The streets of the capital buzzed with their usual mix of commerce and shadows. Lukas walked through them, his cloak pulled tight around him as he made his way toward Selena's brothel. He kept to the narrow alleys, avoiding unnecessary attention. Tonight's meeting was critical. They were nearing the final stages of their plan to root out the spies in his estate, and any slip-up could unravel everything they'd built.
The system had been feeding Lukas constant updates, his recent purchases from the shop proving invaluable. The Shadow Veil Elixirs, in particular, had been distributed to his network of informants, giving them the ability to move undetected while gathering information.
Lukas turned a corner, his eyes scanning the crowd for any sign of danger. The capital was rife with threats, especially now that whispers of his growing influence had begun to spread. But no one would expect him to be moving in these circles tonight.
At the end of the street stood Selena's brothel, its soft lanterns casting an inviting glow. But beneath the surface, this place was a hive of secrets, and Lukas intended to use every one of them.
---
Selena was waiting for him in her private office, the familiar scent of incense filling the air. Her sharp eyes met his as soon as he entered, and she gestured for him to sit.
"Punctual as ever," she said, her tone light but her eyes serious. "I assume you've come with some progress?"
Lukas sat, leaning back in the chair with a confident smile. "I have. The network is growing. The conduits I provided my men have accelerated their Ether cultivation, and we're close to purging the estate of spies."
Selena raised an eyebrow, a glint of approval in her eyes. "Efficient as always, Lukas. But you didn't come here to tell me things I already know. What's the next move?"
Lukas leaned forward, his voice lowering. "We're close to identifying the remaining traitors. I've confirmed that the prime minister's men are behind most of the espionage, but there's another hand at play—someone else with an interest in destabilizing House Veridan."
Selena's expression darkened. "That's what I feared. My sources have been picking up similar whispers. It's not just the prime minister. There's another faction moving against you, though I haven't been able to identify them yet."
Lukas frowned. "It could be one of the noble houses. Some of them have been quiet—too quiet."
Selena nodded, tapping her fingers against the desk. "Quiet means dangerous. But we'll find them. We always do."
---
The conversation shifted as Selena poured two glasses of wine, setting one in front of Lukas. "Do you ever wonder how we got here?" she asked, her tone lighter now. "You and me—partners in this game of shadows."
Lukas smirked, taking a sip of the wine. "You were always part of the game, Selena. I just happened to recognize your value."
She smiled, a hint of something softer in her eyes, though it was quickly masked. "You're not wrong. But I didn't expect you to rise this fast. There's something about you, Lukas. Something different."
Lukas shrugged, hiding the truth about his system. "I've learned to adapt."
Selena studied him for a moment longer, then leaned back, her expression shifting to something more calculating. "I have information for you. One of your estate's stable hands has been meeting with a contact outside the city. He thinks he's been careful, but my girls are very good at noticing the details."
Lukas's eyes narrowed. "Who's the contact?"
"We're still working on that," Selena replied. "But the stable hand's been slipping messages to someone high up. He doesn't know who, but I suspect it's linked to the prime minister. It's always the prime minister."
Lukas drummed his fingers on the table, thinking. "Then we'll make our move tonight. If we follow the stable hand, he'll lead us straight to the contact."
Selena nodded. "I'll have my people ready. If we're quick, we can catch them both."
---
Hours later, Lukas and a small group of Selena's most trusted informants moved silently through the shadows of the estate's outer grounds. The stable hand in question—a wiry man named Rook—had no idea he was being watched. He slipped out of the estate under the cover of darkness, heading toward the northern gate of the city where the meeting was set to take place.
Lukas followed at a distance, his senses heightened. The system fed him constant updates on the flow of Ether around him, allowing him to blend into the shadows seamlessly. The Shadow Veil Elixirs made his movements practically invisible to anyone not attuned to Ether.
As Rook approached the meeting point, Lukas signaled for Selena's people to spread out, surrounding the area. He and Zane moved in closer, positioning themselves to intercept the contact.
The night air was still, the only sound the distant rustling of trees as Rook waited nervously. Moments later, a figure appeared from the shadows—a tall man dressed in dark robes, his face obscured by a hood. He exchanged a few hurried words with Rook, but Lukas couldn't make out the details from his position.
Zane leaned in, whispering, "We should strike now before they notice."
Lukas shook his head, his eyes narrowing. "Not yet. I want to see where this goes."
Rook handed over a small scroll, the man in the hood slipping it into his robes. Lukas could feel the tension in the air. This was the moment. With a swift motion, he signaled to Selena's people, and they moved in, surrounding the two men.
The hooded figure's eyes widened in shock, but it was too late. Lukas stepped forward, drawing his saber. "You've been playing a dangerous game," he said coldly. "Now, let's see who's been pulling your strings."
The man tried to flee, but Selena's people closed in, cutting off any escape. Zane grabbed Rook, holding him down as the stable hand squirmed in terror.
Lukas pulled back the hood, revealing the face of the contact. He was young, no more than a few years older than Lukas, but his eyes held the cunning of someone far more experienced. Lukas recognized him immediately—one of the prime minister's aides.
"Well, this is unexpected," Lukas said, his voice calm but laced with danger. "Care to explain why you've been spying on my estate?"
The man said nothing, his lips pressed into a thin line.
Lukas sighed, stepping closer. "You can either tell me now, or I'll find out the hard way. Either way, you're not leaving here."
After a tense silence, the aide spoke, his voice shaky. "It's not just the prime minister. He's working with someone else—someone who wants to see your family fall. But I don't know who. They keep their identity hidden, even from us."
Lukas's eyes darkened. "Then you've just become more useful than I thought."
---
By the time the sun began to rise, Lukas returned to the estate, the captured spies in hand. The night had been a success, but it was clear now that the threat against House Veridan was even greater than he had imagined.
Selena had proven, once again, to be an invaluable ally, and Lukas knew that his network of informants would be the key to staying one step ahead of his enemies. But the revelation that there was another player behind the scenes—a shadowy figure working with the prime minister—unsettled him.
For now, Lukas would focus on consolidating his power, strengthening his forces, and expanding his network. But soon, he would have to confront the forces working against him head-on.
The game was just beginning, and Lukas intended to win.