A year has already pass,Sylvain used that time well. It was the time he had spent honing his mind, body, and soul for the sole purpose of tearing down the system from within. With his body now a well-trained vessel of strength, he moved through the halls of House Flamesworth like a predator stalking prey—his every step calculated, his every word carefully chosen. The once fragile boy who had stumbled through training was gone. In his place stood a man of focus, determination, and, above all, strategy.Sylvain had made it a point to speak less and observe more. He'd mastered the art of reading the room, manipulating his words to create just the right amount of tension and alliance, always pushing his ambitions further without ever revealing them fully. In the shadows, he began weaving his web of influence, using everyone as pieces in a larger game.But today, there was something different in the air. House Welter had begun showing interest in him—a dangerous game for both sides.Pierre Welter, one of the more ambitious members of the House, one of those bastards with orange burning eyes,he had reached out to Sylvain under the guise of an alliance, an offer he knew Sylvain wouldn't turn down.Sylvain entered the private meeting room of House Welter, the heavy wooden door creaking as it shut behind him. Pierre sat at the head of the table, his dark eyes scanning Sylvain with a mixture of curiosity and calculated wariness."You've grown stronger,remarkable" Pierre remarked, his glowing eyes narrowing as he remembers the weak Sylvain from the past timelines . The faintest trace of a smile tugged at his lips. "I must say, I'm surprised."Sylvain shrugged, exuding an air of casual confidence that contrasted sharply with his cold, calculating thoughts. "One learns to adapt. The Flamesworths never valued me for anything other than my name. But I'm more than just an heir."Pierre didn't respond immediately. He studied Sylvain thinking to himself "Maybe it's the shift of the instructors with their approach to Sylvain Flamesworth,they knew him through the other timelines so they probably decided to use other approaches to make him stronger this time,remarkable outcomes..."Leaning back in his chair, before he finally breaking the silence. "Tell me, Sylvain, why would you, of all people, consider joining our cause? You're Flamesworth blood—your family's power could eclipse anything House Welter has. Why help us?"Sylvain's lips curled into a faint smile, his eyes never leaving Pierre's. "Power is a game, Pierre. And in this game, I have no place among my family. They are too fractured, too consumed with their internal squabbles. I'd rather make my own path—one where I am the one calling the shots."Pierre raised an eyebrow, he knows about the complications Sylvain had with his father but he didn't know it would lead him to this much resent ,intrigued but still uncertain. "And what would you want in return?"Sylvain leaned in, his voice soft but firm, each word calculated. "What I want is something your House has been striving for: Influence. If you want to break through the wall the elites have set up, you'll need more than just muscle—you'll need someone who understands the inner workings of the Flamesworths. Someone who knows how to get things done in the shadows."A flicker of recognition flashed in Pierre's eyes, but he quickly masked it. "And you're offering that... in exchange for what?"Sylvain didn't flinch. "I offer you my knowledge, my insight, and the ability to sway others into aligning with us. I'll be your bridge into House Flamesworth, Pierre. I can help you position yourself as a leader... if you know how to use me."Pierre stared at him, considering the offer carefully. There was something undeniably persuasive in Sylvain's tone, the promise of power laced beneath his words. Sylvain was careful not to show his full hand, keeping his motives ambiguous, just enough to plant the seed of doubt in Pierre's mind."I'll consider your offer, but understand this, Sylvain," Pierre said, his voice low, his eyes shined with a glow in the dark, "we don't trust easily.""Nor should you," Sylvain replied smoothly. "Trust must be earned, not given freely. But remember—sometimes the best way to win the game is to have the right pieces in place. I'm offering you the right pieces."Pierre didn't respond immediately, but the flicker of calculation in his eyes told Sylvain everything he needed to know. The seed had been planted. It would only take time before Lucas would come to see him as an indispensable ally.The next few days were spent playing the game—Sylvain spent his time making subtle moves, manipulating the opinions of both House Welter and House Flamesworth's inner circles. He knew how to pull the strings from the shadows, letting the right people think he was on their side while secretly pushing his own agenda.He had grown skilled at reading the room, observing the subtleties in people's expressions and body language. Every conversation was a negotiation, every casual glance a potential victory. He had learned to manipulate and control the narrative, always leaving just enough doubt in people's minds to make them second-guess themselves."Use their desires and clash it with others, O' great glorious houses of Pilturia , the time will come when I will show you hell," Sylvain thought to himself with a burning determination.Later that evening, Sylvain stood in front of a large mirror in his quarters, running his hand through his cat River,still by his side throughout all the pain he endures. The day had been long, and the pressure of his growing manipulations weighed heavily on him.In the recent months , word have been going out about a group of highly skilled crimson masked individuals that shake Steelgate's security, stealing from government warehouses and high guarded bases for military grade items .The map he'd taken from the old man Lucas—the detailed routes and passages helped him made sense of things, , and Sylvain had been tracking the crimson movements for weeks. Now, it was time to take action, he located them based on rule of elimination , there was only one passage that would lead the slums to such places and he pinpointed it in the maps.After positioning key members of both House Flamesworth and House Welter into his web. He had made sure that people were starting to question the legitimacy of House leadership, subtly planting ideas that would erode their trust in the elites while also preparing for an external rebellion.In the shadows of the training hall he was strolling by, Sylvain watched as a few of the House Welter members debated strategy. It was the perfect opportunity to manipulate things from behind the scenes. He subtly nudged one of them in the right direction, using his knowledge of the House's weaknesses and ambitions."You're right, Roland Welter," Sylvain's voice echoed from behind the door. "If we strike at the heart of House Flamesworth, it would cripple their ability to respond. It's a calculated risk, but the reward will be worth it. The Welters have the numbers—you have the power, I can keep you informed about their every move."The conversation halted, the members now weighing the new suggestion, not knowing the hand that had guided them to this moment. Sylvain stood back, a faint smile on his lips as the wheels of his plans continued to turn.The game was in motion. And this time, he wouldn't just be a pawn—he'd be the one to move the pieces.As the night drew on, Sylvain opened a forgotten passage through the castle's basement, equipping himself with both a blade and an energy handgun, he wore a dark cloak and carried on to find the crimson.