Baron Grant.
A man who thrived on deception and greed, one of the first nobles to turn against Kieran when the tides shifted. In his past life, Grant had been one of Lucien's most loyal supporters, whispering lies, fanning the flames of betrayal, and mocking Kieran's downfall at every opportunity.
And now? He would be the first piece to fall.
🔺 [ SYSTEM UPDATE: STATUS MENU UNLOCKED ]
A translucent interface appeared before Kieran's eyes, its crimson glow casting eerie shadows across the dimly lit chamber. His fingers twitched as lines of text scrolled before him, detailing his current power, abilities, and quests.
🔻 [ PAIN-LINKED SYSTEM: STATUS MENU ] 🔻
🔹 Name: Kieran Vale🔹 Title: The Ruthless Nemesis🔹 Level: 3 (Revenge Beginner)🔹 Pain Power: 2,450 (Scales with enemy suffering)
📊 Strength: 14📊 Intelligence: 22📊 Charisma: 16📊 Willpower: 30
🔺 Next Upgrade: Gain +10 stat points when causing extreme despair (Pain Level 4).
🔻 [ UNIQUE SKILLS ]🔥 Pain-Linked Growth – The greater the suffering inflicted, the stronger Kieran becomes.🔥 Fear Aura (Passive) – Enemies feel uneasy and paranoid in his presence.🔥 Whispers of Deception (Newly Unlocked) – Manipulates enemies into suspecting their own allies.
🔻 [ ACTIVE QUESTS ]💀 First Target: Baron Grant🛑 Stage 1: Spread rumors of his corruption ✅🛑 Stage 2: Ruin his financial standing 🔄 (In Progress)🛑 Stage 3: Ensure he is publicly humiliated ❌
💀 Special Quest: Make an Enemy Beg for Death but Deny Them🎯 Progress: 0%🎁 Reward: Unlocks Soul Fracture
🔻 [ Personal Revenge List: 100 Enemies Remaining ]💀 Next Target: (Locked)
Kieran's smirk deepened as the Pain-Linked System pulsed with life, its interface flickering before vanishing.
"This power is mine now. And I will use it to break them all."
🔺 [ QUEST UPDATE: BEGIN YOUR FIRST RETALIATION. TARGET: BARON GRANT ]🔺 [ OBJECTIVE: RUIN HIS WEALTH, REPUTATION, AND LOYALTY TO LUCIEN VALE. ]🔺 [ REWARD: +10 INTELLIGENCE | UNIQUE SKILL - WHISPERS OF DECEPTION ]
Baron Grant had built his fortune through corruption, backdoor deals, and exploiting the poor. His greed had no bounds, and Kieran knew exactly how to make him drown in it.
First, he needed information.
Rowan, his ever-loyal servant, stood waiting at his chamber doors. "Young Master, is there anything you require?"
Kieran turned to him, eyes sharp. "Baron Grant. I want every detail about him—his dealings, his debts, his weaknesses. Find me someone who has worked under him."
Rowan hesitated only a second before bowing. "As you command, my lord."
Kieran's smirk widened. The hunt had begun.
By the next evening, Rowan returned with results. "I found a former accountant who worked for Baron Grant, my lord. He was dismissed two months ago after confronting the Baron about missing funds."
Kieran leaned back in his chair, intrigued. A man cast aside for knowing too much? Perfect.
"Bring him to me."
In the dimly lit study, a nervous man sat before Kieran. He was in his forties, thin, with weary eyes that spoke of years of hardship. His name was Samuel Holt.
Kieran studied him in silence, allowing the tension to build before speaking. "You worked for Baron Grant."
Samuel stiffened. "I did, my lord. Until he… until he discarded me."
A smirk played on Kieran's lips. "Tell me, Samuel, what would you give to watch that man suffer?"
The older man's hands clenched into fists. "Everything."
Kieran's smile turned cold. "Good. Then listen carefully."
🔺 [ QUEST PROGRESS: Baron Grant's downfall begins… ]
Step one: Expose his corruption.
A week later, the rumors began.
🔹 Baron Grant was under suspicion of embezzling funds.🔹 His merchants whispered about unpaid debts and broken contracts.🔹 His allies started to question whether siding with him was a mistake.
The once-proud noble's face twisted in fury as whispers of his corruption spread through the capital.
In the middle of a noble gathering, one of his closest allies—Viscount Lambert—crossed his arms. "Grant, I hear troubling news about your accounts. Several merchants claim you haven't paid them in months."
Grant's face paled. "Lies! Those fools must be spreading rumors to tarnish my name!"
Lambert scoffed. "Then why are they refusing to do business with you?"
More nobles murmured, their once-friendly expressions turning wary.
Kieran, hidden among the crowd, smirked.
🔺 [ QUEST UPDATE: Baron Grant's reputation has been shaken. ]🔺 [ REWARD: +5 INTELLIGENCE ]
The first stage was complete. But Kieran wasn't done yet.
That night, Baron Grant sat in his study, drowning in stress. His hands trembled as he downed another glass of wine.
Then… a letter arrived.
A single piece of parchment, placed on his desk without a sound. He grabbed it, eyes narrowing as he read the words written in crimson ink.
"You stole from the wrong people, Grant. Everything you built will crumble before your eyes. Sleep while you can, because tomorrow, the real nightmare begins."
A gust of wind blew out his candle.
Grant leapt to his feet, knocking over his chair. "Who's there!?"
Silence.
His breathing grew ragged as paranoia crept into his veins. For the first time in years, Baron Grant felt something unfamiliar—fear.
And Kieran watched from the shadows, his smile never fading.
"This is just the beginning."
🔺 [ SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT ]💀 The greater their suffering, the greater your power. Make them regret their existence.