Sweet revenge is a dessert best savored cold, for its taste lingers longer than the bitterness of the past.
"What the hell do you want now?" the loudspeaker crackled, Ruben's familiar disdain dripping through, even as I heard the lock click open behind it.
Ruben was, as always, his charming self—lounging in an armchair before a bank of monitors, a rat nestled comfortably in his arms like a tiny, furry villain's accomplice. His fingers stroked its back absentmindedly as he regarded me with a mix of boredom and curiosity.
"I know Rolo's tangled up with some black magicians, but..." I started, leaning casually against the doorway. "The twins beat him to a pulp yesterday."
There was practically no one who hadn't heard about Pitou and Liou's schemes. If only because the money involved was so big that it was hard to turn a blind eye.
"Yes," Ruben said flatly, not even blinking.
"They wanted me," I continued.
"Yes."
"And they weren't exactly thrilled with the answer," I sighed.
"Not very," he agreed, his tone as dry as the desert.
"You know," I said, allowing a slow, dangerous smile to creep onto my face, "I'd really love to get back at them."
Ruben finally looked up, incredulity flashing across his face. "Oh no. Don't even start."
"I think," I began, my smile widening as I took a step closer, "you, my dear friend, are just the genius I need. You could hack into the NSBM system, couldn't you?"
His eyes immediately sparked with alarm. "No! No! Tell me I didn't hear that!"
"You heard me perfectly," I said, leaning in with an almost conspiratorial air. "Think about it, Ruben. What could be more satisfying than cracking one of the thickest vaults in the mages' bank? I know you love a challenge."
He hesitated, torn between the thrill of the idea and the sanity screaming at him to run for the hills.
I pressed on. "Come on, aren't you curious what would happen if we stripped a few money-hungry dark mages of their fortunes? Let's not forget—they killed your rats, Ruben. And if memory serves, they threatened you too."
His jaw tightened. I could see the conflict in his eyes. "Shay, this is reckless," he said gravely. "I could disappear into the data jungle, bounce through encrypted Russian servers, sure—but they'll know you're behind it. They'll come for you."
I grinned, unbothered. "They already came for me, Ruben. They came for someone under my protection, and that's as good as declaring war. If they want to play dirty, I'm more than happy to meet them on their level."
He stared at me for a moment, then exhaled sharply. "Let's say I'm in," he muttered, though I caught the gleam of anticipation in his eyes. Before I could celebrate, he added, "Just hypothetically, that doesn't mean I think this is a good idea. Are you sure you're ready to face them? Really ready?"
"They want the throne," I said, my voice firm. "And I'm the rightful king. Whether I like it or not, this fight is inevitable. So why not make it interesting?"
A grin slowly spread across his face, the kind of grin that only appeared when Ruben was handed a challenge too tempting to refuse. His fingers flew over the keyboard, his focus sharpening with every keystroke. This wasn't just hacking; this was art to him.
"Where do you want me to send it?" he asked after a few minutes.
"Charities," I replied without hesitation. "If anything will get under their skin, it's knowing their stolen fortunes are funding orphanages or wildlife sanctuaries."
Ruben snorted, gave the keyboard one last flourish, then leaned back in his chair with a satisfied smirk. "By tomorrow morning, chaos will be in full swing."
I couldn't help but grin. "I can't wait."
"I'd better get going before anyone notices I'm gone," I said, extending my hand to him.
He blinked at it, as though the gesture baffled him, but then slapped it and gave it a firm shake.
"I owe you for this," I admitted. "If there's any trouble, you know where to find me."
His lips quirked into a goofy smile he clearly couldn't suppress. It was a little nauseating.
"If you start crying, I'm taking it back," I warned with mock seriousness.
Ruben burst into laughter, clutching his stomach. "Shaytan, you're something else. I think you might end up being a king who keeps life... interesting."
I smirked faintly. "Take care, Ruben," I said, turning to leave.
"I'll be fine," he called after me. "You're the one who should be careful."
Without turning back, I waved him off and exited the room, a small, knowing smile tugging at my lips.
