Netori: Reborn as the Human Aphrodisiac

A compelling argument, topped by an impeccable presentation. Though Mithras wasn't one to get wowed by words easily, he had to admit Akamana had mastered the art of pleading her case.

"First of all, I'm curious about one thing. Why all of...this? For someone who won't allow herself to become vulnerable and lose her heart, you don't seem to be able to let go of me," Mithras said, visibly unfazed by Mana's performance.

"Well, that might be because you're irresistible. Divine and transcendent, a true sight for sore eyes. How can a girl look at you without wanting to sink her claws in your chest and keep you for herself?"

"Nice...and so unhealthy. See, Mana, moments like this make me thankful our thing didn't get to the next level. You got too much game for someone who still hasn't figured out what she wants in a man, a dangerous combination.

Your type of gal would have likely shattered my poor heart. Praise the Lord you left. Saves me the trouble of the whole 'I hate you! Can't forgive you! But damn do I miss you,' type of BS." Mithras replied in a calm and straightforward tone, the words catching Mana off guard and knocking the wind out of her chest.

"You didn't just say that." For reasons she couldn't figure out yet, Mithras' words were like a knife to Akamana's guts, making her grit her teeth as her eyes stabbed into him with an almost feral intensity.

"Oh I for sure did. And got plenty more in the tank if you're resolved to act a fool with the joker." Mithras clapped back, the calm and poise on his face blowing through Akamana's intensity.

"Mana, Mana, 1,000 years and you still haven't figured out the wisdom of the saying 'Love is like a declaration of war. Fall first and lose,' So funny when we consider that...you invented that saying.

You wouldn't let me fall for you, yet still ended up falling for me anyway. A tragically classic case of 'do what I say, not what I do.'

I don't mind either way. Just feel that it's a pity someone who's lived for a millennium still can't show a lick of nerve and courage when it matters the most," Mithras went off, the barrage of honest jabs ripping through Akamana's defenses and making her spasm in a silent outburst of indignation.

Here, Mithras stood up, towering above the Grand Priestess with a teasing look.

"As for my old man's crew, one by one, five by five, 100 or the whole package, they can come whenever and with all they got. I will crush them still. Why the confidence? Cause I have all the tools to back up my words.

My only match in the Purple Dawn is Hadubrangr. But time…is so not on his side. I'm stronger today than I was yesterday. And I will be stronger tomorrow by a mile. It's not just the Blood Potency. The 100,000 years of individual experience accumulated by the First Generation is feeding my brain, while their Abominations serve as my sparring partners.

As we speak I'm modifying my organs, improving my body and attributes in ways you can't fathom.

So if the Blood Aristocracy is the only reason why I need you…" Mithras raised his hand, gently stroking Akamana's cheek while leaning over and letting his cool breath breeze through her raven hair.

"Then Mana, though I'm not indifferent to your charms, I dare say…that you're expendable," Mithras said and leaned back, the discrepancy between his words, tone and look making the Grand Priestess not know what to come up with. How to reply? What does he want to hear? Akamana's thoughts went wild, and her eyes narrowed, trembling at Mithras.

"How I miss the days I could just crack your wandering hands with a finger snap."

"Those days are gone and never coming back, so just enjoy the touch. You have a right to say no, but I have a feeling the words won't cross your lips."

"Confidence is always a looker but be careful it doesn't turn into arrogance. The line gets blurry real fast." Akamana and Mithras went back and forth, the Grand Priestess' head leaning into Mithras' hand, letting him ruffle her hair and stroke her cheek while she stared him in the eyes with a mix of yearning and wrath.

Akamana's polished nails wandered on Mithras' lower body, going all the way up to his chest, and digging into his neck as his face pressed into hers, and his hands lowered to her waist.

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"What's wrong with my favorite Psycho Bombshell? Are you mad cause I'm styling on you? Seduction ain't a contest, you don't have to outshine me."

"I'm mad because you're forgetting whose turf you're messing around on. You think I stole and moved an entire city just to lure in your pretty eyes? That's part of the deal, but I also happen to have plans for this city. Plans that involve…keeping it for myself.

You have yet to give me a single reason why I should forego my private interests for you. I was about to do it anyway, but now I feel like you need a lesson in 'young man, respect your elders.' And if you think you can take the city back by force, you got a rude awakening coming your way.

