The air in the capital crackled with tension, as if the city itself knew something monumental was about to happen. The fall of Lord Davron had sent shockwaves through the court, leaving power vacuums and dangerous opportunities in its wake. For Lukas, this was the moment to strike again—this time, at the mercenaries that formed the backbone of the advisor's clandestine power.
Lukas paced in the war room of the Veridan estate, his mind focused on the task at hand. The mercenaries had been working with Davron for years, their allegiance bought with coin and opportunity. Now, without Davron's protection, they were vulnerable—but not weak. If Lukas was to sever the advisor's ties to them, he would need to approach them carefully.
Zane stood by the map of the city, his brow furrowed as he studied the various routes leading to the mercenaries' encampment just outside the capital. "The leader of the mercenaries, Garros, is known for being ruthless, but he's no fool. If we come at him directly, he'll shut us out or worse—side with the advisor completely."
"We won't go directly," Lukas replied, his voice calm but resolute. "We'll go with a mix of information and leverage. Garros isn't loyal to anyone but himself. He'll switch sides if we give him enough incentive—and if we cut off his other options."
Marcus, who had been listening quietly, stepped forward. His presence had grown even more imposing since his recovery, the fire of his former command returning. "Mercenaries follow coin, but they also respect power. If Garros thinks he can get a better deal from us—or that we're the winning side—he'll make the switch. But we need to approach him smartly. Any sign of weakness, and he'll take advantage."
Lukas glanced at Marcus, appreciating the wisdom in his words. His uncle's experience as a former general was invaluable, especially in dealing with men like Garros, who lived by a different set of rules than the nobles of the court.
"I'll approach Garros myself," Lukas said. "But I'll take a few of the elite guard with me, just to show him what he'd be joining."
Zane nodded. "I'll assemble the best of the men. We'll be ready by nightfall."
---
That evening, Lukas and a small group of his elite guard, led by Zane and Marcus, rode out toward the outskirts of the capital. The journey was short but tense. They moved through the narrow forest paths, staying out of sight as much as possible. Lukas had chosen to meet Garros under the guise of a routine check, making it seem as though this meeting was just another business transaction. In truth, it was anything but.
As they approached the mercenary camp, the atmosphere shifted. The camp was large, a sprawling collection of tents and wagons, filled with hardened men and women who had seen their share of battle. The smell of smoke and steel lingered in the air, a testament to the life these soldiers lived.
Garros, a broad-shouldered man with a scar running down the side of his face, stood at the center of the camp, overseeing his men. His eyes narrowed as Lukas approached, but he offered a curt nod.
"Veridan," Garros greeted him, his voice gravelly. "Didn't expect to see you here. You usually send your people to deal with the likes of us."
Lukas dismounted his horse, his movements slow and deliberate. He knew better than to rush into a meeting with a man like Garros. "This isn't a typical visit, Garros. I came to speak with you directly because I think we can both benefit from what I'm offering."
Garros crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. "Go on, then. What are you offering?"
Lukas didn't mince words. "Davron's done. The court is shifting, and the advisor is on shaky ground. You're a smart man, Garros. You know better than to tie yourself to a sinking ship."
Garros chuckled darkly. "Davron may be done, but the advisor still has power. I don't see her falling anytime soon."
"She will," Lukas replied confidently. "The court is already turning against her. She's losing her grip. And when she falls, anyone tied to her will go down with her. That includes you."
Garros's eyes flickered with uncertainty, but he didn't respond immediately.
Lukas pressed on. "But if you switch sides now, before things get worse, you'll have a place in the new order. I can offer you coin, men, and a chance to lead something far greater than what Davron or the advisor ever promised."
Garros narrowed his eyes. "And why should I believe you? You could be making empty promises just to get me out of the way."
Lukas smiled faintly, knowing that this was the critical moment. "I'll show you why."
He motioned to Marcus and the elite guards behind him. "These men—my men—are trained by the best. My uncle, Marcus, was once one of the greatest generals in the kingdom. And now, he's preparing my forces. You've seen what I've done on the battlefield, and that's just the beginning. You can either be part of that, or you can stay here and wait for the advisor to betray you the moment it suits her."
Garros's gaze flicked between Marcus, Lukas, and the guards. There was a long silence as he considered his options.
Finally, Garros nodded slowly. "I'll consider your offer. But I'll need more than promises. You want me to switch sides, you'll need to prove that the advisor's days are numbered."
Lukas nodded, understanding the mercenary leader's hesitation. "You'll get your proof. The next few days will show just how vulnerable she is. When that happens, you'll know it's time."
Garros smirked, a glint of respect in his eyes. "Fine. I'll be waiting."
---
As Lukas and his group left the camp and headed back to the estate, the tension in the air began to ease. Zane, riding beside him, let out a low whistle. "That went better than I expected."
Lukas remained focused, though a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "Garros is smart. He won't commit until he knows the advisor is losing power. But once we show him that, he'll switch sides."
Marcus, riding on Lukas's other side, nodded approvingly. "You handled that well. Garros respects strength and clarity. You gave him both."
"Now we just need to deal the next blow," Lukas said, his mind already turning to the next phase of the plan.
---
Back at the estate, Lukas opened the system window to check his progress. The recent events had brought him closer to his goals, and his Ether points had risen slightly from the successful negotiation.
---
[System Status]
- Name: Lukas Veridan
- Level: 5 (Ether Awakening)
- Ether Points: 1,750
- Progress to Level 6: 93%
- Abilities: Ether Knowledge Integration, Enhanced Learning, Ether Absorption Boost (active).
---
The system buzzed with potential, and Lukas felt a surge of energy as he reviewed his stats. Soon, he would reach the next level, and with it, new abilities would be unlocked. But for now, his focus was on the immediate task—destroying the advisor's remaining support and securing the loyalty of the mercenaries.
As he closed the system window, a knock came at his door. Zane entered, his expression serious. "We have a problem."
Lukas's gaze sharpened. "What is it?"
"Word just came from Selena's network. The advisor isn't going down without a fight. She's preparing to make a move, and if we don't act fast, she might turn the tables on us."
Lukas's jaw clenched. The advisor was more dangerous than he had anticipated, but he was ready. "Then we move first."