Victor reclined in his lavish study, an amused grin playing on his lips. The downfall of Dominic Wylde had begun, and it was glorious. The chaos spreading throughout Elaris was everything he had anticipated. He was a conductor, and the city was his symphony, every note carefully orchestrated to ensure Dominic's collapse.
**Livia** entered, wearing a sultry smirk. "Dominic's public image is in tatters, and his allies are abandoning him one by one. He's cornered, Victor."
Victor tapped his fingers against the armrest of his chair, his mind already moving several steps ahead. "Ah, but a cornered animal is dangerous, Livia. The fun hasn't even started. Tell me about our 'insurance policy.' Is Oliver prepared for the next step?"
Livia's eyes glimmered as she approached him. "He's ready. Our little puppet is primed and desperate. The cracks in Dominic's circle are widening."
Victor nodded slowly, considering the full scope of his plans. Everything was falling into place, but there was still much to be done. He couldn't just destroy Dominic; he had to break him, utterly and completely.
"Perfect. Let's plant the seeds of doubt within his most trusted companions next," Victor mused, his voice laced with venom. "We'll make him question everyone, turn his friends into enemies. Once he's paranoid and isolated, that's when we strike."
---
**Seraphina** slithered through the shadowy corridors of Dominic's inner circle like a serpent, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. She had always been good at what she did—finding weaknesses, exploiting desires, and breaking people down piece by piece. Her current target was **Vance**, Dominic's oldest and most loyal advisor.
She had been whispering poison into Vance's ear for weeks now, carefully planting doubts about Dominic's decisions. Tonight, she would seal the deal.
She met Vance in a dimly lit bar on the outskirts of the city. He looked weary, his face lined with concern.
"Dominic's lost his way," Vance muttered, sipping his drink. "He's making reckless choices. I've tried to talk to him, but he won't listen."
Seraphina leaned in closer, her voice soft and soothing. "Maybe it's time for a new leader, Vance. Someone who understands the real dangers we face. Someone like you."
Vance blinked in surprise. "Me? I've always been by Dominic's side."
"Yes, but loyalty can only take you so far when the leader loses his mind," Seraphina whispered. "Dominic is dragging everyone down with him. Do you really want to be part of that?"
Vance stared into his drink, doubt flickering across his face. The seed had been planted, and Seraphina knew it was only a matter of time before it took root.
---
Back at his lair, Victor studied the reports from his spies, a satisfied smile curling his lips. Vance was faltering, just as planned. Soon, Dominic would find himself alone, surrounded by enemies he once called friends.
Victor wasn't just satisfied with dismantling Dominic's inner circle, though. He wanted to turn the public's wrath against him completely. The footage Livia had released was only the beginning. The people of Elaris had to believe that Dominic was the villain, that he had betrayed their trust and squandered their hopes.
"Livia," Victor called, his voice a command.
She appeared beside him, her beauty as intoxicating as ever. "Yes?"
"Begin the next phase. Spread the rumors. Let the people know that Dominic has been funneling city funds for his own gain. Make sure it's believable."
Livia's smile was wicked. "It's already in motion. By the time we're done, no one will trust him. Not even his own shadow."
Victor chuckled darkly. "Good. Soon, the entire city will turn on him. And when they do, we'll be there to pick up the pieces."
---
As the days passed, the rumors about Dominic's corruption spread like wildfire. The people of Elaris, already furious over the footage, now had more reason to despise him. Protests broke out across the city, and Dominic's political enemies seized the opportunity to push for his removal from power.
Dominic himself was feeling the pressure. His once-loyal allies had grown distant, and every decision he made seemed to backfire. He knew something was wrong, but he couldn't pinpoint the source. Paranoia began to creep into his thoughts, and he found himself questioning the loyalty of everyone around him.
Victor watched it all unfold with glee. This was the art of manipulation at its finest. He didn't just destroy people—he made them destroy themselves.
But as much as Victor enjoyed watching Dominic's downfall, he knew there was still more work to be done. The sons of luck were not easily defeated, and Dominic had a way of bouncing back from adversity. That's why Victor had planned for every contingency, every possible outcome.
One evening, as Victor was lounging in his luxurious quarters, Livia approached with a sly grin. "We have a problem," she said, though her tone suggested it was more of an opportunity than a real issue.
"Oh?" Victor raised an eyebrow.
"Dominic has hired a new bodyguard. Someone dangerous."
Victor's eyes lit up with intrigue. "Dangerous, you say? How delightful. Who is this new player?"
"**Reyna**, a former mercenary. She's highly skilled, ruthless, and completely loyal to Dominic."
Victor chuckled softly. "Excellent. I love a challenge."
Livia smirked. "Shall we eliminate her?"
Victor waved his hand dismissively. "No, no. Let her play her part. It's more fun that way. Besides, it's not every day you get to pit yourself against someone truly formidable."
Victor leaned back in his chair, his mind already working through the possibilities. Reyna would be a wild card in his plans, but that only made the game more exciting. He thrived on unpredictability, and this new player would provide the perfect opportunity to test his abilities.
"Let the pieces fall where they may," Victor said with a grin. "In the end, they'll all bow to me."