BXBX NOVEL Chapter 369: Amending the Contract
Michaela, ever vigilant, scanned the room with sharp eyes. Only after a moment did her rigid posture ease, her gaze finally relaxing. Still, her focus remained unwavering as she placed the iguana cage on the central table, the disgruntled reptile a silent observer of the unfolding scene.
Laughter and lively conversation soon filled the air, a tapestry woven with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the occasional chirp from Sylvana. Greed, unable to resist the child\'s infectious excitement, offered to personally show her around the cozy mansion. Sylvana, eyes sparkling with delight, accepted the invitation with a mischievous grin.
Half an hour of lively conversation melted away, leaving a warm contentment in its wake. Sylvana, her exploration complete, returned to Envy, a determined glint in her eyes. "Aunt Envy! You promised ice cream!" she declared, tugging playfully at Envy\'s hand.
Envy, a smile blossoming on her face, stroked Sylvana\'s red hair with a touch of indulgence. "Of course, my little adventurer. We wouldn\'t want to break a promise, now would we?" With a hand on Sylvana\'s, she stood, ready to embark on their ice cream adventure.
"Michaela," Daniel\'s voice cut through the air, "accompany them. Ensure their safety."
The archangel, her posture instantly alert, bowed her head. "As you command, my lord."
The archangel goes out of the mansion, following the two not far behind with appropriate distance, not too close to intrude on their privacy and not too far to be unable to ensure their safety.
With a sigh, Daniel watched Envy, Sylvana, and Michaela disappear out the mansion door. Silence settled in the room, broken only by the rhythmic crunch of something munching on fruits and vegetables. His gaze landed on the cage where a rather smug-looking yellow iguana sat amidst its colorful feast.
Greed\'s delight overflowed like an overflowing treasure chest. The sight of Mammon, the once magnificent Demonic Golden Dragon, reduced to a scrawny yellow iguana with a perpetually grumpy expression, sent her into cackling convulsions.
"Haaaaa! HAHAHAHAHA! Is that REALLY you, Mammon? You look like a grumpy old avocado that sprouted legs and lost its luster!" Greed shrieked, tears welling up in her eyes from laughter.
Mammon\'s tiny chest puffed up like a deflated balloon trying to regain its former glory. His beady eyes narrowed into angry slits, but the effect was somewhat diminished by his comically short iguana arms crossed in a huff.
Every fiber of his being screamed to unleash a torrent of infernal flames and roast Greed into a pile of ash, but alas, he was currently a glorified lizard with limited fire-breathing capabilities. It was no different than trying to light a birthday candle with a damp matchstick.
Greed, ever the sadistic show woman, decided to poke the metaphorical lizard with a metaphorical stick. "Aww, poor widdle Mammon," she cooed, her voice dripping with mock sympathy. "Did someone lose their little fiery temper? Perhaps you need a tiny juice box? Regular sized ones might be a bit too much for your little iguana gullet, wouldn\'t they?"
Mammon wanted to roar, to unleash a tirade that would make Dante rewrite Inferno. Instead, a frustrated squeak escaped his tiny reptilian throat. The indignity! The sheer AUDACITY! He fantasized about the day he\'d get his powers back and transform into his glorious Golden Dragon form, breathing fire so intense it would melt Greed\'s every ill-gotten treasure.
Daniel, ever the pragmatist, saw his chance. He cleared his throat, the sound breaking the flood of Greed\'s amusement. "Alright, Greed, that\'s enough fun for now," he said, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "Mammon," he continued, his gaze shifting to the fuming iguana, "let\'s get down to business."
The iguana didn\'t respond, its beady reptilian eyes fixed on a plump blackberry. A flicker of irritation crossed Daniel\'s face, but it was quickly replaced by a calculated smile. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a rolled-up piece of parchment.
"I\'m willing to offer you a deal," Daniel continued, his voice low and persuasive. "Twenty-five percent of your stolen wealth, returned. In exchange..." He unfurled the parchment, revealing a meticulously rewritten contract. "You amend Greed\'s contract to match this one."
The yellow iguana, perched regally on a pile of exotic fruits, blinked at the document. A sly smirk, somehow both reptilian and vaguely theatrical, spread across its face. "Twenty-five percent, you say?" Mammon rumbled, its voice surprisingly smooth for a lizard. "A mere pittance for a Lord of Hell of my stature! Surely you can do better than that, human."
Daniel\'s smile faltered for a split second before returning, wider than before. "Alright, alright," he chuckled, feigning exasperation. "How about thirty percent? Final offer."
Mammon\'s beady eyes narrowed. This wasn\'t going according to plan. "Final offer, you say? Humans and their theatrics," it scoffed. "Make it fifty percent, and we can talk business."
