SSS-Tier Extraction: From Outcast to Overgod!-Chapter 96: The Matriarch’s Proposal

Ryan led the two women from Sanctuary into a smaller, more private meeting room. It was a comfortable space with a large window that overlooked the bustling city below. He offered them seats at a polished wooden table, a rare and luxurious item in this world of metal and energy.

Matriarch Isabella sat down with a graceful sigh, her presence filling the room with a sense of calm. Ryan could feel her unique talent at work. It was a B-Tier skill called "Aura of Sanctity." It wasn’t a weapon or a flashy power.

It was a gentle, passive field of energy that made people around her feel safe and at ease. It was like sitting next to a warm, crackling fireplace on a cold night.

All the stress and worry from his morning meetings seemed to melt away just by being near her.

The younger diplomat, Seraphina, sat next to her. She was the complete opposite. Where the Matriarch was calm, Seraphina was sharp.

Her eyes were bright and intelligent, and they missed nothing. She watched Ryan with a keen, analytical gaze, as if she were trying to solve a complex and very interesting puzzle.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Lord Stone," the Matriarch began, her voice as soothing as her aura. "We in Sector Phi have been watching your progress with great interest.

You have accomplished in a few short months what many Sector Lords fail to do in a lifetime. You have brought order to chaos. You have united your people. You have built a true sanctuary."

"We do our best," Ryan said simply. "But I have a feeling you didn’t travel all this way just to tell me I’m doing a good job."

A small, knowing smile touched Isabella’s lips. "You are direct. I appreciate that." She folded her hands on the table. "Our home, which we also call Sanctuary, is different from most Outposts.

We are not warriors. We are builders. Healers. Gardeners. Our talents lie in the nurturing of life. We have developed bio-restorative technologies that can heal wounds far faster than any standard med-kit.

Our agricultural knowledge allows us to grow nutrient-rich crops in even the most hostile environments."

Ryan leaned forward, intrigued. Food and medicine. In a world full of monsters and fighting, those were two of the most valuable resources a person could have.

"That sounds impressive," he admitted.

"It is," Seraphina chimed in, her voice smooth as silk. "But our strengths are also our weaknesses. We are a sector of healers, not fighters.

We have only a small defense force. We are constantly worried about more aggressive neighbors, like the remnants of the Technocratic Hegemony or the pirate clans in the Crimson Shoals. Our peace is a fragile one."

She leaned forward slightly, her eyes locking with Ryan’s. Now the real negotiation began. "Here is our proposal. We wish to form a deep and lasting alliance with Sector Gamma.

We will share our bio-restorative technologies with you. We will send our agricultural experts to help you maximize your food production.

We will give you access to our medical supplies, our knowledge of herbs, our unique healing techniques."

She paused, letting the offer hang in the air. "In exchange," she continued, her voice dropping to a more serious tone, "we ask for your protection.

We need access to the advanced Precursor technology your research teams are developing. We need your Sector Defense Force to help us fortify our borders. We want to be under the umbrella of the Bastion Alliance. We want to be under your protection."

It was a good offer. A very good offer. Their two sectors complemented each other perfectly. They had the science and the farming; he had the army and the high-tech weapons. Together, they would be much stronger than they were apart.

"Your proposal is generous," Ryan said carefully. "But an alliance like this is a serious commitment. My people’s lives would be on the line to protect yours. I need to know that this partnership would be truly balanced."

This was the part of the negotiation where the real dance began. And Seraphina was clearly a master dancer.

"A fair point, Lord Stone," she said, her lips curving into a subtle, challenging smile. "Let’s talk about the specifics. For example, the trade ratio for Precursor components versus our top-tier healing serums. I propose a one-to-three ratio, given the rarity of our alchemical ingredients."

"A one-to-three ratio is high," Ryan countered smoothly, not missing a beat. "Your serums are valuable, but a single Precursor power cell can run a city’s defensive shields for a week. A one-to-one-and-a-half ratio seems more equitable, with a review in three cycles."

Seraphina’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. She had clearly expected him to be just a simple warrior, a strongman who left the complicated thinking to others. She hadn’t expected him to be able to haggle like a seasoned merchant. The battle of wits was on.

For the next hour, they went back and forth. They debated trade tariffs, mutual defense clauses, and technology sharing agreements.

It wasn’t an argument; it was a high-level chess match. Seraphina would make a clever point, and Ryan would counter with a logical, well-reasoned argument of his own.

He was calm, confident, and surprisingly knowledgeable about things like supply chains and resource valuation. He was not just a powerful warrior; he was a smart and capable leader.

And Seraphina was clearly impressed.

With each point he made, the analytical look in her eyes was replaced with something else. A spark of interest. A glimmer of admiration.

She started to lean forward more, her body language open and engaged. The a-little-too-sharp diplomat was slowly being replaced by an intrigued and very beautiful woman.

Finally, they reached an agreement on the last point. Ryan had won most of the concessions, securing a deal that was incredibly favorable to Sector Gamma without being unfair to Sanctuary. He had won the battle of wits, handily.

Seraphina sat back in her chair and let out a small, breathy laugh. She looked at him, and this time, there was no challenge in her eyes, only a genuine, dazzling smile.

"You are full of surprises, Lord Stone," she said, her voice now holding a warm, almost flirtatious, tone. "I confess, I did not expect a man of your... formidable reputation... to be so skilled at the finer points of diplomacy.

It’s a rare combination." She gave him a slow, lingering gaze that left no doubt about her meaning. "A very attractive one."

Matriarch Isabella, who had been watching the entire exchange with a wise and amused expression, finally spoke up. "It is settled then. Sanctuary will proudly join the Bastion Alliance."

Ryan stood up and shook the Matriarch’s hand. "I believe this is the beginning of a long and prosperous friendship," he said.

He then turned to shake Seraphina’s hand. She took his hand in both of hers, her grip warm and her smile radiant. "I am certain it will be, my Lord," she said, her eyes sparkling. "I look forward to our future... collaborations."

She held his hand just a moment longer than was strictly necessary before letting go.

Ryan watched them leave, a thoughtful expression on his face. He had secured a powerful new ally and resources that would make his people safer and healthier.

But he also had a feeling that this new political connection was going to be very, very complex indeed.

And that the sharp, beautiful diplomat from Sanctuary had just made herself a new, very personal mission: to learn a lot more about the surprising Lord of Sector Gamma.

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