Free Web NovelChapter 37: The Trader
The room was dimly lit, illuminated only by the blue glow of holographic screens lining the walls. The air was tense as the three Phoenixes stood around a circular table in the centre of the room.
The male Phoenix, named Marcus, leaned forward, his black hair falling into his face as he glared at the holographic display.
"Tell me again, why did he fail to retrieve the key?" Marcus growled, his voice laced with irritation.
The shorter woman, named Nova, crossed her arms over her chest and sighed. Her face was covered with intricate tattoos that glowed faintly in the blue light.
"He was ambushed by some random group of survivors. They got lucky and took him out. It’s quite funny if you ask me."
Marcus slammed his fist onto the table, causing holographic screens to flicker and scatter.
"Lucky? How could he be so careless? That key was supposed to be the key to our future."
The third woman, codename Sable, stepped forward, her muscular arms folded across her chest.
"We could still retrieve it. We have our ways. It won’t be easy, but we could do it."
"No, it’s too late for that. We’ve wasted enough time already. We’ll have to find another way to get our hands on that level 5 resource room." Marcus shook his head, his eyes flickering with anger.
Nova raised an eyebrow. "And how exactly do we plan on doing that?"
"We’ll use force, of course. We have the numbers and the weapons to take what we want. It’s time to show that pathetic Trader and the Voice, who’s in charge." Marcus smirked.
Sable nodded a fierce glint in her eye. "Agreed. We’ll assemble the troops and attack their location. We’ll take what we want by force."
"But what about the risks? What if we lose too many of our own people? It’s not worth it." Nova sighed, her expression troubled.
Unlike the rest of the Phoenixes, she had always been the logical one. She had protested even when Marcus and Lova, her twin sister, decided to throw someone as valuable as the survivor named Shinon out of the settlement over ridiculous reasons without consulting with the rest.
However, like always, Marcus got his way with making egotistical decisions because of his indomitable strength and abilities.
"We’ll do whatever it takes to get what we want. The risks don’t matter, and the reward is worth it." Marcus glared at Nova. "And if we lose some of our own people, so be it. They knew the risks when they joined us."
Sable placed a hand on Marcus’s shoulder, her expression determined.
"He’s right. We have to do this. We can’t let some randoms stand in our way every-fucking-time we want to do something!"
She continued, "We had been ruling over these lands long before the Trader showed up and brought the Relics with her. We can’t let the bitch have her way with us anymore."
Nova hesitated, her gaze flickering between the other two Phoenixes. However, she was too powerless to defy their desire, even though she knew it was the worst mistake they could make.
"Fine. But we have to be careful. But remember, we can’t afford to lose everything."
Marcus grinned, his eyes gleaming with greed. "Don’t worry, Nova. We won’t lose. We’ll come out on top, as always."
The three Phoenixes exchanged a nod, their plan set in motion. They would stop at nothing to get what they wanted, even if it meant risking everything they had built.
Unfortunately for them, not everything was going according to their plan.
As Marcus, Nova, and Sable were still discussing their plans to attack the Trader and retrieve all of the keys she had, a holographic message popped up on one of the screens in the room.
The three Phoenixes turned their attention to the message, and Nova’s expression turned to shock as she read the update.
"Guys, we have another problem," Nova said, her voice tinged with disbelief. "Lova attacked the survivors from the camp we raided on her own, but she couldn’t find the key."
Marcus clenched his fists; his frustration was evident. "Not again! That reckless girl never learns. She always acts without informing us, and it always ends in disaster. How many did she kill this time?"
"...everyone," Sable mumbled, shaking her head. "She’s turning into a liability. We can’t afford to have her jeopardise our plans like this."
The Phoenixes were visibly enraged at Lova’s actions, and it wasn’t the first time she had done something to put all of them in danger.
"That fool! How could she kill them? We could have used them to retrieve the key."
Nova sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Lova’s impulsive actions have put us in a difficult situation. At this rate, the Trader will know we are up to no good, and if she attacks us first... we’d have no chance against her!"
Marcus clenched his jaw, his frustration simmering. "Lova will face the consequences for her actions. She needs to understand that her reckless behaviour has serious repercussions."
Sable nodded, her expression resolute. "We’ll deal with her later. For now, let’s focus on retrieving the key and securing our future."
***
The Trader was sitting in her office when suddenly she heard a voice. It was the Voice of the World, the automated system that controlled everything in the world.
"Greetings, Trader," the Voice said. "I have important information to share with you."
The Trader leaned forward in her chair, intrigued. "What is it?"
"The phoenixes have broken their agreement of excessive non-violence against other settlements," the Voice of the World informed her. "They have attacked and killed members of a nearby camp. We’re talking about hundreds of casualties." freewēbnoveℓ.com
The Trader’s expression turned grave. She had never liked the Phoenixes and their radical thinking. However, in order to maintain balance in the world, she had been tolerating their shitty behaviour.
However, this time they had massively crossed the boundary and would have to pay the price for it.
"That’s a serious violation of our agreement," she said. "We can’t allow this kind of behaviour to go unpunished."
"I agree," the Voice of the World said. "What would you like me to do?"
The Trader thought for a moment. "Contact the other settlements, and let them know what the phoenixes have done. We need to make sure everyone is aware of the danger they pose."
"Understood," the Voice of the World said. "Is there anything else?"
"No, that’s all for now," the Trader said. "Thank you for informing me."
"Of course," the Voice of the World said before the line went dead.
The Trader sat silently for a moment, thinking about the phoenixes and their actions.
But as soon as the Voice finished speaking, she stood up abruptly, her hair glowing brightly with anger. She slammed her hand on the table, causing the items to rattle.
"The Relics are not ready to face the Phoenixes yet. I must buy them some time and deal with the Phoenixes alone for now."
The Trader’s eyes glinted with determination as she sat back down, her red hair still glowing with anger. She couldn’t attack the Phoenixes directly but could make things troublesome for them.
