Yehran waited a few seconds as an oppressive quiet settled over the room.
Then, she said slowly:
"With the Duke's help, we will have the political intrigue to truly make our cause come to fruition."
Porter, a little tense, shifted in his seat as he said:
"What if it's a trap? How did they even find us?!"
Porter's gaze flipped to the uninvited guest. He added:
"I doubt his showing up is a coincidence. He reveals himself to Reina, and a few days later, the King announces his departure, and a Duke reaches out to us?! It's absurd! Since when has such fortune existed in this world?"
Ixion, wearing the mask of Veritas, smiled at Porter's ravenous glare.
Reina cast a disturbed glance over her shoulder at Veritas.
Yehran was the first to speak up.
"While I understand your dismay and displeasure… the more apt worry is whose agenda is being pushed. That is what we'll have to fight for, even if we join with the Duke; however, you did raise an interesting point. Veritas, Reina briefed me on your… interesting antics as well as your strength."
Yehran settled in her chair and crossed her legs.
"Strong men and women don't go unnamed in this day and age unless they are dangerous or backed by someone even more dangerous. Reina said you claimed to be a general thought to have fallen in battle, but there is no such proof of your claim."
Ixion shrugged and broke his long silence.
"I was indeed a general — the only proof you need is that I draw breath in this cursed world. Is that truly not enough?"
Illium spoke quietly:
"Who's to say you're not a Royal Assassin?"
Ixion laughed as he jubilantly declared:
"Me! I say I'm not! If I were, you'd all be dead! That bunch is a fearsome and ruthless one."
Illium sneered.
"Who's to say your mission is not to watch over us?"
Ixion dipped into feigned thought and began knocking on the wooden cabinet.
"A Royal Assassin would be able to get much closer than I while remaining undetected. If I were one, then I'd be a pretty shitty one!"
Illium spoke evenly with a tempered gaze.
"You followed Reina here undetected, so you obviously possess such a skillset."
Ixion laughed lightly, then replied:
"Ixion's gaze is indeed one hard to hide from. For someone of my stature to remain unseen, I have to be more elusive than the Royal Assassins."
Illium grumbled.
"By that logic, you just claimed to be more dangerous than the Royal Assassins. Neither do your past audacious actions align with that sentiment."
Reina took a deep breath, then said:
"Veritas, you're not making it easy to trust you."
Ixion smiled.
"Everyone whom I've stabbed in the back has said the same thing. Hmm… weird coincidence."
Yehran heaved a hefty sigh, then said to Reina:
"You've brought quite the character along." Her eyes drifted to Veritas. "But that last statement was a lie."
'Oh, hoh?'
'Is she a truth seeker?'
Yehran just suggested she possessed a way to discern such a thing. Possibly an Aspect or Trait. One Ixion didn't know she held.
'No wonder she was so calm.'
Ixion chuckled, then said:
"Ah, caught me. I've only stabbed people in the front! Never the back!"
Yehran's head shrank back for a moment.
'A scary truth, huh?'
Yehran spoke slowly:
"Well, then. If that's the case, let me ask you this, Veritas… Do you intend to betray us? To stab us in our fronts?"
Ixion's eyes fell flat, and his expression stiffened. If this woman were truly one who could tell truth from lie…
Ixion spoke plainly:
"I don't care about Catatran's future; I want to work with you and aid your cause, but I simply wish to see Ixion's reign end, not reformation."
Yehran's lips contorted into a slight smirk.
"That was the truth. As long as you're going to help us dethrone the despot, I think we'll gladly accept help."
Yet not all were too happy with Veritas's motive.
Porter especially looked displeased.
Illium and Trina, too.
The others seem content to seek his strength, despite his claim.