“What were you doing with those demons anyway?” The King asks.

“Ah, I'm just putting them to work. Since demons exist, I assume there is purpose for it,” He responds absent-mindedly before letting out a sigh. “And although they're hungrier than most, it's not like there isn't food to eat…” He says, his tone becoming deeper. The Hit List Committee wasn't a bad idea… He thinks, his mind wandering to darker possibilities.

“Ah, why do you have to tell me that, Siyu? I would have been perfectly fine not hearing that sort of thing. You know I have to get involved now, right?” The king says with a bitter shake of his head. “If it was a small group messing around, it would be fine, but this sounds like an organization; and an organization outside the kingdom has to be managed by the kingdom. I'll need a report from you, outlining the size of it and the scope of its activities.” The king says, rubbing his head at the unwanted trouble. “Siyu, you should know better,” the king admonishes.

Siyu opens his eyes wide. I'm too relaxed… He thinks with a hint of anxiety. When's the last time I felt a little danger? He thinks. Siyu missed that; the rush of life and the urge to survive.

“You'll have to go through the judgement process, which could take a while. And to be honest, I don't want to touch that even with a ten-foot pole, so you're going to have to make do with the regular process. After that, I'll need that report; then we can figure out what to do with these demons of yours. And don't go blabbing this to Commander Reyle; have some common sense, Siyu,” the king says before waving his hand. “You may go.” He says.

“Yes, your majesty,” Siyu says before standing up and walking to the door; the sound of his chains echoing in the room.

"And Siyu, a donation to the kingdom wouldn't hurt your case," the king says as he walka out of the room.

Siyu shakes his head with a bitter smile. It's always something, He thinks before closing the door.

…

…

It took three weeks to be judged innocent. Then Siyu had compiled a report of the organization, but left out Articus' name at his request.

After he handed in the report, his mind felt lighter. He no longer had to be fully responsible for it and he was alright with that.

The organization was to be restructured under the military as a hidden hand, to receive orders from only the upper echelon of the military, but would otherwise be left to manage itself.

For now, they were tasked with setting up a hidden base in the country of Paz, which was okay with Siyu. After finding Frey, he had some other business to resolve in Paz.

Siyu assumed the leader of the Blooming Flower Cult had been waiting for a while and he still hasn’t started so he urgently wanted to get it over with. He had a strong fear of that woman, and would prefer it if their business was over with; his apprehension towards her was almost enough for him to give up smoking.

...

...

Siyu takes a deep puff of his pipe and exhales a stream of smoke.

“I've arranged a ship for you and the demons. You should arrive outside the Ash forest in 3-4 days. The demons will take the Setting River further south to Paz where they will set up a base. It won't be necessary to further involve yourself with them, but they could be of use for your mission from the Blooming Flower Cult.” Articus says from across the table before waving the smoke away. “And can you put that pipe down? I'm trying to eat.” Articus says with some annoyance.

“Good. Then this should be goodbye for a while,” Siyu says as he looks at Articus with a raised eyebrow and a hint of expectation in his gaze.

Articus lets out a chuckle. “You're too naïve, Siyu. The king has put me in charge of correspondence between the kingdom and your organization. I am now officially your superior,” Articus says before bursting out into laughter.

Siyu takes another deep puff of uis pipe with some frustration at the situation. Screw it, let's see where this road leads, he thinks bitterly before breathing out another cloud of smoke.