"Let's get down to the important bits first, shall we?"
As Scylla's melodious tone reverberated within the dark hall, everyone's attention was perked up.
Lords Bleue and Rouge seemed to be the most anxious, causing them to constantly shift their gaze to Lord Noir, who ignored them each time.
The elderly man was already done sipping his tea, so he merely kept his eyes partially closed while waiting for the words that would soon be uttered.
"Before that, I have a few things to say." Rebal raised his hand, stopping Scylla before she could say any more.
Anyone would have taken offense at that, but the Lady didn't sweat it at all.
She merely shrugged and gestured for him to continue.
Rebal rose to his feet, his eyes forming a deep glare while a frown radiated all over his face.
"I would like to know why? Why would you all conspire this way and destabilize the balance of the Triumvirate, which we spent so long trying to establish?"
Rebal's voice contained nothing short of sincerity as he stared at those who used to be his allies despite being competitors.
"Over ten years ago, when the Dragons attacked and humanity banded together under one flag, our organization was formed." Rebal began, a deep sigh echoing from his lips.
"Those were chaotic times, and we thrived off that chaos. Even until recently, we have continued to remain pretty stable. We generate profit, and we turn the other eye from one another's business…"
His face turned even more sour.
"Which is why I do not understand why you would do this. If we just continued the way things were, you would continue to benefit greatly from your trade. You would keep racking up wealth that is more than enough for you and your families."
There was no need to go as far as destroy the very structure that was built a decade ago.
"If no one understood this, I expected at least you to get it." Rebal turned to Lord Noir, who silently listened to all that was being said.
"You, along with the Verte House and the Blanc House, created the Obsidian Council. We started this!" Rebal banged to table a little, his gritted teeth displaying his anger.
"Every other House joined because of our influence, and even the Slave Union only came under the umbrella of the Triumvirate so they could utilize our connections, influence, and trade routes."
Rebal glanced at Scylla, who was busy playing with her beautiful hair while smiling.
"They were the leeches! Even the Mercenary Gang was a group of mere thugs and violent bandits before we brought them under our wings and offered them a seat at the table."
After knowing all of this, it burned Rebal's heart to see everyone conspiring against him and his business.
"We even took an oath not to attack each other's business, but since the Mercenary Gang didn't sign off on that—as a neutral party—you used them as the perfect weapons to destroy us."
It was all so disgusting that Rebal's frown only deepened the more he spoke.
"All I want to know is why? Was it worth it? The money and resources, or the land you were offered… was it all worth all of this?"
In the end, what did it all matter?
They already had more than enough wealth anyway. The fact that they sought even more, enough to ruin the decade-long legacy of the Obsidian Council, made Rebal's blood boil.
Now that he stood before all of them, he could properly articulate his feelings.
"You all disappoint me."
Once Rebal said that, he returned to his seat and folded both arms while leaking out one final sigh.
Turning to Kara, he asked if she wanted to say anything in addition, but she shook her head.
"It's a waste of time. There's nothing that needs to be said to the likes of them."
That was all she responded with.
Rebal nodded in agreement. He already knew the uselessness of his actions, but those words would have eaten him from the inside out if he said nothing
Now that it was all out of the way, he could finally sit back and watch how things played out.
*******
An unwelcome decorum followed Rebal's conclusion.
No one spoke, and it felt like they all had stiff joints since they hardly moved either. They simply waited for someone to address what had just been said.
Then—
"Those are some interesting things you've said." Scylla remarked, before turning to her left. "Is there anything you'd like to give as a response, Fitz?"
The man she addressed as such was none other than Lord Fitzgerald Noir. The old man twitched a little the moment she addressed him so loosely, but he did nothing more than that.
In response to her question, he slightly shrugged and opened his slightly shut eyes.
"None at all. Only a fool needs to explain why they seize an opportunity that is presented to them on a silver platter." Lord Noir spoke in a calm manner.
"If you do not seize it, someone else will. There's nothing more to it than that."
With his answer being so direct and straightforward, Noir fell completely silent afterwards.
Scylla looked at Rouge and Bleue, but neither of them seemed to have anything to say about the matter. Then, she turned to Fenrir.
"What about you? Have anything to say?"
In response to that, Fenrir gave a toothy grin and looked at Rebal with a menacing glare radiating from his glowing eyes.
"Old man, your time is up. There's no need to whine about it." His mocking tone radiated all over the room.
"Just accept it like a champ."
Rebal narrowed his eyes at the obvious taunt, and a few chuckles echoed from the rest of those seated—and even a few standing.
"It is as you can see, Rebal, Kara…" Scylla turned to both of the people who sat at the furthest end of the table.
"Your time is up."