Speed Is King

"And it's not like you're that desperate for my help anyway. With your current ridiculous strength, I am sure no normal Emperor can fight against you. Even Emperors with perfect Rivers of Runes would find it difficult if they don't have an enhanced body which has the capacity of at least a million runes."

Elliot considered that point for a moment before nodding. "Fine. And one last thing."

"You still have another request?? What did you do for a living anyway, a hostage negotiator? Fine. What else do you want?" Director Sands grumbled.

"Half. I want half of all the Life Seeds and Living Armor you manage to get." Elliot said with a straight face.

"Hahahahahahahaha! You're no hostage negotiator. You're a crook!" Elliot's demands were so ridiculous that Director Sands couldn't help but burst out laughing!

Elliot merely stood there quietly and stared at him, waiting for him to finish laughing.

"No can do, little boy. When I move, I move fast and I hit hard. And I only move when there's something big worth claiming. There's no way I am giving you half of my cake." Director Sands said with a confident smile.

"Forty percent."

"Half a percent."

"Thirty five percent."

"Three quarters of a percent."

"Thirty!"

"Nine-tenths."

"Ten, and that's final." Elliot growled.

"One percent. Maximum offer." Director Sands said seriously.

Both stared daggers at each other.

"Five."

"One."

"No deal then."

"Fine, one point five percent."

"Two percent, take it or leave it. I already have the information I need anyway." Elliot finally brandished his "weapon".

"Ugh. What a haggler. Fine. Two percent it is then." Director Sands sighed deeply. "I'm so old, and I still somehow get myself robbed."

"Here." Elliot tossed a small Life Seed and a small piece of Living Armor at Director Sands.

"The seed can be found on this planet. The black thing is "Living Armor" which the Second Disciple of Fortune Hermit Mountain is currently using and giving his followers."

Elliot gave Director Sands very limited information, and did not share his findings about the two things at all.

However, Director Sands had no need of them.

"Ah! This seed… it's the same energy as the remnant energy we found in the Shadow Parasites! No wonder the Shadow Parasites are here. They've probably gotten their hands on this energy!" Director Sands exclaimed in alarm.

"Hmmm? The Dark Brainwyrms have a trace of the mysterious Life Energy?" Elliot thought to himself in surprise. "I have to check on Romarok and see if he has that as well."

"Don't worry. Now that we've gotten our hands on a full Life Seed, we can develop sensors to detect it. The Shadow Parasite Disaster is officially over." El'Taras' cool voice sounded calmly from next to Director Sands.

"Ah yes. You're right, Chairman. I panicked there for a moment." Director Sands chuckled sheepishly.

It was true. The only issue with the Shadow Parasites was that they were impossible to detect. The sensors they have made couldn't lock on to the strange and mysterious energy that the Shadow Parasites were faintly emitting under lab conditions.

But with the Life Seed, they could finally produce stronger sensors. And with those sensors, they could easily detect who were infested, and they could immediately be neutralized.

The Shadow Parasites were finished.

"Does that mean that you guys won't nuke Planet Earth?" Elliot asked hopefully.

Director Sands smiled at him and said, "Yes. Fortunately for you, that will definitely be the case. We will simply sweep the planet with out sensors and then kill every Shadow Parasite we find."

"I see. That's good. That's really good." Elliot sighed in relief.

Director Sands snapped his finger, and immediately space around his finger rippled and a small crack appeared.

"Here you go, Chairman." Director Sands respectfully took the two items and passed them to El'Taras.

"Good work, Director Sands. You've earned yourself a reward." El'Taras said generously.

"Hahahaha! Reward? I am too old for rewards! Hahahaha! But if you insist, Chairman, I will gladly accept it. Hahahaha!" Director Sands laughed happily like a little boy about to receive a lollipop.

"Well, because I will get a reward from the Chairman, let me give you a bonus as well, boy! Here!" Director Sands tossed a device of some sort to Elliot.

"This device will completely make you invisible to the video cameras that's locked on to you. If you turn it on, nobody will be able to detect where you are. With your own personal stealth ability, you will effectively be hiding yourself from the rest of the universe!

But be warned, do not switch on that device for too long and too often. If the Gaming Commission receives complaints about how viewers are not able to look at their favorite players, we might end up deactivating that device.

Use it sparingly when you want to escape!"

"I see. Thank you very much. Can I have two more for my two sisters?" Elliot asked Director Sands shamelessly. Well he had to. For the sake of his sisters' wellbeing, being shameless is nothing!

"You… Shameless! But I understand where you're coming from. It's tough caring for our loved ones eh? Fine! Here are two more!" Director Sands tossed Elliot two more similar devices.

"Alright, I have to go and arrange for search squads to start searching for the seeds and the armor. And to receive my reward! WAHAHA! You kids just relax here and wait for me to get back!" Director Sands said before disappearing completely!

Elliot turned around to look at the four remaining people. Director Sands had only brought him along, and had left the two blue dragons and Autumn behind.

Wu Kong immediately smiled and stepped out with his outstretched hand.

"My name is Wu Kong. I am the Diamond Sponsor who gave you your Beast Apostle System."

"Wu Kong? Hey my Lightning Apostle is named Wu Kong too!" Elliot remarked with a smile and shook Wu Kong's hand. "Thank you very much for such a powerful system. It truly changed my life for the better. Even though you aliens messed up my life, you saved mine."

"Hey! I saved you too, you know!" Jessica cried out indignantly.

"Yes. Jessica, was it? Thank you for your boon. They are… amazing." Elliot said warmly.

"Ah, hahaha. You're welcome! You're welcome!" Jessica laughed happily.

"You're welcome too. You and your adventures have also changed my life as well. Much, much more than you think." Wu Kong glanced at Jul'Taras and smiled at her.

Jul'Taras stretched out her hand at Elliot and said, "Hi Elliot. I'm Jul'Taras. I am a Diamond Sponsor as well, but you haven't received my boon yet. Are you interested in receiving it?"