Chapter 81

• For as long as Seth Rafael could remember, he never once imagined there would come a day when Xavier Timekeeper’s son would be under his protection.
• Xavier had done so much for him—more than just favors, more than mere alliances. Among the ruling powers of the Metro regions, Seth was often the outcast. His domain, East Metro, wasn’t vast like the others. It brought in fewer tributes, fewer riches. The other rulers saw that as weakness. But not Xavier. To him, Seth was the most human of them all.
• East Metro was cleanly governed, with minimal infractions—save for Seth’s one disturbing obsession: deep-sea mammal exploitation. His massive exploration projects often ended in high-stakes sales. Certain body parts were sold at staggering prices to eccentric, elite collectors with extreme tastes. Once, Seth even froze a deformed baby sea lion and auctioned it off for an absurd amount.