……

Negotiation is a common occurrence in Aindo.

Adam's enthusiasm for negotiation is even to the point of obsession, whether it is a civilized society or a rural adventure, when people encounter disputes and contradictions, their first reaction is to choose negotiation.

And even after the initial negotiation fails, in most cases, both parties will agree to initiate a second round of negotiations and add a "mediator" role to the subsequent negotiation process.

In Rolling Stone, mediators are often held by the town's most respected people, while in large cities like Riptide, officials even have special bargaining bodies to manage civil disputes.

Matthew had read the work of a veteran mediator, who wrote on the title page:

……

"How can we ensure that disputes are better resolved? There are three things to do –

Before negotiating, ensure that the strength is equal;

In negotiations, make good use of various means;

After the negotiation, don't be superstitious about the outcome."

……

The first two points are easy to understand, and the third point seems to Matthew to mean something like this:

Although it is the consensus of most of the Al Ain people to solve problems through negotiation, there are many people who do not speak of martial virtues, and there are also examples in history of backstabbing the outcome of negotiations and backstabbing them the next day.

Therefore, even if the outcome of the negotiation has become an established fact, it is necessary to be a little more cautious and vigilant.

This was Matthew's first negotiation.

Facing a level 20 boss, although Blinken in front of him is most likely also a water mirror, the death of the law in the morning still impressed Matthew.

To say not to be nervous is false.

But at this moment, Matthew knew that he had to muster up the courage to meet it, and once he missed the cowardice, the negotiation would be lost before the talks.

He walked up, kept a safe distance, and said calmly:

"There is no Dragon's Grave in this rainforest."

Blinken scoffed:

"Second sentence."

Matthew's face does not change color:

"The civil strife of the Wind and Sand Thieves is most likely a farce directed and acted by itself."

Blinken got a little impatient:

"The third sentence."

Matthew's heart fluctuated slightly, Blinken's reaction exceeded his expectations, he thought that he threw out these two pieces of information to at least make the other party refute two sentences, but the other party was completely indifferent!

Blinken's attitude changed Matthew's thinking, and he reacted quickly and immediately changed the content of the third sentence:

"We have legends!"

Blinken subconsciously wanted to raise his right hand after hearing this, but before he could move the staff up to 15 degrees, his movements stopped.

"Legendary? Do you think I'm a kid and why am I so deceived? ”

He stared at Matthew coldly.

Seeing the other party's attitude, Matthew finally breathed a sigh of relief.

When Blinken was about to raise his staff, he was ready to use his immortal body.

Ah Bing and Ah Piao are also in place, and as long as the other party makes the slightest rash move, the two undead assassins will attack with thunder.

Fortunately, Blinken finally reacted somewhat to Matthew's words.

Although the content is still questioned.

But there are at least signs of negotiation between the two sides.

"There's no point in cheating, and I don't think it's hard for you to verify whether my words are true or false."

Matthew replied calmly.

Blinken's eyes flashed with suspicion, and the next moment, he suddenly pulled out a skull from his arms.

There was a faint soul fire in the skull, which was obviously different from the normal undead, and Matthew felt a strong breath of life, rich, but very weak, as if it could be extinguished at any time.

Blinken carefully held the skull in his arms, and then he gently stroked the other's forehead and cheek bones, and asked in a soft tone:

"Emma, my Emma, he said they have legends."

Hearing Blinken's voice, the skull seemed to wake up suddenly, she flew up from Blinken's arms, spun in the air, and landed in his palm.

"Why didn't it wake me up this time with a lover's kiss? Xiaobu, don't you love me anymore? ”

The skull looked at Blinken with some apprehension.

Blinken hurriedly hugged her and kissed her the forehead:

"Sorry baby, I'm just in a bit of a hurry."

His tone is gentle, his movements are gentle, and even the kisses are full of love.

"I like Ling's kiss, it reminds me of when we were still in love, how young and shining you were at that time, but now that you are old, negative energy has eroded your body and brain, I am worried about you, Xiaobu."

Skull Emma said affectionately.

Blinken coughed:

"We can go back and say, baby, I'm negotiating with someone right now."

"Really?"

Emma turned a hundred and eighty degrees, glanced at Matthew and the others, turned back again, and said to Blinken:

"I'm afraid what the kid said is true, he has a guardian saint on him, and the level is very high, I'm afraid it's not something that ordinary legends can do, at least it's a high-level legend."

