The Corrupted Syndicate

"Oh? Are you already finished with your little game? How disappointing. I had hoped to join in, especially with how exhilarating things were becoming," commented the Viceroy.

"I would rather eat a cactus milkshake than engage in combat training with you. Are you even capable of restraint?" questioned the sassy bunny, placing his hand on his hip while lowering his blade.

"Though my heritage affords me the wealth to procure the finest instructors of the age, it is my own strength and skill that have earned me the rank I now hold. Your beloved Shadow knows this well, firsthand."

"I am far more than just pedigree—I am the true embodiment of power, and quite capable of exercising restraint when necessary, even in training," answered Zenos, gesturing to Mavislin.

The rabbit gripped his blade tightly as he raised it once more, contemplating taking the Viceroy's challenge but was quickly stopped by the dragoness.

"You won't last half a minute with how he is now. Drop the stance," commanded Mavislin, keeping the gun on her back.

Matt had no choice but to abide before crossing his arms over his chest and looking away from the smirking blonde.

"So, what brings you here? It's not lunchtime..." asked the dragoness, as she approached Zenos.

"Oh, do forgive my impatience. The events were dreadfully dull, and my thoughts wandered to that little weapon you've been eager to test. You never did strike me as one for sniping, after all," explained the Viceroy.

"And I don't think I would ever tap into that profession either. Backline fighting is something I hate since I don't feel the thrill of clashing blades with my opponent. However, it doesn't mean to say that I am not good at it, as we First Seats were trained in all types of combat."

"The only reason why I've decided to test this out was because it was a gift from Beast, the person that controls the Corrupted Syndicate. And perhaps I could put it to good use... Although, it seems to be too large of a secondary weapon to handle..." remarked Mavislin.

Zenos tilted his head to the side as he peered behind the girl as if he was trying to recall if he had encountered that weapon before. Mattheos eyed him for a moment before snapping his fingers.

"Oh, that's right! Zenos, you are known to be a collector of weaponry, right? Your main goal of defeating worthy opponents other than to feel something in that empty heart of yours is to gather weapons."

"I'm pretty sure that you can recognize Mavislin's sniper rifle..." said the bunny.

"It seems your little bunny has been aware of my habits for quite some time... I do recall encountering that weapon in combat before. I lost to it—its use of Magecraft in its attacks was something I couldn't defend against at the time."

"The greater the danger, the more powerful each shot becomes. Ah, I remember that well—how delightful it was. And should the wielder possess the skill, the shot obeys their command, moving precisely as they desire. A truly exquisite weapon," explained the Viceroy.

"The enemy that held the gun against you... Do you happen to recall who was it?" questioned the dragoness.

"My apologies, I can't say that I could. It wasn't significant to me."

An uneasy silence settled over the trio as time passed until Matt broke it by stretching out his arms and announcing he was hungry. With that, they made their way to the dining hall for lunch.

Mavislin, however, still wore a look of concern—one that did not go unnoticed by Zenos, who observed her closely as they walked.

As usual, the dining table was laden with an array of extravagant dishes, causing Matt's ears to twitch with excitement, especially at the sight of the seafood and cheese selections.

Zenos, typically one to take his seat at the far end of the table, chose instead to sit beside Mavislin this time. 

The dragoness, lost in her own thoughts, didn't seem to notice or care, simply plopping into her seat and staring at the empty plate and silverware before her.

Recognizing the tension, Matt made the wise decision to leave his boss in peace, opting for a spot at the opposite end of the long table.

"What has troubled you, my beast?" asked the Viceroy, with his tone lowered to a whisper as he went closer to the dragoness.

"It's nothing... I'm just thinking about the best way to handle Lunaris. I don't want a repeat of the situation we had with Solaris, with you nearly losing your life. That mission shouldn't have been fatal, yet..."

Mavislin halted her tongue as she slowly realized her words were getting more frantic. Her heart felt uneasy as she recalled those tense moments as she hovered over the blonde's unconscious body.