Back at the meeting hall.
"OK, with this, I think everyone is assured of the report's accuracy and Fei's abilities," King Lecter said to the rest of the assessors. "Anything else to say, Rembrandt?" he asked Rembrandt, who was still busy massaging his swollen chin.
"...nothing, your Highness," he replied.
"Good. Now we can continue with our meeting," he said. "What we know as far as the report says is that someone that the Demon race laid their hands on creating new monster types. We don't know their base of operations yet, but I think it will be best to assume that it is somewhere further north, a place out from curious eyes," the King hypothesized, pointing to random places on the map laid down on the table.
He placed several beads to represent what he believed to be areas that are likely to be used by the demons.
"I believe that these seven areas are the one that has the potential to be used as a base for their operations," the King declared. "I want you to form yourselves into seven different groups, and to immediately set out to investigate these locations," he added.
As per the king's order, the assessors started forming into groups. In just a few minutes, six different groups were already formed.
"Those that don't have any group yet, band together and form the seventh group," the king ordered them. Eisen and the rest of the assessors who were left formed the seventh group.
"Yo, Eisen. We're on the same team!" said the jester-like person who initiated the betting during Fei and Rembrandt's mock battle. He patted Eisen on the back as he casually wraps his arms around his shoulder.
"... Vince, huh?" was Eisen's disinterested reply. The man named Vince made a sour expression as he heard Eisen's emotionless reply.
"Oh, come on man! Cheer up! Your gloominess might rub off on us if you kept on doing that. Right, Rose?" Vince said toward another assessor in their group.
The person in question, Rose, was just quietly observing the two from her spot. She was trying to not get noticed, but to her bad luck, Vince caught a glimpse of her.
"I don't give a squat for his gloominess. It's your overbearingly cheerful attitude that starts to grate on my ears," she replied, her hands placed atop her whip.
"Ohhhh, scary lady!" Vince said sarcastically, his arms still coiled around Eisen.
"Do you have a beef with me?" asked Rose, her whip now on her hands, its full extent can be seen to stretch to several meters at most.
"And what If I say that I do, huh?" was Vince's reply.
"Uhmmm ... if you two are going to fight, can I leave?"
"Shut up!"
"Silence!"
Despite their differences, the two were in perfect sync in rebutting Eisen's request.
"Stop embarrassing yourselves. You should have known better than to start petty squabbles," said a man. He is wearing what seems to be a breastplate. His huge figure made him stand out from the rest of the assessors. On his back was a large double-handed sword. His face is riddled with scars, while his facial hair surrounds his face, resembling a lion's mane.
"Ack! It's Kreig, better stop then," Vince said as he stared at the man, Kreig.
"..." Rose simply folded her whip to her hips and went back to her seat.
"You could have stopped them sooner, Eisen," he said.
"... I'll try next time," replied Eisen.
Looking at them from afar dividing themselves into groups, Fei and Sofia were left on the table. With nothing else to do, they started to munch on some of the food served on the table.
"They sure get along, huh?" Fei commented as she munched on some roasted beef on the table. Sofia looked towards them as she made herself a sandwich of sorts.
"They look well acquainted, that's for sure," replied Sofia.
The King, after seeing them do as he ordered, made his way to the duo, being the only non-assessor in the room.
"How was the food?n Was it to your liking?" he asked Fei first, then looked towards Sofia.
"It was well made. Thank you for allowing me to join you in this meeting," was Sofia's curt reply.
"Yeah! The food tastes great! Thank you my Ki-, I mean, Lecter!" Fei said as she almost forgot to address the King as he requested.
"That's great, maybe I should eat some too," the King was pleased after receiving such honest remarks from the two. He took a piece of meat from one of the plates served, before taking a small bite of it. He chewed it once, twice, before he swallowed the food.
"Sure tastes good!" he said, a smile forming on his face. If not for the fact that he is a King, Lecter would look like any other person just enjoying a tasty meal. Seeing him partake in the food with such vigor, Fei and Sofia can't help but feel like they can't lose to him. They started taking more food from the servings. In a few moments, Fei and Sofia had their plates full of different food items, but so is the King.
By this time, the assessors who grouped themselves are now starting to hold a strategy meeting of sorts for their assigned locations.
When Fei heard earlier that the King has specified seven (7) different locations as potential hideouts for the Demons involved in the creation of new monster types, she was deeply curious about the map the king used. There is no available map of the Northern Province as detailed as the King has. Even the map that she owns only has so much detail that even she started adding bits of newly-explored areas into it.
"Say, Lecter, is there a chance that I can have a copy of that map?" Fei pointed towards the map. "For research purposes only, of course. I won't sell it," she added. the last bit, perhaps trying not to make herself looked desperate.
"Of course," was the King's quick reply. He gestured for one of the servants to fetch a copy of the map. The servant complied, producing another copy in her hand and giving it to Fei. Fei accepted the document, careful not to wrinkle it as if it were the most valuable treasure in the world. Different people have different views on values. Fei's just happened to be on the more peculiar side.
"Thank you, Lecter!" she said, the brightest smile now plastered across her face.
Perhaps after seeing her blissful expression, or the fact that she was thankful for the small gesture that the king didn't even think to be of much deal, he caught himself staring at her child-like expression.
Sofia was just eavesdropping on their earlier exchange, but even she noticed how the King seemed to become stunned when Fei thanked him. The king, noticing Sofia's stare, hurriedly faced the other way, hiding the expression on his face.
"Lecter?" Fei asked, oblivious to the predicament the king was in. "What's wrong?"
"No-nothings wrong. Ahem. Think nothing of the thought," was his reply.
"Are you sure?" Fei asked once more, leaning closer to the King as if trying to get a read on his expression. The king obviously evades her glances, careful not to show her his currently beet-red face.
Sofia finally understands what was happening, but decided to just let it continue. A little sideshow, while she is having a meal, is never a bad thing. But still, she wished Fei wasn't that oblivious when it comes to matters of the heart.
"Ahem," one of the assessors cleared his throat, warranting the King's attention. "We have finished our strategy meeting, my King," he said.
"Oh-ohhh! Good, good!"
Happy to have finally escaped the current situation, the Kin patted the assessor on the shoulders. "Good job, really good job. Honestly," he said. The man was confused but was still happy by hearing the King's remarks.
"Now that everyone has a plan, I want you to set forth for the Northern Province once all of your preparations have been made," he announced. "Report back to me as soon as you finished your missions. Remember, prioritize safety above else. Better to have nothing report than to have no one to report, am I right?" he added.
"Now, everyone, have a fill of this splendid meal before leaving,"
Everyone took a seat and started partaking in the bountiful food served in front of them. Eisen returned to his seat beside Fei, his tried expression says all that she needed to know.
"Haaaaa..." he let out a long sigh. Seeing him like that, Fei offered him some of her food.
"Here. Eat this and cheer up," she said. Eisen looked at the food she offered, and smelled it, before taking a bite.
"Thank you," he said.
Seeing his expression cleared a bit, Fei cannot help but be delighted that she has been of some help.
Like earlier, Sofia is simply eavesdropping on their exchanges. She looked towards the King, curious as to what sort of expression he is having after witnessing the exchange between Fei and Eisen. She wasn't disappointed with what she saw.
(Seriously, you should be more aware of these things, Ms. Fei) she thought as she took another drink from her cup. This trip has been nothing but fun for her.