"Superior Legend?"

Blinken was taken aback:

"There aren't a few high-ranking legends in the entire south!"

"Oh, my poor love, this rotten earthly world has corrupted your body, necromancy has blurred your vision, and you don't see the obvious mark on the Patronus?"

Emma asked worriedly.

Blinken's eyes glowed brightly white, and after a few seconds, he frowned:

"Ronan."

"But I heard he's trapped in the astral plane."

Emma persuaded:

"But he won't be trapped in the astral plane forever, you know what he's capable of, your current judgment worries me, promise me, don't let the negative energy continue to eat away at your brain, it's the sexiest organ in you, and it's my favorite."

Blinken's facial muscles twitched slightly, but he was soon relieved:

"I'll take notice, Emma."

The skull looked particularly uneasy, and she turned to Matthew:

"Let me talk to that kid, I'm better suited to negotiate with normal people than you do."

Blinken took a deep breath and didn't say much, acquiescing to Emma's words.

"Hello boy, my name is Emma, what's your name?"

The skull looks very kind.

Matthew also courtesy:

"Hello ma'am, my name is Matthew."

"Nice to meet you, Matthew."

Emma said lively:

"There's always a big misunderstanding about Blinken, but he's a good boy, always has been, but he's not very good at expressing himself.

When he was still a magic apprentice, a few mischievous guys hid all the frogs they used for dissection because they hated the next day's anatomy class.

When Blinken learned about this, he approached them and tried to get them to hand over the frogs, because he didn't want their group to fall behind the other magic apprentices in their group.

But those kids were so naughty that not only did they not want to hand over the frogs, but they also threatened Blinken that if he poked this thing out, he would turn him into a frog and throw him in the women's bathroom! ”

Emma's tone was full of nostalgia.

Matthew realized that the skull seemed very important to Blinken, so he playfully complimented him:

"And then?"

Emma sighed:

They annoyed Blinken and refused to tell the location of the frogs, so the angry little Blinken turned them all into frogs with malicious transfiguration and put them in the material cabinet for anatomy class.

It wasn't until the next day that the teacher noticed the anomaly, and the hapless naughty ghosts were finally not disemboweled, but Blinken suffered a big punishment for it.

Later, when I learned about this and took the initiative to dismiss him, I learned that he just wanted to have a good anatomy lesson.

Such a hard-working child, can you say that he is not good? ”

Matthew was speechless.

It seems that not only Blinken has a different eye on Emma, but this Emma also has a terrifying filter for Blinken.

At this moment, a voice came from behind Matthew:

"Emma? Are you Ms. Emma? Served as a prophecy teacher at the Alliance's Academy of Magic in the Pharaohs? yes, I remember you gave Mr. Blinken a lesson. ”

Hugh Yi, as soon as the fight ended, he appeared immediately.

Looks like he knows something about Emma.

Emma happily replied:

"Yes, I didn't expect anyone to remember me, after my husband died, and heard the news that Blinken had defected to the Seven Saints Alliance, I was depressed and died not long after.

But soon, Blinken dug me out of the coffin and tried to preserve my memory and wisdom. I'm sorry to meet you as I am, I don't look evil, do I? ”

Hugh squeaked, not knowing how to answer.

Seeing this, Matthew quietly changed the subject:

"As you said, Mr. Blinken used to be a decent man, but now he is not doing so decently.

This morning, he polluted the Black Banyan Dream with the Book of Blasphemy, snatched the verdant branches of the Rainforest Soul, and then ran rampant in the Rainforest, and the creatures in the area were uneasy, and everyone was terrified of who he would do next.

That's what I'm here to negotiate.

I hope this will end peacefully.

But if Mr. Blinken continues to be obsessed, I am afraid that it will be difficult for us to resolve the contradictions through negotiations. ”

Emma immediately said:

"I'll ask him to return the green branches, but not now, we need it now.

As for the Black Banyan Dream, I'm sorry, and I assure you that Blinken will never desecrate the Black Banyan Dream again.

Do you hear that, Xiaobu? ”

Blinken showed a helpless expression:

"Emma, that kid is threatening me!"