Daniel sighed dramatically, shaking his head. "Stubborn as a mule, aren\'t you, Mammon? Fine, twenty percent. Take it or leave it."
The iguana\'s smirk wavered for a moment. This human was being... confusing. "Twenty percent? That\'s an insult! Are you high or something!?" it spluttered, puffing out its reptilian chest in a show of bravado.
"Fifteen percent," Daniel countered, his face darkening along with his mood.
Mammon choked on a surprised squeak, stunned by the audacity of this human, unable to respond in time.
"Five percent," Daniel declared, his voice flat as a freshly paved road. A scowl darkened his features, mirroring the storm brewing behind his eyes. "It\'s your last chance, Mammon."
The iguana choked, a surprised wheeze escaping its throat. The audacity of this human! The sheer gall of it all left him momentarily speechless.
"Refuse and I\'ll tape you inside an outhouse seat in the trailer park."
Mammon\'s throat constricted. A wave of primal fear, cold and primal, washed over him, momentarily eclipsing his pride. He envisioned the scene in horrifying detail: the splintering wood, the acrid stench, everything. He opened his mouth, a retort poised on his tongue, a desperate attempt to regain some semblance of power.
But the words died there, unspoken. Daniel didn\'t wait for a reply. With a resounding clang, he slammed the cage shut, the metallic echo bouncing off the walls. Heaving the cage aloft, he marched towards the door, leaving Mammon to stew in his own existential dread.
Just as Daniel\'s hand reached for the cool metal handle, a desperate screech shattered the silence. "Wait! Stop! I accept! Five percent it is!" Mammon bellowed, his voice cracking with a desperate plea.
Daniel paused, a cold smile playing on his lips like a serpent waiting to strike. He held Mammon\'s gaze for a beat longer than necessary, savoring the hell lord\'s humiliation.
"Excellent choice," he finally said, his voice devoid of warmth, as cold and unforgiving as the approaching winter. He set the cage back on the table with a deliberate thud.
"Now, do it!" Daniel barked, his voice sharp as a shard of obsidian. He jabbed a finger towards the parchment, the paper crinkling under the force.
Mammon\'s beady eyes darted across the document, his heart hammering a frantic tattoo against his ribs.
"This… This!" Mammon wanted to protest, the terms were a viper\'s nest of disadvantage, practically enslaving him as Greed\'s glorified guard dog. A hot spark of rebellion flared in his chest, quickly extinguished by the sight Daniel produced next.
With a flourish, Daniel unveiled a golden apple from the depths of his trench coat. The celestial fruit pulsed with an otherworldly glow, its sweet aroma a siren song that flooded Mammon\'s senses. This was no ordinary apple; it was a prize from the legendary Garden of Hesperides. While immortality might elude him, a mere taste promised to amplify his already formidable power.
Daniel dangled the apple tantalizingly close, just out of reach. Mammon lunged for it with a desperate snap, only to be met with empty air. A cruel glint flickered in Daniel\'s eyes as he snatched the apple back, the smirk on his lips widening.
"Now, are you interested?" Daniel purred, his voice dripping with amusement.
Mammon, his throat parched with both frustration and desire, could only manage a fervent nod. The contract\'s shackles seemed insignificant compared to the power coursing within that golden sphere. This was a deal he couldn\'t refuse.
"Excellent!" Daniel boomed, a hint of theatrical flourish in his voice. "Let\'s amend this little agreement, shall we?" He gestured towards the parchment, and Mammon dove into the revisions, his feverish scribbling afraid that this damn human would regret offering the Golden apple to him.
As for Daniel, the golden apple held little significance beyond its gameplay function. It was merely a token generated by one of his cards, devoid of any special meaning or value outside of the game mechanics. While it granted temporary true immortality to mortals, for a hell lord like Mammon, who was already immortal, it wouldn\'t bring about any significant change.
Card: Golden Apple Tree
Picture: A majestic tree bearing fruit of gleaming golden apples stands tall in a garden adorned with similar trees, all bathed in a golden hue. A fearsome serpent, Ladon, coils around the base of the tree, ever watchful and guarding its precious bounty.
Rarity: Rare
Type: Artifact - Enchantment
Mana Cost: 1 Light, 1 Wood, 1 Non-Element
Description:
Ability: Tap, Pay 2 Non-Elemental mana: Create 1 Golden Apple token with the ability to Tap and sacrifice this token. Place 3 Immortality counters on a target non-god creature. Remove 1 Immortality counter at the end of your turn. Creatures with Immortality counters are treated as having Indestructible.
Flavor Text: While a sweet indulgence for the Olympian gods, these golden apples hold unparalleled value for mortals, granting them the coveted gift of immortality.