GREED: ALL FOR WHAT?

Marlinto said cheerfully, "It is very good that you are open to working with the Supreme of Carnage. I am sure we can work something out. We Vampires are open to working with you." 

Then he said, "How about we take this conversation inside like proper royalties? I have this rare supply of immaculate blood that is positively delectable. It was harvested from a priest so it contains traces of divine power. The divine power adds a spicy flavor to it that normal blood lacks. You will find it absolutely delicious if you can bear the burning sensation."

He was enthusiastic about the rare blood but Ragnarok rejected the invitation. "That is not necessary. I don't intend to stay for long. The reply to my question will determine how much friendly we become." 

"That's disappointing," Marlinto said with slight sadness. "We shouldn't let business deter us from enjoying the finer things of life."

"I insist," Ragnarok said with a cold gaze.

"Fine. So what do you want?" Marlinto asked after shaking his head in pity.

"I am willing to stay out of the conflict between the Vampires and the Wood-elves. I won't help either side. And in exchange, I want to be allowed to leave the plane."

Marlinto chuckled. He said to Ragnarok. "Let me guess. You also want the Supreme of Carnage to promise not to come after you in any way."

"Yes."

Marlinto stayed quiet for a short while before he began to speak. "Lucky for you, I have an answer from the demon god. He usually ignores stupid requests like..."

Ragnarok interrupted him. "What did the demon god say?"

His time is much too precious to listen to some nagging.

Marlinto's face slowly became cold. His smiling face and charming attitude became nowhere to be seen. All his facial expressions died down. He said with a cold tone, "The answer is no."

"Tell the demon god to reconsider."

Marlinto answered very quickly. "The answer remains no."

It is obvious that he didn't wait for an answer from the demon god. He is rejecting Ragnarok to spite him. 

"Is that the final answer of the demon god?" Ragnarok asked.

"What do you think?" Marlinto replied with a question of his.

The two Monarchs became silent. They stared intently at each other. On one side is a devilish being with three eyes and dark horns. This monarch is naked, barefoot, and bears a large red glowing tattoo on his chest. On the other side is a hornless and regal figure whose beauty will be attested by both sexes as exquisite. This monarch looks the part of a monarch, unlike Ragnarok who looks like a fiend.

Ragnarok spoke. "I guess I should move on to my next agenda."

He truly is in a hurry to achieve what he came for. But Marlinto wasn't pleased. 

"You are just like your father. Both of you are rude, uncivilized bumpkins. Power has not changed that about you." Marlinto said with his cold face.

Ragnarok cocked his head, "You speak as if there is something else more important or as important as power."

"Yes, there is. It is comportment. It is etiquette. Power and Immortality without comportment are hollow. You barge into my territory without permission. You do not honor me by putting on something to cover your nakedness and neither did you respect me by accepting the invitation to my table. Instead you come here naked and make demands of me as if this is your territory. Then you interrupt me when I am speaking. I have tried to be cordial to you but you are no different from a lowly beast. My attempt to be cordial was obviously a waste of time."

Ragnarok nodded as if he had understood something.

"I see. You are confused about something. It seems you have a misunderstanding about me. Will you allow me to clear this confusion so that we can return to an amicable relationship?" Ragnarok asked.

"Please, by all means, do."

Ragnarok stated as a matter of fact. "I do not respect you and I do not think I should respect you. I am sorry if that wasn't clear right from the start."

Marlinto's face didn't change. He said, "That does clear things up."

Yes, it clears things up. If he knew this right from the start, he wouldn't have wasted his time and offered up his rare blood to Ragnarok. Now he knows that it is not that Ragnarok can't be respectful, it is just that he didn't bother to be respectful.

He asked Ragnarok. "So what is this second request that you speak of?"

"I didn't need to come here to speak to the demon god. Emperiti would have been enough. But I didn't have leverage back then. I am here to get one."

Marlinto understood the threat but he just scoffed. "Do you think you can take me on? Do you think I am easier to handle compared to Emperiti? She is just a Duke."

Ragnarok replied honestly. "You are in one place and I can actually hit you. That's a plus in my opinion. Emperiti is too slippery to use as a bargaining chip."

Marlinto laughed. His laugh echoed throughout the large cavern. He finds what Ragnarok said both funny and insulting. Of course, the insult is much greater than the amusement. This meeting is being watched by the other primogenitors and Ragnarok has disrespected him in front of them after he advocated for peace with Ragnarok. He is laughing at himself for becoming such a laughing stock to the other primogenitors.

He stopped laughing but remained grinning. "You have made a very big mistake you ignorant mutt. You have just made the last Vampires on your side turn against you. I shouldn't be surprised but I am. I should have seen this coming. You are from a race of beasts. You have no concept of nobility and the respect it deserves. You need discipline to be shown your place. Will you permit me the honor of teaching you a lesson?"

Ragnarok grinned too. "Go ahead. Give it your best shot."

"This will be good. I haven't fought in a long time." Marlinto said still grinning.

Ragnarok encouraged him. "I promise to make it worth your while."

"Good good. Prepare yourself. I will not be easy to deal with."