Emma instantly raised her voice:

"I ask you if you hear it! You did go too far this morning, you see that little fox was scared, it's good that I didn't let you come to the door to apologize! ”

Blinken said angrily:

"I know, I will return the green branches afterwards, and I promise not to desecrate the Black Banyan Dream in the future."

"Good."

Emma yawned in satisfaction.

She said to Matthew:

"You and Xiaobu are both necromancers, and there should be a lot of common language, so there's no need to be hostile all the time.

Now that Xiaobu has made concessions, let's talk about it, don't be too impulsive young man, okay Xiaobu, I'm a little sleepy, send me back. ”

Blinken did not slack off, he diligently held up the skull, kissed three times in a row, and then reluctantly stuffed Emma back into his arms.

After Emma left, the warmth on Blinken's face disappeared instantly, and it was replaced by a fierce and vicious face:

"Boy, don't think I'm as talkative as Emma!

I've already given in to what I should have conceded, and I can promise you and the Rainforest Soul behind you that I won't hurt the creatures here.

But I want the land on the west side of the rainforest, and I need the factory to fulfill my wishes, so keep the natives away from my factory, or I don't know what's going to happen.

Also, my people and I will be walking around the rainforest for the next few days, so don't blame me for being ruthless if those beasts or natives attack me!

Only you can agree to this, and I can see Emma's face, and you will not interfere with the river water for the time being. ”

As soon as Matthew heard it, he knew that this negotiation was going to be difficult.

He simply said vaguely:

"I'm not sure if the Spirit of the Rainforest would accept such a condition, especially after you robbed her, but I'll relay those words to her."

Blinken sneered:

"She'll take it."

"Boy, I don't know what the spirit of the rainforest promised you, but no matter how generous the reward is, it is not as important as your own life, you are not so lucky to have a little flying squirrel sacrifice for you, are you?"

Matthew's heart sank.

It turned out that he knew everything that happened in Hei Rong's dream after he left.

"What the hell do you want to do in the rainforest? Dragon's Grave? It doesn't exist at all. ”

He tried to pry more information out of Blinken's mouth.

However, Blinken only smiled faintly:

"Don't ask so much, boy, don't do anything futile anymore, my people have already been sent away by me while we were negotiating, and you can't track them."

"As for me, you also understand that what is in front of you is nothing more than a mirror image, and the real me is thousands of miles away."

said.

He turned and walked back.

Ten steps later, he suddenly turned around again and looked solemnly at Matthew:

"Forget it, for the sake of fellow necromancers, I'm going to give you one last piece of advice."

Matthew asks:

"What?"

"When wearing this robe with tight cuffs, it's best to remember to roll up the sleeves at all times so as not to affect the spell casting."

Blinken is right:

"Also, the second button on the lining of your shirt is not fastened, remember to fasten it immediately."

After saying that, his figure immediately collapsed and turned into a puddle of water.

Hugh Yi came up:

"So, this negotiation is a success or a failure."

Matthew didn't answer.

Instead, he quickly turned to look at Bobo, who was in pain:

"Heal first."

……

Multiply!

One by one, the spark-brave gloves were removed, and they were thrown into a pool of water next to the silt, and a thick white gas immediately rose from the water.

The three layers of iron peeled off, revealing Bobo's white, small, and somewhat fleshy fists.

"There were no burns, but there were some minor fractures."

Matthew carefully examined her hand.

As a necromancer, he is a natural surgeon, and there are not many professions that dare to say that they know bones in front of a necromancer.

"I'm professionally trained, how can I get burned?"

Bobo blushed and said:

"But fractures are inevitable, and sure enough, the load on the first level of charge is still too great, for both fists and gloves - but you all saw it just now, right? Really cool, right? ”

Matthew smiled and nodded.

He didn't hesitate, he took out a scroll directly from his bag and tore it open.

Magical ripples melted into Bobo's fists and wrists like a fish, and some of them flowed down her skin elsewhere.

The latter let out a "huh" and moved some wrists, finding that the minor fractures in his hands had healed, and several bruises on his skin had disappeared.

"Is this a primary trauma treatment scroll? Expensive, right? ”

Bobo asked sneeringly.

"It's not."

Matthew smiled and shook his head.

Seeing Bobo's embarrassed expression, of course he wouldn't tell the other party that he was actually using the "Intermediate Trauma Treatment Scroll"!

Fortunately, this thing is not expensive at all in White Rock City, after all, necromancers are surgical saints.

