Each stab was precise. Lethal. Though sloppy and amateur in nature. Slow. Arrogant. Predictable.

Meanwhile, each parry and counter was perfect, Kazuki spent no time to waste in the pleasantries. He won't let them get easy hits in, he was to train these amateurs, after all.

"Stop gritting your teeth when you strike," Kazuki said.

Easily parrying two attacks, Kazuki turned to them. They were in the exercise hall within the twin's traditionalist suite complex. Fer-Charelota, Delia and Eliza were drinking tea off to the side of the room.

The ornate wooden floor, walls and aesthetic of the sparring room reminded Kazuki of the Imperial Palace on Lautrasia.

It was not a warm memory.

They must be trained in this. His people cared too much about tradition and ceremony. Unfortunately, honour duelling infected Trasian society. He won't allow the Jara-Jins to dishonour themselves, or die, to some upstart glory-seeking idiot. Kazuki fought with his sword sheathed.

Both flung themselves towards him from the same direction. Kazuki shook his head, twirling around and knocking both blades to the side. They both wore traditional Ryunkai Trasian robes, with contrasting, vibrant colours along the sleeves and sash.

Kazuki glanced at them for a moment, the twins wore body armour with blades - made in the traditional black steel alloy of his people. "Stop this," he demanded. "You're getting nowhere. We can continue later."

"Ah, take your time!" Eliza shouted over at them, before sipping down on her cup of tea.

Delia glanced out to Kazuki, then back at Lizzie. Kazuki watched whatever those two were doing.

"So this is the one and only Genius of Sarimba, Elizabeth Celeste-Delmara..." Delia said, with a smile. Kazuki could see it was very much a... semi-fake smile. A failed attack from Irya led to him being thrown in the way of Kantos. "I must say, it is an honour to finally meet you, I've heard many great things about you from the Marquis and even Professor Crankenhart."

"Oh, please! You flatter me." Eliza chuckled lightly, seated between the Marquis and the Senator. The Marquis was multitasking. Reading the news and watching the fight, whilst smoking a pipe.

Delia maintained a measured composure, enough politician to seem friendly. Enough of the businesswoman to keep Kazuki's ire at bay.

The twins started their attack once again, Irya speaking loudly, "Go from the side! I'll—"

Kazuki slammed the pommel of his weapon into Irya's side. Kazuki side-stepped Kantos' overconfident attack. "You have uplinks for a reason. Use them. Let us finish this."

"Whilst we have much to discuss, we have as much time as needed," Fer-Charelota said.

The Marquis wore an extravagant tunic, with white boots and a golden cloak over both shoulders, with historic patterns signalling his family's past embroidered on its edges. The Jara-Jins merely wore business suits, whilst Delia and Eliza wore dresses.

Eliza's was better.

By a small margin.

Kazuki thinks…Kazuki grumbled, parrying several sequential attacks from the twins. They pushed on the offensive, pressing each attack to coincide with a weak point in the other section.

They were learning.

Kazuki will give them that.

Kantos started, "Swordplay is a fine Trasian art... We better get good at it before it gets the better of us."

"It's just tradition!" Kazuki snapped. "You won't get yourselves in an honour duel if my grandfather demands as such."

Irya continued, "Better now than not!"

A trade of swings led Kantos to back off before Irya replaced him - keeping up the attack. But Irya had left himself wide open in a long arcing swing.

Kazuki ducked beneath a swing, side-stepping another from Kantos. He turned around, leaving his back exposed to the two. It was a level of disrespect.

They charged as Kazuki unsheathed his blade. Dropping the scabbard to the ground, he twirled around.

In a singular motion, Kazuki slashed aside their blades. His blade cut into both their hands.

It was just enough to make them drop it. "We're done here," Kazuki said. He picked up his scabbard and sheathed his Trasian black blade. They were getting nowhere. "Another hour of this won't change anything."

"But maybe ten!" Irya shouted.

Maybe, Kazuki thought.

The twins staggered back from the pain, and Irya grasped his hand. It was only superficial cuts.

Kantos nodded. This bore no fruits. He understood that, it seems. He walked over with Kazuki to the table.

Irya was different. He grunted in annoyance at the pain.

He rushed across the hall, taking the Pharm-Assist from the wall station. It was a white medical injection device, with one large green cross. Stabbing himself with it, he sent healing fluid into his hand.

Kazuki watched, rolling his eyes as Irya rushed back over, placing the device back. His wound had completely healed. Kantos grumbled at his brother's lack of discipline, sitting down beside Delia. Kazuki remained standing.

"You know, I never understood why they changed the specification to add university-level questions for the NATs." Senator Iana was speaking to Eliza.

