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After the "talks" with Guo, you decide to take some time off while communication wires are laid with Lanu’s mother.
“Could you start mining those gemstones?” You ask Hagos.
“Yeah, we could. We couldn’t cut them, but we could mine them.” He replies.
“Rani, you reckon some mercs would switch over for uncut gemstones? Like, a lot of them?” You turn your attention around.
She tilts her head a bit and places her thumb on her cheek. “I don’t see why not?”
“Try to keep it on the down low, I don’t want to anger Doyle.” You say as you leave to rest a bit before communications are established. As you are leaving, Lanu walks up to you and starts speaking as soon as you get further past the first door.
“Vimal, I really don’t think this is a good idea.” She says. “She’s a number. Nothing she says has any meaning, she views you as you view ants and can kill you with ease. Her promises to anyone not a number are as meaningful as a vow you would make to your dinner plate.”
You pause, and turn your eyeless face to her. Deep within yourself, you feel the AI release an alert ping to your guards and the temple AI. “And yet, she behaved and held her side of the unsaid agreement since the last time we met.” You reply.
“Because she is too lazy to care for the black lady herself.” Lanu says. “Numbers can bleed and numbers can definitively die, but always with disasters effects.”
“Do you have an example?” You ask.
“Where did humans come from?” Lanu asks.
“Heaven, the first imperial family, mud, earth, the mythical first planet, clay, fire? Which mythology are you aiming at?” You ask.
“The planet called earth, in the solar system called Sol.” Lanu replies.
“Yeah, I’ve heard that theory.” You reply.
“It’s not just a theory, it’s been destroyed mere decades before the Surtshe dynasty came into power.” Lanu begins. “Back when humanity was united under U.R. governance. This U.R. governance fell when a research institute somewhere on earth attempted to create a number. They fucked up, the number died very quickly and worms, flies, maggots and other vermin came forth, bursting from the body and devoured the planet, the atmosphere, the humans and eventually the sun aswell, before dying in the cold vacuum of space, having devoured all they could have from the solar system.”
You look at her, with every cell in your body telling you she is saying the truth, but the rational and cynical segment of your mind telling you she, a number, is bound to be a master of manipulation.
“And how are the defeated numbers handled?” You ask her.
A look of almost betrayal flashes over her face, but she composes herself. “A tomb, runes, spells and technology are emploed.” She pauses, then continues. “Please, just, if you’re going to be talking with her, be careful when negotiating anything with my mother.”
>Don’t heed Lanu’s warnings, proceed to the negotiations with her mother (Write in talking points and goals)
>Call off negotiations with Lanu’s mother (write in ideas of what to do)
>Write-in
