The Royal Military Academy's Impostor Owns a Dungeon [BL]-Chapter 992: A Dance of Intentions

It was rather obvious that if anyone looked around, the number of waiting vultures, especially in a place as big as the Empire, could easily rival the number of those in the Federation.

So, realistically speaking, if Luca were to work with him instead, it would be far easier to maintain his current lifestyle. If anything, he would even be able to have a semblance of freedom and authority.

Because with the kind of disruption he and his little guild had brought out into the open, hiding behind House Kyros wouldn’t be enough of a shield against everyone else.

Even so, Cassian had no intention of making any direct moves to poach in the middle of the dance floor. That would’ve been foolish, especially with so many watching.

But planting a seed, or at least a bit of worry that would eventually bloom into a nagging feeling?

That was different. He felt that was just fair game.

For one, people were far more convinced by their own conclusions than anything handed to them outright.

Second, he wasn’t even kidding when he thought that he could give this oblivious runt better conditions, provided he played nicely.

Everyone had goals and a bone of selfishness in their body, and Cassian had always been good at capitalizing on that.

So with renewed determination, he focused on the next step—

And nearly miscalculated.

His foot landed just slightly off.

A minor error, but one that could’ve disrupted the entire flow.

Well, it didn’t, because Luca adjusted effortlessly.

The movement shifted just enough to compensate, smoothing over the mistake as if it had never existed in the first place.

"Mister Benefactor, that was dangerous..."

There it was again.

The same tone.

The same straightforward observation with a hint of concern that came with such backhanded quips.

Cassian felt a faint twitch at the corner of his eye.

Not only had he been subtly called out, but the question he posed had gone unanswered.

For a brief moment, he wondered if this was intentional.

But instead of pressing, he chose to recover.

"Apologies," Cassian said smoothly as they moved again, his voice steady despite the relentless pace. "I was just deeply curious about you and lost my focus."

"Ah," Luca replied simply, already guiding him into another sequence without hesitation. "Well, there’s really nothing much to me."

Their steps shifted, their positions changing as Luca led him through a different pattern altogether.

"As for hearing about me just now," Luca continued in that same unbothered but awfully relaxed tone, "it’s probably just the distance, as well as the fact that there had been nothing notable to really report on!"

And just like that, the rhythm surged again, pulling Cassian along before he could decide whether that answer was genuine or deliberately dismissive.

Fine.

A different approach then.

Cassian adjusted his hold as they moved into the next sequence, his expression settling into something calm and deliberate. His steps tried to remain sharp and controlled despite the aggressive rhythm Luca kept setting, and his focus sharpened as he shifted tactics.

"Isn’t that being too hard on yourself?" he said as they pivoted and came close again. "If anything, don’t you think it’s mainly because the people covering for you are a little too capable?"

"Huh?"

Luca blinked, clearly confused as he guided the donor into another turn, his posture steady and his movements precise even as the tempo shifted again.

"Don’t get me wrong," Cassian continued, following through before stepping in once more, "I, too, prefer capable people."

He let the motion carry them apart before finishing,

"But in your case, if they hadn’t been so capable, then it wouldn’t have taken this long for you to shine."

The words were smooth and carefully placed.

If others had heard it properly, they would have caught the meaning immediately. It sounded like praise, but it also suggested that the people around Luca had overshadowed him. That their competence was probably an attempt at stealing his thunder.

A quiet attempt to stir something between them.

But who exactly was Luca Soren Kyros?

He was the little Guide who had a life-changing excursion on Tesseris and had eyes that never seemed to see the same things and ears that always heard different undertones.

As such, the worried little chipmunk didn’t actually understand his jab, but definitely saw how Cassian once again looked over to their guild’s table.

"Host! This is the ninth time he has done it tonight!" D-29 announced proudly, ignoring Sid, who clearly wanted it to stop counting.

Luca tried not to grimace, but in his heart, he couldn’t help but wonder what was really happening.

He didn’t think there was a problem with the compensation, but now this guy was starting to say the oddest things.

Worse, the Federation heir was doing it again, and this time he even said:

"The people around you," Cassian continued as they moved into another tight turn, "I think they’re a little too bright, no?"

His gaze shifted again.

Deliberate.

"I wonder if that Young Lord had been doing it since before?"

This time, he didn’t even try to hide it.

He looked straight at Xavier even when the move required his head to be positioned in a different way.

And of course, Luca saw it.

"Sorry, what—?"

But Cassian pressed on, feeling like he had finally found something to work with.

"Ah, apologies," he said as they stepped through another sequence, their hands shifting before Luca pulled him into another controlled spin. "I was just wondering about those gems I’ve never seen before."

He followed the rhythm, then added,

"Something so precious, it could have adorned you, but instead..."

The implication should have been clear.

Such priceless things had been given away, displayed on someone else, when something like that would’ve worked better had this guy monopolized it all.

"Mister Benefactor, is something wrong with the pearls?" Luca asked as he led Cassian into a sharp cross step before guiding him into another turn.

"So, they’re called pearls?" Cassian replied, recovering smoothly. "And no, there’s nothing wrong with them."

"In fact," he added as his gaze flicked once more toward Xavier, "they seem too nice that even others could be made to look passable with it."

For the first time, Luca’s expression changed.

"Passable?" Luca repeated, clearly alarmed. "Mister Benefactor, by any chance, do you mean Xavier?"

He asked it simply, because that was what made sense to him.

"Mn," Cassian replied in a relaxed tone. "With such precious gifts, don’t you think they’ve turned into something too striking?"

The meaning was obvious.

Without those adornments, would he even stand on the same footing?

But to Luca and D-29, it meant something completely different.

"Host! According to my research, this donor, it seems he has designs on the primary benefactor!"

"What?!"

Luca froze mid-step.

And when he looked again at Cassian’s smile, which was now clearly directed toward his husband, he felt it.

Something was definitely wrong.