"I realise this may be very insensitive but seeing as you're moving on from this experience yourself, I might as well speak up," Skullius said while scratching the back of his head.
Thank goodness for basic mannerisms and considerations that he had learnt from the many memories he had derived through [Basic Evil Sanction].
At least he wouldn't be needlessly tactless when dealing with people.
"With your father currently out of commission, this may seem like an... underhanded or suspicious move on my part but that isn't exactly the case. I... want to invest in the Bryne Family."
...?
Stylla expressed her confusion with a slight shift of her head and the narrowing of her eyes.
"What do you mean by invest?" she asked.
"You're sending away your... workers, because you're afraid they may be exploited should another Family try to claim your estate, right? It's clear that the Family no longer has the means to defend itself properly. Resources and even appeal... it's lost," Skullius expressed.
Stylla nodded silently.
"My point is, we can stop using each other like before and cooperate fully in building a stronger image of the Family. After seeing your entire estate earlier, I couldn't help but get the feeling that this wasn't what the Bryne Family compounds looked like in their prime."
The red head grit her teeth at these words, a hurting grimace showing on her face.
"You realised, huh?" she said.
It was true.
Stylla's Family dated back thousands of years ago to days when there were multiple Incandescent Stage experts within the Family, all with the ability to utilise the granted powers of the Harmonic Ember to their fullest in terrifying individual techniques.
There were also lots of people in the Family who helped create multiple estates around their territory, but as the years went on, the power than ran in the blood of the Brynes declined and as a result, longer lives couldn't be reached.
At some point, all blood would be diluted.
Ultimately, the infrastructure, the wealth and repute of the Bryne Family dwindled to this, the Family falling off to the level of a common Family.
This was another thing that bit at Stylla.
"Yes. We have been using each other and I kept sufficient distance from you. But that's because of your curse. Aren't you and Silrat the ones who told me to be less... interactive and helpful?" Stylla asked.
"Yes. That was the case. But things are different now," Skullius proclaimed with a genuine smile. "I no longer have the curse. Since it only happened last night, I couldn't tell you even when we spoke because of... mostly excitement, I guess? Bottom line is, you don't have to die when you help me anymore."
That was way too casual.
Stylla didn't know whether to believe this or not and Skullius could tell from her face.
"Trust me. I wouldn't cause you harm for no reason. We are in the same boat."
Stylla's expression softened a little but seasonings of doubt were blatantly exposed on it.
"Alright. If that's the case then what do you propose?"
Skullius sighed in relief.
That was good enough belief to work with.
"First, I have to ask. Do you still intend to rely on the Premium Age Royale to secure the future of the Bryne Family?" he asked.
"I intend to. Aside from doing my part to keep the Family standing till then, I do."
"Don't," Skullius said with a stern look.
Ed who was listening in the whole time couldn't understand what the heck these two were talking about.
What was this about dying after helping this man?
What was this about these two using each other...?
Someone explain!
The red head frowned as she heard Skullius' response.
"What do you mean 'don't'?" she asked.
The Hybrid Luman scratched the back of his head again.
"Well... Silrat and I had decided to keep this to ourselves until we saw the end result but since I'm trying to give a convincing argument here...<Sigh>."
"The Premium Age Royale isn't some fantasy tournament to give benefit to the winners. It's also not just the EverSword House's way of increasing their power, as many people think. At least I don't think that's the entire goal."
"What brought you to that conclusion?" Stylla was genuinely curious.
"Back in Inhone City, we captured a man. An Evenfall cultist. When that attack that wrecked the city happened, this cultist escaped and was never seen again... until the Premium Age Royale began."
Stylla furrowed her brows deeper, anticipating the revelation.
"The Game Master.... He's that Evenfall cultist. Name's Guissepo."
...!
Stylla reeled back in shock.
Ed while not quite following got the gist.
He wasn't a witness in the Premium Age Royale but finding out that someone involved in the Royale was an Evenfall cultist...
Wait! Was this even true?
"Are you sure?" Stylla asked as her face turned pale.
"I'm doubly sure. It's him. He remembers me too. During my fight with that arrogant sockethole Kurtish, I could tell when he glanced at me," Skullius explained.
Stylla held up her forehead as many thoughts raced through her mind.
If that was true...?
"To make matters worse, I recall that someone came to rescue this man when we had defeated him. A man from the Green Neolists. So...we assumed that these two groups are working together."
