It was nearly three weeks before the seven sins were assembled. The Minister of Gluttony, Bezalel Oren, was the last to arrive. Shrugging off his traveling cloak, he quickly moved to take his place between the Ministers of Greed and Sloth. At the head of the table stood (F/N), his back to the sins. He did not like seeing an incomplete council. Once Bezalel reached his seat, Alastair motioned for them to stand, the noise acting as a signal to tell (F/N) everyone was present. They bowed to The Lord of The Family of Sins as he turned to face the most lethal generals of his empire, the seven deadly sins.

On the right side of the table was Alastair, seated closest to The Head of the Demons. Further down was his Minister of Diplomacy, Lilith Lila, his lust. Then Ministers of War and Trade, his wrath and envy, Celine Rouge and Levi Evergreen. His pride, Lucian Ebonwood, Minister of Security sat nearest his left side, followed by sloth Minister of Labor Balthazar Kulrang, gluttony Minister of Agriculture, Bezalel Oren, and finally greed Minister of Finance, Mason Shar. At his signal, the eight took their seats.

"Seventeen years." (F/N) said as he took his seat. "For seventeen years I have headed the Family of Sins, expanding my territories and growing my influence. I have seen opposing tribes crumble beneath my armies and the kingdoms of this world kneel at my feet. But none of this would have been possible without this council. Those who came before you and those who sit before me now, who have dedicated yourselves to my vision, carried out my will, and accepted the burden of my sins as your own. For your sacrifice you have been rewarded above all others. You have been granted authority, land, and riches that others can only dream of. In short, I have gifted you with the power of kings and queens. So, tell me," he said darkly, "why are you not satisfied? What more must I provide before it is sufficient?"

"My lord," Mason said nervously, "we are most grateful for your generosity. The blessings you have gifted us with are more than sufficient."

"Is that so? Then why is it, Greed, that you impose a fifteen percent tax but report only ten? Why does Levi overcharge for the supplies shipped to those under our banner and why do Lilith's contracts continue charging my territories months after they've paid what they owe?" The Sins' faces drained of color as (F/N) continued addressing more ways they'd abused their power and tried to hide it from him.

"M-My lord..." Celine started.

"Silence!" (F/N) roared. "How prideful you all must have been to think I didn't know. But you did your jobs well, so I granted you leniency. Lining your pockets by taking what's mine." He spat. "I would remind you, regardless of how much wealth fills your coffers, it is still mine. Your power, your land, even your very lives, are all mine. Do I make myself clear?"

The Ministers, unable to speak or meet the Dark Slayer's furious gaze, silently nodded their heads.

"You disappoint me." (F/N) said as he leaned back in his chair. "Lucian, you are to be commended. Other than my right hand, it is you alone who has not stolen from me. Of my seven sins, you alone have remained loyal."

"Of course, my lord." Lucian bowed. "To this day, I remain not only your most loyal general, but also your oldest friend."

"Yes, you are." (F/N) nodded. "Even longer than Alastair. You have been my partner, my advisor, and my friend. So, imagine how disappointed I was to discover you were the first to betray me."

"M-My lord?"

"Tell me, Lucian, why did your men never join up with Mason and Levi's forces when we did battle with the Branwen Tribe?"

"I told you," Lucian responded confidently, "we were held up by Raven's advanced forces. Their vanguard..."

"Was left behind to defend their main camp." (F/N) said. "She doesn't deploy her vanguard when she herself is leading the charge."

"Regardless of which unit is was, we were intercepted before we could unite with the main force." Lucian explained.

"Raven is a positional tactician." (F/N) countered. "She wouldn't have overextended her formation by trying to head you off, she would have confined her campaign to a single assault."

"Maybe you don't know her as well as you think." Lucian jibed.

"Or maybe it's you I don't know." (F/N) retorted. "You have yet to explain to me how the shadows managed to slip past our defenses, Lucian.

The other six sins looked up at this, eyeing their fellow Minister and The Head of The Demons cautiously.

