[Spoilers] Why Zenos is the most important character moving forward

[Edax]

This was a direct refutation to Theo's claim that Varis would not have named Zenos as his successor due to his unhinged, warmongering personality making him unfit to rule. The Encyclopedia Eorzea Vol. II contradicts that, stating Zenos was named Varis' successor immediately after he took the throne to avoid a succession crisis like the one he had to deal with. (I need someone with the actual book to corroborate that, as I don't have either book myself. I got to save $ for more important stuff... like Metal Wolf Chaos...)

That said, the only known witnesses to the murder are[LIST=1][*]A disgraced, rogue former Legatus and[*]A filthy savage

Which is so contrived. The Emperor get stabbed with a katana in his own throne room and no one is there to protect him or even witness anything. Where's the Imperial Guard? Where's the Cameras? Where are the security systems? Throne Rooms are the last places on Eorzea where anyone should get away with an assassination.

I'll agree that it would make logical sense if Zenos doesn't become the Emperor. I'm just not sure the story is going to be that logical. I suspect the writers are going to want to make Zenos even more powerful by making him Emperor, even if he doesn't rule.

[YianKutku]

Which is so contrived. The Emperor get stabbed with a katana in his own throne room and no one is there to protect him or even witness anything. Where's the Imperial Guard? Where's the Cameras? Where are the security systems? Throne Rooms are the last places on Eorzea where anyone should get away with an assassination.

I assume they would not have expected a random Centurion (I think? Can't recall the exact rank) to suddenly whip out a "savage's" weapon and slaughter his way to the throne room. Gaius and Estinien did kind of follow the trail of bodies behind Zenos.

Conveniently, said Centurion's body is now also in the throne room, and anyone who survived the massacre will probably attest to their presence in the palace. Especially after this conveniently dead Centurion is identified as one that deserted the battlefield at Ghimlyt.

This is all stuff that Zenos might make use of, if he is indeed the tactical and strategic genius he is said to be (by the Domans). However, his actions so far are entirely that of a muscle-headed battle-lusted brute, so I don't know if he even cares.