"Lower your weapons," a smooth, melodic voice commanded, slicing through the heavy tension like a heated knife cutting through cold grease. Guards dressed in heavy, obsidian-colored tactical armor hesitated, their fingers twitching on their triggers as their rifles remained locked directly on Leo's chest. Slowly, a woman stepped out from behind a line of perfectly manicured ornamental hedges, her heels clicking softly against the stone tiles of the lakeside terrace. Dark silk draped over her slender frame, moving with an unnatural, fluid grace that felt completely out of place in this dusty, ruined world. "It is rude to threaten a guest of such... unique talents," she murmured, offering a polite, practiced smile that didn't reach her calculating eyes. Leo kept his hand gripped tightly around the cold handle of his cosmic fishing rod, his knuckles turning stark white under the dim light. Flames from the nearby brass torches flickered wildly, casting long, distorted shadows across the private terrace of the Sovereign Coalition. Behind the elegant woman, a massive mahogany dining table stood on the manicured grass, looking completely absurd amidst the surrounding apocalyptic decay. Crystal glasses sparkled under the pale moonlight, filled with deep red wine that smelled of rich, fermented grapes and ancient wealth. Platters of roasted meats, fresh green vegetables, and steaming bread sat uncovered, releasing an aroma that made Leo's stomach twist with a painful mixture of hunger and intense disgust. "Please, sit," she said, gesturing toward an empty velvet-cushioned chair opposite her own. "My name is Sophia," she continued, her voice dripping with artificial warmth that sounded entirely rehearsed. "Lady Sophia, daughter of the Supreme Leader, if we are being formal. But between potential business partners, Sophia is just fine." Standing perfectly still, Leo assessed his options while keeping his breathing steady and controlled. At least thirty high-level guards lurked in the shadows of the garden, their heavy armor humming with active mana barriers. If he initiated a fight here, he might escape, but he would lose his only chance to learn exactly what the Coalition knew about his secrets. Stepping forward with deliberate, slow movements, he pulled out the chair and sat down, his cosmic rod leaning against his knee like a loaded weapon. "You do not look like a man who enjoys formal dinners," Sophia remarked, pouring herself a glass of wine with flawless poise. "Get to the point," Leo spat, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous quiet that caused the nearest guard to tense up. "Very well," she said, leaning back and studying him with sharp, calculating eyes that seemed to strip away his defenses. "We know what you are, Leo. We know you aren't fighting monsters in the dungeons to gain your power." Leaning forward, she rested her elbows on the polished wood, her gaze locking onto his with predatory intensity. "You fish," she whispered, her lips curling into a knowing smirk that made Leo's blood run cold. Directly out of the water, you pull attributes, rare skills, and physical stats like a common angler catching trout. Silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating, broken only by the gentle lapping of the dark, polluted lake. Leo did not deny it; his face remained an unreadable mask of hardened stone, though his heart hammered against his ribs. "It is an incredibly lucrative talent," Sophia continued, taking a delicate sip of her wine

Chapter 17: A Deal Wrapped in Silk