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"You want a figurehead"

"I alamorous I do not inspire You are like one of the Old Conquerors Charismatic and virtuous When they look at you, they see none of the soft decadence of our er time, none of the political poison that has saturated Luna since Lune’s fa knife, a nen for a Second Golden Age"

Like father, like son Both targeting the Sons of Ares in sie between crients It will destroy the Sons

"The Sons of Ares are only the beginning A leverage point You want to rule"

"What other ambition is there?"

"But not just Mars …"

"Just because I’m small doesn’t et it, I’ Even share"

"Perhaps you are not aware of what happened two o," I say "Stop a Gold anywhere and ask They’ll tell you what the Bellona family did to the Reaper of Mars I have no reputation The only thing I inspire is laughter"

"Cassius was shamed," the Jackal says in irritation "He was pissed on Beaten at the Institute Eht any that would contest his worth And now he’s Sovereign’s favorite new pet Did you know the old crow is ht? Lorn au Arcos and Venetia au Rein both retired this year That ht are open"

"She’d make him one of the twelve?"

"He is a piece on her board" The Jackal leans forward "But I tire of playing pawn to my elders"

"As do I Makes ether I the sceptre, you the sword"

"You won’t share It’s not in your nature"

"I do what I need to do No more No less And I need a warlord I’ll be Odysseus You be Achilles"

"Achilles dies in the end"

"Then learn froood idea" I pause at his spreading smile "With one problem You are a sociopath, Adrius You don’t only do what you need to do You hatever face you need, whatever elove How could I ever trust you? You killed Pax" I let the words hang in the air "You killed my friend, your sister’s protector"

"Pax and I had never met before All I saas an obstacle in my path Of course I knew of the Teleot his brains splattered everywhere, Father split Mustang and reater isolation than her I was his heir I had no friends, only tutors He ruined my youth And then he discarded me as he discarded you, because we lost You and I ht breaks out in the level above us A scorcher cracks Bouncers rush upward, cradling their oeapons Most of the patrons sit undisturbed

"What of your sister?" I ask hesitantly, knowing deep down that I have no other options left but this one

"Do you want to kno she fares?" he asks plainly "Who shares her bed? I can give you whatever answers you want My eyes are everywhere"