SSS Talent: From Tra Chapter 530: An Important Meeting [I]

Chapter 530: Chapter 530: An Important eting [I]

Trafalgar did not wait long after sitting down.

"I assu Caelum’s ssage reached you," he said, his voice even as he rested one arm against the chair.

Darian inclined his head from across the table. "It did. To be completely honest, I didn’t expect you to co this soon. I thought our eting would happen later."

"In that, I agree," Trafalgar replied. "I also didn’t think we would et again so quickly." His tone stayed calm, but only for a mont. "Not unless your ssenger decided to force the timing."

Darian understood imdiately what he ant.

A slight tension passed through his shoulders. "Yes... I hadn’t intended to do it that way at first. But it was the fastest way to get a ssage directly into your hands. I believed it was sothing I had to do."

Trafalgar’s expression did not change, yet the air in the room shifted all the sa.

"Don’t do it again."

The words were not loud. But a chill ran through Darian so cleanly that even he noticed it. His fur stirred faintly along the back of his neck, not from cold, but from instinct. Trafalgar had changed his tone in an instant. A colder edge than before, and sohow that carried more weight.

"There were too many eyes in that place," Trafalgar continued. "You know what my na ans now, and you know what kind of attention follows

because of it. I have people watching

at all tis. Sending soone to approach

so directly in public was foolish."

He paused, not long, just enough to let the word settle.

"And I was with a friend. He saw everything. You were fortunate that he is soone I trust, and soone who knows how to keep quiet."

Darian held the silence for a breath before bowing his head slightly.

"You’re right," he said. "That was my mistake. A serious one." His voice had lowered, stripped of any desire to defend himself. "It won’t happen again. I handled it carelessly and put our connection at risk."

Trafalgar studied him for a brief mont and gave a small nod.

"I’m glad you understand." He leaned back a little more into the chair. "For now, it’s fine. No one seed to notice anything important. There was too much noise, too many drunk students, and too many people in general. You were lucky."

Then sound broke the room.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Darian moved at once.

"Leave it at the door," he said sharply. "Do not co in."

The maid outside clearly startled at the sudden force in his voice. Even through the wood, the hesitation could be felt before her answer ca in a hurried murmur. Darian waited until the tray had been set down, crossed the room himself, and opened the door only enough to retrieve it. He shut it again imdiately.

He did not want it known that Trafalgar was here.

That much was obvious.

By the ti he returned to the table, he was carrying a tray with tea, fruit, and several smaller dishes ant for a longer conversation rather than a formal al.

Trafalgar watched him place it down in the center.

"It seems only the guide knows I’m here," he said. "And whoever else you’re keeping this hidden from. Is he reliable?"

Darian began setting the items down with steady hands. "Please, help yourself."

Trafalgar did not move first. He rely glanced once at Caelum.

Caelum stepped forward at once, as if no permission had even been necessary, and poured the tea for him with perfect control. The scent that rose from it was herbal, slightly bitter, not unpleasant. Beside it he placed a small portion of fruit and sothing light to eat.

Darian resud speaking while Trafalgar took the first sip.

"Yes," Darian said. "He is reliable. He may have acted as a driver today, but that is only one of the roles he fills when I need him to. In truth, he is my right hand." His voice remained asured. "One of the strongest soldiers we still have at our disposal. One of the few who knows my secrets."

Trafalgar lowered the cup slightly.

"As for your other question," Darian continued, "none of my siblings know you are here. Neither do my dead father’s wives."

"I see." Trafalgar let that sit for a mont before asking, "Does he know what I did to your brother?"

Darian did not flinch.

"Yes," he said. "I told him that as well. His response was that I made the correct choice."

That answer drew no visible reaction from Trafalgar, though it pleased him more than he showed.

Darian exhaled softly and folded his hands in front of him.

"I imagine you want to know why I chose to do sothing as reckless as sending soone directly to you."

"It would be good to know, yes." Trafalgar took another slow drink before setting the cup down. "I had plans I needed to delay because of this. Don’t misunderstand . Whatever this is, I already judged it more important than those plans. But that doesn’t an I’m not curious."

Darian gave a slight nod.

"The first reason," he said, "is that a conflict of interest has begun to appear between the two families currently controlling what remains of House Thal’zar. House Morgain and House Sylvanel."

The room grew quieter after that.

No one interrupted.

Trafalgar stayed still, though his attention sharpened fully now.

Darian continued.

"And the second..." He paused there, only briefly, but enough for the weight of it to form before the words arrived. "I don’t know whether this will interest you or not. I also don’t know whether you would even want to involve yourself with it." His expression turned more serious. "But our relationship is what it is, and because of that, I believe I should inform you."

He leaned forward just slightly.

"It concerns the intelligent void creature."

That alone would have been enough.

It was not all he had.

Darian held Trafalgar’s attention without wavering now, his voice dropping just enough that the room seed to tighten around it.

"I discovered where Icarus conducted his experints," he said. "If you wish, after this, I can take you there."