He chuckled but had to stop rather quickly because it caused him an agonizing amount of pain to laugh. "Oh, please. They always knew, it was why we sacked Rochester to begin with. Doing that was a symbol that the Outcasts had to take us seriously, and now they are because there isn't a choice. These people who decided their friend that was getting too close to the Nomads and the Technocracy was worth more than the entirety of the LFR, were just dead-set on living in a fairy tale. A world where we'd be able to control the Cardamine trade without having to make any form of a deal with the Outcasts. They were idiots to think that, and they were outright fools to not understand how much of a victory it is that the freaks are now willing to make and uphold a deal, on our terms, when less than two decades prior they said they'd never deal with us. I won't lose any sleep over doing what I promised I would." It was a stern response, and it seemed truthful from his end, although the crux of this dispute was likely less to do with what the truth was and more about how people felt over the truth of the matter.
Despite his response however, he nodded his head with a sigh and agreed. "I promise that I'll be open about what I'm doing and why. I took an oath to protect the LFR and its people the day I won the vote. So did the four who just tried to kill me. What we're seeing now is who's willing to keep their word even if it hurts and people hate you for it. This war with the Technocracy doesn't change much either. The Corsairs weren't being a reliable partner, so I severed the agreement and made their associates in this House targets instead. Our deal with the Order is still valid, support for independent groups like the IMG and the people of Erie is also still on the table. Was there anything else you wanted to know about standing policy that our published modus operandi doesn't already make clear?" Clearly he felt her last question was redundant, but it might have been the hangover talking so he was willing to cut her some slack over it and just move on rather than criticize the lack of awareness.
