SSS Talent: From Trash to Tyrant Chapter 530: An Important Meeting [I]

After taking his seat, Trafalgar didn't have to wait much longer.

"I assume Caelum’s message reached you," he stated calmly, propping one arm on the chair.

From across the table, Darian nodded his head. "It did. To be completely honest, I didn’t expect you to come this soon. I thought our meeting would happen later."

"In that, I agree," Trafalgar responded. "I also didn’t think we would meet again so quickly." His voice held steady, but just briefly. "Not unless your messenger decided to force the timing."

Darian instantly grasped what he implied.

Tension rippled faintly across his shoulders. "Yes... I hadn’t intended to do it that way at first. But it was the fastest way to get a message directly into your hands. I believed it was something I had to do."

Trafalgar's face remained unchanged, but the room's atmosphere grew heavier nonetheless.

"Don’t do it again."

Those words weren't shouted. Yet an icy shiver cut through Darian sharply enough for him to feel it clearly. His fur prickled lightly at the back of his neck—not from any chill in the air, but raw instinct. Trafalgar's tone had flipped in a heartbeat, now laced with a frosty sharpness that hit harder than before.

"There were too many eyes in that place," Trafalgar pressed on. "You know what my name means now, and you know what kind of attention follows me because of it. I have people watching me at all times. Sending someone to approach me so directly in public was foolish."

He paused only briefly, enough for the warning to sink deep.

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

Darian let the quiet linger a moment before dipping his head slightly.

"You’re right," he admitted. "That was my mistake. A serious one." His voice dropped low, free of any urge to argue. "It won’t happen again. I handled it carelessly and put our connection at risk."

Trafalgar eyed him shortly before offering a faint nod.

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

Suddenly, a noise pierced the room's silence.

Darian sprang into action right away.

"Leave it at the door," he snapped. "Do not come in."

The maid outside jolted at the fierce edge in his tone. Even through the door, her pause hung heavy before a quick mumble responded. Darian held back until the tray sat ready, then hurried over, cracked the door just wide enough to snatch it, and sealed it shut at once.

He aimed to keep Trafalgar's presence secret.

That intent shone clear.

When he reached the table again, the tray in his grasp held tea, fresh fruit, and light dishes suited for drawn-out talk over a proper feast.

Trafalgar observed as he centered it on the table.

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

Darian arranged the items with firm hands. "Please, help yourself."

Trafalgar held back at first, casting just a single glance toward Caelum.

Caelum advanced without delay, moving as if approval wasn't required, and served the tea with flawless precision. A herbal aroma rose, faintly bitter but far from off-putting. Next to it, he set a modest serving of fruit and a simple bite.

As Trafalgar savored his initial sip, Darian picked up the conversation.

"Yes," Darian affirmed. "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 tone stayed even. "One of the strongest soldiers we still have at our disposal. One of the few who knows my secrets."

Trafalgar eased the cup down a fraction.

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

"I see." Trafalgar mulled it over briefly before inquiring, "Does he know what I did to your brother?"

Darian betrayed no twitch.

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

Trafalgar showed no outward sign, yet the reply satisfied him beyond what appeared.

Darian breathed out gently and clasped his hands ahead.

"I imagine you want to know why I chose to do something as reckless as sending someone directly to you."

"It would be good to know, yes." Trafalgar sipped slowly once more before placing the cup down. "I had to postpone some plans due to this matter. Don’t get me wrong. No matter what this involves, I’ve already deemed it more crucial than those plans. Still, that doesn’t stop my curiosity."

Darian nodded faintly.

"The first reason," he stated, "is a conflict of interest emerging between the two families now ruling over the remnants of House Thal’zar. House Morgain and House Sylvanel."

Silence deepened in the room afterward.

Nobody broke in.

Trafalgar held motionless, his focus intensifying completely at that moment.

Darian went on.

"And the second..." He hesitated briefly, just long enough for tension to build before the revelation. "I’m unsure if this will pique your interest. Nor do I know if you’d care to get involved." His face grew graver. "But given our bond, I feel obligated to tell you."

He leaned in a touch.

"It involves the intelligent void creature."

That revelation by itself would suffice.

Yet more remained unspoken.

Darian gripped Trafalgar’s full attention unwaveringly, his tone lowering so the chamber seemed to constrict around every syllable.

"I found the location of Icarus’s experiments," he revealed. "If you desire, I’ll escort you there once this ends."