Grey might not know any of this now, but he would certainly know soon as the information was passed onto him. However, that was future Grey’s problem. Current Grey had already moved on from Mauve.
There was nothing he could do to help her right now anyway. He could feel that her eyes were undergoing a great change right now, but they wouldn’t be strong enough, not without the true witch bloodline.
How they would get that? Grey didn’t know. But he had a feeling that Esmeralda would probably have some say in that.
Still, that ironically made things simple for him. Mauve’s mech was set in stone now.
What better way to maximize her new abilities than to make the same Prosthetic Mech that had cost him his life several times?
Except, this time, it would be even easier because he didn’t need to replace her eye. It wouldn’t be a true Prosthetic Mech, just something to enhance the abilities of her eyes.
This shaved down the time Grey would need to spend on this considerably.
He already had a path for Amunet. That only left one person.
Brad.
"... Why are you looking at me like that?" Brad said a bit weirdly.
"Well, you don’t have any tits and now you’re about to be by far the weakest too. So what am I going to do with you?"
"I resent that."
"Not my fault you’re weak."
Brad rubbed his hands together. "But you’re going to help a brother out, right?"
Grey laughed. "I have no idea how to help you. I’ve been thinking about it, but really the best way might just be..."
His gaze shifted over to Petri.
"Mm... maybe?" Grey’s lips pursed.
He had been thinking about this all night, but he also hadn’t been so sure that he would be able to string Petri up like a chicken this time either. That might open up other possibilities... maybe.
Grey’s mind was churning and Petri felt a cold shiver run up his spine. The big man had been trying to escape all this time, but all his efforts were utterly worthless.
What he could do was do what he had done with Dark Sovereign. Craft a new Frame that could work for Brad, maybe use that crack pipe he hadn’t brought out in a while, and then try to use Ma Famille as a way to pass on the insights of the new Frame directly to him.
The problem with that was if he took that path, he was essentially adding another burden to himself.
He wanted people that could add to his comprehensions, not make him use up precious time to craft one for them.
However, if he could snatch something from Petri to give to Brad, that would be a completely different matter.
"If you don’t have anything, it’s fine. I can just be a freeloader for a bit and hope I don’t die." Brad said almost a bit pitifully.
"You’re like 6’6", the pouting isn’t doing what you think it’s doing."
"Are you sure? My mom folded every time."
"Your mom, god bless her soul, had to push your big ass forehead out. She’s probably still trying to recoup her investment. Have you ever heard of the sunk cost fallacy?"
"Fuck you."
"You want a Frame for him?" Elowen asked. Her gaze had been on the tome and Mauve since they... connected. But as Grey expected, she hadn’t said much at all.
"You have an idea?" Elowen asked.
"Well, I did hear that The Relentless was looking for one last final disciple. He has the youngest disciple for good reason. The only one in the Vector Class, I believe. It’s because The Relentless has only started taking on disciples recently."
Grey frowned. This could work, but the problem was that it would take too much time. Maybe he should leave Brad here, then?
Actually, it would probably make sense to leave Brad and Mauve here. Mauve would need time to ingratiate herself with the new Lineage, and Brad would need time to become a disciple.
"How do you become a disciple of The Relentless?" Grey asked.
He had to be cautious with this, because he was fairly sure that The Relentless wasn’t happy with him at all. He didn’t want his relationship with Brad to end up throwing the latter into a pit of fire.
"It’s a pretty common test, the same test that The Relentless has always used. Just picking up a hammer before his estate. It’s there at all times of the day. Anyone can pass by and try. But until now, very few have succeeded, obviously."
"Why doesn’t this sound like a strength test?"
"It isn’t. But I’ve never really cared enough to look more into it."
Grey took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled. He felt like he could help Brad with this.
If Brad learned at least Goblin Warlord Spirit, he would be a shoe-in.
"Can you cover for these two and make sure they are safe while I’m away?"
Elowen blinked. "... That isn’t that hard, so long as they aren’t as wild as you."
"And my actions won’t affect them?"
"Not as long as I vouch for them."
Grey grinned. "Have I ever told you how hot you are?"
Elowen rolled her eyes, but Grey was already looking at Amunet.
"It’s just going to be us two until we get back. Can you keep it in your pants for that long?"
Amunet made a weird face and it looked like she was ramping up to go on another tirade, but Grey had already moved on again.
What could he say? Ragebaiting was his favorite pass-time.
Now, there was only one thing left to do.
Craft.
Well, after that he would make his escape.
He cracked his knuckles.
The only way he was going to be able to save everyone was if he got access to true large scale teleportation. He couldn’t be 100% sure, but the only place that could possibly have that was the palace... the palace where a Goddess would be lying in wait.
In that case, his plan was simple.
Go and save Thi Lan first. Bring her back here. Then charge the palace and hopefully find what he was looking for.
If not, he was going to fucking build it if he had to.