Slader Polo

Slader is proud, privileged and initially dismissive toward strangers. He expects his family's position in New Oregon to command respect and is brusque when Vash arrives asking to see Max Simon.

His confidence weakens once the Fris retaliation places him personally at risk. The episode gives him limited development beyond his position within the feud, concentrating instead on Vash's attempt to prevent both families from perpetuating the cycle.

Slader is an ordinary human with no established supernatural powers or exceptional combat abilities.

His protection comes primarily from the Polo family's wealth, employees and influence in New Oregon. Those advantages become ineffective once the Fris faction takes hostages and demands that the Polo family surrender one of its own.

Slader is left in New Oregon while most of the Polo family is away. Benson Fris and the Fris faction exploit this situation after seizing the satellite facility and taking passengers hostage.

Benson wants revenge for a young woman related to the Fris family who was killed in the feud. With the Polo family head unable to return within the deadline, Slader becomes the target selected to answer for his family's violence.

Benson prepares to kill Slader, but Vash places himself between them and endures Benson's beating while pleading for the cycle of revenge to stop. Benson ultimately spares Slader, and the confrontation ends without another death.

Benson Fris seeks Slader's life as payment for a death attributed to the Polo family's feud. Vash eventually persuades Benson to spare him.

Vash the Stampede intervenes when Slader becomes the target of the Fris family's retaliation and refuses to allow the feud to claim another life.

Max Simon works for the Polo family and is acquainted with Slader.

Leonof the Puppet-Master secretly manipulates the Fris side of the crisis as part of the Gung-Ho Guns' effort to draw Vash back into conflict.