Demonic Pornstar System

Perhaps sensing that it would be wiser to address the more grounded party first, or at least the party she was a lot more familiar with and thus could better anticipate their moves, Talia shifted in her seat and turned her gaze to Tessa.

"What is it that you propose?"

Tessa didn't hesitate for a single second, having already decided on it before Talia even made the reservations for the restaurant.

"A full alliance. Runewoven and Nova Circuit, equal partners. Military coordination. Joint research divisions. Shared financial ventures, marketing campaigns, and political lobbying. Everything."

The implications rang loud and clear across the table.

An alliance in every sense of the word.

Talia's face didn't immediately change, but her eyes…

They darkened.

Not with surprise. With calculation.

Nova Circuit, proposing an equal alliance? Now?

Her fingers, still resting against her goblet, tapped once… then stopped.

Sure, Runewoven was in a precarious spot right now. The damned dungeon that the Awakened Association forced them to clear right after the tragedy of the last dungeon clear, which was a dungeon that came with a strict level cap. Their guild's true monsters—the real raid-sweepers—were all locked out as a result. Without their top brass being able to enter, and with their promising low-level awakened wiped out besides Diaz, they'd been forced to rely on outside help.

But even so, that was a temporary obstacle.

If that level limit didn't exist, Runewoven would've cleared the dungeon already. Hell, they probably would've turned it into a PR victory. The only reason they hadn't was a quirk of dungeon mechanics, not a true sign of weakness.

This was the reason why the Awakened Association, and the whole government of the USA by proxy, angered many. They were incredibly harsh, unfair even, when it came to the punishments guilds were subjected to.

But the government didn't care for any such protest. They were unwilling to budge on this matter, for they believed a guild that keeps failing to establish a proper organization should not be allowed to take awakened from the guilds who could. It would be better for the whole country if only truly competent leadership were allowed to partake in the management of the nation's most precious resource, its superhumans.

Be that as it may, the bottom line was that Runewoven was not an empty shell of its glory days.

Nova Circuit, though?

They were bleeding.

Vaelira might've already become very strong with an even brighter future ahead, but she was their only A-tier combatant left. The guild's backbone had been gutted when the founding members split off, taking with them Nova's best prospects, and, more importantly, their political and financial networks.

Tessa was diligent. Respected, even. But she was holding a broken ship together with duct tape and sheer willpower.

And now she wanted an equal alliance?

Talia almost scoffed.

It would mean Runewoven shouldering most of the risk and burdens, only to drag Nova Circuit up alongside them.

A parasite, disguised as a partnership.

But she didn't say any of that aloud.

"I'll hold an emergency meeting with the other executives and let you know of our decision."

"Thank you," Tessa nodded amicably, though there was a small note of triumph in her eyes. This was a big step forward for Nova Circuit. Potentially the lifeline they need.

Talia slowly turned her gaze down the table toward Kaiden and the four women sitting beside him. Her eyes lingered for a beat. Then another. Her lips parted, but no words came.

She hesitated.

Everyone saw it.

For the first time all night, the woman seemed truly uncertain. The hand that had so confidently handled silverware earlier now trembled above the tablecloth. Her expression twisted, becoming something between anger and grim resolve, and the silence around her felt sharper than any dagger.

Her inner turmoil played out across her features in the open. Until…

She closed her eyes. Exhaled. And steeled herself.

"I'd like to extend the same offer," she whispered with a pale face, unable to believe she was actually saying these words, "to Valhalla's Sinners."

Immense silence followed.

"That is…" she continued, forcing her words out before they could forever disappear in her throat, "Runewoven is prepared to form an alliance on the same terms, should the rest of our executives agree. Military support. Research cooperation. Financial aid. Full media and legal coverage."

*Choke!*

Jack gagged on his drink, coughing into his fist.

Sasha's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. Her jaw dropped. She looked at Luna, then Nyx, then Aria with a bewildered expression.

Leon only shook his head in disbelief.

Vaelira said nothing.

Did nothing.

But her eyes…

Her eyes narrowed into slits as she stared across the table, directly at Kaiden and the four bombshells surrounding him.

Luna, radiant and smug.

Nyx, polished and poised.

Aria, serene yet deadly.

Bastet, exotic and dangerous, even when delightfully munching on sashimi.

Every one of them had looks that could wreck a man's career, and apparently had the luck to match.

Vaelira's thoughts were not pretty.

'Sluts. All of them. They flirt on camera, they purr into his ear, they even moan his name on camera without feeling an ounce of shame. That's all this is. Dumb luck for dumb sluts. That's it. I can't believe that they get everything they want all the time!'

But then her heart skipped.

Because as she examined their faces… they didn't look triumphant.

They didn't look giddy or proud or grateful.

In fact, they looked... disappointed?!

Talia had just offered them the deal of a century: status, support, protection, and legitimacy. Valhalla's Sinners didn't have high-level awakeners. They had no researchers at all. Their finances looked bright for newly awakened people, but in reality, they were not considered rich for high-tier awakened standards.

As such, this offer meant they'd be coddled by Runewoven, protected and carried.

Yet none of them looked happy.

'What the hell is wrong with them?'

Nyx spoke up with a measured undertone.

"Could you clarify what you mean, Miss Talia?"

Talia's eyes didn't waver. "I'm aware Valhalla's Sinners is not a registered guild. You're a streamer group formed on the Awakened Platform, with no legal organization status."

Talia continued, "What I'm offering is… simple. We treat you as if you were guild-affiliated. We'll protect you. Share dungeon research. Promote your content. Provide logistics and funding. If anyone tries to take you down, we'll treat them as our enemies."

Even Diaz, sitting quietly at the edge of the table, couldn't believe what he was hearing.

An entire guild was ready to back Kaiden and his ragtag party of misfits.

And even with that… none of the Sinners looked satisfied.