The tension in the Ironstride base was palpable, like a taut wire ready to snap. Hunters moved through the corridors with purpose, but their hushed conversations carried an edge of unease. Felix leaned casually against the wall outside the meeting hall, his sharp crimson eyes flicking over the hunters who passed him by. Each glance, each whispered word, was another piece in the puzzle he was crafting.
Inside the meeting hall, the low hum of voices escalated, punctuated by sharp exchanges and the occasional bark of authority. Felix stayed outside for a moment longer, letting the buzz of tension soak into the air around him. Finally, with an almost languid grace, he pushed off the wall and entered the room.
The guild's leadership sat at a long table, with Victoria positioned deliberately close to the head. Her silver braid gleamed under the harsh overhead lights, and her presence dominated the space. Felix noted how her posture radiated confidence, her movements deliberate and precise as she spoke to those around her.
But what caught Felix's attention was the way the room fractured subtly around her. Some hunters leaned in, eager to hear her words, their expressions filled with respect—or fear. Others exchanged uneasy glances, their loyalty clearly wavering.
Felix's lips twitched into a faint smirk. Perfect.
+
Victoria's voice cut through the noise like a blade. "Ironstride was built on strength, vision, and unity," she declared, her tone commanding. "But what we have now is a shadow of what this guild could be. Complacency has taken root, and it's costing us opportunities—power."
The room fell silent as her words sank in. Conversations ceased, and all eyes turned toward her. Felix, seated near the back, allowed himself a faint smile, his sharp crimson gaze sweeping over the crowd. Every reaction was a potential clue—every twitch of a brow, every fold of crossed arms.
Bryce, a senior member notorious for his temper, leaned back in his chair with a skeptical snort. His arms were crossed, his expression one of forced indifference, but Felix caught the way his fingers tapped an impatient rhythm against his biceps.
"And what exactly do you suggest we do about it, Cross?" Bryce asked, his tone thick with condescension. "We can't just snap our fingers and fix everything overnight. Or did you think a couple of pretty speeches would solve all our problems?"
A murmur rippled through the room—some agreeing with Bryce, others shifting uneasily in their seats. Felix watched it all unfold, noting how the tension began to climb.
Victoria didn't flinch. Instead, she straightened, her piercing gaze locking onto Bryce like a predator sizing up its prey. Her lips curved into a sharp, calculated smile. "No, Bryce, we can't. But we can start by acknowledging the problem—and by putting people in positions of leadership who understand what it takes to move us forward."
The subtle challenge in her words wasn't lost on anyone. A few hunters exchanged wide-eyed glances, while others leaned forward, eager to see how this would unfold. Bryce's face reddened, his jaw tightening as he pushed back his chair with a loud scrape.
"And I suppose you think you're that person?" Bryce shot back, his voice rising. "You think you've got what it takes to lead this guild? Let me tell you something, Victoria—ambition doesn't make a leader. Experience does."
The room tensed further, the charged atmosphere nearly crackling with unspoken tension.
Victoria took a deliberate step forward, her movements slow and calculated. She rested her hands on the table, leaning forward slightly, her piercing blue eyes boring into Bryce's.
"I don't think, Bryce," she said, her voice dropping into a dangerous calm. "I know."
A heavy silence followed, the weight of her words pressing down on everyone in the room. Felix noticed Bryce's hands clench into fists, his knuckles whitening as his anger flared.
"Oh, you know, do you?" Bryce spat, standing to his full height. He was taller than Victoria, broader too, but she didn't so much as flinch. "You've been riding on your sister's coattails for years, and now you think you're some kind of savior? Let me remind you, Victoria, you're not Amelia. You don't have her connections, her power, or her influence. Hell, you can barely keep this room from falling apart, let alone the guild."
Felix's sharp eyes darted around the table, cataloging the reactions. Bryce's words had struck a nerve—not just with Victoria, but with others as well. Some nodded subtly, clearly harboring doubts of their own. Others shifted uncomfortably, unwilling to pick a side.
Victoria straightened slowly, her movements graceful but charged with tension. "You're right about one thing, Bryce," she said, her voice carrying a sharp edge. "I'm not my sister. And thank God for that."
Her words silenced even the faintest murmur in the room.
"Amelia may have her influence, her connections," Victoria continued, her tone rising slightly. "But I've built myself from the ground up. Everything I've accomplished, I've done on my own. And unlike you—" She pointed a sharp finger at Bryce. "—I don't spend my time clinging to the past, whining about things I can't control."
Bryce's face turned an alarming shade of red, his fists slamming onto the table with a loud thud. "You arrogant little—"
"Bryce!" another voice interrupted sharply. It was Lena, one of the guild's more cautious senior members. Her voice wavered slightly, but the authority in her tone was enough to catch everyone's attention.
"We're here to discuss the guild's future," Lena said, her gaze darting nervously between Bryce and Victoria. "Not to hurl insults at each other."