"This is an intermediate scroll!"

Hugh Yi suddenly interjected:

"Mr. Matthew, you are so rich! This scroll sells for more than 120 gold in Cordor City, and this is when people generally don't pay much attention to trauma. ”

Lumière had no idea of money, but listened with interest.

Bobo didn't seem to react after listening to it, but the light on the helmet changed color from time to time, like a neon strip from Matthew's previous life.

Matthew casually explained:

"The place I bought wasn't that expensive."

After saying this, he couldn't wait to pinch his thigh-

How do you know that you can buy underwater breathing scrolls from Cordo City and ship them inland to sell, and I don't know how to investigate the local prices of the specialties of White Rock City and Riptide City?

If, as Huyi said, this scroll that costs 8 gold in White Rock City can sell for more than ten times as much as the Gold Coast, then Matthew, this north-south trade route, must be opened!

Of course, now is not the time to think about that.

Although Bobo's external injuries were healed, after the battle just now, everyone's spirits were greatly depleted, and they urgently needed a rest to relieve their bodies and minds.

Since the undead in the swamp were all taken away by the tornado, there is a high probability that the dragon worshippers have also withdrawn.

So it's theoretically the safest place in the rainforest.

Matthew and the others found a nearby place to settle down.

He entrusted Huyi to stay in the temporary camp, and asked Ah Bing to protect Bobo on the side, while he and Lumière went around to investigate the situation.

It was calm along the way.

As Matthew had guessed, there wasn't even a ghost in the depths of the swamp.

He then asked Lumière:

"If it were you, would you be able to accept such a negotiation outcome?"

Lumière said uncertainly:

"I don't know, that necromancer is really strong, I can feel it, if it's head-to-head, I can't be his opponent."

"But allowing him to plunder the rainforest like this will make me feel humiliated, maybe I can endure it for the time being, but those headhunters will definitely not give up, even if they fight to the last drop of blood, they will fight to the end with the people of the Dragon Worship Sect."

Matthew sighed softly:

"And then they all became accomplices of the necromancer."

Lumière was speechless.

He remembered the huge celestial sphere just now, and he really didn't know what to do with it if it wasn't for Bobo's bomb!

"I don't mean to mock your people, and I respect their blood."

Matthew said in a deep voice:

"But before the second round of negotiations, it's better for them not to provoke Blinken, which would disrupt my plans."

Lumière nodded, and then asked:

"And a second round of negotiations?"

Matthew said calmly:

"Maybe it shouldn't be called a second round of negotiations, and the next time we meet, it's probably time for a life-and-death showdown."

"Actually, the idea of facing the war is not wrong, because Blinken is not sincere in negotiating with us at all."

Lumière asked in confusion:

"Didn't he say yes to the skull—you could see how much he loved her."

Matthew shook his head:

"I don't trust him at all, for at least two reasons-

First, we need to know what Blinken came to the swamp for.

We also saw the celestial sphere just now, and I suspect he came here for the undead.

We broke the matter, and it was supposed that he should be angry, but he didn't.

This means that either he doesn't care about the Celestial Sphere of the Dead, or he may have one more in his hand! ”

Speaking of which, Matthew asked:

"You've been here before, can you be sure that the undead on that celestial sphere are all in the swamp?"

Lumière flashed his memory:

"I can't remember clearly, the number of undead in the swamp is indeed very large, think about it carefully, although that celestial sphere looks terrifying, it is only that there are more undead on the shell, if you really want to count them, it may not cover all the undead in the swamp."

Matthew said:

"That's right, I believe Blinken won't do meaningless things, the Celestial Sphere of the Dead is the purpose of his trip, it's a pity that I don't know much about this spell, but it doesn't seem to be an offensive spell at all, or rather, using the celestial sphere to attack itself is a incidental act, and he must have a greater purpose in making the celestial orb itself."

Matthew speculated.

Lumière asked worriedly:

"If he really has another Celestial Orb of the Dead in his hand, then isn't he stalling for time in negotiating with us?"

Matthew Road:

"I'm afraid yes, there's another reason why I can't trust him, and that's Emma!"

Lumière was taken aback:

"But she looks like a nice person!"

Matthew said in a deep voice:

"It's just that it's so good, so it's a little fake, don't you think his interaction with Blinken in front of us is a little too contrived?

Of course, there is also a theoretical possibility that the relationship between the two of them is indeed so good.

