Supreme Magus novel Chapter 2563

2563 Poisoned Chalices (Part 1)

"Easy. Once your people overpopulate a pacified area, they get split again and move to a new settlement.' Faluel replied. 'Jiera is very big and most of it is now uninhabited. There's plenty of space for you and plenty of monsters to fight.

The idea is to establish self-sufficient fortresses over the mana geysers at the fringes of the known monster tides. From there your people will whittle them over time with coordinated attacks from every side.

"The monsters tribes that comprise the tide will be slowly surrounded and decimated until they no longer pose a threat to the balance.'

'And what if we actually succeed? What will happen when there will be no more enemies to fight and no more geysers for us to inhabit?" The Hati Queen's mind felt cold and sharp as the winter's wind.

"You didn't let me get to that.' Faluel replied. "I plan on keeping those of you with a Harmonizer here on Garlen so that during all that time we can research Glemos' work and find a way to mass produce them.

"It's not something I would be doing on my own. The member of the Awakened Council would pool their resources to find a solution. After we crack the code, there should be plenty of time to produce new Harmonizers before your numbers become a problem again.'

"So, you are basically asking us to let you divide and conquer us.' Syrah replied. "You'll be keeping the leaders of Zelex hostage in Garlen while the rest of us would be sent to Jiera to fight a war that has nothing to do with us.

'How is this any better than the Undead Court's offer?'

'It's not divide and conquer, but necessity. Faluel shook her head. 'Garlen is still suffering from a prolonged famine. Here there simply aren't the resources necessary to sustain your people whereas in Jiera there's an abundance of food.

"You are free to take the undead's offer, but know this. Even assuming they won't backstab you, the moment the black market can't provide enough food for your ever-increasing populace, you'll be forced to either resort to the culls or raid cities again.

'Either way, you'll be forced to spill blood because no one will give up on their provisions without a fight. If you resort to the former, your people will be doomed to perform mass suicide while if you pick the latter, you'll keep making new enemies that will hunt you down.

"If you go to Jiera, instead, you would be earning your food and your rightful place under the sun. People are bound to fall in battle, sure, but the rest would be safe and the wounded would receive care from the local Awakened.

'Also, you wouldn't be isolated. Communication amulets will allow your colonies to keep in touch with them and join their forces if necessary. You and the other member of the senate with a Harmonizer would be kept here simply because Garlen's Council doesn't trust Roghar.

'His flawed research led to your fall and there's no telling what the Guardian of Mana might do with a device that can alter life forces, crystals, and enchanted metals. Also, our continent is now peaceful and we can focus on research whereas Jiera is struggling for survival.

'I see.' Syrah pondered the Hydra's words.

The reasoning was solid but there was still a lack of trust between them that poisoned the Hati Queen's mind.

'How many Harmonizers should we surrender for your research? Unfortunately for her, the one offered by the undead was a poisoned chalice as well. Both potential allies could backstab the monsters at any time and leave them for dead.

Her best option was to choose the deal that sucked less and ally herself with those who had more to lose by her people's demise.