His words didn't come as a surprise to me. I had suspected from the very moment Nero laid it out that the quest was a meticulously designed trap.
Yet, hearing an Angel confirm it with such oily nonchalance made the cold embers of my rage catch fire. I wanted to crush them all—the Angels, the invading races, and the filthy, manipulative traitors even among the Gods.
"I believe my quests are my own business, not yours to offer opinions on," I said, faking a surge of petulant anger to mask my deeper calculations.
"It is just that we can mediate between you and the other races," the leader said, sensing an opening. "We might be able to help solve that little... logistical problem for you."
"Oh, how generous and kind of you," I replied. I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing; instead, I plastered a wide, mocking smile on my face.
