Chapter 408: Reasoning Is Also a Noble Virtue
At this moment, Steven finally understood one thing: never, ever bring up concepts like dignity or moral bottom lines when dealing with certain people. Odds were high that they simply didn't have such things installed by default.
Of course, he wasn't so ruled by hormones that he'd fall for Closure's antics. With an expression full of disgust, he pushed away the little face that kept trying to lean into his shoulder. Only then did he look at her seriously.
"Okay, stop playing around, give me a real reason."
"Then… are you interested in medical products?"
Seeing that her earlier "selling dignity" performance utterly failed to sway him, Closure instantly switched back to her normal demeanor, as if the previous scene had never happened, and began negotiating properly.
"Let me put it this way. Right now, your medical department's biggest task is studying the effectiveness of the potion I gave you. Does it look like I'm lacking in that area?"
Steven raised an eyebrow and casually tossed out a bombshell, killing the topic in one blow.
"But Rhodes Island is just a medical company! The only things we can offer are medical-related!"
Closure's little face scrunched up like a wrinkled towel—she might as well have had the word troubled printed across her forehead.
"Well, you guys sure don't act like a medical company. Honestly, you look more like an international mercenary group. If you're serious about this, giving me command rights over a few elite operators might make me consider it."
Negotiations were always full of scheming and complicated strings attached. If possible, Steven would've preferred to go straight for a complete acquisition—much cleaner.
But Kal'tsit would never agree to that. So partial investment was the only option left.
After all, if you can be the boss, why be a business partner?
"...If anyone else said that, I'd think they were delusional. But if it's you… I'm not sure if Kal'tsit would refuse or agree."
Closure seriously considered the possibility of letting Steven buy into Rhodes Island. Though their current relationships with other factions were strictly cooperative, her instincts told her one thing clearly: letting Steven in would bring far more benefits than harm.
"I have no reason to refuse."
A cool voice from the doorway cut off their discussion. As if summoned by her own name like some eldritch deity, a certain green-haired lynx appeared at the entrance.
Pushing the door open with casual familiarity, Kal'tsit—who somehow only ever wore that same off-shoulder outfit—sat down beside Steven, arms crossed, looking directly at him.
"Given our current situation, obtaining support from you and your foundation would be the ideal outcome."
Kal'tsit smoothly picked up the thread of Closure's argument and continued it without hesitation.
Just as Closure predicted—if anyone other than Steven had proposed investing in Rhodes Island, Kal'tsit would have had absolutely no reason to accept.
But for him?
That was a different story entirely.
Rhodes Island was the embodiment of the hopes entrusted to it by Theresa. It absolutely should not be tainted by profit, nor allowed to distort its original purpose for the sake of greed.
Rhodes Island accepts cooperation, but never investment.
That had been Kal'tsit's firm belief.
Yet, right at this moment, if Rhodes Island wanted to get through its crisis, Steven's support wasn't just helpful—it was indispensable.
They couldn't possibly send away all the infected who were receiving treatment on the ship. Forget whether Amiya, the nominal leader, would allow something so cruel—even Kal'tsit herself would not agree.
So the Doctor must be found, and Steven's sponsorship had to be secured. Only then could Rhodes Island remain whole.
Besides, more importantly, Kal'tsit understood something very clearly: someone with Steven's level of ability wouldn't gain anything from exploiting Rhodes Island even if he did become a shareholder.
For him, using Rhodes Island for personal benefit simply wasn't interesting.
On the contrary, having someone like him join was a tremendous blessing.
After getting a rough grasp of Steven's true strength, Kal'tsit became even more aware of how vital it was to maintain a good relationship with him.
To put it bluntly, if she could rely on Steven himself, then the plans she intended to execute in the future would become far easier.
When an individual's strength surpassed that of armies and nations, anything they wished to do became simple.
And right now, Steven was precisely such a being.
Compared to those ancient schemers hiding in the shadows, plotting endlessly like tired old snakes, dealing with Steven was infinitely easier.
Because Steven had one trait—one both Kal'tsit and Closure understood very well:
He was reasonable.
Extremely reasonable.
In many cases, being reasonable wasn't a special virtue. It was basic common sense.
But for someone like him—someone who was, in some sense, a Feranmut or a God—it was an exceptionally rare and precious trait.
Thus, Kal'tsit made her decision.
Allowing Steven to invest in Rhodes Island was the same as tying him to their cause—at least partially.
She couldn't guarantee they'd "keep" someone as unpredictable as him, but it would certainly bring them closer.
"So then, how many shares of Rhodes Island do you wish to acquire?"
Kal'tsit looked into Steven's eyes with calm composure, none of her inner turmoil showing on her face.
"What if I said I wanted to buy the whole thing?"
"Please don't make such pointless jokes."
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Note: Character Illustration is in this Google Drive:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iuyfwNVFHzIi9H4rWNT_lAm7jTSiah_M
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