The One Luna

"Recruit us?" Jax was quite taken aback. It wasn't the statement, but the confidence behind the words spoken from this man in front of him. It felt more of a command than a question.

"You've heard correctly."

"Forgive me for my confusion, but why would we join you? What's in it for us? More importantly, what's in it for you?" Jax held his staff tighter. Not because he was getting ready for a fight, but because he felt nervous. Even Astrid and the rest felt nervous, they were surprised with how domineering the aura Luna was currently emitting.

Noticing this, Luna decided to comfort him before they assume anything bad. "Because you're either about to be swarmed by rats, or you're about to be invaded by Ferdinand's nation and then swarmed by rats."

"Rats? We've received some aggression from the surrounding mutant beasts and small groups of rats, but nothing we can't handle. Are you trying to scare us? That man Ferdinand, even with his army, we'll slaughter him when he comes to our domain." As soon as Jax said that, the trees around them grew branches that twirled around and hovered on top of them, as if they were tentacles. This was obviously a show of power, to show that as long as they were surrounded by trees, they can fend off any army.

"That's a pretty neat trick!" Maxene walked forward all of a sudden. When she did, the branches twirled towards her as she c.a.r.e.s.sed them with her hands. "But your command over them, is far too weak."

"This..." The Tarsiers had a look of disbelief on their faces. Maxene already had an advantage when it came to the elements, when she was trained personally by Alea, they found out that she was even more beloved by the elements than a High Elf. Her control over earth, flora, and her command over fauna through her taming, meant that she was in a league of her own.

"I see now." Luna patted Max on her head, to which she gave a pleased expression. "The reason why your evolution wasn't because it was sped up directly by the item in your possession. It was because that item gave you insight on wood element, which influenced every facet of your evolution. Hence why you've become intelligent enough to communicate."

Seeing as they've been found out and their trump card rendered useless, the Tarsiers became even more anxious.

"Lord Luna, what is it that you really want from us?" Even Elder Jax had finally used the title of 'Lord.'

"Like I said, I want to recruit you. That and I also want the treasure you possess."

"We can't do that! This treasure is the only reason why we've been able to defend ourselves. Please, Lord Luna, anything but that!" Jax walked forward and went down on both knees.

"Elder Jax, please don't! We'll fight him to the death!" The younger Tarsiers couldn't bear seeing their leader almost prostrate himself before a human.

"Silence!" He screamed at them. He was more aware than anyone, that if this human in front of him was as cruel as Ferdinand, they'd all be done for. Fight? He felt that they might put up a struggle for a little bit, but they'd eventually get annihilated. More importantly, the treasure was inside one of the caves they built. If they went in to retrieve it, they'd have lead themselves into a dead end anyway.

"Elder Jax, do not misunderstand. Based on the fact that the treasure you possess has attracted mutant beasts, proves that it works in a certain area, and that it's definitely not a one-time use, correct?"

"That is correct indeed. It's most effective in a 30-meter radius, and it's effect weakens beyond that, and it further weakens when it meets obstacles. It's quite surprising how the rats could detect it from such a distance. Their senses must be quite excellent." Jax replied.

"The only reason why they haven't prioritized charging over here is probably because it was already quite weak at that distance. But how come I can't sense it?" Luna looked behind him and saw that Angry Bakunawa didn't seem to be influenced either, but when he looked towards Emergency Food, he was surprised to see that the wind was ever so silently revolving around him. "I see. It seems it only works with regular mutant beasts. That's why a legendary beast like the Bakunawa, or the True Dragon within me doesn't seem particularly in tune with it."

"So it's not much use to you Lord Luna." Jax was relieved. Maybe now he won't have any d.e.s.i.r.es towards their treasure, right?

"Not to me, but to my army of Mutant Beasts, it will be. Elder Jax, if I promise you that you'll remain the caretaker of that treasure, in exchange for the benefits that come with being a citizen of the <Sovereign Nation>, will you join me?"

Elder Jax had a weary look in his eyes as he replied. "We'll just be discriminated against. Even when we helped out the humans, they still killed us."

"You judge the rest of us based on the actions of some? Some humans are evil, yes, but what about Jean, Ricardo, Alfred, and Astrid? There are many more people like them in the <Sovereign Nation>." The world was like this even before the new world. It was the same way when Muslim extremists terrorized people, all of a sudden people discriminated against even the innocent Muslims. Stereotyping was an ignorant and lazy way of thinking.

"This.." Elder Jax had a look of realization in his eyes. "I understand. Lord Luna, will my people have the same advantages and rights as the humans in your nation?"

"My nation cares not if you're Human, Beast, or Elf. Everyone will have the same opportunity."

Elder Jax stood up, his big, round eyes maintaining eye contact with Luna, as he extended his hand. "Then we will join you."

The rest of the Tarsiers looked at each other before nodding, signaling that they all agreed. It seemed that they completely trusted their Elder's decision. Elder Jax's actions earlier was proof enough that his decisions, even if it meant throwing away his pride to kneel, was for the good of all of them.

"Can you show me the treasure?" Luna asked.

"Of course, Lord Luna. Come with me." Elder Jax then walked towards the inner part of their base.

"I'm coming too, father!" Max jumped up and rode on Luna's shoulders.

Everyone, including the other Tarsiers breathed a sigh of relief. Luckily, something that could have been a bloodbath was resolved easily. They were thankful that Luna wasn't as unreasonable and cruel as that man called Ferdinand.

The Tarsiers built quite an impressive underground base. It was mostly done so they could weaken the effect of their treasure as much as they could without compromising the effect it had on them.

"There it is, Lord Luna." Elder Jax pointed towards a staff stuck on the ground, what was more peculiar was some type of amulet, or a charm. A wooden tablet that had ornate engravings around it, with a picture of a tree, surrounded by all sorts of beasts in the middle, on top of the tree, there were turquoise gems embedded that made them look like they were the fruits of the tree.

Luna walked up to it when a menu popped up in front of him.

<Congratulations, you've discovered an <AGIMAT>*. It is currently in use but has not been claimed by a <Nation>. Would you like to claim this?>