Vect watched the shifty gazes around him. As an uncompromising pragmatist, he understood at once that he had lost.
Fight to the death? That would be suicide. This monster could kill a Pain Beast with a single physical attack, attacks based on cosmic laws had no effect on him, and he possessed a "secret weapon" that could turn all of Drukhari society against its rulers.
If the fighting continued, this Man of Gold would not even need to lift a finger. The mob below would tear Vect apart themselves.
And so, just as Liu Zhipeng was about to step onto the dais-
Vect suddenly changed his expression.
His dark, frightened look vanished in an instant, replaced by an elegant, composed aristocratic smile, as though everything were under his control.
He rose, straightened his cloak, and offered the approaching Liu Zhipeng an impeccably executed Ancient Aeldari Noble Salute.
"Absolutely magnificent."
Vect applauded, his tone brimming with admiration, as though he had not been the one ordering the killing moments earlier.
"This was precisely what I had hoped for. Honored Ember Lord, your power is breathtaking. It seems... I am worthy of inviting you to my palace for a drink."
Liu Zhipeng stopped and looked at the old schemer, who changed faces faster than anyone could turn a page. He could not help inwardly applauding his acting.
"Couldn't you have just said that from the start?" Liu Zhipeng dispersed the golden flames in his hand, returning to his harmless-looking self. "You just had to put on that flashy light show."
"Please." Vect stepped aside and gestured an invitation. "My palace has the finest wine in the entire galaxy, as well as... the quietest meeting room. We can discuss this properly."
Vect's palace stood atop Commorragh's tallest spire, overlooking the entire Dark City.