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Linus didn't know the full details of that mess that had gone down between the Vanguard and the Rainlords in Sair, but he knew enough to realize that he shouldn't have been surprised by Zeff's attitude here.

Daro was the one to break the tense silence. "Well... if that's the case, then there is little doubt that there must be more to Graves' objectives than we can currently see."

"Have you no ideas?" said Linus. "You have been spying on him, have you not?"

Daro gave the Linebreaker a look, then smacked his lips. "What makes you think that?"

Linus just returned a flat expression.

Kristof gave voice to Linus' thoughts. "You've been spying on both of us for years, but when Graves shows up, you suddenly give him a free pass? Please."

Daro looked between them. "I..."

The two of them just waited, ready and eager to counter whatever protestations to the contrary the man might be about to attempt.

"I... haven't spied on you that much."

Linus and Kristof shared a chuckle.

"We know you're paranoid beyond all reason," said Linus. "And we've accepted it."

"For the most part," said Kristof. "That drone watching my lady friend was a bridge too far, though."

"Hey, she was cheating on you."

"Yes, and I appreciated the information, but it was still rather creepy, no? Why was that drone outside her window in the first place?"

"Because I'd had suspicions for a while and was keeping tabs on her!"

"So you've said..."

Linus recalled the woman in question. "She was quite the looker, wasn't she?"

"She was, damn her," said Kristof.

"The level of ingratitude here is astounding," said Daro.

Zeff broke in with a question. "Do you have extra intel on Graves or not?"

Daro exhaled a breath. "I've been trying. He's very difficult to spy on, I'll have you know. The fact that he can be in multiple places at once is quite the problem. And I'm certain he's noticed some of my cameras and microphones."

"Obviously," said Kristof. "But has he noticed all of them?"

"No, but it means he's constantly on guard, because he already suspects that someone is always watching him."

"I was under the impression that cameras could see through psychic trickery," said Zeff. "Their illusions work by manipulating the mind's perceptions, but a camera has nothing to manipulate, no?"

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"At the very least," said Zeff, "I know that he is spreading himself thin. Not only has he influenced all of my kin, but he is also manipulating others across the entirety of your country. And Vantalay is no small nation. I suspect he is even affecting minds out at sea, as well."

"What exactly is his objective?" said Linus.

Zeff took a moment to chew on that question. "Having spoken to him many times now, I do not think it is any one, singular thing. He claimed that this was all temporary--and perhaps that is so--but as far as I have been able to discern, Abolish has been fully routed from these lands for some time now, and yet he still has not released my kin."

Kristof spoke next. "When I talked to him, he kept saying that the VMP was a greater threat than he'd realized. He seemed intent on wiping them out completely."

Linus recalled much the same. "That was the main goal of this mission he sent me on. Cleaning up scattered remnants."

"That cannot be all," said Daro. "The VMP may barely be functional in this region of the country, but the government in Abara is still intact. And as long as they remain so, the VMP will endure and rebuild. Graves would understand that, surely."

"If he does, then that might explain what's taking him so long," said Kristof. "Partially, at least."

"What do you mean?" said Linus.

"If one of his major objectives is to destroy the VMP completely, then he's got himself a real quagmire, because that can only be accomplished via regime change here in Vantalay. And where the Vanguard is concerned, that is quite the taboo line to cross, no matter how influential Graves is."

Ah. Having served in the Vanguard himself, Linus understood well enough, but he knew that Kristof was especially knowledgeable on that matter. It was the main reason why the man had left, after all. And Daro's reaper had also worked with them extensively, even if Daro himself had not.

Come to think of it, the Water Dragon used to be a member, too, didn't he? So he probably understood, as well.

"The Vanguard cares not a whit for such taboos any longer. If you think Graves is hesitant to cross that line, then you are a fool."

Or maybe not.

The harshness of his tone left the three of them eyeing him.

Zeff, however, merely looked unfazed and unapologetic.

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"Mm," hummed Kristof. "That's the real question, isn't it?" He looked to Zeff again. "How confident are you in your ability to protect us from his influence?"

"As long as you remain near me, I can shield you," said the Water Dragon.

"How near?" said Daro.

"...Around ten meters, currently."

"Hmm." Daro bobbed his head. "That's quite limiting. Once a fight breaks out, I can't imagine us all being able to stay that close together. I'm sure Graves would find a way to force us apart."

"Assuming he knows that the distance matters," said Kristof.

"Of course he knows," said Daro. "And even if he doesn't, it won't take him long to work it out."

Now Linus felt compelled to speak up. "Why should our distance from you need to be so small? Is this not merely soul-infused fog that you can materialize anywhere you please?"

Zeff allowed a moment to pass, perhaps considering how much he wanted to reveal. "...No, it is not."

And when he did not elaborate, a weighty silence arrived as the same question was presumably occurring to everyone at once.

Kristof was the first to voice it. "So what is it, then?"

"...That is difficult to articulate. I'm still discovering it, myself."

"That does not fill me with confidence," said Daro.

Nor did it for Linus, but he supposed that might explain why the Water Dragon had not done this earlier. While he could still feel the lingering effects of the Pale Hawk's influence over his mind, Linus' memories actually didn't feel particularly muddy, the more he thought back. Maybe a couple spots, here or there, but overall, he felt like perhaps the influence hadn't been that extensive.

As he checked his phone for the date, he indeed confirmed that he was not missing entire days or anything like that. He felt like he'd still retained full faculties and control over himself the entire time.

Yeah.

The influence had been much quieter than that, he realized. Much subtler. Adjustments in his underlying motivations, maybe. Perhaps some implanted blind spots or suppressed worries.

But it was hard to really say for sure, he supposed.

And as he thought about, he didn't know if that made Graves more or less threatening.

The others kept talking while Linus stewed in these thoughts. He was still mostly listening, of course, but it wasn't until Zeff began speaking on the nature of Graves' power that Linus' full attention returned.