"Ah, I see... Then shall we label these Four as 'Rulers,' perhaps? They certainly seem to exert influence, as our combined reports indicate they command others to do their bidding."
"The title of the Four Seasons Rulers should prove a fitting description for the Beast, don't you think?" quizzed Venom, rising up from his slouched position.
Mavislin smiled and nodded in agreement, earning a smirk from Venom. He stepped closer to her, his hand gently patting her head. Though her brow furrowed in mild confusion, her tail swayed contentedly, betraying her true feelings.
"Wha-"
"Ah, it's in celebration of your recent triumphs. I hear you've managed to tame that so-called Prince of Darkness and even persuaded him to join your cause. Quite the accomplishment, I must admit."
"From what I've observed, he's rather enthusiastic about joining you on these little missions of yours, despite the Northern Cartel gaining next to nothing in return."
"Still, given the chaos of recent days, I'd advise you to take a week off—rest, recover—before making your way to Titania. The situation is far too uncertain, with too many holes in the enemy's profile for us to craft a solid plan."
"And as for the First Seats, well, we'll certainly understand if you miss the meeting," assured Venom, with his hand dropping to land on her shoulder.
However, as Venom's hand moved to cup her cheek, the dragoness went rigid, her warmth vanishing in an instant. Before he could react, Mavislin's hand shot out, seizing his wrist in an iron grip, her once-content demeanor replaced with cold caution.
"Do you think I would be deterred at such a small setback? Don't play coy with me; Venom. You and I both know that there's no rest for beings like us. If we so much as stop for a moment, then we should prepare for more to perish."
Mavislin squeezed her eyes shut as she let out an angry sigh.
"I've lost two precious teams—ten of my younglings. Yours have yet to be saved. Even though they're not from my department, they're still lives within the Syndicate, and I refuse to see them wasted or handed over to a vile group like the Legion."
"However, I won't be launching an attack on Titania this week. Not for my sake—I'll be gathering more intel—but for Mattheos. I'm not heartless enough to send a child teetering on death's edge back onto the battlefield. Besides, I will be present for the meeting."
Venom blinked in surprise before sighing, allowing Mavislin to release his wrist while he held up his both hands as a mock surrender sign.
"Very well, if that's what you insist. But don't come crying to me when you collapse from sheer exhaustion. Follow this reckless path of endless labor, and you'll no doubt work yourself into an early grave."
"Not that it concerns you, I suppose—you've never seemed to care much for the value of your own life."
"As if you could understand from the backlines... Come join me in the forefront of war then talk to me about the value of a life."
The dragon man then sauntered back to his chair, plopping down before glancing at the dragoness.
"According to the reports from my team in Titania, there's been a rather disturbing uptick in drug-related crimes. In the weeks leading up to their vanishing act, they were preoccupied with researching and analyzing a new substance on the market."
"The locals, in their infinite wisdom, have charmingly dubbed it 'Euphoria,'" described Venom.
"Isn't that just ecstasy? Happy pills?"
"That was my initial assumption as well, but for reasons beyond my comprehension, the team insisted the two substances were distinct. This 'Euphoria' seemed more like a tool tied to the kidnapping trade, rather than just a means of indulgence."
"Picture this: a victim approaches a peddler, asking to see 'Paradise.' The peddler obliges, hands them the drug, and that's the last anyone ever hears of them. The only trace left behind is a discarded needle, carelessly abandoned on the floor."
"Quite the sinister little operation, wouldn't you say?"
"Yes... but it's also dumb... Why would they leave evidence behind like that? Won't the local forces use it to track them down?"
"And despite the evidence required to apprehend those peddlers, the local authorities remain utterly baffled by the situation. Those brave—or foolish—enough to confront them have met fates worse than death."
"It was through such grim lessons that we discovered the Legion's unmistakable involvement in the distribution of this 'Euphoria.'"
The dragoness's eyes darkened as she scanned the reports laid out before her. There was no mistaking it: the work bore the indisputable mark of the Legion.
Their signature method of flaunting their brutality was to leave the severed heads of their fallen foes on the battlefield, a chilling testament to their merciless nature.