Daimon whose eyes were finally visible for everyone after taking off the mask of the hollow suit, observed the different reactions of all the present people.
The princesses first, Mellie already knew it so she was the least surprised, nonetheless it was the first time she heard Daimon's real name.
'Mm, now that I think about it "Daimon" sounds better than "Gabriel", somehow the name fits him well', thought the Delphini princess with an amused expression on her pretty face.
Daphne's eyes were filled with curiosity, she already had questions about Daimon's identity, as she has never seen anyone being close to Mellie besides herself, but never in her wildest imaginations she expected he was from another planet, in this case as Neptune though incredibly big was just a planet at the end of the day.
The last princess had the biggest reaction, never in a million years Adam expected someone that has been "charmed" by him to be able to break free, as Daimon has seen on that Jenna, the girl from the Penddra family.
It might be due to an ability, a title or an irregular skill such as Core Synchrony, but Daimon supposed there was no way to come back once they were at that point, or that was the case until he met Jasmine.
Jasmine was indeed tricked into getting closer to Adam, but unlike Jenna, she didn't throw herself at him at the first chance, that is something Daimon can assure as Jenna practically was "filled" with Adam's aura, so it wasn't hard to tell she was more than a supporter of the light hero idiot.
But for Jasmine it was different, what he got was her trust, as a proof of that when he abandoned her, she was devastated but still strived to survive, if Jenna would have been in her place... she would have ended her life based on how obsessed she was with Adam.
It could be because Jasmine lineage, if the roots of her lineage used to go as far as to share a "oath" with the Drakolevia lineage, which is supposed to be the root of the Black Armored Shark lineage and a deity for the people of the Mermen Sea, then it can't be worse than that.
Of course the blood had diluted after so much time, but the is still a second generation descendant of two Emperors, it could be that her lineage resisted Adam's ability, system users aren't almighty that's something Daimon has always been aware of, given the correct circumstances even ants can kill a lion.
Anyway back to Jasmine, Adam didn't think she'll escape his grasp, not to mention he gave her for dead, so of course how could he not brag in front of who he thought was going to be one of his women, while Aurora haven't heard about it, Jasmine knew Adam was from another world.
And Daimon expected as much, but he always said he didn't want to take advantage of her, and he meant it, there is no such a thing as a perfect lie, everything surfaces given enough time, and his instincts told him that it was the correct thing to do.
Besides while he doesn't consider himself a good person, Daimon despises those who take advantage of the innocent decent people for selfish reasons, his father back at earth used to be like that and the sole thought of ever becoming like him made him want to puke.
Good or evil might be subjective, but decency isn't, or at least that's what he believes in, it's the principle his mother put her soul into teaching him, and that's why his hatred changed target from the whole Naktis family to just those who deserved it.
But to Daimon's surprise, what met him was the unmistakable sound of a notification ringing in his ears.
[Ding]
[The level of trust of the daughter of the Northern Sky has been updated <!>]
[Level of trust currently attained 17% Ã 30%]
[Sanctuary will be updated to the next level, remaining time 12:00 hours, please refrain from using it in the meantime]
'What just happened...', for a change something out of Daimon's expectation, happened, he came out of his daze as he felt a pair of eyes gazing at him.
Those white halos flashed in Jasmine's green pupils, before she closed her eyes falling asleep to her grandmother's surprise.
"Little Jas, are you alright?", mumbled the old woman, but after noticing she was just sleeping, she calmed down, especially because she had such a peaceful smiling expression in her sleep, that it was impossible for her to be feeling unwell.
"Sorry old Trident, this little girl is probably exhausted", said Aurora as she snapped her fingers and Jasmine disappeared, she was able to move through space like Vincent, but on way weaker targets besides herself, her limit was about the Arch rank.
Aisha of course noticed "something" changed for her son too, as she is aware Daimon wouldn't have gone out of his way to save a random girl without any relationship with him, not by putting himself in danger at least, as he had to do back then to bring Jasmine out of the encirclement of the Skelefiends when he didn't have an army of his own yet.
But she just took a sip of her cup of tea and observed the rest of the reactions, as his mother she of course is clinically making sure that no one even gets the idea of taking advantage of her beloved son after all.
Aurora wasn't too shocked, as a survivor from the previous era, she has seen a lot of things that go against common sense, so people coming from another place isn't out of her scope, not to mention she can manipulate space to a certain extent, of course there are others with a better capacity to do it, her theory is that maybe someone like that was backing Daimon, that or they found an entrance to Neptune.
But she suddenly frowned as if something made click in her mind, her gaze became serious as she slowly spoke.
"There is something twirling around in my mind, and the fact that I didn't think about it until recently is what worries me the most... kid, if you are here then there should be more like you in Neptune, is the guy who was with little Jas one of you?".
Daimon could feel the intense gaze of the old woman, probably Jasmine already told her, Adam left her to die, and that bad impression was threatening with staining his plans for an alliance right now.
'That idiot, leaving me to deal with his mess', thought Daimon before saying.
"Well, I'm pretty sure you out of all people can understand that even those who share origins, aren't necessary allies right?", he said with a cunning light in his eyes.
The old woman's eyes narrowed as she mumbled.
"So you saves Jasmine because he is your enemy... no why would you help an ally of your enemy, then why?".
Daimon chuckled in response as he said.
"Because that's what I wanted to do, if you are asking me if I have ulterior motives for Jasmine like that guy, the answer is no, I simply saw her situation and out of the two options I was presented, I choose what I felt like to do, it is as simple as that".