Eliza replied, "I believe they wanted to... make it harder, I suppose? Perhaps make it so those that get into the top universities truly deserve it."

No, she's wrong. They made it harder so that those with a particular set of connections could get in easier. "But then why not make university level harder?" Delia asked. "

"Well, university is quite hard as is right now," Eliza said. Strangely, Kazuki found some difficulty interjecting into the conversation. Irya sat down beside his brother... Seeing as he is the only one stood up, Kazuki sat down, sitting beside the Marquis.

Delia looked over at Kazuki. "You seem to surround yourself with very talented, individuals, Kazuki. Eliza's nothing short of a genius!"

Kazuki gently nodded. He had Archius to thank for that. Delia was obviously referring to Eliza, but she must know some inner workings of the AGENCY. That was what Kazuki inferred.

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Looks like the two were getting along well. Maybe that was a good thing. Maybe it wasn't.

The Marquis leaned in towards Kazuki. Kazuki instinctively leaned away. "You should spar more, your little dance with Lady Antiar brought in quite a lot of revenue for the betting stations."

Kazuki replied coldly, "Gilbera. We are not circus performers. Lady Antiar and I are capable killers. Do not forget that."

Fer-Charelota continued, "Perhaps there's more to being a member of the Seven, on either side of the coin." He flicked up a coin, showing the faces of both sides. The BCA's Icarian-Star seal and the Mischief Board's Raveni-Leviathan emblem.

"And perhaps if you keep talking, I'll engrave your brains on that coin," Kazuki snarled, before turning to the rest of the people at the table. "Enough distractions. Let's get this done and dealt with."

The Marquis gave an amused chuckle at the threat, before turning to the rest. The twins sat opposite Kazuki, his confirmed political allies. Bringing in the Marquis and Delia would be… potentially game changing. "Well then, we should talk about the elephant in the room... Obadiah," Delia said, sighing. "Raise your hand if you've had some sort of altercation with that slug before."

Everyone's hands shot up.

"Oh?!" Eliza spoke up. "So it's just not Kazuki and I?"

The Marquis nodded. "You saw how he was when I spoke to him upon the Dassant's opening, he's been funding my opposition for a very long while, making it hard to pass reforms in the Senate. He says that 'things are just fine as they are'... For him, they are, but not for others."

"Four contractors and I'll sure he bribes them again," Kazuki snapped. The group placed their hands down onto the table. A drone hovered by, with a blushing expression on its screen. It beeped and blooped, before serving them all tea.

Kazuki took a sip. Tara Maraga leaves. Not the best he's had. Not shabby either. He gave the twins a respectful nod after tasting the tea. It wasn't the full tea ceremony, but enough to show his amicability… On paper.

"Now, now, let's not get violent, this isn't the frontlines of your average operation, Kazuki," said Delia. "Obadiah Slynt is very powerful, violence will only beget more violence with men like him. But he must be removed… His stranglehold on many industries must end."

Both the Marquis and Kazuki gave her a side glance. The two men knew immediately that Delia wanted to replace the vacuum of power left behind. A side glance at each other said that both were fine with it.

Kantos spoke for himself and his younger twin, "After our father's death, we tried to climb back up the ladder from nothing. We got far, but Obadiah has been a thorn in our sides for what... fourteen years?!"

"I guess we're in the same boat then," said Eliza. "If you guys can do it, I guess I can as well."

Irya smiled. "It's hard work, we came from the ashes, from nothing, but a genius like you? You'll nail it in the head!" he said. "Guess we all want to hurt Obadiah, then?"

"Hurt? I... I'm sorry, but hurting's not exactly what I'm after," Eliza said, attracting all attentions. "I'm after information that Obadiah is privy to, if he dies then I won't necessarily get what I want." She took a small sip from the tea provided by the twins.

"If he is to die, I'll ensure he parts the knowledge. Pry it from his bleeding corpse if I have to."

"Information... are you sure it's just him that's in the know for this?" asked Fer-Charelota.

Irya piped in, "Knowing Obadiah, it's probably some criminal connections some shit akin to that."

Eliza gave Kazuki a small glance, wondering if she could tell them about what they were after exactly.

Kazuki dithered. Then, nodded.

A small smile crept onto Eliza's face.

"The information I seek is regarding some connections to the P-1 Incident…"

"Ah…" Delia lowered her voice, intrigued.

The Marquis knew already. He was simply listening in. The Jara-Jins, on the other hand, didn't have much reaction. They were lucky, perhaps. Most of their family died five years before P-1.

Hence, the impact was most definitely less.

"Well, I'm sure we can get whatever information you need from Obadiah," Delia continued. "But we cannot do that if he's in a strong bargaining position. He will use anything and everything to squeeze you of all your worth."

