“What I want is to establish a council that will rule Gobéliard. A council in name only already exists however it is but a puppet of the ruling families. In my vision, all of the Gobéliard families will choose a representative who will have the right to vote. The existing council will choose the same number of representatives as the total of the families. Their representatives will be chosen by Gobéliard’s citizens. This way the voting power will be equally shared between the families and the citizen.” Edward explained his idea.

“You would put the ruling families at the same level that a minor family. Even letting the populace vote.” Strobilus obfuscated.

“I feel I am already complacent enough letting you live and not seizing all of your assets.” Edward angrily retorted, losing patience. “If this deal disgusts you this much, I can still kill you, stability be damned. I’m a predator myself, I’m sure I can protect Gobéliard even if I have to make it a full-time job.”

Strobilus’s visuality deflated, his arrogance gone. “Thinking back, I guess this deal is feasible.” He paused before adding. “Though are you not afraid of Acanthio, the master of the Regalis family, and me ganging up on you? You may be able to vanquish Quintus but I doubt you would hold up against two predators at once.” Strobilus looked proud at himself having found a good argument to push the negotiations in his favor, not realizing that he should have waited first to be with Acanthio before saying such a threat out loud.

Edward gazed at him, wondering if he was in fact an idiot. “You do remember I could kill you right now? Besides, no, I’m not particularly concerned. I have a teleporting power. At two against one, sure, you could defeat me but I would still escape. I can assure you, you don’t want an enemy at the predator level in hiding, showing only when you least expect it to kill or destroy all that you hold dear.”

Strobilus was disturbed by Edward’s statement. Fighting him didn’t seem like that good an idea anymore. Although he was at the predator level, he didn’t particularly like to fight. It had been many years seen he had to kill anything on his own, most of the time he only relied on his position and on his minions to do the menial tasks. But minions at the awaken stage wouldn’t be able to stop a predator. He was confident Acanthio would beat Edward, but he was doubting he could do the same on his own. Which meant he would have to spend all of his time with Acanthio for his own safety. This wasn’t a prospect he enjoyed, Acanthio wasn’t the most agreeable man.

“So, are you in or not?” Edward pressed him. “It’s not like you will lose that much anyway. With the situation as it is, you wouldn’t be able to dictate Gobéliard laws like before. The only outcome would be endless trouble if you oppose me. And even if you somehow managed to get rid of me, the most probable result would be for your family to become a subordinary of the Regalis family.”

This hit a nerve in Strobilus. Although the major families worked together, there was always a certain level of strife, but nothing too serious since a balance was created by the three of them. Even then, the Regalis family had always acted bossy. It was only now, that it dawned on him how dire the situation was. The balance between the families was broken. With two parties, the only result would be to dominate the other or to get absorbed. And the Regalis family had a clear advantage over his family.

“Fine.” Strobilus replied begrudgingly. “I accept your deal.”

Edward smiled.

Then both Strobilus and Edward turned around simultaneously, seeing a massive aura moving rapidly in their direction. It was still outside of Edward’s sensing range, but since he had reached the awaken level, he was able to see the aura with his naked eyes. It was hard not to notice it since it was towering above the building of the city like a beacon, not unlike when Edward unleashed his aura to draw Strobilus attention.

I guess I wasn’t exactly subtle. Edward thought realizing how his aura must have been visible in the whole city for anybody able to see it.

“Acanthio is on his way. I doubt he will react positively to your deal. Honestly, if I wouldn’t end as his subordinate after you are gone, I would have worked with him to kill you.” Strobilus told him shamelessly.

With Acanthio moving closer Edward was able to sense his aura, it had an imposing quality to it. As if it was unshakable, nothing being able to oppose it. The man himself was standing ramrod straight, staring at him with piercing grey eyes and advancing with large strides. He had long black hair reaching up to his shoulder blade and a purple tunic with a golden crown on it, the symbol of the Regalis family. Unlike Strobilus he wasn’t shaken by the presence of a new predator in Gobéliard, his confidence was unwavering.

“Who are you and what are your intentions?” he asked Edward without presenting himself nor acknowledging Strobilus’s presence.

Edward sighed internally. Why do they all need to behave as if they are the center of the world?

“I am the one who is freeing Gobéliard from your arrogance and tyranny,” Edward answered pissed off by his attitude, and the stance of the major families in general.

“An enemy it is,” Acanthio replied calmly drawing out a longsword.

Strobilus heaved a sight. “Acanthio, he can teleport. You may defeat him but I doubt you will be able to kill him. I don’t want to live the rest of my time in fear wondering when he will come back to hunt me down.”

“If you are not able to defend yourself you have nobody else to blame but yourself,” Acanthio replied instantly as if it was the most natural answer.

Strobilus gritted his teeth. “Quintus is dead. This guy killed him,” he spitted out.

For the first time, it gave Acanthio a pause, but he wasn’t distraught more than that. “I see. I was expecting more from him.”

