I’ve said this before, but it really feels like the Nein are trying to pull and Avantika with Lucien. In both situations, they have charged in to a situation they don’t really understand, met someone who knows far more than they do, and ‘allies’ themselves with them.
With the Squalleater Crew and the Tomb Takers, they went in asking questions. They went in with no clue of why they were there, other than just following a single breadcrumb that had been left out. But there is one, very vital, important difference between the two scenarios.
Avantika had a reason to keep the Nein around. She had a motivation as to why she put up with them. Fjord. She wanted his help to unleash their Patron, and was willing to put up with the brash and chaotic antics of the rest of the Nein to do so. She, while not exactly trusting him, did not expect Fjord to betray her. She thought that they had the same goal.
But Lucien?
Lucien.
Has.
No.
Reason.
To.
Keep.
The.
Nein.
Around.
Lucien doesn’t know the Nein. He doesn’t trust them. Has no reason to. He doesn’t even know what they want, not really. All he knows is that this group came with Vess, to escort her?, to Eiselcross and seemed to know him before. Lucien just thinks they came here for their friend. He probably doesn’t think they know anything about what is going on - a fact that was furthered by the fact that they asked a lot of questions about everything.
But the moment the Nein try and double cross him, or he shows up at one of the sites, and the thing he is looking for - the thing he told them he was looking for - gone? Nope. He’s done. He is not going to let this group come in and fuck it all up.
They have made it, admimently clear, that while yes, the Nein can tag along, they can’t get in the way. Lucien basically explicitly told them he doesn’t trust them, wanting to travel with those he’s ‘connected with’. If he has even a hunch that they are trying to beat him to what he wants? Or that they know more than they put on, and that knowledge could risk the Mission?He would likely turn on the Nein on a dime.
He’s already told them he doesn’t give a fuck about Mollymauk. So what if whatever he was - whatever fragment - trusted them? They’re gone now. He’s here. And he has never met this group.
Vess is a clear example of why. They. Need. To. Think. This. Through. Lucien called her a traitor. He killed her, and showed no remorse. This was likely someone he had worked with. Why would he treat a group of strangers any differently?
TLDR: The Nein are treating this situation is like Avantika, and they have leeway to do whatever they want. They don’t. Lucien doesn’t need them. Lucien doesn’t have a reason to not kill them. Avantika had Fjord as motivation to not kill them. Lucien just has a bunch of strangers that knew a person he doesn’t give one fuck about.