"No! Silly!" Leomold immediately answered as soon as he slapped his forehead. "What I am trying to tell you is that you exercise caution while at the same time figure out for yourself on how you could defeat Lady Roxina. As far as I know, each lord of the Black Parade has a unique power that other lords won't be able to go up against. Which was why the high lord had never once issued an incident where we all participated in the shikari's hunting game, until this time."
Arex was surprised to have known of that one. It never occurred to him that a battle between two lords would end up futile knowing one couldn't not go up against the other.
"I see. I get it now." Arex eventually replied as soon as things had been cleared up to him.
Leomold, on the other hand, just sighed. "Why don't we just go ahead to Lord Valkas' quarters so that we can finally get this all done?" He just suggested after taking the lead to walk first.
Arex eventually followed behind him and soon after that, Arex and Leomold reached the floor where Valkas' chamber was located. Just like from Braganza's chamber, it went the same for Valkas' as well.
A regular shikari assisted Leomold and Arex inside. However, things went completely out of hand the moment that the two of them were about to enter Valkas' room.
"My answer is no!" Valkas firmly said as though his decision was officially irrevocable. He didn't even want to make any further negotiation. "Was it only because you just wanted to keep this aberrant as your living specimen that's why you wanted to help him win from Lady Roxina?"
Leomold, who was just calm all this time, looked at Valkas with sincerity in his eyes. "We've been comrades for too long, Lord Valkas. I wonder why it seemed as though you don't still know me too well? Have I ever hidden any ulterior motives against any one of the Black Parade lords?" he asked. "What I ask of you would benefit us all and would not betray Lady Roxina. You know how beneficial for all of us to have a living specimen about Jinnxes, right, Lord Valkas?"
That swiftly rendered Valkas silent. He knew that Leomold was not lying when he said that. The genuine look on his face could attest to that and Valkas knew for himself that he made a foul mistake of insinuating something that doesn't have any basis in the first place.
"I assume that such silence meant you knew what you're saying has no proof, Lord Valkas. No worries, we won't be insisting our request any further as we have already heared your firm refusal. Apologies for any inconvenience our sudden visit may have caused you. We'll be taking our leave." Leomold eventually said as he turned around and was about to leave the chamber.
Meanwhile, Arex, who was standing by and watching everything, couldn't help but feel bad that these Valkas had treated Leomold so poorly. Although he shouldn't even be feeling any compassion for any of these lords, Arex felt it was necessary for him to speak for how Valkas had talked to Leomold earlier.
"Hey, you." Arex pointed at Valkas' direction. This immediately caused Valkas to look at Arex's direction while giving off an annoyed gaze towards Arex.
"What's your problem now, aberrant?" Valkas' temple creased as he asked Arex.
"You know sometimes, I wonder why some of you are highly respected by regular shikaris. You bore no semblance of such knowing how you look on your comrades as though they were lurking traitors into your group. If you think that way of Leomold, then, should it also be alright to believe you wanted to conspire with Roxina to betray the others? Because as far as I know, the only way to defeat the blind is if we, players, would join forces."
"I don't need your petty advice, moron. Besides, it's not like I would need your help. I could easily handle Lady Roxina on my own. If you prefer, you could just stand by and watch first thing in the morning." Valkas replied, out of annoyance over Arex.
"Oh yeah? You're sounding pretty much like that stupid Halze, huh? I wonder how far your arrogance will take you tomorrow. I could hardly wait to see you eat your own words. I hope you won't regret it, especially when you come to crawl on my feet begging me to join forces with you."
"Like hell would I even do that? I'd take my eyeballs out before that would even happen." Valkas replied after shutting his room's door close harshly before Arex.
"Why you son of a bit—"
However, before Arex could even begin to kick on the room and destroy Valkas' door, Leomold quickly pulled him off of it. "You don't want to go that far. The moment you post a threat to a lord, all of his legion of shikari's would come after you. It would spark a war, Arex." Leomold instantly cautioned Arex, before chaos could even surged out from this.
Because Arex was being so obstinate once more, Leomold immediately yanked him outside because of his behavior. As soon as the two of them were already walking down the floor where Leomold's chamber was, Leomold suddenly couldn't help but pause to say, "I have already anticipated that Lord Valkas would eventually not agree."
Arex's annoyance on Valkas suddenly came to halt. He was wondering as to why Leomold suddenly came up with that comment. "How could you say that?" Arex asked, curioused.
Along with Arex, Leomold resumed making his way downstairs. However, I seriously doubt that Lord Valkas would turn us down. Well, that is the blind was not Roxina."
"Why? Could it be that Valkas suddenly felt righteous and did not want to betray a comrade from the Black Parade just to team up with someone like me?"
Yet, Leomold just shook his head. "No, I sensed it because he did not just want to betray Roxina on his own by joining forces with you. It was widely believed that Lord Valkas harbored a long-standing, unreciprocated love for Lady Roxina. As unfortunate as it may be for us, Lords, romantic relationships with one another are strictly prohibited. The high lord established a sacred law that required us to fully commit to our duties."
"Damn, that must have been awful for that bastard." Arex reacted while ending it with a laugh.
Leomold lastly expressed his disapproval by shaking his head. "I did not need to inform you just so you could find amusement in Lord Valkas. I hope you also don't use it against him, Arex. It is best not to cross paths with a highly skilled lord like him, if I were you. You are no match for him in your current condition, even with your invincibility against his scythe."
"I know, I know. It's not like I have any plans to say what I know anyway." Arex just replied in order to assure Leomold. And Leomold just half-smiled as they finally reached his chamber.
"Alright, let's get inside. There was one last thing that needed to be done in order to get ready for tomorrow." Leomold eventually said.
Arex, understandably curious about what Leomold had said, had his temples furrowed in astonishment. "Last thing to be done? What on earth do you mean? Do you mean we still have one more person to talk to? Didn't you mention that Valkas would be the final one?"
But Leomold kept mum about what it was, instead saying, "Just follow me, and you'll know." as he motioned for Arex to follow him into the chamber.