(...)
After breakfast, I sat at the table with my mug of cocoa and phone in my hand. I opened the Kaleidoscope app and looked for the news. With noble simplicity, I skipped the front page and started reading other news. Rolo had been looking intently at me and sometimes glancing at my screen with a murderous look for some time.
[National Savings Bank of Mages collapsed overnight under mysterious circumstances!] the headline proclaimed.
"You did that, eh?" he finally filtered through his teeth.
I glanced at him over the newspaper, then raised one eyebrow. "How could I be capable of such a thing?"
"Surely the Fifth King has the influence to be able to do such a thing," he grumbled.
"Yes, and what has that got to do with me?" I asked, disinterested, and then, when he was about to explode with venom, I continued with another sly look, "I don't even resemble the Hueless King."
Rolo was surprised at first, then he understood the secret meaning behind the words and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
"Then perhaps I should tell that idiot of a king to watch out," he said, "It's not very clever to play with black mages."
"Perhaps you should take that advice yourself," I remarked quietly.
He pretended not to hear me and continued:
"And maybe I should thank the idiot king. But only maybe."
"That charming king doesn't need anyone's thanks," I said, "but maybe he'd appreciate a packet of luxury cocoa."
He chuckled. "This king must be really simple to break a bank for a packet of cocoa."
I shrugged. "He must have a sweet tooth."
Rolo's eyes narrowed with a mix of amusement and skepticism. "You're telling me you brought down the NSBM just for cocoa?"
I leaned back in my chair, savoring the moment. "Well, when you put it that way, it does sound a bit ridiculous. But you know, cocoa is a powerful motivator."
"Wait, what?" that was the moment our conversation registered to Alex who was washing the dishes peacefully. "Shay, what did you do again?"
Rolo chuckled. "You have to admire Shay's unique approach to problem-solving." Rolo gestured to the news on my phone. "Did you see this? Shay's cocoa caper made headlines."
Alex leaned closer to read the screen. "What have you gotten yourself into this time?"
"Just a bit of fun," I said casually. "You know me, always looking for excitement."
"Or trouble," Rolo added. He shook his head, a grin spreading across his face. "I knew you were a force to be reckoned with, but this... this is a whole new level of audacity."
I took a sip of my cocoa, feigning nonchalance. "Audacity is just another word for opportunity, my friend."
Alex sighed, but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes. "You two are incorrigible."
"We prefer to think of it as resourceful," I quipped.
"And what's next on the agenda for the Fifth King?" Rolo asked, genuinely curious.
I set down my mug and leaned forward, my voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Next? We keep our enemies guessing, stay one step ahead, and maybe indulge in some more cocoa. Oh, and of course, prepare for the inevitable fallout."
Alex grinned. "Count me in for the cocoa part."
Rolo raised his mug in a mock toast. "To cocoa and chaos."
We all clinked our mugs together, the sound echoing softly in the room. We sat in silence for a moment, the weight of recent events settling between us. Despite the levity, there was an unspoken understanding of the risks taken and the dangers ahead.
"You know, Shay," Rolo said thoughtfully, "You're definitely making your mark."
I smiled. "Good. Let them remember the Fifth King as the one who shook things up."
"And robbed a bank for cocoa," Rolo added with a chuckle.
(...)
In his grand study within the heart of the citadel, the Sorcerer Lord sat at a meticulously carved wooden desk, surrounded by shelves laden with ancient tomes and magical artifacts. His brow furrowed with concern as he gazed upon a glowing crystal orb, which displayed fragments of news and magical communications from across the realm.
Livius tapped his fingers impatiently on the desk, contemplating the best course of action to mitigate the fallout from the collapse of the NSBM. The implications were dire, threatening the delicate balance of power among magical factions and jeopardizing the realm's stability.
"Fetch my phone," Livius commanded his attendant, a young mage with auburn hair and robes adorned with intricate runes.
The attendant nodded and swiftly returned with a sleek, modern smartphone, its screen illuminated with a faint glow of magical encryption. Livius quickly navigated through a secure messaging app, his fingers tapping with practiced efficiency.
