One Move Shook the Whole Board

"How strong is Hampres? Could he be a Demigod too?"

After imagining all the different ways she might deal with Stephen Hampres and Hvin Rambis, Angel asked the question aloud.

Audrey seemed to have anticipated it. She answered without hesitation:

"Unlikely. He claims to be only a Telepathist, and I believe that's about right. At most, he might be a Psychiatrist. Otherwise, he should have been able to see through Ms. D's disguise as Escalante that day. His grief and anger afterward didn't seem feigned, either, so it's unlikely he conspired with the Aurora Order."

"In that case, dealing with him shouldn't be too difficult. The only obstacle is the Manipulator behind him, Hvin Rambis. And that Demigod is only one member of the Psychological Alchemists' Council. We have no idea whether he has colleagues or superiors in Backlund..."

Angel murmured to herself. Hampres had been exposed a little too easily. She could not help wondering whether this Spectator, who had only just entered the Mid Sequence, was bait the Psychology Alchemists had placed in plain sight.

Judging by what had happened to Baron Cinderas and Audrey, Hvin Rambis liked to hide behind Hampres while influencing his targets. It was quite possible he was using Hampres as a shield and a lure... And Hampres was bound to have some kind of suggestion implanted in him: perhaps to make contact regularly or raise the alarm the moment anything happened. If he was killed, Hvin would know at once.

Of course, Angel could attack the Demigod directly. Hvin Rambis was publicly known as a Royal Advisor, after all, and even Audrey knew where he lived.

But that was more suspicious still. Could he have hidden forces behind him, or the protection of the royal family?

Angel realized that without thorough preparation, she