Chapter 400: Lost Status (2) (2/2)

”Do you have something to report?” Miles took another sip of his tea.

Though his words were measured and calm, there was a hint of warning within them. He was trying to maintain a low profile. Having meetings like this might be fine since both he and James were both youths of similar age, but if they happened too frequently and without reason, others would begin to raise their guards.

James calmly faced Miles. In comparison to Fin and Thorn who had been quaking before their superiors, he was clearly a large measure better in this regard.

”My father sent me here to report that the noble council is beginning to think of more unconventional strategies to deal with the horde once and for all. If things continue like this, the Variant Invalid will only continue to regroup and attack. During these discussions, the potential of using your abilities to set up a wide range illusion field came up.”

Miles' gaze sharpened. ”Who brought this topic up?”

”There's no need to worry, Junior Governor Duke. It wasn't my father who brought this idea forward.”

”Good, good.” Miles' lip curled.

If it was one of his potential allies that brought this idea forward, there wouldn't have been much of a point in him lying low for so long. Allowing things to progress organically in this fashion was for the best.

”And Secretary Marquisette Maia's opinion?”

”She was once again absent of the council gathering.” James replied.

Miles' brow furrowed slightly. He didn't know why Maia was always disappearing like this. But, this was ultimately good for him. He didn't know how she managed to keep a rein on power while being absent so frequently, but Miles was certain she wouldn't be able to replicate this indefinitely. Eventually, she would pay a price for her absence.

”Alright, leave things as is for now, don't push too hard unnecessarily. You can go.”

James nodded and turned to leave.

”Hold on.” Miles suddenly called out.

”The matter of Conrad Siegfried.”

James froze but didn't reply, waiting for what Miles wanted to say.

If Leonel had been there, he would have immediately recognized this name. Conrad… He was the same man who almost dropped James out of a window and the very same man Aina killed with her own hands right before Leonel.

”We put a lot of effort to pull in that wastrel from the Siegfried family, but he ended up dying.” Miles said plainly. ”In the past it didn't matter much. Becoming allies with the White Angel Province's Governor Duke family might have been a plus, but not a necessity. But now, it's far more important than it once was…

”To now, the Siegfried family still doesn't know how their son died, right?” Miles asked slowly.

James shook his head.

They didn't know. To now, they probably still thought Conrad died in a Zone or beneath the claws of some Invalids.

But, it went to show how little they cared about this son. Despite knowing the Metamorphosis was coming, they didn't even stop him from playing in the National Championship game.

”You said that he was killed by that Aina girl the Simeon came to get, right?” A smile creeped up on Miles' face.

The Brazinger family wanted to abandon him, huh? Since that was the case, he'd spin a nice little web.

For such a powerful family, such a thing would hardly be enough to inconvenience them… In normal times that is. Miles knew some things many didn't due to his relationship with Simeon. He might as well use them to his advantage.

James nodded somewhat more stiffly this time and turned to leave again. This time, Miles didn't stop him.

Soon, the third wave ended and days later, the fourth began. Without a choice, the council of nobles called Miles forward.

The Junior Governor Duke took his first step toward reclaiming his lost status.