Lilith stared at him, the realization hitting her like a physical blow. "You didn't just send Zane to report the news... you released Zane specifically to test her reaction speed."
"You're literally baiting her."
"I released Zane to provide Celestina with accurate information," Rex corrected, though the arrogance in his eyes betrayed the truth. "How she responds to that information is the real data point."
"Someone who reacts to last night's report by launching an immediate, aggressive strike against Aethelgard is a different kind of player than someone who pulls her assets back to reassess the board."
"I need to know what kind of predator she is."
"You want to know her temperament," Lilith summarized.
"I already know she is sophisticated," Rex said, his voice filled with a dark, begrudging respect. "The Legion's history, the relay network, the way Kregg described their methodology... it all points to a woman who thinks in decades, not days."