I am not Hadubrangr, and I don't have to be. Because in the Mainyu Archipelago…the Grand Priestess is God. My bag of clumsy tricks hella deep, and much more polished than any of you lads can imagine," Akamana said, and as her words reached this point, the Grand Priestess' tone shifted, turning meek and mellow.

"But though you never miss an opportunity to rough me up, I'm not here to use force with you. Nor am I trying to outshine you. Even the city I can give back, I guess…I guess I just…wanted to make you laugh?

Yeah…I can't stand there being so much bitterness between you and me. It doesn't feel right. I can't stand it! So, for the sake of stupid old me roleplaying the academy professor for your lovely eyes…cutie pie, can you please forgive me?" Akamana asked, the straightforward and heartfelt words taking Mithras by surprise.

A heavy silence dropped, and this time around, it was Mithras' turn to fumble for words—his composure breaking for the first time today.

Yeah, there was real love somewhere here, buried under a pile of insecurities that refused to make way. What a shame!

"Well, asked in such a mellow and seductive tone, how could I possibly say no? Problem is…I'm taking my city back anyway. And it's happening as we speak. So, if you can forgive me for screwing you over. I for sure can forgive you!" Mithras said after a moment of "hush and stare," looking sideways as if a little bit ashamed of the events he'd set in motion already.

"What…have you done?" Akamana unfolded her arms, her voice turning heavy as she studied Mithras' face for answers.

"Mhm…let's just say that I agree with my old man about one thing: disorder in the house always leads to disasters. So, you gotta snuff out the embers of trouble before they blossom into problems. And that's exactly what I'm doing…cleaning up the streets," Mithras said, and as his words trailed off, a series of violent crimes swept through Springtime City.

On the streets, beggars beheaded. Unassuming shopkeepers, beheaded. In fancy mansions, crime lords and renowned bankers…beheaded. In the local administration, judges and lawmakers…beheaded.

No one could tell where the murderers were coming from or how they got to their targets, decapitating so many, so fast, and with such brutal efficiency.

The only clue was a mark, a sanguine rose surrounded by a blood star carved in the victims' chests with flaming knives!

'Grand Priestess, it's bad…it's really bad! One-fourth of the spies and assassins we've planted or acquired in Springtime City…have been murdered in the last 45 minutes. If we don't find the source and stop this trend…all our agents are about to lose their heads!'

A series of mental messages boomed in Akamana's mind—making the Grand Priestess' eyes stretch impossibly.

Alas…the worst had yet to come.

'Grand Priestess! Grand Priestess! The Seafaring Nations…are seceding from the Alliance!' A desperate voice boomed in Akamana's mind, and she escaped Mithras' grasp, about to vanish from the scene when the youth stopped her with a shoulder grab, forcing Akamana to sit on his lap as he returned to his seat.

"Ah, Mana…I do like me some frustrated you. But there's nothing you can do about this one. The 'drug' has already swept through your number one vassal state, and the only cure…your only hope to not lose the Seafaring Nations…is me.

People can be so dumb sometimes. Why send an army to conquer the land…when you can just conquer the rulers? Just gotta figure out what makes a man peddle his ass to the Devil…and put it at his feet.

And that, love…is exactly what we've done to the Lords of the Seafaring Nations," Mithras whispered in Akamana's ear, his chin resting on her shoulder as her pulse raced like an intoxicated driver on the freeway.

"Now geography is what makes things so tough here. Cause in case you've forgotten, the Seafaring Nations connect the Principality of Astalon to your Mainyu Archipelago. It's like a straight line to the heartland of Angra.

Let's not even mention the boatload of resources you will lose without that naval superpower at your beck and call. Just a direct border with the Angra Theocracy…is enough for me to cause a lot of damage.

So yeah, my offer still stands. If you can forgive me for splitting your empire, and screwing you over so bad the world and your vassals will no doubt be questioning your leadership tomorrow morning…if you can forgive that…why couldn't I forgive you?

After all, I like to think that between husband and wife…it's all about dialogue. That too...is something I've learned from you," Mithras said, and for the first time since they met, Akamana couldn't help but feel that her cutie pie…had become crazier than she ever was.