The Sovereign Veil Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Medicine King's Reservation

Read chapter 14 of The Sovereign Veil by GodEmperor on NovelPedia.

Nascent Soul Stage? Lucian maintained a mask of absolute, freezing indifference, but internally, his mind was reeling. According to the Primal AI's scaling, the Nascent Soul Stage was equivalent to a Tier 5 Continental Level operative. A being of that caliber could annihilate a city of Tier 2 Innate Aether-Forged with a casual flick of his wrist. And this living demigod was merely a Tier 0 Candidate Member within the Sovereign Veil. "Your Excellency, Silent Cold Moon," Valerius Locke spoke carefully, breaking the silence. "Bitter Medicine requires your esteemed assistance." "State your business," Lucian said, projecting the arrogant boredom of a cosmic elite. Bitter Medicine bowed respectfully, clearly intimidated by Lucian's detached demeanor. To the Apothecary, a Tier 1 operative acting as the direct proxy for 'The Primordial' was an untouchable entity. "This lowly one wishes to transcend the dimensional barrier to purchase rare biological materials," Bitter Medicine explained, his tone laced with frustration. "However, as a Candidate Member, my requisition clearance is restricted to the Main Universe. I cannot execute cross-realm trades." "Which realm are you attempting to source from?" Lucian's expression softened marginally. "Sylvanus-5," Bitter Medicine replied, manifesting a holographic requisition list. "The botanical catalysts on this ledger are effectively priceless in our Main Universe. Sourcing them locally requires decades of violent expeditions or paying astronomical black-market markups. Sylvanus-5 possesses them in abundance." Bitter Medicine hastily added, "Please, My Lord, I will cover the entirety of the trans-dimensional tax. If you facilitate this trade, I will owe you a profound debt, and there will be heavy compensation." "Acceptable," Lucian nodded slowly. He mentally instructed the Primal AI to query the Sylvanus-5 local hub for the requested assets. Sylvanus-5 was a Tier-5 Realm, renowned for its exotic bio-flora and lethal Fae entities. Because it was two tiers higher than the Main Universe, the trans-dimensional tax for standard operatives was steep. [Ding! Compatible merchant located. Codename: Fae-Sovereign Nujiao. Establishing secure trade link.] The Void rippled, and a holographic projection stabilized in the plaza. The entity was petite, devastatingly alluring, and possessed two pairs of iridescent, razor-sharp wings folding behind her back. [Codename: Fae-Sovereign Nujiao] [Level: Classified] "An operative from the Main Universe wishes to trade?" Nujiao purred, her crystalline eyes flashing with predatory amusement. "I require an immediate quote for the assets on this ledger," Lucian stated, projecting the list. Nujiao barely glanced at it before offering a lazy, arrogant smile. "Eighteen thousand Aether Points." "That is extortion!" Bitter Medicine hissed, his composure cracking. "The market value for those catalysts in Sylvanus-5 is barely over ten thousand!" "Supply chain issues, I'm afraid," Nujiao sighed, inspecting her manicured nails. "Several of those roots are currently in high demand. If you lack the capital, Main Universe peasants, feel free to cancel the link." She radiated a toxic, 'buy it or leave it' arrogance. "Ten thousand Aether Points," Lucian's voice cut through the hub, laced with a domineering, absolute chill. "Take the contract, or get out of my sight." The atmosphere instantly plummeted. Nujiao's face darkened, her wings flaring aggressively. "A Tier 1 operative might carry weight in your pathetic Main Universe, but we in Sylvanus-5 do not suffer threats from the lower realms. Decline my offer, and the price will only rise." "Is that so?" Lucian sneered. "If my intelligence is accurate, Sylvanus-5 was recently raided by the Animancy Dominion. Over a dozen of your elite Fae-Sovereigns were brutally enslaved by their Spirit-Binders." Nujiao's face drained of all color. "You... how could you possibly know that?!" The raid had occurred mere cycles ago. The Animancy Dominion