145. Ulsan Negotiation (4)
With mutual agreement, the contract bound by the Geas Scroll was sealed, and the magic embedded in the document commanded them to honor their oaths.
Jeong Dong-gun gazed leisurely at the Immortal Cult envoy, while the envoy stared at the contract and Jeong with eyes filled with suspicion and unease. Something magical had undoubtedly activated in the envoy's senses, but he doubted whether Jeong's claims would truly come to pass.
But in this apocalypse, if special items infused with magic are emerging... I can't just dismiss his words as lies!
Disbelieving Jeong Dong-gun wasn't an option. If it wasn't bluffing but real, the Immortal Cult would be the ones suffering losses from this deal. Worse, a level down—more precious than life itself—could mean falling from grace among the cult's ranks.
"First question. What is the Immortal Cult's sphere of influence across this peninsula? Tell us everything, including what you know that's hidden."
"Hmph."
Jeong Dong-gun posed the first question before the envoy could even compose himself. It was a heavy opener from the start, essentially demanding the Immortal Cult reveal its undisclosed reach to the Balhut Cult. The envoy pondered briefly.
"Seoul. Incheon. Daejeon. Busan. And our Ulsan."
Even if they learned this, the Balhut Cult entrenched in Gyeongju couldn't act on it immediately. Revealing the power structure in exchange for freeing one executive? A bargain, the envoy thought. He disclosed the Immortal Cult's full influence as he knew it.
Half the peninsula under their sway.
Busan made sense, but Incheon, Daejeon, and even Seoul? It could be bravado, but...
"More widespread than expected. Your cult truly has us outnumbered in followers."
Jeong Dong-gun glanced at the contract on the spot and deemed it true. Yet he realized the Immortal Cult wielded vast influence across the peninsula—far more regions than he'd imagined.
Ulsan and Busan are understandable. Their base is Ulsan; lacking Busan would be the real surprise.
Busan was close to Ulsan; failing to influence it would be odd. Just as the Balhut Cult expanded to Pohang, the Immortal Cult needed Busan for growth.
But Seoul under their thumb? I need to reassess their scale.
Daejeon as a gateway to Seoul was one thing, but Seoul itself? In raw territory, they dwarfed the Balhut Cult's hold on Gyeongju, Pohang, and Daegu. Shocking scale—but usable scale?
Just Ulsan and Busan, probably.
Daejeon, Seoul, and Incheon still had functioning communities, so likely not direct control but cellular organizations exerting influence. The Balhut Cult did the same in Daegu—nothing unusual.
Jeong Dong-gun accepted it calmly without flinching, leaving the envoy slightly disappointed but eager to close the deal.
"Keep your promise."
"Of course. I don't want to waste levels either. Han Seong-geun, release one Immortal Cult prisoner appropriately. Negotiations have progressed."
"Understood."
At the demand, Jeong affirmed his own stake and ordered the release as requested. Soon, a vehicle carrying the prisoner arrived at the Ulsan Bridge. The prisoner crossed on foot into South Ulsan.
Watching silently, the envoy eyed Jeong with deeper suspicion now that the contract held. Tense, yes—but was freeing prisoners this easily wise if the deal was real?
"Now, second question. Who is your leader?"
"Can't answer that. Ask something else."
No time for rumination. Jeong hit the envoy's toughest spot, prompting immediate refusal and a plea with fearful, desperate eyes.
"Answering what you know as politely as possible is the core of this contract. I'll ask again. Who is your boss?"
Jeong showed no pity, pressing harder on the Immortal Cult's ruler.
"Our cult leader..."
"Hold on. Not the Immortal Cult leader. Your real boss."
"...Kuh."
The envoy hesitated, then started with the cult leader—only for Jeong to cut in sharply, exposing the loophole attempt. The envoy clicked his tongue.
"I don't know the name."
Jeong glanced at the contract—no reaction.
No response from the contract. He truly doesn't know.
The envoy really didn't know their ruler's name. Absurd for a cult not to know their god's name—nor was it pious restraint.
"But we all call that being we dare not name by the title Dark Lord.
True as well.
They used another name: one too exalted to utter, or the Dark Lord. No contract reaction—the truth.
"That one granted us power. Magic. The strength to reshape this fallen world!"
"...Fine. That's true too, it seems."
The envoy boasted to intimidate Jeong, eyes gleaming, but Jeong mechanically sifted truth from lie, unmoved. He served the Dragon God himself—no room for other faiths.
Dark Lord. Grand title. Well, we call ours the Dragon God. Six of one, half a dozen of the other.
Jeong smirked inwardly at the storybook demon lord vibe. Though Bahamut's