Divine Beast Ascension

Chapter 175: What Are Your Intentions For My Daughter?

The younger wolf felt his saliva grow stagnant for a moment, clogging up his throat. He swallowed and recovered with a smile. “Please, forgive my quick answers. I should better explain myself and share more thorough answers. Though I do still believe ascending within five or ten years to be quite quick.”

“That’s a fair belief. So long as your honest, I’ll be more considerate to your answers,” replied Puula. “Now, for my next question... What are your intentions for my clan and my daughter?”

Ajuur was silent, realizing that both Puula and Haldon were staring at him in wait. In response, Ajuur blinked and stated, “We seek to become allies with your clan, growing a powerful bond through a marriage arrangement between myself and your daughter.”

“I think it’s clear why you’re after my daughter, but tell me why I should allow you to have her?”

“Given your beauty, I imagine that your daughter could stop the heart of any beast. Having someone such as her by my side would be more than simple motivation to cultivate. It would mean allying with our Dark Wolf Clan and receiving our support in all things.”

“But why do we need your support?” Puula rephrased her question, “As you can see, in terms of wealth and possessions, we’re equal to your clan without owning a territory. Even my home is more spacious and luxurious despite my lack of an equivalent station. So, tell me what you can offer me and my clan that no one else can or will?”

Seeing his young master begin to flounder under Puula’s pressure, Haldon sighed, “We’re able to station wolves here and help look over your clan. Also, your daughter would not need to live in our territory if she didn’t wish to. She would be welcome to continue living here with her husband so that her training wouldn’t be interrupted.”

.....

“Hmm... So she would be allowed to live here in exchange for letting some wolves live here while dumping your youngest, most-ill-minded young master into our laps?” Puula chuckled and shook her head. “Or am I wrong in my logic?”

Not denying nor agreeing, Haldon continued, “What we seek is to deepen our relationship with the Vanishing-night Foxes. Doing that would allow both of our clans to grow more prosperous in the future and more equipped to grow.”

“And what if my clan has no plans of leaving Iron Territory?”

“No matter the offer that would await you beyond these borders?”

Smiling subtly, Puula glanced at Ajuur while continuing, “I’ll make one thing clear for those here unable to believe otherwise. This territory has unorthodox practices which I surprisingly support and a structured governing system that I’m grateful to be a part of. And though the gorillas did lose their young master in the recent raid on their territory, that same young master, who was barely at the top of the novice realm, saved my daughter by killing adept cultivators and leading them away.”

The little smile on Ajuur’s face was wiped away.

“I told you not to slander, Master Ajuur...” sighed Haldon.

Realizing that he had been heard from the beginning, Ajuur began to tense up all the more.

But Puula continued shortly, “Not only have the Iron-body Gorillas proven capable in protecting us, they are proven leaders as well. They’ve already garnered the favor of the new king and will soon build Iron Territory as a pivotal territory with my clan and others along for the ride. That’s not mentioning the profit and wealth that is soon to come with their rapidly growing market or the education that they offer through Iron Academy.”

Not wanting to be left without a chance, Ajuur spoke up, “We can offer–”

“What sort of education can you offer?” Puula asked with a smile that seemed both tender and menacing. “Can your territory offer perennial instructors to adept and novice cultivators alike? Can they offer perennial-grade techniques and arts to any child with potential worth nurturing? I’ve yet to learn of a nearby territory as ambitious and capable as Iron Territory, and that’s solely because of the Iron-body Gorilla clan at its head.

“Would you agree to your clan’s terms if you were me?” Pulla hopped off her train of thought with a final question, smiling curiously at Haldon.

The perennial said nothing in direct response but he did shake his head. “What I do know is that a relationship between our clans would be beneficial to the both of us. Am I wrong in saying that?”

“You’re not wrong,” agreed Puula, “but that doesn’t mean we would both be gaining the same amount of benefit. What would we do about their child, should an agreement be made? Who would raise it, your clan or mine? I’m sure your chief gave you an answer to such a question.”

“... Though I’m unable to fully claim this as a concrete condition of our agreement, Chief Marjuun stated that, at this present time, he would want the child to be raised in the Dark Wolf Territory. However, what he also mentioned was making sure that the child was raised in the best environment for growth, which very well may be here in Iron Territory.”

“May be here? Are you saying that the Dark Wolf Territory can compete with Iron Territory in terms of benefits, education, protection, and more?”

“...”

“If you are, then make yourself clear. If you’re not, then please don’t try and mislead me with half-hearted statements. Though I will admit that it’s admirable how resolute you are while also toeing the line of what your chief was previously willing to offer. To best help you, Haldon, let me clarify my current thoughts...”

Puula was about to speak when she suddenly blinked and smiled softly. “Spare me a moment. I’ll be right back.”

“Of course,” Holden nodded in reply.

Puula then stood up and hurried off in a whoosh of dark energy. This left Ajuur feeling all the more lowly, having been left with nothing to say, no chance at redemption, and no respect for his personal character.