It was a given. In fact, he had been sure this would be how it would turn out, and it had.

Everyone was nominating themselves. Damon offered each faction a single vote, and everyone voted for themselves.

He stood up with a sigh.

"You all can't be serious, can you? We have less than half a day to cross the bridge, and you still would rather argue and fight than work together and march across that bridge as a united force."

Closing his eyes, he glanced at Abellona of Valtheron.

"I nominate Abellona of Valtheron as the leader of this alliance."

He glanced at them.

"Now she has two votes, higher than anyone here."

Emilia Highgon sighed, looking at the princess.

"I'm surprised you didn't nominate yourself for the position. The leader of this alliance can more effectively claim credit for the defeat of Amon."

She glanced at the representative of the loose faction with a thin smile.

"Isn't that why you nominated yourself? Because you want the glory of having led the group that felled this supposed avatar of calamity?"

Damon narrowed his eyes. He could see the issue now. His shadow clone, Amon, was too elusive and mysterious. While he provoked fear, he didn't have a sufficient enough reputation for these hot-blooded youths to think of him as more than just a boogeyman made from Goddess Race propaganda.

The representative of the loose faction smiled.

"So what? The reward is more than enough for us to all share. That's billions of zeni, wealth like that, and I would even face the great dragon Ashergon."

Evangeline scrunched up her face in disdain, her hand clenched.

"Then you know nothing of Ashergon. If you did, you would not even dream of facing him, just like you know nothing of Amon."

He glanced at her with a sneer.

Damon looked around.

"Then we are in agreement to honor the vote?"

"All those in favor, say aye."

Emilia Highgon glanced at Xander, nodding her head.

"If it defeats the demon threat, so be it."

She raised her hand. "Aye."

The dark elf from the Silver Glade, Velora Nyxfall, raised his hand.

"We don't have much in the way of choice, do we? I am also in favor."

"Aye."

One by one, they all reached an agreement with little time to spare.

The representative of the loose faction balled his fist, then raised his hand reluctantly.

"Aye. However, I want first crack at this Amon fella."

Damon glanced at him.

"Godspeed, friend."

Godspeed to his grave. This guy would no doubt die when faced with Amon.

Damon cleared his throat, smiling.

"Now that we have decided on the leader of our little band, it's time to talk about the important matter of tax."

There were expressions of confusion on their faces as Renata and Wendy went around passing papers to them.

Damon continued, "Based on the overall size of this group—seven thousand strong—and your total medallion count, you owe me the amount written on those documents."

Ishara Fang narrowed her eyes, looking at Damon.

"You can't be serious. We just agreed to work together, attack as one."

Damon raised his palms, stopping her.

"We? Who is we? You agreed to work together. I was merely a middleman in all this, and moreover, I work alone."

Xander sighed, knowing they were going to pay Damon one way or the other.

Velora Nyxfall narrowed his eyes.

"Why should we pay such an exorbitant sum of medallions?"

Damon turned his hand slightly, gesturing toward the bridge.

"Because I was the one who invested the most in our victory. I took the difficult job of protecting the bridge from demons and prevented its destruction. I'm sure you're aware the demons destroyed the others."

He smiled at them.

"I gave up my chance to earn medallions. Should I not be compensated for my contribution?"

Abellona crossed her arms, looking at the horizon. The combat zone was shrinking.

"Let me guess. If we don't agree, you'll destroy the bridge?"

"He's bluffing," Magnus spoke coldly.

Damon chuckled with a thin smile.

"That's the beauty of it. You can't be sure. I may or may not destroy our only path to survival and our only certainty of victory. You stand to lose too much. Do you really want to risk it?"

Velora's hands trembled, his gaze cold.

"Y... you're mad. You have to be."

Evangeline closed her eyes, knowing he absolutely would do that.

"He'll do it... but we don't have to risk it. Are we really going to call him out on his bluff or threat? We can't be sure."

Xander glared at Damon.

"Just give it to him. We can obtain more if we kill the demons. For now, we can give in to his demands."

Abellona glared at him, her personal resentment toward him flaring up.

"It doesn't matter if we give it to him now. After all, when the demon threat is over, most of us will go back to being enemies. This many people can't enter a world dungeon anyway."

Damon sneered at her coldly.

"She's right. We are all temporary allies. When Amon is vanquished, your own factions will turn on you to obtain more medallions. Who do you think the primary target is going to be?"

He pointed at his chest with a smile.

"That would be me. The guy with the halo that says 'kill me' and get a guaranteed chance to win fame and glory, or a horrible death in some Goddess-forsaken lower world."

"Hmm. Fine. We'll take you up on your offer on one more condition. We want you to share all the information you have on the demons. You have information, don't you?" Magnus asked after making his demand.

"Of course, of course. That was a given. I love my customers; I always give a bonus."

Abellona clapped her hands together to get everyone's attention.

"Very well then. I believe we can now discuss more important matters. Shall we begin the redistribution of troops and a strategy for our offensive?"

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