Klix was trying to intimidate them.

  The aura coming off of Her was so intense that I couldn’t look at Her and I knew that even with my lower stats, I still had some protection that was built into my class.

  Yasmin Gara was the only one who was even attempting to look at the ivory Goddess and as soon as the pressure stopped and I looked at her, the toothy smile displaying her razor sharp teeth told me that she was proud of the display she’d just reinforced.

  “To recap for those who slept in…” Klix glared at me.

  “What makes him so special?” Yasmin pointed at me. “He’s just a child!”

  “He is...” Klix stalked her way over to me and ran one of her claws up the side of my cheek. “Trent VOWLER’S child. As long as the old man is injured from trying to save your city from your families, I think that he should listen in so he can report back to his father.”

  “How is your father?” Varina Jinsu spoke up before Yasmin could try to antagonize me even more. “Will he be able to join us soon?”

  Klix’s left claws scraped into my back where they couldn’t see. I tried not to let the Six see that I’d gotten her message as I looked at the golden woman. “I’m just here to observe and report, not comment on the extent of my father’s injuries.”

  The pressure on my back lessened as Klix began to move around to the head of the table. “I’m starting to think that you’re forgetting your place again…”

  All six of the leaders stiffened and even Yasmin lowered her head. I wasn’t sure what sort of demonstration the ivory Goddess had made, but it had made an impression.

  “Good…” Klix sat down in the chair at the end of the table and put Her boots up. There was a part of me that wondered if the shark-toothed Goddess was wearing dungeon gear to make a statement or if that was what She really preferred. “To recap… As far as I can tell, none of you knew what your ancestors were doing to my friend here.” She nodded towards Mive. “And the tree lover tells me that as best as she can tell, none of you is possessed, but since the city was already freed before we arrived, I can’t really be sure of that. Especially since all of you are sporting that vile seal.”

  She pulled her feet down and wove her fingers together as she leaned forward. “Out of the one-hundred ninety-one gates that popped up all over this city, one-hundred nineteen of them have been closed. All of the Tier Six gates are gone as are almost all of the Tier Zero through Two. My Scarlets are focusing on the higher Tier Fives and the remaining Adventurer teams are going into the Tier Threes and Four, while we have teams staying topside to take care of any monsters that get out and to clean up the monsters that are still in the city.”

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  Klix smiled as she looked over at me. “Harror tells me that she is close to pulling Mive out of his coma, so it won’t be long before he can take over the reclamation of his city.” She glared at the Six. “Which brings us to the present topic which was what again?”

  The predatory look in her red eyes felt like it was daring one of them to say something off topic.

  Yasmin cleared her throat. “We were discussing…”

  “You were telling us what we were going to do.” Garce Faeru interrupted the older woman. “You were telling us that because of the seals the former Six had placed on us, you can’t trust us, but that we can use our influence to help get this city back on its feet.”

  Yasmin turned to glare at the snowy man, but everyone jumped as Klix banged her fist on the table.

  “I like you!” The ivory Goddess flashed a toothy smile. “Maybe there is hope after all!” She focused on Sydney’s husband. “It’s nice to see that someone has realized how dangerous of a deal your ancestors made. And to point out just how deadly it is for the rest of the group...” She tapped her claws on the table. “How many people have died because of the Dungeon Break?”

  “Three hundred and twenty seven.” Pete Inon swallowed after he offered the information.

  “And that’s just the ones whose bodies we’ve recovered.” Klix shook her head. “The real number is probably three times that many and will likely double before the city can be purged.” She looked at Yasmin. “Would you like to discuss how to save more lives?”

  The silver woman slowly shook her head.

  “Good. Gather your families. I want anyone who has that mark in the center with you by the end of the day. This Fox should be awake by the end of the week and He can decide what to do with all of you then.” Klix waved her hand to let the two Scarlets by the door know that the Six were being dismissed. “I’ll have someone bring a statement for you to read to the citizens later today.”

  “What about my daughter?” Pete looked over at me. “Are you going to put Zel in the center with us?”

  I opened my mouth even though I had no idea what I was going to say.

  “Do you have any idea what they planned to do to her?” Ether growled as she stood up and slapped both of her hands on the table.

  Pete glanced at her, then looked back at me.

  “Don’t look at him!” Ether balled her fist and slammed it on the table. “Did. You. Know?”

  Yasmin looked like she was about to lash out at Ether, but a low growl from Klix was enough to silence whatever rebuttal the leader of the Six had. The others were all looking away, especially Remy Harlax.

  “I knew that she was supposed to serve the Six next.” He shook his head. “I didn’t know that meant that she was going to be possessed, but given how Wardy Harlax and Lecia Jinsu were heirs, I couldn’t imagine why she would be next in line, especially since Stime is supposed to be my heir, not Zel.” His blue eyes pleaded with me. “I just wanted her safe and hoped that if you took her, then they’d let her go.”

  Ether’s expression softened a little at his explanation.

  “She’s safe from them now.” Klix waved her hand. “You can leave.”

  I wasn’t sure what the look that washed over his face was, but I was hoping it was relief. As soon as they were gone, I turned to Klix. “What was that about? Why did you have me come in here just to watch you tell them…” I shrugged. “What exactly?”

  “Sit down.” Klix walked over to the other side of the table. Now it was just myself, Ether, and Kara in the room with her. “We need to talk.”

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