The city was bustling with an underlying tension, like a pot ready to boil over. Valen, unaware of the web of deception being spun around him, continued his quest for uniting the kingdom, confident that his allies were firmly behind him. What he didn't realize was that each step he took toward peace was another step toward his downfall—crafted, of course, by the Joker's hand.
Clarissa had worked wonders, sowing seeds of doubt within the king's council. Ministers who had once been staunch supporters of Valen now questioned his motives. In their eyes, he was no longer the bright, young hero destined to save the kingdom but a power-hungry noble with ambitions to seize the throne.
The Joker leaned back in his chair, watching the city's nobles as they mingled at a lavish banquet. His eyes flitted from one conversation to another, taking in every whisper, every sideways glance. He didn't need to be in the center of the room to control it—he only needed to be in the shadows, pulling the strings.
Lilith, his most devious accomplice, stood beside him, her body close enough that he could feel the heat radiating off her. She had a talent for seduction, but tonight, her role was different. She was to listen, to observe, and to report back.
"I can see the cracks forming," she whispered, her lips brushing his ear. "It won't be long now."
"Good," the Joker replied, his voice low. "But we can't rush things. A house of cards falls quickly, but if we're not careful, it could topple too soon. We need to be precise."
Lilith nodded, her eyes scanning the room with the same cold detachment as the Joker. She had been the one to whisper doubts into the ears of Valen's closest allies, turning their loyalty into suspicion. Soon, Valen would be isolated, surrounded by enemies he couldn't see.
Across the city, Hugo, the Joker's unwitting pawn, sat in his modest home, staring at the letter in his hands. It was from Valen, praising him for his service and loyalty. But Hugo's mind was filled with doubt—doubt planted by Lilith, who had expertly convinced him that Valen was merely using him.
As Hugo reread the letter, his anger began to boil. He had worked so hard for Valen, sacrificed so much, only to be discarded when his usefulness had ended. That's what Lilith had told him, and now he believed it. The Joker had played him perfectly.
Hugo's hands shook as he set the letter down. "I'll show him," he muttered. "I'll show him I'm not someone to be used and thrown away."
The Joker's plan was working flawlessly. Hugo would sabotage Valen's efforts to maintain peace between the guilds, and in doing so, he would play directly into the Joker's hands. Every move was calculated, every piece falling into place.