Needless to say, but Daimon's answer took a lot of people by surprise, Vincent, the Valas Duchess, the Black Empress and of course Aurora, were in awe for a couple of seconds, until a soft laugh broke the silence, the Black Empress hit the table with a bottle which she took out of who knows where, as she was being supervised by the white snake general.
"Well said, are you perhaps the descendant of a magic beast, there is no way a human can be like this, maybe that's why I find you so "appealing" to the eye unlike that idiot surnamed White, so what if you come from another sea, planet, galaxy or whatever, won't you join this Empress army, I can tell your potential surpasses even what that old snake told me", said Thea as she pointed at Karmandi while she drank from her bottle, judging by her slightly reddened expression, she was drunk once again.
"Sigh, lady give me that", said the white snake general as she took the bottle from Thea's hands, making her complain about her being too strict.
Karmandi gave Daimon an apologetic gaze before saying.
"There you have it, we magic beasts from the Maelstrom Sea usually only value one thing, strength, but our Empress favors honesty above everything, race, age, strength origin, all of that is nothing for her, that's what makes her different from all the other Emperor level beasts, I take pride in having good eyes and as proof of that I never got along with Ulkrear and the other general who turned out to be a traitor".
"Whatever the Mermen and Elemental Seas decide, our standing was decided a long time ago, Gabriel... no Daimon we'll be your allies!", exclaimed the recently designated snake marshal.
Daimon nodded at Karmandi, he also noticed the queen was simply smiling while she drank from her cup, her standing didn't wave too, in fact if she has learned something from observing Erin, is to recognize to some extent the emotions behind those pretty cunning smiles.
And the queen seemed to be happy, as if she had won a bet or made a huge profit from an inversion, but there was also relief and genuine happiness it was a bit strange.
The Valas Duchess also had an approbative expression as she repeatedly nodded.
"Doubting after having listened to that will be an insult to my Valas family, not to mention I owe you a big one for saving my Daph-Daph", I'll be your ally too.
The first princess bitterly smiled, listening to her mother calling her some weird nickname, but she didn't object to her decision, regardless of his reasoning, the truth is that not only the silver haired youth saved her life, but he also helped save the hostages, among them some of the girls are minor nobles that serve her Dukedom, and so she has responsibilities with them, nobles have the duty to protect their subordinates it's one of the rules her mother taught her since she was little, never turn the back on those who have trust their lives to her.
The sound of porcelain echoed through the room as the queen left her cup on the table, before she looked at the Trident Marshal.
"Uncle, I understand your worries, especially after seeing his hair color and the emblem he bears, but my decision hasn't changed... besides he has brought Mellie safe and sound from really desperate situations twice, even if he was the devil himself, I'll still side with him~", at the middle of her sentence the voice of the queen changed to that playful tone, as she gazed at her little sister.
Daimon bitterly smiled.
'Since when did I became the evil guy... wait I understand that the devil emblem is suspicious, but what does my hair have to do with all this', he thought.
Vincent took a deep breath and then sighed defeated, as he threw the book in his hands at Daimon.
"This old man gives up, if little Annete says so then I have no more questions, I'll lend you a hand, so now tell me what comes now, exterminate the Skelefiends, or maybe the pirates are the ones to which the "promise" alluded?".
Daimon had to interrupt the Trident Marshal, because he wasn't following what he was saying.
"Wait a moment, it seems I'm missing something, what do you think I came to Neptune to do, and what is that promise you mentioned?".
The Trident Marshal raised an eyebrow in response.
"You know the hidden meaning behind the Trident of the Promise breaking, the fact that half of Neptune will be destroyed soon, it's weird though, if your hair is black then you should have half of the white or purple Sea Emblems, instead of a Devil Emblem, but I guess not everything can be so accurate", he said as he stroked his long beard.
Daimon heard the Trident Marshal mentioning more things he didn't know anything about and he had a strange premonition as he took out the black badge with the rune shark engraved on it.
"I arrived to Neptune thanks to this one, do you know anything about it?", he said as he showed it to Vincent.
The Trident Marshal looked dead serious for a moment, before he softly snorted.
"Oi kid, don't try to play tricks on this old man, a black Sea Emblem doesn't exist and even if it did, there is no way you could have the two halves of it without finding and completing its respective trial... wait that thing is real!!!", exclaimed the old man, his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
This time even the queen was taken aback as she saw Daimon's black badge.
'What the hell is happening here', they thought.
Aurora was different though, she still couldn't get over the fact that not only her granddaughter but she didn't notice anything weird about Adam, despite he becoming so close and comfortable with them.
"I... will give you an answer after talking with Jasmine", said the old woman as she disappeared from her seat, making Vincent sigh.
"Don't take it against her, she has already lost a lot due to emblems".
Daimon nodded, if he had one then it was safe for Aurora to assume Adam had one, which made her get more wary about Daimon, it was part of the mess left by that idiot hero for him to deal with.
'I already told them the truth, what they decide is up to them, my goal hasn't changed at all anyway, whoever is behind this I will find it and cut his neck for trying to kill mom and those three', thought Daimon as a cold light flashed through his amethyst eyes.
"Now how about you explain more about that "promise" you mentioned, as you can already guess I have no idea", said Daimon to the Trident Marshal.
The Black Empress also expressed her interest in Vincent's words.
"I want to hear about it too, for us the natives of the Maelstrom Sea, the history left by our ancestors is different, long story short, everything will be destroyed and only those who count with the help of a certain existence will make it through", she said as she closed her eyes making her aura change from wild to elegant in a second, though she still tried to sneakily take the bottle from the hands from Lina just to get her hand tapped as a punishment.
"Oh, come on, a good story can't be enjoyed without a good drink", complained Thea, but her general ignored her.
