, "Of course she is. She's our daughter, the one we raised with strict discipline and purpose. This is the result of our hardship and the effort we endured, my wife…"

Before the Mayor could solidify the terms, the grand doors burst open again, far less formally than before. A young man stumbled into the room, reeking heavily of fermented synth wine and rich perfume. He was handsome, in a carelessly spoiled way, but his clothes were rumpled and his tie was askew.

The council members immediately broke into murmurs of affectionate exasperation.

"Ah, the boy is here!"

One official chuckled, shaking his head. The Mayor, however, looked genuinely annoyed. He gripped the arms of his chair, his jaw tight.

"Harry! Where have you been? You smell like the bottom of a still and a common house! You are interrupting official negotiations!"

Harry, the Mayor's son and the intended groom, didn't spare his father a glance. His eyes scanned the room, glazed with alcohol, until they fixed on Evelise.

"Well, well, well."

Harry slurred, pushing himself off the doorframe. He pointed a finger, weaving slightly, directly at her.

"There's the main event! The pet!"

Sid, and Evelise's parents, all flinched as if struck. Evelise's father let out a quiet, strangled sound of pure fury. Sid's inner voice was a roar: The absolute disrespect!

Evelise, however, remained absolutely composed, her face a mask of smooth perfection. She rose gracefully.

"My Lord Harry…,"

Evelise said, her voice courteous and even, as if he had just offered a compliment. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"You join us at a crucial moment. We were just finalizing the terms of the alliance."

She approached him, closing the distance between them with professional deference. Harry ignored her words completely. His eyes devoured her, lingering on the tailored yellow gown that emphasized her slender waist and the curve of her hips.

"Alliance?"

Harry sneered, stepping close enough that the stench of alcohol washed over her.

"Don't be pompous, little rabbit. You're the prize. And let me tell you," he leaned in, his voice dropping to an arrogant whisper, "you clean up exceptionally well. The horns and fur don't look half bad in silk. You're sexy."

Then, with horrifying boldness, Harry reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her slightly closer. He didn't stop there. His free hand reached out and crudely ran his fingers down her waist, assessing her body as if she were a piece of meat on display.

The officials erupted in hearty, approving laughter. "Good lad, Harry!" one shouted. "Making sure the goods are sound!"

Evelise's father choked on air, visibly shaking, while her mother buried her face in her hands. Sid felt the servant's body tremble with barely suppressed violence.

Evelise used the movement to her advantage. Instead of pulling away violently, which would have confirmed the officials' bias, she subtly twisted her core, making the touch seem incidental, and continued the conversation as if Harry were merely checking her pulse.

"Indeed, Lord Harry," Evelise said smoothly, her eyes meeting his with an unnerving lack of fear. "My people believe that if we are to forge a permanent political union, we must have complete transparency. You are assessing my presentation; I am assessing your... diplomatic fortitude."

She tilted her head again. "Are all members of the City Council accustomed to conducting negotiations while significantly inebriated? Or is this merely a custom reserved for the humanimal delegation?"

The officials howled with laughter at the retort, loving the 'spirit' of the 'pet,' but Harry's eyes narrowed, momentarily stung by the public challenge to his sobriety.

"I'm the groom, little pet," Harry growled, tightening his grip on her arm. "I don't negotiate. I take. And when I take you home, we'll see how clever those little rabbit words are when you're on your knees."

The Mayor slammed his fist lightly on the arm of his chair. "Harry! Control your demeanor! This is a formal agreement! You must present yourself as a leader, not a common brute!"

He looked at Evelise with a mixture of annoyance and continued admiration. "He needs a bit of polishing, my dear, but he will be the next Mayor. He provides the bloodline, and you provide the miracle. Now, release her, Harry! We have a trial to set up. A life, Evelise, for a life. Prove your worth, and the city is yours."

Harry finally released her with a possessive shove, watching her closely, his eyes promising a future of violation. Evelise immediately smoothed the nonexistent wrinkle in her yellow gown, her composure a shield against the filth.

She is fighting a battle on two fronts, Sid realized, his heart aching for her strength. The council wants a political prisoner, and the son wants a sexual slave. And she is walking this tightrope perfectly.

The Mayor glared at his son, then shifted his attention back to Evelise, determined to reassert control over the chaotic negotiation.

"Enough, Harry! Go wait in the library and sober up. Evelise and I have serious matters to conclude." He turned to Evelise. "My apologies, Lady Evelise. My son is... passionate. But his eagerness speaks to his commitment to this alliance."

Evelise watched Harry stumble out of the room, her composure absolute. "I understand, Mayor. Passion is a powerful driver. Let us ensure the terms of this alliance are driven by logic, not impulse."

She returned to her seat opposite the Mayor. Her parents watched, rigid with fear.

"We have established the core condition: You will cure a designated patient— a life for a life, proving your unique genetic value," the Mayor summarized, his voice brisk. "Now, let us discuss the guarantees for your people. You demanded equality. Be specific. What does that mean?"

"It means three non-negotiable points," Evelise stated, holding up three elegant fingers. "First: Land Rights. Our people will be granted a permanent, protected quadrant within the city walls, free from human occupation or requisition."

The portly Councilman scoffed, "A whole quadrant? That's prime real estate, rabbit!"

"It is necessary for our continued well-being," Evelise countered, ignoring the insult. "We require access to sunlight, specialized planting soil for our unique dietary needs, and space for our community structures. We are not moving into your gutters, Councilman. We are becoming citizens."

The Mayor held up a hand, silencing his official. "Agreed. A quadrant will be allocated. Next?"

"Second: Judicial Equality. Any humanimal, upon attaining citizenship through this treaty, must be subject to the exact same laws, courts, and sentencing guidelines as any core human citizen. No separate courts, no summary justice, and no special designations that override our rights."

Evelise leaned forward slightly. "This is key, Mayor. If any official or citizen treats us as 'pets' or 'mongrels' after the treaty is signed, they must be prosecuted under the full weight of the law, just as if they assaulted a human noble."

The Mayor hesitated, tapping his fingers on the armrest. "That is... comprehensive. It ties our hands against potential uprisings. But, if you provide the cure, then fine. Judicial Equality it is." He looked at the officials, daring them to protest. They grumbled but remained silent. "And your third point?"

"Third: The Key to the Nexus."

The Mayor froze. The atmosphere in the room, already tense, became instantly frigid.

"What did you say?" the Mayor demanded, his pleasant facade finally cracking.

"The Nexus Tree is the genetic origin of my people and the only power source stabilizing this entire region," Evelise explained, her voice calm despite the palpable danger. "I know how to manage its growth and harness its stabilizing energies. If I am to save your city, the knowledge and operation of the Nexus must be shared with me and a designated humanimal council. We need to be partners in its stewardship."

The portly official sputtered, "That is treason! Giving control of our power source to—"

"To the person who can fix it?" Evelise cut in sharply.