“Before you try vainly to murder me. I have a deal to propose,” Edward stated before the situation could worsen. If I can let’s avoid a fight where I could lose my life. Even if I manage to kill Acanthio I will have to stay in Gobéliard to protect the city afterward, lest it fell down to monsters. I don’t want to be stuck in Gobéliard, I want to explore the world. Freeing Gobéliard from the major family rules and setting up a fair governing system is already big enough a contribution.

“Speak,” Acanthio granted him his attention.

“Instead of a pointless struggle, I suggest putting a fair governing system in place. The rules of Gobéliard will be decided by a council constituted half from ALL of Gobéliard’s families and half from the actual council whose representant will be chosen by the citizens.” Edward explained once again, insisting on the all. “You cannot keep all of the power for yourselves, I won’t allow it. Besides runes booklets have already been spread into the city. If you insist on acting like a tyrant, I am positive that Gobéliard will rebel against you. Not overtly since they can’t beat you, but you can’t be everywhere at the same time.”

“Unacceptable deal. The weak are not worthy of governing themselves.” Acanthio replied not even realizing how wrong his thinking was.

What do you call racism towards the weak? Strongism? What bullshit. A scholar will always be more apt to manage a city than a mountain of muscles without a brain.

“If only the strong are worthy, why don’t you give up control to the forest’s monsters? Some of them are pretty strong.” Edward ridiculed.

Acanthio frowned.

“At least my deal is a better alternative than the struggle that you will encounter if you try to force your will.” Edward insisted.

“It remains to be proven. I will consider it if you are worthy,” was Acanthio’s sole response.

And that was that, Acanthio charged at Edward ready to murder him under Strobilus and Edward’s incredulous eyes.

Acanthio’s muscles surged all over his body, just like Caspian when he was fighting against the Bloodmaws. However, it wasn’t as ridiculous and pronounced as Caspian, he didn’t turn into a huge mass of muscles. Instead, his change was more refined, the muscles slender and more compact.

Acanthio’s speed increased significatively, cracks were left on the pavement at his precious position and Edward teleported away lest he got impaled by his sword.

He is fast. Not as fast as Quintus or me in an accelerated state, but definitely faster than me in my normal state.

Acanthio didn’t leave Edward any respite. He swung his sword at him from a distance not bothering to get closer and a flash of lightning left his sword. Edward swore, his teleportation was on cool down. He had barely the time to roll away. The flash of lightning flew over his head and impacted a house on its path. Pieces of plasters flew away from the impact point.

Okay, let’s avoid getting hit by that.

“Rèng khwāmrĕw,” Edward used his enhanced perception spell.

Immediately, things slow downed, which let Edward notice that Acanthio had closed the distance while he was busy avoiding his lightning. Edward dipped into his acceleration power and equipped his daggers. He parried the incoming swing of Acanthio’s sword with one and used the other to strike at Acanthio’s chest.

As he was about to hit him, he realized that more lightning was forming all along Acanthio’s body. Edward had no choice but to teleport away to avoid the counter-attack. He reappeared thirty meters away, opening the distance once more.

Acanthio’s surroundings exploded in the discharge of electricity. Absentmindedly, Edward remarked that Strobilus had left, retreating into the safety of his manor. However, he could still sense his aura, he wasn’t that far, still monitoring the fight.

The dust clouds and rubbles dissipated revealing Acanthio once more. The lightning had alleviated but was still present all over his body. In the next instant, Acanthio was on him, moving as fast as if he had teleported, right next to Edward. He wasn’t slower than Quintus and Edward in their accelerated state anymore.

The fuck!? He is using the lightning to accelerate himself.

Edward didn’t let himself be overwhelmed by the sudden increase in speed. He tapped into his power once more and exchanged a swift series of attacks with Acanthio.

He is keeping control of his movement even at such speed. Is the lightning somehow able to increase his brain’s processing capacity too?

Quintus had been arrogant, overbearing, and brutal, trying to bury his opponent in large powerful attacks. Acanthio’s arrogance was at another level. It was ingrained in him. So much that he considered it natural that others were below him. He didn’t blame them for not recognizing his superiority. For him, nothing more was to be expected from such inferior beings. He didn’t get angry or furious that Edward was able to hold on. Acanthio believed sincerely that only the strong earned the right to live. Those weaker than him were seen as nothing more than pets. You didn’t get angry with pets when they weren’t able to understand you. Either Edward was strong and deserved to be treated as an equal, in which case he should be able to stand against Acanthio, or he was weak and deserved to die for opposing him.

The exchange continued without stopping. Electricity started to stream alongside Acanthio’s blade and Edward had to use his aura on his dagger to prevent it from impacting him.

It’s the first time that I’m facing something that can fight this long against me without forcing me to flee.

Edward suddenly felt a fierce joy. Until now, either he had to flee from enemy attacks or his opponents were slain in moments. It was the first time that he could fight against someone in a lasting continuous exchange. His anger at Acanthio’s attack dissipated as he enjoyed the struggle, his aura emitting a discernable bloodlust. His attacks redouble in intensity and an unconscious smile appeared on his face behind his helmet.