The Sorcerer Lord: [The collapse of the NSBM is causing quite a stir in the magical community. Any insights on what might have led to such a catastrophic event?]
Rolo: [Indeed, it's a messy situation. I'm keeping an eye on developments.]
Livius frowned.
The Sorcerer Lord: [Hmm. You wouldn't happen to know more about it, would you?]
Rolo: [Why would you think that?]
Livius clearly wanted to roll his eyes but needed to compose himself in front of one of his apprentices.
The Sorcerer Lord: [Let's just say I've been hearing whispers. And where there's smoke, there's usually fire.]
Rolo: [I don't know what you're talking about.]
Livius typed away again.
The Sorcerer Lord: [If you know anything about what happened, it would be in your best interest to tell me.]
Rolo: [And if I don't?]
He took a deep breath. Then another.
The Sorcerer Lord: [Then perhaps we can come to a mutually beneficial arrangement.]
Rolo: [What kind of arrangement?]
The Sorcerer Lord: [I have artifacts. Powerful ones. Things that could make your life a lot easier. All I ask is for your cooperation.]
Rolo: [You can't buy my loyalty, Sorcerer Lord.]
The Sorcerer Lord: [I'm not trying to buy your loyalty. Just your discretion.]
For a long time, no answer came. Then he did get a reply but not from Rolo.
Unknown number: [So when did you get his number?]
Livius furrowed his brows. He hesitated for a moment before replying.
The Sorcerer Lord: [Who is this?]
Unknown number: [Someone who's curious about your sudden interest in Rolo.]
Livius stared at the message and then frowned, his suspicion growing. This person...
The Sorcerer Lord: [Shay?]
Livius typed the name.
Unknown number: [Guessed wrong.]
Livius smirked faintly. He knew better than to expect a straightforward response. He typed his reply carefully, choosing his words to provoke a reaction.
The Sorcerer Lord: [I know it's you, Shay.]
The Sorcerer Lord: [This incident has political implications.]
There was a pause before the next message appeared on the screen.
Unknown number: [What are you going to do about it, Livius?]
Livius sighed, he considered his options carefully before responding.
The Sorcerer Lord: [I'm convening a meeting with influential white mages. I suggest you join us.]
Unknown number: [Nah, not in the mood.]
Livius, the Sorcerer Lord, Lord of all Mages was staring at his phone in disbelief. When he wanted to write another message he realised that he could not send it. His number was blocked.
I couldn't help but chuckle to myself as I read the news on my phone and a new one popped up. The headline blared about a massive explosion at the Sorcerer Lord's residence. It was breaking news, and already speculation was rife about what could have caused it.
Rolo, who was sitting across from me, watched me with a mixture of frustration and resignation. He had been trying to negotiate with Livius for artifacts.
"You blocked him," Rolo grumbled, breaking the silence.
I looked up from my phone, my eyes gleaming mischievously. "I did. Did you really think it was a good idea to try and bargain with artifacts from Livius?"
Rolo scowled. "It was worth a try. We could have used those artifacts."
I shook my head. "Not worth the risk. Livius doesn't give anything without expecting something in return, and it's usually more than you're willing to pay."
As I scrolled through the news article, Rolo leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "So, what now? Livius won't be happy about this."
I shrugged nonchalantly. "Let him stew."
Just then, a notification popped up on my phone. It was a message from an unknown number.
Unknown number: [You think you're clever, blocking me? You have no idea what you're getting into.]
I raised an eyebrow, reading the message with interest. "It does look like Livius isn't too happy about being blocked."
Rolo leaned forward, trying to catch a glimpse of my phone. "What's he saying?"
"He's warning me," I replied.
Rolo also looked at his phone and I glanced over.
Unknown number: [This is my new number. Please reconsider my offer to come here. Shay is unhinged.]
"Hm," I hummed, my expression thoughtful. "Seems like Livius is more invested in you than I thought."
Rolo sighed. "Great."
He put away his phone before I could snatch it to block this number as well.