Chapter 389 Property in Two Worlds
Valerius wanted nothing more to do with the headache that was Zara, so he sent someone else to handle the transfer.
This time, Zara demanded far more than before, especially with Lucian there to drive an even harder bargain.
They collected another mountain of technical documents, including data on core power systems. Earth might not yet have been capable of reproducing any of it, but there was no harm in securing the information first.
Developing the necessary energy sources would take time. If some of those resources simply did not exist on Earth... well, perhaps they could arrange to import them from the Divine World later.
That meant their first priority was solving the problem that prevented ordinary humans from crossing over.
Why should people from this world be the only ones allowed to travel between worlds?
The contrast in mentality between the two civilizations could not have been clearer. The Divine World was constantly thinking about invasion, territorial expansion, and colonization.
Peace-loving people from Earth, meanwhile, had already moved on to worrying about shipping and logistics.
Now that was what Zara called progress.
She felt that her moral awareness had risen to an entirely new level, the kind that should inspire universal admiration.
There was only one minor complication when it came time to collect the valuables.
"What am I supposed to do with your money?" Zara demanded. "I can only spend it in this world. What's the point?"
Then she paused. "Although... owning some property here wouldn't be so bad."
During the negotiations, Valerius's representative had accurately identified Zara's weakness by bringing up real estate. He then attempted to use it as leverage to reduce the amount of technology they had to provide.
Unfortunately for him, the two sides were not remotely on the same level.
Lucian considered the suggestion and said, "That is acceptable. We can convert the monetary portion of the compensation into local currency, but the amount will have to be multiplied by ten."
He showed no mercy whatsoever when naming his price. The representative's face twitched, but he could hardly refuse.
After all, the cash compensation Zara had originally demanded was supposed to be paid on Earth. Even if the Upper Realm had access to money there, they would still need to contact their agents on Earth. Moving such a large sum might interfere with their plans.
Paying her in Divine World currency was much easier.
Even if the amount had now increased tenfold.
Housing was expensive everywhere, but the Divine World did have one advantage. Most royal cities provided basic housing, allowing ordinary citizens to claim a simple residence at no cost. As a result, property prices were not nearly as outrageous as they were on Earth.
Luxury housing was another matter, of course.
Money still bought comfort anywhere.
The most successful humans could even earn the right to live in the Upper Realm.
That was all it was, though: permission to live there.
The Upper Realm valued bloodlines above everything else. Without the right lineage, even someone who had risen from the Lower Realm would still be treated as an outsider.
Zara had no intention of putting up with that kind of treatment.
Lucian therefore secured homes for her in both the Upper Realm and the Lower Realm.
Valerius found the outcome utterly unacceptable. "I sent you to negotiate, and you gave them property in the Upper Realm too?!"
When he received the report, he nearly coughed up blood.
The negotiator looked deeply wronged. "The man with her said that if we refused, we would have to provide technical assistance instead..."
To put it bluntly, they had never had any real bargaining power. Whatever Zara and Lucian demanded, they could only listen.
Giving them property was still preferable to sending experts to Earth.
If the Divine World helped Earth's technology advance steadily, then once Earth caught up, the Upper Realm would have no leverage left at all.
Hearing that, Valerius could only swallow his anger. "Fine. Give her a residence in the southern district. Just make sure it isn't anywhere near me!"
The representative hurriedly assured him, "Don't worry, my lord. It will be nowhere near you."
After the compensation negotiations were settled, Zara still felt dissatisfied. "I don't see what good owning property here does me. I don't even live in this world."
Lucian looked at her with extraordinary tenderness, but his words were merciless. "You usually have at least a little common sense. Why did your brain stop working now? Is your grand ambition really limited to squeezing a few million out of people on Earth?"
Zara fell silent.
[You freaking idiot. You're getting cockier by the day. Want me to put you in your place right here?]
Lucian really was becoming increasingly bold. Zara could practically see the words "open rebellion" written across his face.
Still, his explanation successfully won her over.
"Let's say that one day, a stable passage opens between Earth and the Divine World.
As long as the two worlds aren't at war, people, goods, and information will inevitably begin moving between them.
Earth's technology will advance, and contact with the Divine World will deepen.
Prices will soar, and products from both worlds will flood each other's markets. "
"When that happens, people will start investing in property on both sides, along with countless other opportunities." He added, "You already own property and have money in the Divine World. When the two worlds finally open up to each other, you'll make a fortune."
Once he put it that simply, Zara finally understood. "So it all depends on the two worlds opening up to each other... All right, then."
In that case, there absolutely could not be a war.
She owned property in this world now. If war broke out, she might lose everything.
Zara could never allow such a tragedy.
Owning property also gave Zara and Lucian legal identities in the Divine World. From then on, they could move around openly whenever they crossed over.
Not that Valerius would be particularly happy to see them.
Before leaving, Zara suddenly remembered something. "Do you remember Ash?"
Lucian paused, then recalled him. "The man who took us to Nightspire?"
Zara nodded. "We still owe him a thousand."
Lucian fell silent.
At least Zara had not forgotten.
She quickly added Ash as a contact and transferred 10,000 dollars to him. She had promised to repay him tenfold, and now that she was back, she intended to honor that promise.
They did not have time to call or catch up with him, however, because they needed to return to Earth.
During the negotiations, the Upper Realm had also demanded that Aurelion and Dino stay behind.
Zara had not objected, but Aurelion smacked his lips and hesitated.
"That... might not be such a good idea."
The negotiator had stared at him in disbelief. He thought to himself, "You are one of our guardian divine beasts. We are asking you to stay, and you think that is inappropriate?"
At that moment, the truth became painfully clear.
Aurelion had never been Zara's dragon hostage.
He had simply defected.
Of course, Aurelion would never admit that.
But those idiots could not even defeat Zara. What future would he have if he went back to them?
For a mystic beast, knowing which side was winning was the key to a successful life.
Even so, Zara temporarily left both Aurelion and Dino behind because she wanted to conduct an experiment.
She wanted to see how long it would take Aurelion to recover his true form after remaining in the Divine World.
When Aurelion realized Zara was not taking him back this time, his entire world seemed to collapse.
By the time he finished singing a mournful little song about being abandoned, Zara and Lucian were already gone.