The air in the capital felt thick with tension, as though the city itself was holding its breath. The subtle chaos caused by Lord Davron's fall was just the beginning—Lukas knew that much. The emperor's new advisor, faceless to most but feared by many, was not one to be underestimated. And if the latest report from Selena's network was accurate, she was preparing to strike back.
Lukas stood in the war room, eyes fixed on the map before him. His fingers traced the routes he had taken through the city the previous night, weaving through the layers of information his network had gathered. If the advisor was planning a countermove, he needed to be ahead of her at every turn.
Marcus entered the room, his expression grim. "It's starting. The advisor has already begun rallying her forces. She's pulling in favors from the nobles who still support her."
Lukas looked up sharply. "How many?"
"Enough to cause trouble," Marcus replied. "They're not all loyal to her, but they're opportunists. If they see a chance to seize power, they'll take it."
Zane, who had been quietly listening by the doorway, stepped forward. "She's not wasting any time. We need to hit her harder before she consolidates her forces."
Lukas nodded, feeling the pressure mount. The advisor was moving quickly, too quickly for comfort. But Lukas had expected this—he had known from the start that she wouldn't go down easily. The question was, how would she strike?
He opened the system window, needing to get a clearer sense of his own progress. Every step forward brought him closer to leveling up, and now, with the advisor preparing her next move, every bit of strength counted.
---
[System Status]
- Name: Lukas Veridan
- Level: 5 (Ether Awakening)
- Ether Points: 1,800
- Progress to Level 6: 95%
- Abilities: Ether Knowledge Integration, Enhanced Learning, Ether Absorption Boost (active)
- Current Quest: Defeat the advisor's counterstrike and dismantle her remaining support.
---
The advisor's strike would come soon, but Lukas wasn't going to wait for her to catch him off guard. He had to act first. With the mercenaries still wavering, he needed to secure Garros's loyalty completely and ensure that the advisor was left without her military teeth.
"We'll meet with Garros tonight," Lukas said, his voice steady but firm. "He's still on the fence, but if we show him that the advisor's days are numbered, he'll side with us. Once we secure the mercenaries, we can shift our focus entirely to the court."
Marcus nodded, his stern face betraying a hint of approval. "A smart move. Without the mercenaries, the advisor's influence will crumble."
"And what about the nobles who still support her?" Zane asked.
"They're opportunists, like you said," Lukas replied. "Once they see the advisor falling, they'll abandon her. We just need to give them a push."
---
Later that night, Lukas, Zane, and Marcus set off once again, heading for Garros's camp. This time, there was no room for negotiation. Garros needed to see that siding with the advisor would lead to his downfall, and Lukas would make sure that the mercenary leader understood the stakes.
The camp was quieter than it had been the previous night, but the tension was still there. Garros met them outside his command tent, his expression guarded but curious.
"You're back," Garros said, crossing his arms. "Didn't expect you so soon."
Lukas dismounted his horse and approached the mercenary leader. "I told you we'd bring proof. The advisor is already rallying her forces, trying to claw her way back. But her foundation is weak."
Garros narrowed his eyes. "Weak how?"
"She's lost the support of several key nobles," Lukas said, his voice low but steady. "And the ones who still back her are doing so out of fear. The moment she falters, they'll scatter. But we can strike first and take her down before she regains her footing."
Garros listened, his expression unreadable. "You want me to break my contract with her? That's a dangerous move."
"It's the only move," Lukas countered. "The advisor is already crumbling. If you stay with her, you'll go down too. But if you join us now, you'll be on the winning side. We'll make sure you're well-compensated for your loyalty."
There was a long pause, and Lukas could see Garros weighing his options. The mercenary leader wasn't a man who made decisions lightly, but Lukas knew he had to act fast. He accessed the **system window** again, pulling up a new ability he had been saving for just this moment.
---
[System Ability Activated: Leadership Influence—Level 1]
---
The system pulsed with energy, and Lukas felt a subtle change in the air. His words carried more weight now, his presence more commanding. Garros shifted, clearly feeling the impact of Lukas's enhanced influence.
"You don't have much time, Garros," Lukas said, his voice steady. "The advisor will strike soon. But if you join us now, we'll make sure she doesn't get the chance."
Garros exhaled slowly, then nodded. "Alright, Veridan. You've convinced me. The advisor's not worth the risk. I'll bring my men over to your side."
Lukas felt a surge of relief but kept his expression neutral. "Good. We'll need your forces ready to move soon. The advisor won't wait long."
---
The return to the Veridan estate was filled with a sense of momentum. The mercenaries were now on their side, and the advisor's grip on power was slipping with every passing day. But Lukas knew that the real challenge was still ahead. The advisor wouldn't go down quietly, and her counterstrike would come sooner than they expected.
As they entered the estate, Zane turned to Lukas. "That was impressive. You managed to turn Garros without a fight."
Lukas shrugged. "It was a gamble, but it paid off. Now we focus on the advisor."
Marcus stepped forward, his voice heavy with the weight of experience. "The advisor will strike soon, Lukas. We need to be ready for whatever she throws at us."
Lukas nodded, already preparing his next move. The court was in chaos, the advisor was losing ground, and the mercenaries were on his side. But the game was far from over. The advisor retaliation will probably happen anytime soon.