Lukas watched the Veridan estate's training yard from his study window, the muffled sounds of his elite troops drilling under the morning sun. The progress they had made since consuming the Pills of Ascension was beyond anything he could have hoped for. What had once been a group of skilled soldiers was now a small but formidable force of cultivators, their strength and discipline unmatched by any regular army.
But Lukas knew better than to reveal this newfound power too soon. He had learned from his time in the military—never show your full strength to your enemies. There were eyes everywhere, spies not yet rooted out of the capital, and enemies within the court who would stop at nothing to undermine the Veridan house. Revealing the true capabilities of his elite forces would be akin to handing his enemies a weapon.
As he stood, his thoughts turned to the growing rumors he had heard from Zane about the prime minister's latest attack. At first, he thought it would be a standard smear campaign, whispers in the court questioning his rise in power. But this morning, things had changed.
A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. Zane entered the room, his face grim. "We have a problem," he said.
Lukas motioned for him to continue. "What is it?"
"The prime minister has sent a formal accusation to the king," Zane said, his voice tense. "He's claiming that the Veridan family has been hiding illegitimate dealings with foreign powers. He's provided fabricated letters that supposedly prove you've been conspiring with the Drevyn forces. It's gaining traction in the court."
Lukas's brow furrowed as Zane handed him the documents. The accusations were laid out meticulously, each one more damaging than the last. The prime minister wasn't attacking Lukas's reputation this time; he was going after the entire Veridan household, framing them as traitors who had sold their loyalty to foreign enemies.
"The king has called a special council meeting to address the accusations," Zane continued. "It's set for tomorrow. You'll have to defend yourself and the house in front of the court."
Lukas remained silent for a moment, his mind already racing through the implications of this. The prime minister had made his move, and it was a bold one. If these accusations were allowed to stand, it would destroy the Veridan family's reputation and likely strip them of their power in the kingdom. Worse, it would give the king the leverage he needed to fully control the military, crippling the noble houses.
"Do we have proof that these letters are fake?" Lukas asked, his voice calm despite the tension building inside him.
Zane nodded. "We've already traced the source of the forgeries. They came from one of the prime minister's agents. But that's not the problem. The court is divided, and many nobles already harbor doubts about your rise. Even with proof, it will be difficult to turn the tide in such a short time."
Lukas tapped his fingers on the desk, considering his options. The prime minister had made an aggressive move, and while Lukas had evidence on his side, the court of public opinion was a different battlefield. He needed to shift the narrative quickly, and for that, he needed more than just hard evidence—he needed leverage.
---
Later That Day
Lukas stood in the center of his study, the system interface glowing softly before him. He pulled up the latest strategic quest the system had given him, its importance now more evident than ever.
[New Quest: Uncover the Prime Minister's Web of Lies]
Objective: Gather irrefutable evidence against the prime minister's network. Reward: Political Insight Enhancement, Court Influence Boost.
The system had been monitoring the political landscape, and now, it had identified the prime minister's network as a key target. If Lukas could unravel the web of agents and deals the prime minister had woven, he could not only clear his name but also cripple the prime minister's influence.
"Selena," Lukas said, as his trusted informant appeared in the doorway. "I need you to dig deeper into the prime minister's dealings. We've uncovered his forgery, but there's more. I want to know who his allies are, who he's bribed, and what his next move is. The more we know, the better."
Selena nodded, her eyes sharp with understanding. "I'll get on it immediately. But be careful. If he's making this bold of a move, he must have powerful backers in the court."
"That's what I'm counting on," Lukas said quietly. "If we can expose those backers, we'll turn the court against him."
---
As night fell, the tension in the estate thickened. Lukas gathered his core team—Marcus, Zane, and Aurelia—in the war room, the map of the capital spread out before them. The stakes had risen higher than ever, and each of them knew that the next few days would decide the future of the Veridan family.
"We've dealt with political threats before," Marcus said, his voice steady. "But this is different. The prime minister has planted these seeds for a long time, and now he's acting on them."
Lukas nodded, his eyes scanning the map. "He's been waiting for the right moment. The fact that he's making such an aggressive move now means he thinks he can win."
Aurelia leaned over the table, her sharp gaze focused on Lukas. "What's the plan? You're not just going to fight him in court, are you?"
"No," Lukas said, meeting her gaze. "We need more than just a defense. We need to go on the offensive."
He pointed to a series of markings on the map—the locations of key agents tied to the prime minister's network that Selena had identified. "These are his eyes and ears in the city. If we can cut off his flow of information, we can blind him long enough to make our move."
Zane stepped forward. "I can handle that. My team can strike tonight."
"Good," Lukas said. "But that's only part of the plan. Aurelia, I need you to reach out to your family's allies in the court. If we're going to win this, we need their support. The prime minister's attack won't hold if we have enough noble houses backing us."
Aurelia's eyes narrowed. "I'll talk to my grandfather. But we'll need more than just political favors. We need to give them a reason to stand with us."
"We will," Lukas said. "By the time this is over, they'll see that the prime minister's network is built on lies and corruption. And when it crumbles, the court will have no choice but to side with us."
---
The Following Day: The Court of Valeria
The grand hall of the king's court was filled with the most powerful figures in the kingdom. Noble houses, military leaders, and advisors lined the chamber, their eyes fixed on the raised dais where the king sat, his expression unreadable.
The prime minister stood confidently at the center, his voice ringing through the hall as he presented his accusations against the Veridan family. The forged letters were displayed as evidence, painting Lukas and his household as traitors who had secretly allied with the Drevyn forces.
Lukas stood beside his grandfather, his face calm but his mind working furiously. The evidence he had to clear their name was solid, but the court was already swayed by the prime minister's presentation. Doubt was a powerful weapon, and the prime minister wielded it masterfully.
As the accusations mounted, the king leaned forward, his eyes cold as he addressed Lukas. "What do you have to say in your defense, Lukas Veridan? The charges against you and your family are grave."
Lukas stepped forward, his voice steady as he met the king's gaze. "These accusations are based on lies and forgeries, Your Majesty. We have proof that the letters presented by the prime minister are fabricated by his agents."
He motioned to Zane, who stepped forward with the documents they had gathered. "These letters were traced back to one of the prime minister's men, a known forger who has been paid handsomely for his services."
The court buzzed with murmurs as Lukas presented his case. But as expected, the proof alone wasn't enough. The nobles' suspicions remained, their doubt lingering in the air.
That was when Selena entered the room, her presence subtle but commanding. She approached the court quietly, a document in hand. Lukas's heart raced as he saw what she carried—the final piece of evidence.
"This document," Selena said, her voice calm but clear, "shows the financial records of the prime minister's dealings with foreign agents. It proves that he has been the one conspiring with the Drevyn forces, not the Veridan family."
The prime minister's face paled as the document was presented. Lukas watched as the king's expression shifted, his cold gaze now directed at the prime minister. The tension in the room thickened as the court waited for the king's response.
Lukas knew this wasn't the end of the prime minister's schemes, but for now, the tides had turned in his favor. The battle in court was just the beginning, and as the political storm brewed, Lukas prepared for what is coming next.