"I don't know." Lucian said, emphasizing each individual word. "It shouldn't have been possible. Now without..."

"Not without inside help." (F/N) finished for him. "And who better to secure them a route inside than my Minister of Security?"

"You're raving." Ebonwood snarled. "It could have just as easily been anyone else in this room. I'm not the only person with details on our security features."

"No." (F/N) agreed. "But you are the only one with the talents to concoct such a lethal poison. Alastair, do you remember what Lucian said his parents did for a living, back when we first met at Beacon?"

"His mother was a... a phytotherapist." Alastair said, realization dawning upon his features. "And his father..."

"A herbologist." (F/N) finished. "I'm sure Lucian learned a few things from his parents growing up. Like how to create a tasteless, odorless poison." He said, eyeing Lucian who stared defiantly back at him. "That chalice never was meant for me, was it?"

"You?" Alastair asked aghast. "You killed Nero? Why?"

"Because it was Nero, not Lucian, who was intended to be my original Pride." (F/N) answered when Lucian remained silent. "I imagine Lucian was furious that he hadn't been chosen."

"I was your partner." Lucian hissed. "And yet you passed me up for Alastair as your right hand. At least he has a brain. But Nero? Nero?" He spat. "The fool didn't even know his left from his right, and yet you still chose him to sit on your council."

"You truly are the definition of pride. But in the end, you abandoned it." (F/N) growled. "There is an order to these things. Rules to ensure honor is upheld."

Pride scoffed. "What use do I have for honor?"

"Your honor is your pride!" (F/N) roared as he pushed himself to his feet. "If you want my seat, you challenge me directly! If you want my life, you take it yourself!" Throwing the table to the side, he grabbed Lucian roughly by the hair. "You don't skulk like a rat in the sewers!" He shouted as he dragged him across the room. "You don't send others to do your dirty work for you!" He yelled as he threw him out of the tent. "You hold your head high and you fight me with honor!"

Scrambling to his feet, Lucian looked around to see the entire camp gathered in a circle surrounding him. He backed away to the edge of the manmade ring as (F/N) emerged from the tent after him, the other sins following and standing before the entrance of the tent as The Dark Slayer walked forward to address the camp.

"The rules of The Family of Sins dictate that any member who wishes to hold a seat on the council must defeat one of my seven sins in contest." He announced. "Our laws also state that any of the sins has the right to challenge me to a fight to the death, and that they may take my power, my wealth, and my lands should they best me. The Minister of Security, Lucian Ebonwood, has ignored this edict and has tried to see me assassinated. In doing so, he has forfeited his right to an honorable death. Lucian will be released into the wild fully armed. The first of you to bring him back to me, dead or alive, will claim his title and take his place as my Pride."

Lucian scowled angrily as the members of the camp laughed menacingly, smirking as they unconsciously reached for their weapons. He looked for some sort of escape, but there would be no running from (F/N) now. Still, he refused to be hunted down like some animal. Kicking one of the nearest bandits in the chest, he grabbed his sword from the man's hip and made to lunge at (F/N). Staring into his (E/C) eyes all he felt was a seething hatred. Hatred at the way he had thrown his life away in service to this false king. Hatred at how he had been passed over time and time again for someone less deserving. And hatred at the disinterested look in his eyes, like he wasn't even worth his time.

(F/N) was just about to draw his Yamato to lazily parry Lucian's attack when he was surprised by someone pushing their way through the crowd and punching Ebonwood hard in the side of the face. They then grabbed his flailing arm and twisted his wrist until he dropped the blade, then pulling him into another punch. The sound of a shotgun cocking was then followed by a loud explosion as a third punch sent Lucian flying through the air where he landed at (F/N)'s feet.

"Yang?" (F/N) asked as the smoke cleared. His head was tilted in slight confusion as he carefully looked the girl over.

"Does this mean I win?" She asked, blowing her blonde hair from her face. "I mean, you never said we had to wait for you to release him before bringing him to you, right?"

"No." (F/N) smiled and laughed. "I suppose I didn't."