Howell eyed the man on the floor, from first guess heâd wager the man was beaten pretty badly. Then again that was the typical motive operandi for most gangsters if they wanted their victims to live. Taking further steps into the lionâs den, he wagered that Ayumu wanted more to do with him than the man at his feet. That sort of thing happened a lot recently, various supernaturals wanted to talk to him and on occasion he just tended to bump into them. This situation was different, the man lounging in front of him that radiated power wasnât just a random supernatural. He had acquired access to his medicinal skills in a very roundabout way. The blackmail and violence that came with it seemed par for the course in this crowd. Kneeling he took in the manâs injuries, staring with the head noticing a spilt like right away. âYouâve met me several times over the past two decades Mr. Nakatomi. What would my status change for you? A termination of employment?â
"Oh, but it has, Mister Maxen," Ayumu replied. "You're part of the Council now. That would change things a great deal between us," they added with a tilt of their head.
"But I don't think I'd terminate your employment. I do so enjoy having the human representative doing odd jobs for me from time to time," the spirit chuckled darkly.
"Tell me though. Were you one of Artemis'?" This was really what Ayumu wanted to know. "This whole time?"
"Really?" One thing Howell could appreciate from his defacto boss was getting right to the point. None of that pomp and circumstance he was sure to come by at council. No there were no politics here because this was a monarchy ruled by their wily spirit king and when he held court you listened. Howell cared for his life so he listened when Ayumu spoke.
Careful not to injure the beaten man at his feet, he kept his eyes locked to his patient ever aware he was being watched all too closely. Unbuttoning the man's shirt he slowly began feeling around the soft tissue of his torso. His lips curled into a small smile at the prospect of someone thinking he a spy. "You believe I am that deft to trick you for all these years?...I should be amused if you actually believed that."
Stopping he looked up from his squatted position over his patient. "No not this whole time. If that were true, I'd wager you'd have me killed. I've been on forums about supernaturals more than half my life...but Artemis. That's new. Er."




















