Five of them seemed to reach consensus, their expressions showing they'd made their decision.
Raymond remained quiet, his face carefully neutral.
"Raymond?" Cassius asked. "You're unusually silent."
Raymond shrugged, his voice casual.
"You all make good points. Neutrality makes sense strategically."
But inside his mind, his thoughts ran differently.
'They're being naive... A commoner who can inspire this kind of loyalty, who can kill Nobles without hesitation, who challenges everything our society is built on...'
His family had always been pro-Noble, had always understood that maintaining order meant dealing with threats before they matured.
'Father needs to know about this… He needs to understand what this boy represents.'
Raymond's mind was already organizing his report, deciding which details to emphasize and which interpretations to suggest.
'That art… what happens when he decides to eat… humans?'
He wouldn't lie as he wouldn't need to.
