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Hector's attention lingered on Roman for a moment. The man had just been joking, of course, as had Voreese, but there was something else there, too. Something in the aura. Hector could sense it.

Now wasn't the time to delve into it, though. Now was the time to focus on the task at hand.

He considered asking Roman if he'd seen anything during his scouting just now, but he decided against it, figuring the man would bring it up on his own, if so.

Instead, Hector concentrated on what the Scarf was telling him about the southwesterly direction, where this Cathedral District was supposed to be. It hadn't escaped his notice that the crowd of walking people were all headed that way, as well.

And now his mind was working through the scenario again. If the Cathedral District was where all these senators were, then that probably also meant that it was one of the safer places to be in the city, right now. So if all these manipulated or 'hypnotized' people were being made to head there, too, then...

Yeah.

This was looking more and more like the work of some Vanguardian psychic. Or an entire team of psychics, probably. This seemed like a bit much for just one person to be managing.

Or if not the Vanguard, then perhaps someone working for the Intarian government directly. Someone that--at least theoretically--was trying to keep all these hapless people safe.

It did seem a little strange that this psychic influence wasn't affecting anyone in his own group, though. Like, not even a little bit? Hector might've expected to at least be able to feel some sort of pressure on one of his thought processes, like he'd felt during that first encounter with Hanton.

Was his aura just protecting them all too well, now? Hmm. But if that were the case, then why weren't any of the Intarian civilians snapping out of it when Hector got close to them?

Maybe it was because he'd never actually tried? He was still learning about how auras worked, after all. Perhaps he had to consciously extend his protective instincts toward someone in order for them to gain that kind of benefit from it.

In which case... this might be a good opportunity to test that out.

Agh. He felt a little bad, though. All these people weren't supposed to be test subjects. But they also weren't supposed to be abandoning their vehicles and walking down the middle of the road, either.

Which brought up other questions to Hector's mind, actually.

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"Alright," said Hector. "I'll go see if I can find one of them. Thank you for your help, Your Highness."

<"You are very welcome.">

"In the meantime, um... I'd just like you to know, in case you're feeling worried or scared and just hiding it from me... I want you to know that everything's going to be okay, sir."

<"Heh. I appreciate that.">

"Because if someone is listening in on our conversation right now, then I'm sure they realize that if anything happens to you or Vito... there will be hell to pay."

<"Ah...">

"I'll call you again soon, Your Highness."

<"Very well. I will be anticipating it.">

He hung up.

A brief silence fell over the group as everyone seemed to still be processing everything they'd just heard.

Unsurprisingly, Voreese was the first to speak up. 'So we're just swingin' our dicks around like it's nobody's business, eh?'

Hector wasn't sure how to respond to that.

Roman helped him out. "Uniquely put, as always, Voreese."

'You do realize that you basically just threatened the same mysterious freaks who are probably responsible for this whole fucked up situation out here, don't you?'

Ah. Hector allowed the moment to linger as he eyed everyone again. "...Yeah."

After another beat, Voreese bobbed her skull. 'Cool, just checking.'

Nadim Saqqaf, who'd remained mostly quiet during their whole trip thus far, decided to speak up. "Senators Jacobson, Leoric and Morris," he said. "All prominent members of the Grand National Republic Party. If you are to meet with one of them so soon, then I would advise additional caution, Lord Goffe. Even if the meeting itself goes well and they are entirely amicable towards us, it could still cause problems for you later."

"Oh yeah," said Roman with an air of realization. "The Moons and the Grands. The Moons'll be pissed if you show too much favorability to the Grands--and vice versa. If we end up needing to deal with the Moons at some point, then that could become quite the nuisance."

Shit.

Nadim's armored gaze turned to Roman now. "Astutely put. Do you consider yourself well-versed in Intarian politics, Mr. Fullister?"

"Oh, I don't know about that. I just try to pay attention, is all. I'm more than happy to defer to your counsel, sir. Hector actually selected you for this mission, after all. I'm only here because he's too nice to refuse me."

'Yeah, he's like a rash that Hector can't get rid of.'

"What does that make you, then? The bacteria that causes the rash?"

'The soothing balm that makes the rash tolerable.'

That pulled a laugh out of Roman and left him shaking his head.

Today's page at 6 pm

Want a few more hours with it. Sorry to wait. Thanks, everybody.