The young prince sat in his office, poring over maps and reports with a determined expression. The weight of the nation's survival rested heavily on his shoulders. Just as he leaned back to contemplate his next move, a firm knock interrupted his thoughts.
"Come in," the prince called out.
The door opened, revealing Rock, his loyal general. Behind him stood seven figures, cloaked and masked, their faces obscured. Rock stepped forward and bowed slightly, his voice tinged with regret.
"Young Prince, I've brought them," he said. "I tried my best, but I could only find seven."
The prince offered a gentle smile. "It's fine, Rock. You've done well. I'm happy with what we have now. Please, go and rest."
Rock blinked in surprise. "You… want me to leave? Are you sure?"
"Yes," the prince replied, his smile unwavering. "Why do you ask?"
Rock's tone turned serious. "Young Prince, you're surrounded by assassins. What if they attack you the moment I leave?"
The prince raised a hand to interrupt him. "You may leave, Rock. That's an order."
Rock hesitated, his concern evident. "But—"
"Leave," the prince insisted. "Don't worry. I'll be fine. Trust me."
Reluctantly, Rock bowed and exited the room, casting one last worried glance over his shoulder.
Now alone with the mysterious group, the prince turned his attention to them. "So, you are assassins, am I right?"
One of the cloaked figures stepped forward. His presence exuded an air of authority, and his voice was calm yet sharp. "Young Prince, I am Nightfang, the representative of this group. I must admit, it takes guts to sit before us, knowing who we are. Most men would tremble."
The prince chuckled lightly. "Thank you for the compliment. I'm flattered."
Nightfang also chuckled, though his tone quickly shifted to one of intrigue. "But I doubt this meeting is meant for idle chatter. Why have you summoned us?"
The prince's demeanor turned serious. "Rock may have explained the purpose of this meeting—about Crown Security and Research Wing. Or should I explain it to you myself?"
Nightfang nodded. "Your general provided us with the details. But before we continue, I have a question. Aren't you afraid, Prince? You're alone in a room with assassins. Any one of us could kill you, and no one would ever know. Why aren't you intimidated?"
The prince met his gaze without flinching. "If I showed fear, you wouldn't trust me. Why would you follow a man who's scared of you? That would only make you suspect that I'm planning to sabotage you."
Nightfang smirked. "You make a fair point. I admit, I trust you a little more because of that. But only a little."
"That's enough for now," the prince replied confidently. "I'll make sure that trust becomes absolute in time."
Nightfang's smirk widened. "Fair enough. But let's move to the heart of the matter. I've heard about your plan to invade the Tidal Crown Empire. Why are you so desperate to do this?"
The prince stood, unfurling a large map of the region on his desk. He gestured to their country's borders. "Look here. Our nation is sandwiched between the Tidal Crown Empire and the Azure Empire. While we have fertile lands and valuable crops, we're blocked from exporting them freely. Our economy is strangled, and collapse is inevitable if we don't act. Worse, the Tidal Crown Empire constantly threatens invasion. If we don't strike first, they will. By invading, we open trade routes, secure their ports, and give our people a chance to thrive."
Nightfang studied the map and the prince's determined face. After a moment, he nodded. "I understand your reasons. But let me ask you this: can you really trust us? We're assassins, slaves to money. What's stopping us from taking a bounty on your head and killing you right here?"
The prince's gaze hardened. "I'm fully aware of the risks. But I have no choice. You're the best at what you do, and I need the best to eliminate key threats and execute the covert operations my plan demands. I'd rather die trying to save this country than live knowing I did nothing."
Nightfang's smirk returned, now laced with admiration. "You're bold, Prince. I like that. After hearing your reasons, I, Nightfang, declare myself a member of your intelligence agency, the Crown Security and Research Wing." He bowed deeply.
Rising from his bow, Nightfang turned to the other assassins. "What about the rest of you? Will you join me, or will you return to the shadows?"
The cloaked figures murmured among themselves before, one by one, they nodded their agreement.
The prince bowed to them, his voice filled with gratitude. "Thank you. I know this mission will be dangerous, and it may cost you your lives. But your willingness to help means everything to me."
Nightfang stepped forward. "There's no need to bow, Prince. You're giving us a chance to serve our homeland. Even if our sacrifices go unrecognized, I am ready."
The prince straightened, his expression resolute. "If any of you fall in service, I'll ensure you receive military honors and a proper ceremony. You may not be remembered by the world, but you'll be remembered by me."
The room fell silent as the weight of his words settled over them. For the first time, the assassins felt more than loyalty to gold—they felt loyalty to a prince who dared to dream of a better future.