The Golden Shell Guild transport ship landed with a heavy thud in the designated clearing, a vast, open field of frozen earth a safe distance from the city's main gate. The ramp lowered, and three figures descended onto the cold, northern soil. At the lead was Kui, his expression that of a serious, powerful merchant on a diplomatic mission.
He was flanked by Li Yu, in his role as a quiet, observant nephew, and Cyra, whose beauty and grace gave her an enigmatic presence. Jian Xuan remained on the ship, a hidden blade, his power and his very existence a trump card to be played only when necessary.
They stood before the massive, imposing walls of the fortress city, a small group of three against the backdrop of a nation at war. A moment later, a gate in the massive wall opened, and a delegation walked out to meet them.
They moved with the disciplined stride of cultivators from a major sect. They were led by a man in the dark, imposing robes of the Soaring Dragon Sect, the emblem of a Vice Sect Leader embroidered on his chest. He was a 2nd level Core Formation expert, his face a mask of stern, unyielding authority. This was Vice Sect Leader Zha Wu.
He and his retinue of disciples stopped a respectful distance from Li Yu's group. His gaze swept over the three figures. He noted the powerful, well-dressed merchant who was clearly the leader, Kui. He noted the two companions, dismissing them as a junior and a consort. He was here to represent the authority of the Soaring Dragon Sect, and while he knew of the Golden Shell Guild's reputation, he had his orders.
"Guild Leader Kui," Vice Sect Leader Zha Wu began, his voice a deep baritone that carried easily on the wind, forgoing any pleasantries. "I am Vice Sect Leader Zha Wu. I am here to represent the will of the Soaring Dragon Sect in this matter. I have received your diplomatic request."
"Then you know why we are here," Kui replied, his tone equally direct. "We want our people back."
"Your people are safe," Zha Wu stated, his voice a flat, emotionless declaration. "They are being treated with all due respect. However, for security reasons, a general order has been given across all territories now under our sect's protection.
Everyone has been ordered to stay where they are, with no movements in or out of the towns or cities. This is a temporary measure to ensure stability and root out the usurper Queen's spies. We would not harm innocent merchants, nor would we wish to provoke a powerful and respected organization such as yours."
Kui's eyes narrowed. The man's words were polite, but the message was a confirmation of their imprisonment. "If they are safe, then they should be free to leave," he countered. "We wish to enter the empire, collect our personnel from the various cities, and depart. As a sign of our goodwill and our neutrality, you may keep any and all goods or resources currently held in our guild's warehouses within the empire. We just want our people."
It was an incredibly generous offer, a fortune in assets. It was a clear and simple path to a peaceful resolution.
Zha Wu did not even pretend to consider it. "I must refuse," he said, his tone final. "The Boreal Empire is currently in a state of war. For the security of our campaign, we cannot allow any outside parties to enter our territory. We have no way of knowing if you are truly neutral, or if you are here to aid the Queen."
"We are a merchant guild, Vice Sect Leader. We follow profit, not politics. Our neutrality is legendary. You have nothing to fear from us."
"Nevertheless, the answer is no," Zha Wu stated.
A tense silence fell over the field. Kui took a deep, steadying breath. 'This is not a negotiation,' he thought. 'He is not trying to be reasonable. He is following a script. They are actively just rejecting us no matter what.'
He decided to try a different approach, offering a logical compromise. "Very well," he said, his voice tight with restrained frustration. "If you cannot let us go in, for your… security reasons… then bring our people to us. Gather all the personnel from the Golden Shell Guild and the White Paw Company and bring them here, to this border. We will collect them and depart immediately. That way, we will not need to set a single foot inside your empire, and your forces will not be disturbed."
It was a perfect solution, one that addressed all of Zha Wu's stated concerns. The Vice Sect Leader's response, however, was just as swift and unyielding as before.
"Again, I must refuse."
"On what grounds?" Kui demanded, his voice rising, his patience beginning to fray.
"What if the Queen's forces, or her spies, were to hide among your people during the evacuation?" Zha Wu replied, his excuse even more preposterous than the first. They had launched a surprise attack, the main forces of the queen in tatters and on the run, when would there be time to set up spies and such for them in a merchant guild. "It is a risk we simply cannot take. No one is permitted to leave the empire at this time."
This was about something else entirely. They were hiding something, something important that they were willing to risk the open enmity of a powerhouse like the Golden Shell Guild to keep it a secret.
He made one last attempt, appealing to their shared identity as men of power and influence. "Vice Sect Leader Zha Wu, we are a neutral force. We do not care who is in power here, we are just here for business. I implore you, be reasonable. Let us resolve this matter as businessmen, not as enemies. Allow us to retrieve our people."
"No." The rejection was final, blunt, and absolute.
The tension on the field was now as thick as a physical wall. The pretense of a diplomatic meeting was over. This was a confrontation. Kui's face, which had been tight with frustration, now became a cold, dangerous mask.
The friendly, profit-seeking merchant was gone, replaced by the ruthless Guild Leader, whose organization had crushed the Riptide Legion and orchestrated the downfall of the Golden Tide Clan. He was getting mad, and his anger was a cold, calculating thing.
Li Yu had been a silent observer throughout the entire exchange. He watched Vice Sect Leader Zha Wu, analyzing every word. He could see it clearly: the man was not negotiating. He was reciting a list of pre-approved rejections. He was most likely a mouthpiece, a wall put up to block their path, and his orders were absolute.
The two groups stood facing each other on the cold, windswept field, the air crackling with a hostile energy. The time for polite requests was over.