The Heated Argument

As Vincent was about to prepare to leave, King Thandor spoke again, his voice carrying a weight that demanded attention.

"Twenty-one of our people were killed."

Vincent froze mid-step, the words hanging in the air like a heavy cloud. He slowly turned back to face the King, his expression carefully neutral.

"What do you mean, Your Majesty?" Vincent asked, keeping his tone respectful but guarded.

King Thandor's gaze was piercing, his eyes locked onto Vincent with an intensity that was hard to ignore.

"What I mean," the King continued, "is that twenty-one of my people-trained scouts, seasoned warriors-were killed recently. They were on a mission, tasked with gathering information, and now they are dead."

"That's unfortunate. Where did you send them? And isn't 21 people a lot for a scouting mission?"

King Thandor's eyes narrowed slightly, scrutinizing Vincent's words and demeanor. "I sent them on a mission that required subtlety and precision. They were tasked with gathering intelligence on certain developments that concerned us. Twenty-one may seem like a large number, but they were divided into smaller teams, each with specific objectives."

Vincent nodded slowly, taking in the King's explanation. "I see. And they were all lost?"

"Yes," Thandor replied, his voice heavy with the weight of the loss. "All of them. Their lives were extinguished by a force we have yet to identify. The precision of the attacks suggests a level of skill and power that is... rare."

Vincent met the King's gaze steadily, his mind racing. He knew what had happened, but revealing that now could jeopardize everything. "I'm truly sorry for your loss, Your Majesty. It sounds like whoever did this knew exactly what they were doing. I can't imagine the pain of losing so many skilled warriors. I too have lost a lot of soldiers in the battle against the Demon King General Forces. It is a burden that we as leaders must bear," Vincent continued.

King Thandor's gaze remained fixed on Vincent, his expression hard to read. "Yes, the burdens of leadership are heavy, especially when those who fall are among our best. It is our duty to seek justice for them, to understand the circumstances of their deaths, and to ensure such losses are not in vain."

"That is the best course of action, to investigate who and why this happened," Vincent said. "I hope your investigation yields answers. If there's anything I or my team can do to assist, you only need to ask."

"In that case, I will ask," King Thandor's tone grew more serious. "Do you have any knowledge of, or involvement in, the deaths of my scouts?"

The question hung in the air, its weight pressing down on the room. Vincent maintained his composure, though he knew this was a critical moment. The wrong response could escalate the situation beyond repair.

Vincent met the King's gaze steadily, choosing his words carefully. "Your Majesty, I understand why you would ask that, given the circumstances. But I assure you, neither I nor my team had any involvement in the deaths of your people. We have been focused solely on fulfilling our agreement with you, and we have no interest in conflict with the elves."

King Thandor studied Vincent closely, his expression inscrutable. "I find it difficult to believe that such an incident occurred without your knowledge. The timing, the precision-these are not the actions of a random force. Whoever did this had a clear objective."

"What benefits would I gain from such an action?" Vincent asked. "We are here to build an alliance, not to destroy it. Eliminating your scouts would only sow distrust between us, which is the last thing I want."

King Thandor's eyes narrowed further as he considered Vincent's words. "True, there is little to gain from such a move if your intention is to maintain peace. However, the fact remains that my people were targeted with a level of precision that suggests a skilled and informed adversary. It's hard to ignore the possibility that someone with your resources might have been involved."

"What?!" Vincent exclaimed fumingly, though this was just an act. "You are suggesting that I would jeopardize everything we've worked for by attacking your people?" Vincent's voice carried a sharp edge, but he quickly reined it in, taking a deep breath to maintain his composure. "Your Majesty, I understand the weight of your loss, but I assure you, I would not be so foolish as to undermine our alliance."

King Thandor's gaze remained steady, his suspicion lingering. "I am not accusing you outright, Vincent Stryder. But I am a ruler who must consider all possibilities. You are a man of many resources, and your capabilities are vast. It's difficult to dismiss the idea that someone with your skill set could have orchestrated such a precise attack."

Vincent softened his expression, trying to convey sincerity. "I assure you, Your Majesty, that my resources and capabilities are dedicated to our shared goal-defeating the Demon King's forces. If I had any knowledge of who was behind the attack on your scouts, I would share it with you immediately. The last thing I want is a conflict between us."

King Thandor leaned back slightly, calming his nerves and studying Vincent with a more measured gaze.

"Okay...okay," King Thandor relented, though his eyes still held a trace of doubt. "Very well, Vincent Stryder. For now, I will take your word and assume that you had no part in this tragedy. But understand this-I will continue my investigation, and if I discover any evidence that links you or your team to this attack, our alliance will be over. There will be consequences."

Vincent nodded, maintaining his composed demeanor. "I understand, Your Majesty. You have every right to seek justice for your people. I would expect nothing less if I were in your position."

The King's gaze lingered on Vincent for a moment longer before he finally sighed, the tension in the room easing slightly. "Let us hope that we find the true culprits soon. In the meantime,

I will hold you to your word."

"You can count on it," Vincent replied.

King Thandor gave a curt nod, signaling the end of their conversation. "You may go. I will

have my guards escort you back to your convoy."

Vincent bowed slightly in respect. "Thank you, Your Majesty. We will take our leave."

Once outside, Vincent breathed a sigh of relief. It was indeed a relief.