“Our disadvantage is not in our abilities, but in our numbers.” Ambitious Man proclaimed. “If we work together, we can fend off the clans and dominate the game instead.”
“Assuming we can work together…” Another Noblewoman chimed in with a jaded tone. She stood with her arms crossed gracefully, though her poise felt neither relaxed nor tense.
“What’s wrong? You got trust issues or something? ” Conceited Boy jabbed, though Jaded Woman did not react to the provocation in any way.
“He’s testing the others to learn about their character and tendencies.” Gilgamesh realized.
“Trust aside…” A Nobleman of another group spoke up, his tone dull and pragmatic. “How will this cooperation work in practice?”
“We’ll operate in the same area within our own individual Factions, but not compete with each other.” Ambitious Man explained.
“Then our Vassals will just attack each other.” Old Man criticized.
“We’re not going to target other Vassals. We’re going to target the Lieges.” Ambitious Man declared. “No more petty skirmishes. The winning strategy now is conquest.”
A short silence followed.
“A similar plan to my own.” Gilgamesh approved.
The stage of the game after these Factions of competing Hunters will be something more akin to wars between armies. Only, instead of slaughter, they will fight over Prestige using overarching strategies laid down by the Lieges.
And of course, the central goal would be the destruction of the rival Factions. The key to victory, then, would be numbers. The larger army wins the battle most of the time, and that fact would prove even truer in a game such as this.
Old Man grunted. “I suppose you’ve also thought of a way to tell ourselves from the other Factions, then? So that we don’t attack each other by mistake like fools.”
“There’s a simple solution for that.” Ambitious Man assured. “We simply address ourselves by codenames only we know.”
“It’s impossible to tell who actually sent a Message. Even if these codenames do not get leaked, it will be easy for someone here to impersonate anyone.” The stoic man from before critiqued.
Ambitious Man seemed to smile at the criticism. “Then we just have to Message the intended recipient directly, instead of replying to the Message.”
“...I suppose that would work.” Stoic Man acknowledged.
A steely swirl found Gilgamesh’s eyes. “It’s not that simple. If the conversation is about something that is better kept secret, people will be hesitant to confirm anything. Not to mention it exposes one for at least being involved in some conspiracy… The fact that no one is speaking up about this means they likely intend to take advantage of it themselves.”
“Hm?” Gilgamesh noticed Aristocrat Woman stare at the space in front of her for just a moment. “Is she reading a Message?”
“You said we are going to… conquer other Factions? How exactly do we divide what we gain among us?” She asked.
“Everyone keeps what they take for themselves.” Ambitious Man explained.
“Then… Is this alliance not just a simple agreement of non-conflict?” Aristocrat Woman’s gaze became more scrutinizing. “That does not seem particularly compelling.”
Ambitious Man seemed to smile back again. “There is a second clause of our alliance. If one of us is attacked, the rest must send reinforcements. We protect each other, so that we are free to devote our focus on conquest.”
Gilgamesh felt the atmosphere of the meeting growing more in favor of the proposal. “A clean response… Did Ambitious Man send her the message to move the discussion in his favor? Or…”
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Gilgamesh glanced at the Nobleman who stood behind Aristocrat Woman, who quietly peered at the others with great focus. “Is she just a ‘face’?”
“Yeah, yeah, that’s all good and everything. But there’s a problem you haven’t addressed. Is everyone here even good enough to be in this Alliance?” Conceited Boy alone challenged the flow of the meeting.
“And you are fit to be that judge?” Jaded Woman countered.
“I’m fit enough to get through the day without a crutch, at least.” Conceited Boy retorted. “What is it, cigarettes? Something stronger, maybe?”
“...what is he talking about?” Gilgamesh thought as he assessed Jaded Woman more thoroughly.
Only now, with the hint that Conceited Boy exposed, did he realize that her cross-armed pose seemed as though she would hold something in between the fingers of her right hand.
