One thing that's key in my reading of Gortash, and something I think people have different reads on, is that I think he is a liar.
Sure, we all know that. But the thing is he is an incredible liar. He's a fabricator, an inventor. And he's lying constantly, and is able to hide intent even when you detect his thoughts.
Because his lies are not just consciously manipulating others. His lies are shifting the reality. He decides he needs to convince you that he will be your ally, because it's the easiest way to get what he wants, and he fully buys into that reality.
He WILL betray you if you are not useful to him, but he knows there is a risk that you can read his mind, so he has to create that truth in his mind so he is impenetrable. Everything is shifting his reality, creating a world that is entirely responsive to his needs.
And that's terrifying!
It's one thing being manipulated by somebody who is consciously making plays. It's another to be working with somebody who is so quick, so deeply in control of himself and the situation that he can switch it up in second and fully lean into that reality, because reality is a malleable plaything for him to get what he wants.
There's lots to learn from a Cambion...
(Also this is why I think he has some training as a monk. If you play a monk, you have the option when Z'rell is probing your mind to clear your head of thoughts. I think Gortash can do this! Also the gauntlet is a monk weapon... so....)
absolute loving rei's whole "I want to talk to my juniors in a way that doesn't sound like a god communicating with his followers :( but my old habits are hard to break out of. I don't want to forcibly help others and accidentally hurt them :(" spiel in succession match. I love how a chapter later he's like "Yeah so I planted ideas in the higher-up's heads and also I am slowly fixing the damage Crazy:B has caused to ES :)" rei sakuma when old habits die hard and he is helping others from the shadows