Dear Quintess...!
How was everything flipping on its head so casually?!
Given the fact that Skullius wouldn't do anything to sabotage or plant false information since no one who had received the Control Seal could refuse to participate, Stylla had to assume that at the very least, there was more to the Royale indeed.
Something insidious.
The Hybrid Luman couldn't afford to let Stylla and Ed take their time to digest this, especially Stylla who looked particularly beaten down by this news.
Her hopes were crushed in this one reveal!
"One way or another, this means even if I win, we may not be looking towards a nice ending. That's why, I, with my connection through the Guilds Association, can raise both reputation and coin by completing exclusive missions. Families and mercenaries don't usually mix but I can pull it off in a convincing way. With Silrat's help that is. Slowly, with the funding and reputation I earn, we can protect the estate and build up the Bryne Family back up."
Understandably, this wasn't much of a finished plan.
As mentioned before, this was improvisation.
A base plan.
"As for you, I know you haven't given up. You're pretty strong on your own and there's no reason to lay low and wait. In as much as you want to discover yourself and all that... you can't afford to let everything leave you behind while you're lost in thought."
The way Skullius' tongue churned out word after word amazed even him.
It was... vaguely familiar.
Outside bullshitting, he was a pretty good smooth talker and his words reached Stylla, producing a reaction from her.
Ed agreed with Skullius' words. Perhaps not his plans yet as he barely knew him but he admired the man giving Stylla a motivational pep talk that fed her reality.
Things wouldn't stop moving just because she had take time to think everything through.
Stylla herself understood that.
She remained silent for a while before speaking.
"You're right. I'm even sure your way has a great likelihood to work and we can genuinely help each other out. However, I still need to figure myself out," Stylla raised her head and looked into Skullius' eyes. "I tried to emulate what my father did and I failed miserably. I wasn't ready and some of my choices led to this. Give me some time to think about it. If I'm going to agree, I'd rather do it with a clear head and a defined mind-set. I won't take too long."
The red head gave Skullius a sweet smile and he nodded as he rose from his seat.
"I have to go on ahead to Genhuis to settle a few things. Just in case, my Ap-, my friend will stay with you and accompany you on your way tomorrow," he said.
"Thank you," Ed rose and gave a short bow to Skullius. "You've been too big of a help already."
The Hybrid Luman nodded, grateful for the respect. Even though he was part of the Family, intervening wasn't a mandate really.
This is what Ed was thanking him for.
Skullius then exited the room and the building.
In the night sky, Red Rage was flying around, keeping watch when he felt Skullius' presence. He then flew down to meet him.
"I would have been quiet. There was no need to exclude me from there, Master," he lamented.
"Your appearance is too flashy. It would distract everyone. By the way, how long does this state of yours last now? Wasn't it 3 minutes before?" Skullius asked curiously.
It was a strange thing to see Red Rage with his cape and voice for so long.
"Ah, of course you wouldn't know. This is my permanent armament now, Master. I have become the embodiment of Prisma Avaris, the first Pelvis Boar-Man to ever exist," Red Rage said with pride.
Skullius looked dumbly at the Apostle.
First of all, this was Red Rage's new norm? Well, good for the bro!
He could speak for all eternity without cooldowns!
Also...
That hell?!
The embodiment of Prisma Avaris?
Skullius had said he would invest some time into finding out who this character was but sadly, time eluded him back then. The same was true for the current time.
The timer had almost run out so he brushed this subject aside.
"Listen up. I want you to stay here with Stylla, just in case. We'll meet back up in the Genhuis City when... on second thoughts when you arrive, stay behind the city gates and call for me. I can't tell if your presence is too suspicious or not. That's right! I was angry about you leaving without telling me in the first place!" Skullius grew angrier the more this thought pervaded in his head.
"I knew what I was doing Master! I waited till the sun had disappeared and it's my theory that with Null Life Essence, we can avoid being detected by Divination! So I thought-!"
"Theory?!" Skullius boomed.
All that over a theory?!
[High Cosmetic Body has timed out – 00:00:00:00]
"Damn it! We'll continue this conversation later!" Skullius barked as he dashed away, his form changing when he was already half a mile from the two mansions.
Further into the distance, he became a streak of Levin that hopped high into the clouds under Red Rage' gaze.
"Ah... deep down, he's still the same angry sockethole of a Master I've always known," the Apostle said, reminiscing about old times.
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