Chapter 753 T.D.O.N.B: Distrust

- You are a monster if you did it eight times - said Will, panting heavily, which at first confused me.

I needed a moment to realize that he actually thought that I brought down one seed at a time.

- So you just took one seed each because you couldn't carry more? - I asked.

- No. I could carry more, but it didn't feel right - said Druoag.

As he said those words, we, at the same moment, looked at Will.

- I didn't feel that. I could take more, but ten is enough, isn't it? - We didn't say a thing, so he quickly added: - Fuck it! Ten is enough! I'm not going back up there, I will fucking fall and break my neck!

- Actually... You might be right. I didn't really want to say it, but since I do trust you a lot, I'm gonna share this. I don't trust Genusha - I confessed. - He seems more interested in the revenge over his family, and all the stuff around that, than the goal we share.

Druoag nodded.

- The Great One told me the same. He actually didn't want him to have a seed - he informed us.

- Maybe we should hide the two, then say we couldn't pick any, and settle with giving you two out of the eight, while we would get the rest? - Will proposed. - People on our side are rock solid. We won't have anybody who wants to pursue their own goals over preparing ourselves for the big confrontation.

Druoag switched his focus to me. I knew immediately that he wanted to know if I had the same opinion. I nodded.

- I trust Peter - he then said. - And he does confirm what you said, so I'm willing to agree, but we should consult this with The Great One. If he agrees I hope you will return the favor when we will have more trustworthy people on our side.

- Of course, as long as you will be the one who says they are trustworthy - I replied before Will was able to open his mouth. - But how do you want to ask The Great One? I could try to contact him but...

- I can do it - he said interrupting my sentence.

I nodded again in response. He then closed his eyes for a moment.

- The Great One asked me to tell you that what you did was irresponsible because you undermined his authority, which shouldn't be done, especially with Genusha around. He does agree, though - he informed us as soon as his eyes opened.

Then he gave me the seed he picked up. Will dit the same. I hid both of them in my vault, and we returned back to Loistavadvaar.

- Fina-fucking-ly! - yelled Nil as soon as we appeared.

The whole group seemed to be kinda shattered. different people were in different places. Most were peaking through the gates, but some focused on the exploration of the jade city. Only a few remained.

- We had to climb a tree to check if we can get the seeds - Will informed him, but it sounded more like an excuse.

- Yeah, yeah. It awfully looks like you had to plant it first, then wait till it grows - the former boxer responded not hiding his sarcasm.

- You would fall on your ass halfway! - Will growled at him in response. - It wasn't your regular tree. It was big, and it suppressed our supernatural powers.

This explanation worked on Sanders, especially when I reinforced it by slowly nodding.

- Whatever - Nill said. - Did you get anything? Doesn't seem like you did.

- We didn't - I quickly said. - But we still had to try.

Sanders slowly nodded to my words.

Meanwhile, the whole group slowly began assembling again, as those who went to explore a little began coming back, hearing our argument.

- How do we split the seeds? - Hatta asked as soon as everybody was there.

- I believe it will only be fair if both groups don't get what they want. In this case, it would mean we wouldn't get three as there are only three of us, while in your case there is not enough for you anyway - said Druoag.

It sounded a little bit artificial, as he was waiting for a cue to speak exactly that line.

- That's not fair at all - argued Genusha. - Even if we got the tree, they still are getting five. That's almost double what we get.

- This is not a competition. There are not they and we - said The Great One. - I began this work with humans in mind, and they have great experience already. They will build their cities faster, that's why they should get more seeds. I agree to split them five and two.

- So it's settled - I immediately jumped on his words.

Genusha didn't seem satisfied, but the fact that he didn't have enough influence to push his idea was obvious, so I thought he decided to give up. I kinda underestimated him at that moment. I ignored the fact that he was a part of the resistance who fought with Ixa for a long time, so the lost causes were his specialty.

p Without any delay, I pulled two seeds out of my vault, then gave one of them to Druoag. The other one landed in hands of Nobuo. Then I picked two more. One I gave to Ki'rai, and the other I gave to Hatta.

This clearly made Genusha a bit irritated, but I ignored it since he wasn't gonna get one anyway.

The fifth seed I gave to Nil and the sixth I gave to Hailwic. Then I pulled the last one I had to give out. With that wrinkly ball in my hands, I approached Katri Xel Avakadaisu.

- I'm actually curious what a peace-loving race like yours would do with such a thing - I said as she took it from my hands.

- Contribution with violence is not the only option. Maybe we won't fight, but we can do our parts in different ways. We can treat the wounded, or support our forces - she replied.

- How are you gonna gather crystals if you won't fight? - Nil asked immediately.

- The device will configure itself to the needs of the Atri - said The Great One. - The way it works in Arc is not the only way it can work.

- Right... - Sanders said.

I glanced at Genusha as I was returning to my friends. He didn't show any signs of being angry, but for some reason, I had this feeling that his blood was boiling.