“...Is that from the habit of holding a pipe?” Gilgamesh guessed. He vaguely recalled reading that such a practice was normal among sailors and scholars alike in the commoner societies.
He had read of it, but never seen it personally. Drugs, alcohol, and all other toxins were forbidden in the Zoraster clan as it was a grave sin to taint one’s holy body with impurities. As such, that fact had completely slipped beneath his notice.
“Counthood is proof enough.” Stoic Man interjected.
“Any dumb goon can use a Dagger. I’m not going to trust my protection to idiots.” Conceited Boy shot back. He lingered comfortably in the discomfort he had caused, then he seemed to catch notice of Gilgamesh in particular.
“You’re being too quiet. Did that strike a nerve, or something? You have a Dagger, don’t you?” He accused.
[ 2,390 Prestige ]
Gilgamesh, in response, did not lose even the slightest bit of composure. “Direct your misgivings towards someone who has already opened their mouth and proven their incompetence.” As he spoke, he glanced over at Old Man.
“Who do you think you’re talking to?!” Old Man fell for the provocation immediately.
“Oh? I don’t know how you mistook what I said to be about you.” Gilgamesh feigned ignorance. “But, such a strong reaction… Maybe it is true?”
“You bastard…” Old Man grit his teeth. “You take me for some low-class hooligan?!”
“No, of course not.” Gilgamesh assured. “I apologize for accusing you of taking such action. I know it is common for the success of leaders to be the work of their underlings.”
“I’ve had enough of these insults!” Old Man bellowed, far too hostilely for his comment not to have struck its mark.
“Hey, hey. Don’t get so worked up over a joke.” Conceited Boy said. “This is a friendly meeting. Let’s all be friends, okay.”
Conceited Boy acted as though he had nothing to do with the conflict, but Gilgamesh understood the ploy beneath the surface. His Dagger accusation was a multi-layered taunt.
If Gilgamesh had shown any unease, he would have given away that he possessed a Dagger. And if he had been unable to keep a calm mind under pressure, he would have shown weakness and incompetence to the group.
But also, Conceited Boy acted superior to him, despite having only half of his Prestige. If Gilgamesh had acted in any way superior or indignant in turn, it would have exposed that he knew that fact, and thus possessed a Ring.
And beneath even that, if he had paused even a little too long, that would have also exposed his hand, as that meant he knew all of the above and needed to take time to deduce the scheme and determine how to respond to him.
In a few crude sentences, Conceited Boy had probed for crucial information that tested his prowess. But Gilgamesh had countered it perfectly. Not only had he proven that he was not such an easy target, he also exposed someone else who was.
Gilgamesh had proven competency, which was why Conceited Boy interjected into the rising tension to use as a cover to stop pursuing his initial Dagger accusation.
To his further credit, Gilgamesh could not tell what Conceited Boy held either. And the Noble Boy was at least as perfectly aware of all the layers of deception and underlying meanings as himself. Not all were equal, but this gathering contained some truly capable people.
Ambitious Man patiently assessed the atmosphere of the meeting in silence, and chose an ideal time to speak again. “If there are no other objections… Then I propose we form this alliance and begin immediately.”
“Certainly a better idea than listening to this rambling.” Aristocrat Woman spoke first. “I agree.”
“Agreed.” Stoic Man said bluntly.
“Same.” Conceited Boy chimed in next.
“Agreed.” Jaded Woman voiced her neutral approval.
Old Man seemed to clench his jaw. “Agreed…”
Gilgamesh was last, having intentionally waited till the end to see how the others would act without his influence. He had only come here to assess the opportunity that fell into his hands, and he found it to be a fertile soil for his ambitions. Ambitions he would grow at the expense of both the outside Lieges unaware of their encroaching presence, and the ones of the Alliance before him now.
Smolderings of an eager smile flickered beneath his mask. “Agreed.”
[ Some gods eagerly await your schemes. ]
How do you feel about Slay Hero Gilgamesh so far?
