Chapter 45 - The Settlement Conference
The Nine Houses gathered in a neutral realm disguised as a hotel conference center.
Bad coffee included.
Mason sat at one table with Tasha, Ivy, Celeste, Raymond, Blake, Victor, and Pell.
Across from them sat representatives of the remaining Houses.
At the head of the room sat an empty chair labeled CENTRAL.
Pell began with evidence.
Blake testified.
Celeste testified.
Victor admitted Lou had been right about the false Heavenly Tax.
Half the Houses looked ready to defect.
Then the empty chair spoke.
"Motion denied."
A figure appeared.
Young.
Maybe thirty.
No suit.
No crown.
Just a white hoodie and calm eyes.
Thread Sight showed no fortune around him because all fortune in the room bent toward him.
[CENTRAL CLEARINGHOUSE AVATAR.]
[REALM: UNKNOWN.]
The man looked at Mason.
"You think we steal luck."
"You do."
"We stabilize civilization."
He showed them visions of cities where unregulated fortune storms caused impossible disasters.
Mason hesitated.
The man smiled.
"Lou knew the truth. That's why he stopped trying to destroy us."
Victor stood.
"That's a lie."
The avatar looked at him.
"Ask Mason's Ledger."
A query appeared automatically.
[DID LOU AVERY KNOW CENTRAL PREVENTED FORTUNE COLLAPSE?]
Answer:
[YES.]
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