After finishing my meal in the castle, I went to visit Gio’s home.

His home was located in the eastern part of the city.

Glancing around the area, I could see many black-furred Leopardkin lollygagging.

I guess this was the area where the Shadowblades gathered.

Seras isn’t accompanying me to this place.

Gio had told me that he wanted to talk to me alone.

Walking through this area, I arrived in front of a conspicuously large house, which is probably built for him because he was the Chief of the tribe and one of the Four Warlights.

Receiving me in front of the house is Yerma, and she led me to the back of the house.

When I entered the back room, I found Gio deeply-seated in a large chair.

A candelabra on the wall dimly illuminated the room.

Guided by Yerma, I sat down on the chair.

Declining the drink Gio offered, I asked him to get straight to the point.

[————–And that’s why, I was thinking.]

Gio had just finished telling his confidential story.

[You told me about this…… Does that mean you want me to be a part of it?]

[If this works, it won’t matter which way the majority vote goes tomorrow.]

[Anybody else who wants to go with this plan?]

[If the result of the majority vote is not what I want, I’m going to ask Qir and Armia to take a look at the situation.]

In other words, he’s going to decide whether to approach them or not “based on who they voted for”.

[What about Kokoroniko-dono?]

[She’s going to side with Liese. The Dorans owe a great debt of gratitude to those Arachnes. It’s obvious which side she’ll lean to.]

I had suspected this would be the case from the way Kokoroniko had talked back in the training grounds.

[What do you think will be tomorrow’s majority decision, Gio-dono? Let’s say, what would Qir-dono vote for?]

[……I’d like to think she would be on the fighting side. I heard that her tribe was once hunted by humans when they were still in the outside world. It’s