It's just that some of Emma's rhetoric makes me sit on the edge of my seat. ”

Lumière still couldn't believe that Emma's kindness was disguised.

But he listened attentively.

Matthew recalled:

"Emma said that Blinken was a good boy, and in order to punish the students who hid the frogs, he used the Malicious Transfiguration on those students and turned them into frogs - there is no problem with the storyline, I just want to know how a magic apprentice, who is not more than level four, learns the Malicious Transfiguration that takes at least level ten to master?"

Lumière had a look of abrupt realization.

Matthew walked forward quietly.

In fact, there are many doubts that he didn't say, including Emma's mention of Su Ya, as if she inadvertently pointed out that Su Ya's body is a fox.

This is very intriguing.

The interaction between her and Blinken is completely dominated by the former, reminiscent of Blinken's inexplicable defection and later joining the Worship of the Dragon.

Matthew even suspects that Emma is the one who is in charge!

On the other hand, whether Matthew's speculation is true or not, Blinken's continued reluctance to abandon his activities in the rainforest already means that the negotiations have completely broken down.

Not to mention Su Ya, Matthew himself will not allow the Bailong Sect to defile the rainforest, let alone allow Blinken to break into King Mingtan's tomb!

"It seems that a fierce battle is inevitable."

Think so.

Matthew flipped open the magic badge on his chest, and the words that had come from two hours ago were still shining.

……

"Two people, just this once, not the next one."

……

These are the exact words of the goddess of the moonlight.

Althea agrees to Matthew's request to shake people, but doing so is also a great burden for her, who is getting weaker and weaker.

She couldn't have supported Matthew unconditionally all the time.

The meaning of this sentence is:

I can help you next time.

But you have to add money.

"I wonder who Zeller will send? If I were him, Lee Weiqi would definitely have a spot, and who else would be? It should be Zeller himself, right? ”

Matthew is still speculating.

In the field of vision ahead, there was suddenly a low hut.

The hut was surrounded by a fence, and a sign hung on the front of the fence gate.

……

"Tanya's house (it's strange, why does it have to be such a house number?) Anyway, no one can visit me)."

……

"This is the home of the necromantic girl Danya?"

Matthew suddenly lifted his spirits.

He walked around the fence and found a dry garden at the back of the house.

There was a huge boulder in the garden, and Matthew could sense the faint but clear fluctuations of life on the stone at a glance!

"Stone elementals?"

Matthew reacted instantly.

Most of the elemental descendants who had just spied on them fighting with the Immortal Celestial Sphere were him!

But Matthew didn't act rashly.

He went back to the main entrance, and according to the rules of visiting each other among necromancers in White Rock City, he threw out a common trick.

Burst!

A puff of bone meal was sprinkled on the fence by Matthew.

There was a terrible meow from the emerald green fluorescence!

A few seconds later.

A gruff voice came from the direction of the garden:

"Why can't I find a boyfriend when Danya is here?"

"I don't know how many years have she been gone, but the men have come to her door one after another?"

"I'm so sorry for my best friend, hey, a necromancer, so you're here for the treasure that Tanya left behind?"

The stone elemental yawned.

She was on the inside of the fence and didn't seem to have any intention of opening the door.

She looked unin good spirits, looking like she was just going to go through the process:

According to the rules, you can choose between "Quick Questions" and "Bird Chess".

Quick question and answer is I ask you to answer, a total of three questions, the thinking time should not exceed 20 seconds, the answers to this project are more diverse, it can be reasonable, of course, there are the best options.

If you answer all three questions correctly, or if one of the questions gives the best option, you're good to go.

Flying Bird Chess is the next game with me, lose and get out, win and enter the door, it's as simple as that. ”

Matthew knew about Bird Chess, which was very popular in White Rock City, but unfortunately he only knew how to plant trees, and he didn't even understand the basic rules, so he could only choose to ask and answer quickly.

The stone element said hesitantly:

"First question, what is the most hated class for necromancers?"

Lumière breathed a sigh of relief.

He didn't think it was a very difficult question.

Necromancers, naturally, hate necromancers, such as paladins.

Unexpectedly, Matthew thought for two seconds and replied:

"Necromancer."

The stone giant shuddered, and suddenly became energetic:

"What's your relationship with Tanya?"

……

(End of chapter)