Post by Emperor Ticoga on Dec 13, 2023 19:23:43 GMT -5
At Sitri's agreement to Ticoga's deal to become an assassin on his behalf, the Arcosian Emperor nods. To an outsider after this, the entire situation may even have the appearance of someone trying to sell their skills by going through all this trouble to fight with the Emperor personally. Ticoga blinks curiously as parchment simply came into existence. Ticoga steps forward to read its contents. Short, and to the point. As Sitri speaks, Ticoga notices a detail about the contract that set off very familiar red flags.
"I see. It is good that you choose not to use falsities in these kinds of matters - but I would be remiss if I were to sign this blindly." Ticoga says, his tone even. His red eyes glint in the light as he turns his gaze from the contract and on to Sitri. "I believe the phrase is, the Devil is in the details. Contracts are binding agreements, as you well know. And it is exceedingly important to understand what you are reading before you agree to it."
Ticoga regards Sitri coolly.
"In this case, this wording almost entirely protects you. The keyword here, is knowingly. Any act I take in preparation for the possibility that you could end our agreement could be perceived as a knowing violation of the agreement. And the other side of this - is that you don't know how many planets, or which planets throughout the universe are indeed part of the Empire." Ticoga says shrewdly. "This allows you flexible movement - so long as you don't ask if a world is mine, you could not knowingly aggress Imperial worlds, and therefore not be in violation of the contract. In turn, if I were to retaliate for worlds of mine that you DID attack, I would be in violation."
Ticoga tilts his head slightly to the right.
"The Devil is in the details." he repeats. "However, there is a very simple workaround to ensure you never knowingly aggress an Imperial world - you would accept a list of planets by name, description, and galactic coordinates. With a device that constantly updates this information in real time, there is no possibility of you accidentally attacking Imperial territory."
Sitri's tactic was about as old as the book of political tactics could be. Being vague in an agreement was a way to gain significant advantage over the other party you enter into a deal with. The Empire had made thousands of such contracts over the centuries. And it seldom ever ended well for the party that signed into it blindly or ignorantly. So, either Sitri thought Ticoga was both stupid and desperate, or he hoped Ticoga was stupid and desperate.
"Would you accept that information?" he asks. The question was a loaded one - if Sitri denied the information, it would expose his intentions behind being vague. And that would inform Ticoga exactly on how meaningful the killer's words had.
"I see. It is good that you choose not to use falsities in these kinds of matters - but I would be remiss if I were to sign this blindly." Ticoga says, his tone even. His red eyes glint in the light as he turns his gaze from the contract and on to Sitri. "I believe the phrase is, the Devil is in the details. Contracts are binding agreements, as you well know. And it is exceedingly important to understand what you are reading before you agree to it."
Ticoga regards Sitri coolly.
"In this case, this wording almost entirely protects you. The keyword here, is knowingly. Any act I take in preparation for the possibility that you could end our agreement could be perceived as a knowing violation of the agreement. And the other side of this - is that you don't know how many planets, or which planets throughout the universe are indeed part of the Empire." Ticoga says shrewdly. "This allows you flexible movement - so long as you don't ask if a world is mine, you could not knowingly aggress Imperial worlds, and therefore not be in violation of the contract. In turn, if I were to retaliate for worlds of mine that you DID attack, I would be in violation."
Ticoga tilts his head slightly to the right.
"The Devil is in the details." he repeats. "However, there is a very simple workaround to ensure you never knowingly aggress an Imperial world - you would accept a list of planets by name, description, and galactic coordinates. With a device that constantly updates this information in real time, there is no possibility of you accidentally attacking Imperial territory."
Sitri's tactic was about as old as the book of political tactics could be. Being vague in an agreement was a way to gain significant advantage over the other party you enter into a deal with. The Empire had made thousands of such contracts over the centuries. And it seldom ever ended well for the party that signed into it blindly or ignorantly. So, either Sitri thought Ticoga was both stupid and desperate, or he hoped Ticoga was stupid and desperate.
"Would you accept that information?" he asks. The question was a loaded one - if Sitri denied the information, it would expose his intentions behind being vague. And that would inform Ticoga exactly on how meaningful the killer's words had.
Ticoga takes 15% Bleed damage!
PL: 1,948,400
KP: 6/6 +2
MP: 4/6 +1
HP: 98/270% (Bleed+ [2/4])
WC: 485
Items: Capsule Carry Case (+2 to total held item slots), Sno Ruby (1), Arm Blaster (0), Battle Armor (0), Destron Flask (1), Dyno Capsule (0)
Traits: Supremacy (Inactive), Restrained Might (Inactive), Durability (1)
PL: 1,948,400
KP: 6/6 +2
MP: 4/6 +1
HP: 98/270% (Bleed+ [2/4])
WC: 485
Items: Capsule Carry Case (+2 to total held item slots), Sno Ruby (1), Arm Blaster (0), Battle Armor (0), Destron Flask (1), Dyno Capsule (0)
Traits: Supremacy (Inactive), Restrained Might (Inactive), Durability (1)