"Obadiah forced me and Irya into a contract with him, for our tea business to stay afloat... he's slimy. We can't directly challenge him, but indirectly? We can. Not like we have the resources anyways…" Kantos placed his elbow upright on the table, holding his head whilst sighing.

"Awful fuck, I should have known he was trouble from the start..." Irya said, turning to his brother. "Sorry."

"It's alright. We're here now, and that's what matters. Obadiah cannot be trusted, no matter what if anything: that's what I want you all to take away from this," Kantos said.

"That's all well and good, it seems we all have grievances against him. First. We should solidify our partnership," said Fer-Charelota.

Everyone nodded, except Kazuki.

"I'll provide Delia and the twins with additional security," Kazuki stated. It was what he could offer, after all. "For shipping, half industry rates."

Delia smiled. "Thank you… I believe the rest of us can deal with the more nuanced portions of this deal?"

"You three will," Fer-Charelota stated. "As the Marquis and reigning Consul, I must be impartial. I cannot dither in my political duties for all citizens... Obadiah included. But I will do what I can to protect you. I believe I have already ordered Lady Antiar to protect you two?"

He looked at Eliza and Kazuki. Kazuki raised an eyebrow. Lady Antiar protecting him? What a fucking joke.

"Uh!" Eliza spoke up, choking on her tea slightly. "Yes! Quite, but… what should I do?"

The thought was wiped away, Kazuki turned to Delia. Her eyes slid to him. Whilst he doesn't trust Delia fully, he knows that Delia's experience should rub onto Eliza easily.

It uneased him though, but it was what was necessary.

Senator Iana Nimitz-Delia spoke, "Well, you'll be assisting us, you're a genius, and you bring us a new perspective, a fresh one. You are unburdened by our experience. You may be able to see the issues or problems that us, more locked individuals may not see."

The words ran with honey. It was simply a nice way of saying that she knows shit. As expected, Eliza smiled and nodded. "I hope I can be of great help to you all."

Kantos nodded. Irya chuckled. "No need to be so formal!"

The six individuals aligned their interests. This was better than expected, Kazuki thought. Delia, the politician. Gilbera, the Marquis. Kantos & Irya, the entrepreneurs.

"And long term?" Kazuki asked, breaking the level of amicability between all members.

Fer-Charelota cleared his throat. "I wish to push reforms through the Senate." He looked to Delia. "I believe we can all assist each other."

Delia murmured to herself. "I can see to it," she said. "But we should focus on the now, Obadiah is a threat we can no longer afford to ignore."

Irya and Kantos nodded. Kazuki remained still. Eliza was uneasy. The attack must still have left a mark on her.

"So? How do we defeat him?" Kazuki asked. Eliza looked at him, seemingly more cheered up now that his thoughts were more civil, less barbaric. Clearing her throat, Eliza awkwardly turned to the rest of the table.

"It seems that we all want something from Obadiah... I want information, the Jara-Jin twins and Fer-Charelota want justice, Miss Delia wishes for him to operate within a fair market... Now, what I am about to say might be... surprising? I believe that we should focus on the information first."

A gleam of selfishness shone through her pale face.

"You can get your information off him when we've cornered him," Irya said. "He'll be desperate for a reprieve, that's when you get the info from him… After that, well, the galaxy can do with one less of him."

Kazuki liked that idea, giving an approving glance to Irya.

"I... agree," said the Marquis. "Information can be weighed with entire nebulas, stars... Going for gold, as the Old Terrans said, is not the safest move. He's in a good position with the current Chancellor, Ílize, angering him will put my legislative agenda at risk."

Eliza nodded, finally understanding once the word 'safest' was brought into the mix.

That didn't mean she wasn't frustrated. Looking at her, Kazuki could see some of her frustration seep through a calm, collected face.

"Also… Delia. One more condition," Kazuki stated. Delia looked at him, intrigued. He cracked his knuckles. "You will use your connections to rebuild Narisa. Competent construction companies. Not those shabby government contractors."

Eliza smiled slightly.

Delia chuckled, glancing at Eliza, and then at Kazuki. "It will be quite expensive, but our existing deals will offset the imbalances. It shall be done," she said. "Let me guess, no questions asked?"

"No questions asked." A portion of his men are the gunrunners, from Narisa. Kazuki justified this by stating to himself to secure their loyalty. Osmond and Quinn are the foundation, but this will lock them to his cause.

A worthy investment, Kazuki thought. Though… This would somewhat rectify the injustices done to them. It felt weird, to help them. They are all outcasts.

Just like him.

No… Justice was merely another consequence.

But that, alone in itself, dusted away the cold lens of Kazuki's gold husks. That was… acceptable.

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