Felix watched as Bryce shot her a furious glare, but he stayed silent, his breathing heavy. Victoria, on the other hand, smiled faintly, the kind of smile that only sharpened her predatory aura.
"You're right, Lena," Victoria said smoothly, her voice calm but dripping with confidence. "This is about the guild's future. And the truth is, Bryce represents the very thing holding us back—stagnation. Ironstride can't afford to keep playing it safe. Not when there's so much more we could be."
The murmurs began again, louder this time, as hunters leaned toward one another, debating quietly. Some nodded in agreement, their expressions contemplative. Others looked skeptical, their arms crossed defensively.
"And what exactly does that mean?" Bryce demanded, his voice still simmering with anger. "What are you even proposing, Victoria? A coup? Replacing the leadership with you at the top?"
Felix leaned forward slightly, his foxlike smile faint but growing. He could almost feel the shift in the room—the way Victoria's confidence and Bryce's hostility were polarizing the crowd.
"If that's what it takes," Victoria replied, her tone steady. "But I'd rather not waste time fighting among ourselves. This isn't about me, Bryce. It's about what's best for Ironstride."
Bryce laughed bitterly, shaking his head. "Spare me the noble act, Cross. We all know this is about your ego."
Victoria stepped closer to him, her movements slow and deliberate. "Call it ego if you want," she said, her voice cold. "But at least I'm doing something. What have you done, Bryce? Besides stand in the way of progress?"
The tension in the room was suffocating now, every pair of eyes locked on the two of them. Felix sat back, his smile growing as he watched the scene unfold. She's good. A little reckless, but good.
+
Felix stayed silent through the exchange, letting Victoria take center stage. He wasn't here to draw attention to himself—not yet. Instead, he observed, cataloging the reactions of each guild member and noting who seemed most likely to resist Victoria's rise.
Two hunters seated near the middle exchanged uneasy glances. Felix's sharp gaze caught the subtle movement, and he filed their faces away for later. Potential troublemakers.
Another hunter, Lena, tapped her fingers nervously against the table, her gaze darting between Victoria and Bryce. She looked torn, and Felix made a mental note to keep an eye on her.
The room exploded into discussion, with voices overlapping as arguments broke out. Some supported Victoria's bold statements, while others pushed back, accusing her of overstepping.
Felix leaned back in his chair, his foxlike smile faint as he watched the chaos unfold. This was exactly what he'd hoped for.
After what felt like an eternity, Victoria raised her hand, commanding silence. "Enough," she said, her tone cutting through the noise like a whip.
The room quieted, though the tension remained.
"I'm not here to play games," Victoria continued. "Ironstride needs change, and I'm prepared to make it happen. If anyone has a problem with that, speak now."
Her eyes swept over the room, daring anyone to challenge her. Felix noted how Bryce's gaze faltered slightly, his confidence wavering under her stare.
When no one spoke, Victoria smiled—a triumphant, dangerous expression that sent a ripple through the room.
"Good," she said, straightening. "Then let's move forward."
+
As the meeting adjourned, Felix slipped out before most of the others, blending into the flow of people leaving the hall. He didn't need to stay for the posturing and murmurs that would follow. He already had what he needed.
The system pinged softly in the corner of his vision.
System Notification:
Reputation Points: +15 (Increased influence within guild)
New Skill Unlocked: Tactical Subterfuge (Passive)
Quest Progress: "Support or Sabotage Victoria's Takeover" - 50% complete
Felix's smirk deepened as he read the notifications. The skill would be useful, but the quest progress was what truly mattered. He was halfway to completing this stage of the game, and the pieces were falling into place perfectly.
+
Later that evening, Felix stood near one of the training halls, watching as hunters sparred and prepared for upcoming missions. His thoughts churned with plans and contingencies, each one calculated to keep him a step ahead.
A familiar voice pulled him from his thoughts. "Felix."
He turned to see Victoria approaching, her silver braid swaying behind her. Her expression was a mix of satisfaction and determination, her gaze locked firmly on him.
"Victoria," he greeted smoothly. "What can I do for you?"
She stopped in front of him, her hands on her hips. "I wanted to thank you."
Felix raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. "For what?"
"For your support," she said, her tone softer than usual. "Today was a pivotal moment, and I couldn't have done it without knowing you were on my side."
Felix smiled faintly, inclining his head. "I'm glad I could help."
Victoria's gaze lingered on him, her blue eyes searching his face. "You'll be there with me when it happens, right?"
Felix tilted his head slightly, his smile never wavering. "Of course."
She nodded, her confidence returning. "Good. We're closer than ever, Felix. Soon, Ironstride will be ours."
As Victoria walked away, Felix's smile faded, replaced by a calculating expression.
System Notification:
New Quest Update: "Trigger the Turning Point."
Felix's crimson eyes glinted as he read the words. The game was shifting, and the stakes were higher than ever.
"It's almost time," he murmured, his voice low.