The Prince's aura had flooded the room as soon as he entered. His aura was so powerful that the group couldn't breathe and were writhing on the floor as they were suffocating.
"Son, don't you know better than to let your aura leak out like that. Regular people can't even breathe when they encounter aura as powerful as ours." The King told his son.
"Can't these weaklings learn to breathe on their own." The Prince replied. Though he did as his father asked and suppressed his aura so the others could breathe.
"Apologies, my son hasn't been taught proper manners apparently. Anyway, feel free to ask him whatever you want. I'll take my leave now."
King Toro II left the room and the group was left alone with his son, Toro III. "So what do you all want from me? Make it quick. This is a waste of my time." Toro III said.
"We only have a few questions for you your majesty. We will try to not take up too much of your time I assure you." Celeste responded.
"Fine, get on with it then."
"So what is our plan once we get in there?" Leona asked before they landed on Vanda. "I mean, what are we hoping to get out of this?"
"It's actually pretty simple. Before the Fernandez family took over the throne of Vanda, there was another family that had control over the planet for decades. They surely would have a grudge against the Fernandez clan. It would be helpful if we could gain them as an ally." Ren replied. "It would also be helpful if we could get some intel on Toro himself."
"First, we'd like to ask you about your grandfather, Toro the First. What is like to be the grandson of such a great hero? Do you ever feel like you are growing up in his shadow?" Celeste asked.
"Interesting tactic, it seems like she's trying to both get intel on Toro and maybe even create a rift between the two of them. She can be scary some times." Ren thought.
"My grandfather is my grandfather. I am me. That's the extent of what I think of his own exploits. As far as living in his shadow, I couldn't care less about what others think of me. If I'm considered to be in his shadow then I'm content to live my life in the shade." Toro III replied.
"Oh? I don't mean to pry your majesty, but it seems that there may be some tension between you and your grandfather. Would that be accurate?"
"Don't be ridiculous. I respect my father and grandfather for their strength and their great accomplishments. I simply don't feel the need to compare myself to either of them in any way. As I said before, I am me and they are who they are."
To move the interview along without suspicion, Celeste would mask her true intentions behind many seemingly innocent questions until she would ask what she truly wanted to know.
"Now your majesty to change topics to a more serious matter, there are rumors around the galaxy that there is some civil discontent between your family and the previous Royal family that ruled Vanda before being usurped by your grandfather's grandfather Venpa. Is there any truth to these rumors?" Celeste asked.
"I see, so those kinds of rumors have spread even to other planets." Toro III said thoughtfully.
"There have been intel that Celeste's information network has been able to obtain that suggests that the former Royal family faction maybe planing an uprising against the Fernandez dynasty. If this turns out to be true we could gain a valuable ally as well as gather even more resources. We just have to hope that the rumors are true. Though I wonder if he would tell us even if they are true." Ren thought.
"I'm sure the tale of a brewing civil war on my planet would make for a more compelling story, but I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you." Toro III responded. " First of all, the people of Vanda are different from what you think.
"What exactly do you mean by that?"
"I mean that the people of Vanda don't respect hereditary inheritance."
"But with all due respect, hasn't your family ruled the planet for several generations now. If the people don't respect the passing down of the crown from father to son, then how has your family stayed in power for so long?"
"It's simple, what the people of Vanda truly respect is strength. Only the strongest can be allowed to rule Vanda. It's just a coincidence that my family has been the strongest for so long."
"So, theoretically, if you weren't the strongest man on Vanda you wouldn't be allowed to succeed to the throne. Is that right?"
"Another ridiculous question. I am the strongest, if you have thought to the contrary I'd be happy to show you a glimpse of my true power." Toro III said as the ground rumbled and his suffocating aura started to creep back in.
"My apologies, I don't mean to offend you in any way. I was just interested in learning more about your people's culture." Celeste said. "So you are quite certain that the former royal family faction doesn't hold any sort of grudges against your family?"
"I'm not exactly sure about how they used to feel about their power being usurped in the past, but I'm absolutely certain that they don't hold any grudges against us now."
"What makes you so certain of that?"
"Because we've made a deal with them. I going to marry the head of the family's daughter. It's supposed to be a way of burying the hatchet between our two clans so to speak. At least it'll put to rest the rumors of conflict between us anyway."
"I see that is a big scoop after all." Celeste said as she exchanged glances with the others. She then continued the interview a bit longer before attempting to wrap things up.
"Just wait one moment before you go." Toro III told them as they were about to leave. "You've asked be a great deal of questions here, but I have one for you."
"What would that be sir?" Celeste asked. It was a bit strange that the man who had seemed to want to get the interview over with as quickly as possible now went out of his way to continue their conversation. "You've all come here under the guise of reporters, but who are you really?"